Wilderness Romance!

Qingshui County... Hongqi Village... Lu Pingchuan's home.

Nie Xiaoyu squatted by the vegetable patch, pinching the yellow leaves of tender green vegetables with her fingertips. Beside her, Lu's mother sat on a small stool, picking a bunch of romaine lettuce. The two were very close, chatting quietly about everyday things.

"Mother, Pingchuan said Father's illness will be cured soon. I'll go buy some pork ribs tomorrow to nourish you and Father."

As Nie Xiaoyu smoothed the vegetable leaves, she turned her head to look at Lu's mother, her eyes gentle.

Upon hearing this, Lu's mother smiled and patted the back of her hand, her tone full of affection: "Don't always worry about us. As for you, when you have time, go to the county town to buy some clothes and cosmetics, and take good care of yourself."

"Thinking about the suffering you endured before, I feel so guilty. But things are better now. Xiao Chuan can earn money, so you can buy whatever you like. If you don't have enough money, I have some here."

"No need for Mom, Pingchuan gave me money, enough to live on."

The old man and the young man chatted and laughed, their hands never stopping their work, their words full of heartwarming sentiments.

The two were not related by blood, but the way they were chatting and leaning on each other, and the closeness and tenderness in their eyes, made them seem even more harmonious and affectionate than many biological mothers and daughters.

A warm breeze blows, the branches and leaves sway gently, and dappled sunlight falls on my shoulders, which feels very warm.

As Nie Xiaoyu listened to Lu's mother's gentle words, images of her biological parents and that cold and cruel past uncontrollably flooded her mind.

Her fingertips paused, and a chill suddenly ran through her heart, completely extinguishing the warmth that filled the courtyard.

In her family of origin, she was never a child; she was just an unwanted, disliked burden.

From childhood to adulthood, she never got to have any of the good things in the family.

Brand new clothes, exquisite stationery, rare snacks, and meat stewed by the family during festivals—all of these were reserved for his younger brother, Nie Xiaowei.

She could only shrink into a corner and watch her younger brother being pampered by their parents and acting recklessly.

Even if her younger brother snatched her few possessions or broke the things she had collected over a long period of time, her parents would always side with her, turn around and scold her harshly, calling her immature, stingy and pretentious.

Whenever the family was struggling financially, her parents would vent all their resentment on her.

She always talks about how she's a burden on her family, saying she was born to be a financial drain and that she should go out and work early to earn money to support her younger brother's education and livelihood.

"..."

Those harsh words, accumulated over the years, are like fine steel needles, deeply embedded in my heart.

Lu's mother seemed to sense something. She put down the vegetables in her hand, gently held Nie Xiaoyu's cold hand, and spoke with concern in her voice.

"What's wrong, Xiaoyu? Are you feeling unwell? Why don't you come inside and rest for a while?"

A warm palm enveloped her, instantly pulling Nie Xiaoyu back to reality. She suppressed the bitterness welling up in her heart, looked up at Lu's mother who was filled with tenderness, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"It's alright, Mom." Nie Xiaoyu shook her head, a warmth rising in her heart once more: "I just feel so good to have you here."

"Woof...woof woof."

"Woof...woof woof."

Black Wind and Tiger, who were dozing in the yard, suddenly sat up, their ears perked up, and barked fiercely at the yard gate.

The sharp barking of dogs shattered the peaceful and gentle atmosphere of the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a friendly female voice came through the courtyard gate.

"Xiaoyu...Xiaoyu, are you there?"

Upon hearing this voice, Nie Xiaoyu's body stiffened abruptly.

The blood in my body seemed to freeze instantly, and the warmth that had just lingered in my heart vanished without a trace, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.

That voice was etched into her very bones; she could never forget it.

Noticing Nie Xiaoyu's unusual behavior, Lu's mother patted her shoulder and called out in a low voice, "Who is it?"

A series of dragging footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by a man's low groans, which could be heard from more than one person.

"Crunch."

The courtyard gate opened, and Nie Xiaoyu's parents and younger brother Nie Xiaowei came into view.

Just as the three were about to step into the courtyard, Black Wind and Tiger rushed up and roared menacingly at them.

"Woof...woof woof..."

"Woof woof woof woof..."

The three members of the Nie family were startled and staggered back a few steps. Seeing that Hei Feng and Hu Zi were only barking and had no intention of hurting anyone, they stood outside the door with a stiff upper lip.

"Xiaoyu." Nie's mother looked at Nie Xiaoyu, who was frozen in place, and said in a soft and affectionate tone, "I haven't seen you in so long. Tell those two beasts to stay away and let me come in and see you."

"They are not animals; at least they know who their family is and how to love and care for their family."

Nie Xiaoyu was full of resentment, but they were her family after all, and she couldn't just ignore them for both emotional and rational reasons.

"Black Wind, Tiger, come here."

"Woof."

Er Gou gave a soft call and obediently ran to Nie Xiaoyu's side, lying down on either side to protect her.

Mother Nie tiptoed into the courtyard, with Father Nie and Nie Xiaowei following closely behind. They were only relieved when they saw that Hei Feng and Hu Zi were not moving.

Nie's mother stepped forward and took Nie Xiaoyu's hand: "Xiaoyu, your parents were confused before. We shouldn't have kicked you out of the house. After you left, your father and I realized how important you are to us."

She sighed and shook her head, looking guilty and worried about her daughter: "We've been thinking of you all along. Come home with us."

"After you go back, your parents will definitely treat you well and will never mistreat you again or let you suffer any injustice."

"Yes, Xiaoyu," Mr. Nie chimed in. "What grudge can a family hold overnight? They say blood is thicker than water. In the end, we are family. Come back with us."

Their words were so sincere that an uninformed outsider would only think they were a pair of parents filled with remorse and missing their daughter, who had come to take her home for a reunion.

But Nie Xiaoyu felt a tightness in her chest and a chill spreading throughout her body.

She knows them too well.

If they really thought that way, they wouldn't have been so harsh on her every day, wouldn't have shown all their favoritism to her younger brother Nie Xiaowei, wouldn't have treated her as an unnecessary burden in the family, and certainly wouldn't have kicked her out of the house.

With this attitude, sweet words, and talk of family and righteousness, it must mean that something has happened at home, or that her younger brother is in trouble, and she needs to go back to make sacrifices, provide support, or even make sacrifices for him.

"Alright, stop pretending in front of me." Nie Xiaoyu said coldly, her face expressionless, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

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