Chapter 67: The Bad Uncle

As Guo Mingyan rolled up his sleeves and frantically helped search for Su Ling, August arrived in a rush.

This summer was exceptionally hot, with temperatures reaching as high as forty degrees Celsius.

When Xiao Han and Zhao Yuan were halfway through their journey, raindrops began to fall. Xiao Han, unable to speak, let out anxious whimpers. The five-year-old boy clutched the food container tightly, determined not to let it get wet.

Zhao Yuan quickly reassured him: “It’s alright, it’s alright. If it gets cold, we can just reheat it later. Miss Su won’t mind. Let’s hurry a bit, or we’ll get soaked.”

Xiao Han nodded and followed Zhao Yuan, who was seven years older, running towards the mountain. In her hand, Zhao Yuan carried a freshly picked watermelon.

By the time the two children reached Su Ling’s house, the rain had intensified, leaving small patches of their clothes damp.

Su Ling heard the knock and called out cautiously: “Who is it?”

Zhao Yuan shouted: “Miss Su, it’s me and Xiao Han.”

Su Ling hurried to open the door. Seeing their disheveled state, she felt a pang of sympathy: “Come in quickly, dry your hair, and be careful not to catch a cold.”

Xiao Han’s clear, innocent eyes sparkled with affectionate smiles.

Zhao Yuan stuck out her tongue and handed over the watermelon: “Miss Su, my mom asked me to bring this to you. It’s from our own melon field—it’s very sweet.”

Not wanting to be outdone, Xiao Han carefully presented the food container he had been protecting. Inside was chicken and soup prepared by Aunt Chen. Despite being just a child, Xiao Han insisted on delivering it himself, much to Aunt Chen’s exasperation, but eventually, she let him go.

Now, Xiao Han’s bright eyes looked up at Su Ling, silently pleading for praise.

Moved by his sincerity, Su Ling accepted the gifts from both children. She took out towels and a hairdryer to help them dry their clothes and hair.

Su Ling had returned to this small village half a month ago. The village was impoverished, with only a small school that struggled to find teachers. A few teachers in their fifties and sixties taught both Chinese and math.

Every year, some university students came to teach temporarily, and the villagers, grateful for their kindness, often gave them homegrown vegetables and fruits.

For the past half month, Su Ling had been teaching at the village school.

The children adored her. She was beautiful and gentle. When she read aloud, her voice was like a soft breeze in March, captivating all the children. Even the most mischievous ones sat upright attentively.

Some people recognized Su Ling from television, realizing that the beautiful fairy sister from Nine Miles was now their teacher!

The children were ecstatic, wanting to cling to their teacher and never let go.

While Su Ling taught, even the children having physical education classes wished they could come over and watch. The kids in her classroom felt even more proud—this was their teacher! Their !

Half a month ago, Su Ling had traveled through several countries, but her final destination remained her homeland.

She loved this land and had no intention of living abroad for a few years.

The safest place was often the most dangerous one. Surprisingly, Qin Xiao hadn’t found her yet.

The rain stopped as quickly as it had started. Su Ling cut the watermelon and served it to the children. After the rain ceased, she personally escorted them back home.

Her grandmother’s place was remote, with only a few households nearby. Aunt Chen and others lived on the other side.

Holding one child in each hand, Su Ling listened to Zhao Yuan’s cheerful chatter while Xiao Han remained silent.

When Su Ling returned Xiao Han to Aunt Chen, the latter’s expression changed several times. Pulling Su Ling aside, she whispered: “Little Ling, there’s news about what you asked me to investigate.”

Su Ling was startled. Aunt Chen invited her inside and recounted what she had recently learned: “I remember when your grandmother brought your mother here, Yu Qiao was only sixteen. I was twenty-six then, with a six-year-old child. The city girl was so delicate and beautiful. But Yu Qiao didn’t like it here and argued with your grandmother several times before leaving.”

Aunt Chen recalled: “Later, Yu Qiao returned once during her university days, probably close to graduation, and brought her boyfriend. I didn’t see the man myself, but after asking around these days, I found out it was true. Zhao Yuan’s grandmother saw him and said he was handsome and clearly very fond of Yu Qiao. I think that must have been your father.”

Su Ling hadn’t expected to find clues in her hometown and was momentarily excited. Aunt Chen smiled: “Don’t worry. Earlier, some men in black suits came asking questions, but I didn’t tell them anything.”

Aunt Chen imagined a grand drama. She remembered the cold man who had carried her grandson back. If he treated Su Ling well, why would she return to this poor, remote village? Those men were likely sent by him. Aunt Chen thought to herself that if someone drove their daughter-in-law back to her parents’ home, they wouldn’t allow her to be taken back without punishment.

Su Ling had no family left, and Aunt Chen wanted to help her seek justice.

Su Ling didn’t know how much Aunt Chen had guessed, but if Qin Xiao’s people were asking around, it meant they had new leads.

Lowering her eyelashes, Su Ling sighed softly.

After thanking Aunt Chen, Su Ling visited Zhao Yuan’s grandmother.

The elderly woman struggled to recall: “Everyone thought Yu Qiao died of illness, but later, when I went up the mountain to gather firewood, that man returned, holding you. Your grandmother argued with him, and then he left. After that, we watched you grow up. He must have been your father.”

“Do you remember what he looked like?”

“I only saw him briefly. It was too long ago; I can’t remember.”

When Su Ling returned home, it was quite late. Fearing danger, she kept her phone on the emergency call screen and avoided secluded paths.

Reaching home safely, Su Ling finished dinner, washed up, and opened her wardrobe to change into her pajamas. Inevitably, she saw Qin Xiao’s black trench coat again.

He was so particular about his belongings. That time at the hospital, he hadn’t taken this coat with him and bought a new one instead.

After washing it, Su Ling stuffed it into a corner of the wardrobe.

She couldn’t bring herself to throw it away, nor could she keep it.

Outside, the wind rustled, casting eerie shadows. Her courage wasn’t great, especially living alone in an old house. She pulled the covers tight but couldn’t sleep.

Lately, she rarely thought about her past life.

Now, whenever she closed her eyes, she remembered New Year’s Eve when he was covered in injuries, laughing recklessly, and tampering with her elementary school essays.

The less she thought about her past life, the more she realized the reality of this life.

She hadn’t forgotten his faults, but she remembered his kindness too.

He tried to change, but at the slightest hint of danger, he would unhesitatingly lock her in a gilded cage.

After the hypnosis incident, Su Ling understood that she couldn’t move him with sincerity. Qin Xiao didn’t believe in sincerity. A person like him feared only loss.

Experiencing loss once made him feel pain, which caused him to retract his fangs completely.

Su Ling drifted off into a hazy sleep and dreamed.

Previously, when she claimed to dream of her death in her past life, it was a lie to Qin Xiao. But tonight, it was real.

When morning came, she couldn’t recall the dream’s details, but suddenly noticed her pillow was wet. Touching her eyes, she found tears that hadn’t dried.

Why was she crying?

The village school was located at the center of the village, the liveliest place in the area.

There weren’t many students. Most families tried to transfer their children once they reached fourth grade. Thus, the children in the school were generally young, with Zhao Yuan being the oldest.

Su Ling taught second and third grades.

Due to a lack of staff, the schedule was packed.

Su Ling had to teach from morning until dismissal at 5:30 PM.

Today, she taught the children Kuafu Chasing the Sun . Early morning light filtered gently into the classroom. Her soft, melodious voice read the textbook—

Kuafu thought, “Where does the sun hide every night? I don’t like darkness; I love light! I will chase the sun, catch it, and fix it in the sky so the earth will always be filled with light.”

…

After reading, she told everyone the legend.

Bright, innocent eyes gazed at her, captivated.

Then, little hands eagerly shot up.

“Miss Su, didn’t Kuafu know he couldn’t catch the sun? The sun would burn and hurt him. Why did he keep chasing?”

“Teacher, Kuafu must have really liked the sun. Even though he died of thirst, he didn’t give up.”

“He couldn’t catch the sun—it’s so pitiful…”

The children chattered away. Su Ling thought of something and lowered her gaze gently.

The only person who seemed out of place in the classroom was Xiao Han. He wasn’t old enough for first grade and thus didn’t attend the school officially. But because he loved Sister Su Ling, he came every day to sit in the classroom and listen.

He couldn’t talk and was very well-behaved, never causing trouble. The older boys and girls in the class adored him.

Thus, Xiao Han became the only “exception.”

As everyone enthusiastically discussed, Xiao Han’s eyes fixed on a point outside the window.

His dark eyes blinked, staring at that spot. The next moment, he quickly buried his little head in his arms.

When class ended, everyone cheered and ran off to play. Xiao Han jumped down from his chair and ran to the quietest place far away.

Summer had arrived, and cicadas chirped incessantly.

Xiao Han turned around the moss-covered wall where ivy climbed halfway up. He looked up at the tall man.

The man stood casually, one leg bent. Hearing the sound, he squinted and looked down at the little bean before him.

Xiao Han remembered him—the scary man who saved him from the cliff.

Xiao Han thought, if someone saved your life, even if they were very scary, they could be forgiven, right?

The next moment, Xiao Han heard the bad uncle whisper: “Brat, keep your mouth shut. If you dare say anything, I’ll deal with you.”

Xiao Han: “….”

He couldn’t speak. His little hand fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a candy. After hesitating for a long time, he reluctantly held it out. The candy, given by Sister Su Ling, had melted in his pocket, but he still cherished it.

But Xiao Han had just heard the story of Kuafu Chasing the Sun.

He vaguely understood that the deity in the story was very persistent and pitiable.

He opened his palm and offered the candy to the man before him.

—Here, your sun.