Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

"About Aunt Su?"

Gu Niannian's heart jumped.

She immediately thought of that photo.

She thought of the man in military uniform who terrified her.

Could it be that Dad found out something in the provincial capital?

"Dad, what's the news?" she asked, her voice tinged with barely perceptible tension.

Seeing her daughter's nervous expression, Gu Yanqiu assumed she was concerned about Su Xueqing.

He then softened his voice and explained:

"It's not a bad thing, it might even be a good thing."

It turned out that during the later stages of the training in the provincial capital, Gu Yanqiu was highly regarded by Director Fang Zhengguo because of her outstanding skills.

I occasionally ask him to help organize some technical documents.

On one occasion, he overheard a conversation between Director Fang and another leader in Director Fang's office.

They mentioned a term—"sent-down youth policy".

"...Director Fang said that the winds from above seem to have changed. There might be some adjustments to the current policy on educated youth." Gu Yanqiu recalled the scene and spoke in the tone of a leader.

"Adjustment? What does that mean?" Gu Niannian was completely confused.

"It means..." Gu Yanqiu organized his thoughts, "that in the future, these educated youths who went to the countryside might... have the opportunity to return to the city!"

Back to the city!

For millions of educated youth scattered across the country, these two words represent the ultimate goal they yearn for day and night!

When Gu Yanqiu heard the news, the first people he thought of were Su Xueqing and Chen Zhiyuan.

They were all educated youth from the provincial capital, and they were all cultured and capable people.

If they could return to the city, their future would be limitless.

The next day, Gu Yanqiu specially found an opportunity to invite Chen Zhiyuan and Su Xueqing to her home.

He closed the door and solemnly told them the news he had heard from the provincial capital.

"What?!"

Chen Zhiyuan was the first to react. He was so excited that he jumped up from the bench, knocking over the bench behind him.

"Yanqiu! You...you're telling the truth? Is this news reliable?"

His voice was trembling, and his face, which always wore a refined smile, was now filled with unbelievable ecstasy.

Back to the city!

He dreams of going back!

Returning to the home where parents, relatives, and familiar streets reside!

"I heard it from Director Fang myself, so it's probably pretty accurate." Gu Yanqiu nodded affirmatively.

"That's great! That's great!"

Chen Zhiyuan paced back and forth in the room, rubbing his hands together and muttering to himself, his eyes reddening.

However, in stark contrast to Chen Zhiyuan's ecstasy was Su Xueqing.

She sat there quietly, without saying a word from beginning to end.

When she heard the words "return to the city," her body stiffened only slightly.

There was no joy on that delicate face; instead, a complex and indescribable pallor crossed it.

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping down, concealing all the emotions in her eyes.

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat strange because of her eerie silence.

"Xueqing?" Chen Zhiyuan noticed her unusual behavior, stopped pacing, and looked at her with confusion. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy that we can go back to the city?"

Su Xueqing slowly raised her head, tried her best to tug at the corners of her mouth, and forced out a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Happy...of course I'm happy."

Her voice was very soft and faint, like a feather falling to the ground.

It has no weight at all.

"But... whether I go back or not doesn't matter much to me anymore."

The moment those words were spoken, not only Chen Zhiyuan but also Gu Yanqiu were stunned.

It doesn't matter much?

How can it be that it's not a big deal?

"Xueqing, don't you...don't you miss home?" Chen Zhiyuan couldn't understand. "Don't you want to go back to the provincial capital and see your family?"

Su Xueqing's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something.

In the end, she just gave a bitter smile, shook her head, and said nothing.

That smile carried a deep, unyielding sorrow and despair.

Gu Niannian sat to the side, taking in all of Su Xueqing's subtle expressions.

She knew this gentle yet mysterious teacher all too well.

Su Xueqing didn't not want to return to the city.

She is... unable to go back.

Or rather, it's a fear of going back.

Why?

What does the provincial capital mean to her?

Is it that warm home, or a nightmare that terrifies her so much she dares not face it?

The photo resurfaced in Gu Niannian's mind.

That man in military uniform with sharp eyes and an imposing presence.

Everything seemed to be related to that man.

Su Xueqing didn't want to go back.

Does she not want to go back to the city where he is?

Is it that I can't go back, or... I have nowhere to go?

Seeing Su Xueqing's feigned strength, yet actually fragile and seemingly about to shatter at the slightest touch, Gu Niannian felt a surge of intense emotion.

She wanted to help her.

She was determined to help Aunt Su find out what was going on!

"Aunt Su," Gu Niannian suddenly spoke, her clear voice breaking the silence in the room.

She jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), ran to Su Xueqing's side, took her cold hand, looked up at her with an extremely serious gaze.

"Are you having some kind of trouble?"

"Whatever it is, tell me, and my dad, Uncle Cheng, and I will all help you!"

You are not alone!