The next day, the sky was just starting to lighten.
Tian Sangsang got out of bed, dressed, and prepared breakfast, while ng Shuyan was still lazing in bed.
"Yanyan, the sun’s shining on your backside. Ti to get up." This was mainly because ng Shuyan was always an early riser, and today’s behavior was truly unusual.
ng Shuyan shook his head, muttering gloomily, "Don’t wanna get up, I don’t want to."
Tian Sangsang stared at his lonely little back, montarily taken aback. "Today your Chun Zisu and Susu are leaving, aren’t you going to see them off?"
"Don’t want to, I don’t want to think about it." ng Shuyan pulled the blanket over his head, curling up into a lonely little ball.
Tian Sangsang didn’t respond, turning instead to see Zhao Chun entering. His eyes were sporting a very distinct pair of dark circles.
Authentic panda eyes.
With his big hands, Zhao Chun gently tugged the blanket down, placing his hand on ng Shuyan’s small arm as he lay on his side. His voice was full of grievance: "Little Yan, do you not want your Uncle Chun anymore? If Uncle can’t see you, he’ll be really sad."
Tian Sangsang rubbed her own arms, goosebumps instantly rising. Zhao Chun was bad enough when he wasn’t being gentle, but when he was, it was sothing else entirely. She just wanted to burst into song right now, Ah—
This damned tenderness of yours, it’s making tremble uncontrollably—
ng Shuyan’s little body finally stirred. Slowly, he climbed out of bed, his watery, wide eyes blinking, with slightly reddened rims.
Over the past week, he’d grown particularly fond of this uncle who could play with him.
Having never played with any male elder figures growing up, ng Shuyan had clearly co to see Zhao Chun as a very important uncle.
"Chun Zisu, will you co to see again?" The little guy pouted sadly, trying hard to suppress his own emotions.
"I will. As soon as school’s on break, Uncle will co see you. We’re not really saying goodbye forever." Zhao Chun gently patted his head, his voice slightly hoarse. "Besides, Little Yan, you and your mom can co visit Uncle in the city, and then Uncle will take you out to have fun."
Of course, that was assuming Tian Sangsang was willing to co to the city. Zhao Chun snuck a timid glance at Tian Sangsang.
Zhao Chun felt like he’d changed. Why was it that just one trip to the countryside had turned him into such a sentintal sap?
Tian Sangsang’s expression remained calm as she started brewing so philosophical "chicken soup" for the soul: "Exactly, Yanyan. Listen to Mom. Farewells are just for better reunions. And every eting in life is just a reunion after a long separation. When you two et again in the future, you’ll both be at your very best."
Ha. Whether or not they’d even recognize each other by then was another matter entirely. Zhao Chun was still youthful in spirit, and ng Shuyan was just a three-year-old child. Let them have their sentintal mont; the future could take care of itself. Tian Sangsang didn’t have high expectations. Life was full of too many passing encounters. The only thing that truly shaped destiny was ti. It was ti that bound people together, and ti that taught them to part.
ng Shuyan’s mind was tying itself into knots, but he still nodded solemnly. "Mm."
Zhao Chun rubbed his nose. Was this what rural village won were like? So nonsense about farewells for better reunions—it actually sounded so reasonable. If he told Jiang Jinghuai about a woman like this in the countryside, not only would Jinghuai not believe him, no one would.
They had a simple breakfast, and the Deputy Secretary was already waiting not far off.
Zhao Chun handed Tian Sangsang a note, puffing out his chest and making a solemn promise: "I’ll record that piece of music for you on a tape. Once it’s done, I’ll mail it to you."
"If you say so," Tian Sangsang didn’t take his promise too seriously. Whether or not he recorded the tape didn’t really matter to her. Besides, in her eyes, Zhao Chun was a city person rely caught up in fleeting sentintality. What was there for soone like him to truly rember about people like them from the countryside? Once he returned to his world, he’d go back to thriving like a fish in water, carefree and unburdened.
anwhile, she still had to carve out a future for herself and her son in this place.
"Of course I’ll stick to it." Zhao Chun’s eyes sparkled; he looked incredibly earnest. "You have to trust my words, Tian Sangsang. When I say I’ll send it, I an it."
"Alright then, safe travels to you." Tian Sangsang was montarily stunned, but quickly changed her tone from a dismissive "if you say so" to a sincere farewell.
Zhao Chun nodded, crouching down to kiss ng Shuyan lightly on the cheek. "Little Yan, goodbye. Uncle will co visit you again."
"Alright, goodbye, Chun Zisu." ng Shuyan sniffled hard. It was clear he’d already co to terms with the idea that farewells were just for better reunions.
Tian Sangsang watched Zhao Chun’s limping figure fade into the distance, her eyes narrowing slightly...
Wait, did he have anything in his hands when he arrived? How co he was leaving with a bag now? And earlier—didn’t she catch a faint whiff of sothing delicious on him? Was it just her imagination???
Zhao Chun first traveled to the county with the Deputy Secretary’s group, and then took the Deputy Secretary’s car from there to the city.
When the car door opened, he was greeted by an elderly man who radiated vitality and vigor. Zhao Lao cast him a faint glance and, upon seeing him hobbling with a cane and looking utterly frail, shook his head in disdain.
"Grand...Grandpa." Zhao Chun widened his eyes and instinctively shrank back, wearing an expression of sheer alarm.
"Useless fool! How could a weakling like you possibly be my grandson? Look at yourself, just look at what a ss you’ve made of yourself!" Zhao Lao sighed heavily, clapping a hand to his chest as if the sight of Zhao Chun was causing him physical pain. "It’s so embarrassing I can’t even bear to tell anyone!"
Nearby, Zhao’s mother furrowed her elegant brows. Her heart ached for her son, but it wasn’t like stepping in could help. With the old man in a rage, who would dare try to intervene?
My dear son, you’ll just have to endure a bit more. You’re already bruised anyway. Later, Mom will help you apply so dicine.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, listen to explain!" Zhao Chun clutched his bag and dodged left and right.
The old man, apparently tiring, didn’t strike as hard as he could have. Puffing out his cheeks and glaring, he said, "Fine, go ahead. Tell everything—every little detail of how you’ve been gallivanting around! Honestly, it’s a miracle you were even dragged back. I’m genuinely surprised with your brain power!"
With a soft voice, Zhao’s mother chid in: "Right, Chun, how did it just so happen that you ran into the Deputy Secretary?"
Zhao Chun lowered his gaze, his eyes darting around as he racked his brain for an excuse.
Zhao Lao chuckled dryly before snapping, "Speak! Don’t even think about fooling ! Not a single word better be a lie!"
Oh, hell. He wanted to cry so badly. Feeling completely exposed, Zhao Chun swiped at his tears and, relying on his mory, recounted his countryside adventure in full—being beaten, being saved, being taken in...
"That’s all, Grandpa." Zhao Chun finished weakly, his pitiful, sheepish look identical to how he’d appeared in front of Tian Sangsang.
"And you couldn’t fight back? A few n couldn’t even overpower one woman? Did I teach you nothing growing up? You can’t even beat a village woman? Truly infuriating!" The old man slapped his chest again, clearly enraged.
"She wasn’t just any ordinary woman..." Recalling Tian Sangsang’s figure, Zhao Chun pouted. That woman was enough to take on two of him. If it were any other woman, would he even need to fight? He’d just lift her skirt, and she’d scream and bolt. But against Tian Sangsang? He wouldn’t dare act improperly! One of her trunk-like thighs could crush him like a bug.
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