Chapter 25: Relocating the Grave (13)

“Director Sun.”

Sun’s attitude toward Village Chief Shi grew colder, and Jiang Shengsheng could feel it keenly.

So, his surname wasn’t Shi after all...

Village Chief Shi, for some inexplicable reason, sighed inwardly with regret. He had always felt that Director Sun should bear the Shi surname.

It seemed they were somehow fated.

With a sigh, Village Chief Shi shifted the conversation back to Jiang Shengsheng.

“How many people are there in your family...?”

“What kind of work do you plan to do in the future?”

“When do you intend to marry?”

“...”

The questioning felt like a formal census, making Jiang Shengsheng clench her toes, wishing she could faint on the spot—if only she could faint, she wouldn’t have to face this moment.

Summoning her courage, she flashed a bright smile. “It’s still early for marriage; I want to continue my studies.”

Upon hearing this, the kindly smile on Village Chief Shi’s face faded. His dark eyes locked onto Jiang Shengsheng’s, and before she could react, his expression hardened. “What use is it for a girl to study so much? Marrying early and having children is the proper path.”

That remark silenced both Jiang Shengsheng and Xia Junyao, their smiles vanishing instantly.

In the 21st century, to encounter such backward thinking was both physically and mentally distressing.

Where on earth was Qi Yiqing?

If he didn’t return soon, she truly wouldn’t hold on any longer!

Perhaps even heaven could no longer bear it. Just as Jiang Shengsheng was shouting silently in her heart, Qi Yiqing appeared, stepping into the courtyard.

A mischievous smile played on his face as he nodded politely to Village Chief Shi. “Sorry for disturbing you today, Chief. It’s nearly noon, so we won’t stay long.”

His excuse was perfunctory and rushed, but surprisingly, Village Chief Shi nodded in agreement. “Be careful on your way.”

Sensing the elder’s hidden distraction beneath his composed expression, Qi Yiqing grinned, his adorable tiger teeth flashing brightly, exuding warmth.

Only Xia Junyao knew the devilish smirk lurking beneath Qi Yiqing’s handsome, rebellious facade.

Recalling Qi Yiqing’s previous covert threats, Xia Junyao clenched his fingers intertwined with Jiang Shengsheng’s tightly.

It’s okay, it’s okay. The baby belongs to him alone. He wasn’t the disgusting Qi Yiqing who secretly watched the baby and shamelessly told him to get away.

Ha, the one who should leave is Qi Yiqing.

What good character could a stray dog, spying on another man’s girlfriend, possibly have?

Before lunch, Qi Yiqing made another visit to the ancestral hall.

—

On the way, he casually asked Jiang Shengsheng, “Do you remember your parents’ names? I feel like I’ve forgotten a lot.”

At this, Jiang Shengsheng’s eyes brightened, nodding quickly like a pecking chick. “I’ve forgotten much too. My father’s surname is Shi, and my mother’s is Jiang.”

Jiang Shengsheng took her mother’s surname.

Beyond that, she couldn’t recall more.

Her birth certificate had the parents’ names smudged out, leaving only the surnames.

Qi Yiqing nodded thoughtfully.

Sun, trailing close behind Jiang Shengsheng, lowered his eyelids, making his expression inscrutable.

—

At the ancestral hall, Qi Yiqing’s group of four unexpectedly crossed paths with Liu Wanjun and two others.

Wearing black-rimmed glasses, Xi You wore a look of anticipation, his gaze lingering on the four.

Don’t think he didn’t notice the subtle hostility Liu Wanjun showed toward the female NPC.

“Want to exchange information?” Liu Wanjun asked.

Just as Qi Yiqing was about to ignore her and pass by, Liu Wanjun spoke again.

Her face held an unchanging gentle smile; her delicate brows and natural smile softened even the toughest hearts.

But the man before her was unyielding.

“No need.”

Qi Yiqing followed Shi Chao into the secret chamber and found many useful clues.

Countless fragmented pieces of information crowded his mind. What he lacked was time, not intelligence or strength.

He possessed arrogant confidence and the means to back it up.

Qi Yiqing’s blatant disrespect surprised Liu Wanjun; her smile stiffened, but she forced her lips upward. “I see, sorry to have disturbed you.”

She knew the importance of knowing when to advance and retreat to avoid bad relations. Casting a glance at the only woman in the group, she bowed her head and quickly left.

Xi You, watching, had joined this run solely to latch onto a strong ally, and he had long anticipated Qi Yiqing’s speed.

—

In Xia Junyao’s heart, Jiang Shengsheng was undoubtedly the most important presence.

So when he sensed the light gaze of a woman in a white dress sweeping over them, his face darkened with displeasure. Stepping forward, he positioned himself between Jiang Shengsheng and the intruder.

The four of them entered the ancestral hall once again.

For them, it was the first time meeting Director Sun, but “Director Sun” was no stranger.

None of the three facing away noticed the stout man staring blankly at the layers of ancestral tablets, his breathing growing heavier.

—

He... no, she was struggling to maintain her grim facade. Past humiliation, pain, despair, and bitterness wove into a net studded with iron nails.

No matter where she fled, the net was always around her, ready to pierce her like a sieve, drawing blood at the slightest touch.

“...Director Sun? Are you alright?”

Her bloodshot eyes moved stiffly. Through the raging inferno, “Director Sun” saw her daughter—her only child—looking at her with worry.

Covering her face, Director Sun stepped back a few paces.

Don’t look at her. Child, please don’t look like that... she’s too ugly, too terrifying. It would cost you your wits and cause harm.

Qi Yiqing, standing before the ancestral tablet, glanced up upon hearing Jiang Shengsheng’s voice, narrowing his eyes.

Finally, the fox’s tail was about to be revealed?

Xia Junyao found the stout man’s state eerie. Wrapping an arm around Jiang Shengsheng’s shoulder, he shielded her and stepped away from Director Sun.

After an unknown length of time, Director Sun wiped her face, her eyes red-rimmed as she blinked, voice choked with emotion: “Sorry, I just remembered some unpleasant memories.”

Only Jiang Shengsheng believed those words.

Xia Junyao and Qi Yiqing did not trust them for a single word.

Qi Yiqing withdrew his gaze and beckoned Jiang Shengsheng and Xia Junyao over.

He didn’t mind if Director Sun’s disguise lasted longer, as long as he had enough time to roughly understand what had happened.

In the past, Qi Yiqing would have charged in recklessly, tearing the scenario apart for the thrill.

Now, with someone he cared for—his little NPC—Xia Junyao didn’t mind thinking things through, as long as she was safe.

Once he got her out of this scenario, he would teach her everything about the real world, so she would rely solely on him with unwavering trust.

Jiang Shengsheng wanted to glance back at Director Sun but was turned back by the man pressing her head gently: “Be good, baby, we have business to attend to.”

They were to relocate a grave, carving the name of the deceased, their birth and death dates on the tombstone.

Perhaps the ancestral hall held some useful information.

Jiang Shengsheng was puzzled. “Why not just ask Village Chief Shi directly?”

Noticing her delayed reaction and slow response to danger, Xia Junyao patted her head: “Do you really want to go back? To be brainwashed again?”

Catching the strange pause in Xia Junyao’s words, Jiang Shengsheng fell silent.

Alright, she wouldn’t go.

Forgive her; she really couldn’t withstand the shock of traditional beliefs.