I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Gu Yan answered that it was kapok. She then asked if kapok flowers were edible. Gu Yan said yes, and she started talking about asking her adoptive mother to make her kapok flower porridge later.

She chattered away like a lark the whole way, finding everything new and exciting, even pointing out an orange cat sunbathing by the roadside to Gu Yan.

Her long pink hair swayed gently with the bumps of the car, the ends brushing against Gu Yan's arm, tickling her and carrying a faint fragrance.

Cecilia sat by the window, her white hair fluttering slightly in the wind, a few strands brushing against her fair cheeks.

She remained silent, her icy blue eyes fixed on the fields and villages rushing past the window, her hands resting on her knees, her fingers gently gripping the hem of her skirt.

Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her expression was so calm that it was impossible to tell whether she was comfortable or uncomfortable, but her brows were slightly furrowed.

After about forty minutes, the car turned into a quiet street lined with tall plane trees, whose shade cast dappled light and shadow on the car roof.

The air became fresh, free from the hustle and bustle of the city and car exhaust, replaced by the smell of earth and grass.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a six-story building with light yellow tiles on the walls, some of which had faded, revealing grayish-white cement underneath.

Several electric bikes and bicycles were parked at the stairwell, and a few chili peppers and tomatoes were planted in the small courtyard on the first floor, with vines climbing all over the bamboo trellis.

This place is almost on the outskirts of Shanglu. There are no bustling commercial areas or high-rise buildings around, only quiet residential areas and a few scattered pedestrians.

Gu Yan pushed open the car door and got out, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. The air was filled with the smell of firewood and earth, as well as the aroma of someone stewing meat.

He turned to Fu Wanqing and asked why she lived here. It wasn't close to the city center; it took almost an hour to drive there, which was very inconvenient for her to get to work.

Fu Wanqing explained with a smile that her adoptive parents were used to the rural environment and found it difficult to adjust to life in Shanglu City, feeling stifled by the tall buildings.

She said the residential areas in the city are too cramped, with no yard to grow vegetables or raise chickens, making the elderly feel uncomfortable and always wanting to go back to their hometown.

So Chen Sinian bought them a house here, with a yard, flowers, grass, and a small vegetable garden. They were very happy and grew vegetables and flowers every day.

Gu Yan was about to say something when he suddenly felt his sleeve being gently tugged from behind. The force was light but clear, as if someone was reminding him.

He turned his head and saw a pair of icy blue eyes staring straight at him. Cecilia's fingers were gripping his sleeve, showing no sign of letting go.

Her white hair shimmered with a silvery sheen in the afternoon sunlight, and the hem of her light blue dress clung to her calves in the wind, revealing a section of her fair ankles.

At this moment, Fu Wanqing also turned her head and saw this scene. A hint of doubt flashed in her amber eyes. She opened her mouth but did not speak.

Cecilia pulled Gu Yan a little closer to her, and with her other hand she reached out and wrapped her arms around his, holding on tightly, as if to declare something.

It was as if they were snatching something from someone else's hands; the movements were small, but the meaning was clear, and a subtle tension filled the air.

Fu Wanqing's eyes darkened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. She smiled slightly but didn't say anything, only letting out a soft hum.

Aunt Tian took the folding wheelchair out of the trunk, deftly unfolded it, and pushed it to the side of the car door. The wheels made a slight rolling sound on the cement ground.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled at Gu Yan, a smile that seemed to say, "Young man, just bear with it."

Helpless, Gu Yan could only bend down and lift Cecilia out of the car, placing her in the wheelchair, supporting her back and knees with both hands, moving as gently as possible.

To be honest, she was much lighter than last time. She probably didn't eat much during the days she was in a coma, and she lost weight again. She felt like a weightless ball of cotton when I held her.

Her white hair fell down and brushed against his chin, cool and smooth, and that faint, cool fragrance wafted into his nose again.

Seeing this, Fu Wanqing's eyes flashed with a hint of resentment. She tossed her long pink hair, lowered her head, and muttered something under her breath.

The voice was too soft to hear clearly, but the tone and expression clearly indicated displeasure; the amber light dimmed slightly, and the lips were slightly pursed.

She quickly raised her head, a smile returning to her face, and walked over to grab Gu Yan's other wrist, her voice crisp and clear, as if urging someone to hurry.

"Hurry up and go inside after you're done hugging her, Miss Chen, you have to keep up, don't fall behind, my foster mother's cooking is delicious."

She pulled Gu Yan towards the door, her steps quick and hurried, her high heels clicking crisply on the cement floor, as she called out to the inside.

"Mom and Dad, I'm home! Look who's here! I brought a friend home. Open the door!"

The door was quickly opened, and a middle-aged man stood in the doorway, wearing a light gray thin sweater, with his hair neatly combed and his face refined and amiable.

His eyes weren't big, but they were very bright, and he had a gentle smile on his lips. Standing there, he looked like a schoolteacher, making people feel close to him and at ease.

Standing next to her was a middle-aged woman wearing a floral apron, holding a spatula in her hand. She had a round face, fair skin, and a gentle smile on her lips.

Her eyes were very similar to Fu Wanqing's, also amber in color, making it clear at a glance that they were mother and daughter, only with more traces of time and the vicissitudes of life.

The two were taken aback when they saw Gu Yan. They looked him up and down, and then saw Cecilia in a wheelchair and Aunt Tian pushing the wheelchair behind her.

The middle-aged woman quickly switched the spatula to her left hand, wiped her hands on her apron, and spoke in a gentle voice, like a spring breeze blowing across a lake.

"Wanqing, who are these people? Why didn't you tell us earlier? I could have prepared more dishes in advance. We don't have much to offer them."

The middle-aged man smiled and nodded, his gaze lingering on Gu Yan for a moment, then looking at Cecilia and Aunt Tian, ​​his eyes filled with curiosity and enthusiasm.

"Yes, Wanqing, you didn't even let us know you had guests. Please come in, please come in. Don't stand outside, let's talk inside."

Fu Wanqing took Gu Yan's hand and walked into the door. She turned back and smiled at her adoptive parents. Her smile was sweet and genuine, and her eyes were full of light.

"This is Gu Yan, this is Miss Chen, and this is Aunt Tian. They are all friends I met in Jinghai, very good friends, and they are very kind to me."

The adoptive parents warmly invited everyone into the house. The adoptive mother's wrinkled face beamed with joy as she quickly wiped her hands on her apron and went to pull out chairs.

The adoptive father, limping, busied himself pouring tea and arranging fruit, repeatedly expressing his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for taking care of our Wanqing. This child has always been a worry since she was little."

Cecilia, sitting in her wheelchair, was pushed to the table by Aunt Tian. Her icy blue eyes stared at the busy backs of her adoptive parents, her gaze flickering slightly.