Chapter 109: New Location

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: New Location

"Aren’t you heading back?"

"I have something to do in a bit. You should head back first."

Jiang Fan waved at him, then turned and left the Jinli Hotel.

"Jiang Fan, wait for me."

Sun Yanzi chased after him from inside the hotel.

"Huh?"

"Yanzi, what are you doing?"

"Aren’t you going home?"

"Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? Aren’t *you* going home?"

"I have a little something I need to do. What’s up?"

Jiang Fan looked at her, amused.

"Well... then I have a little something to do too."

Jiang Fan shot her a teasing glance.

"Fine, let’s go then."

Sun Yanzi immediately grinned like a child.

She quickened her pace to catch up to Jiang Fan, and the two walked forward, shoulder to shoulder.

After a long while, Sun Yanzi asked curiously, "So this is the ’something’ you had to do?"

"Yep."

Sitting by the river, enjoying the cool late-night breeze, was remarkably pleasant.

"I used to come here and just sit for a while every so often."

"To be honest, back then, I’d lost all hope. I didn’t see any reason to keep living."

"Every day I was like a money-making machine, with no idea what I was even doing."

He gazed at the glittering surface of the river, where small fish could be seen swimming about under the glow of the streetlights.

Sun Yanzi didn’t interrupt, listening quietly.

"Until one night, I was passing by and saved a little boy who had fallen into the water here."

"He and his parents kept trying to find me to thank me. They even wanted to get on their knees to thank me."

"In that moment, I didn’t know if I had saved him, or if he had saved me."

"If it weren’t for that time, I’m afraid I’d be the one who disappeared into this river."

A self-deprecating smile touched Jiang Fan’s lips, but his gaze was distant.

"Maybe you were saving the child you used to be," Sun Yanzi said softly.

"Perhaps."

"Ever since then, I’ve come here to sit for a while every month or so. It’s the only way I can feel at peace."

"What about the little boy? Did you see him again after that?"

"He passed away."

Jiang Fan’s voice was very, very soft.

"What?"

"Do you know why he jumped into the river that night?"

"Because he felt he was a burden on his parents. He had late-stage leukemia, and the monthly chemotherapy costs were astronomical. His parents sold their house and their land, spent their entire fortune, and fell deep into debt—all to save him."

"Even though he was only seven or eight, he understood everything."

"When I was his age, all I was looking forward to was the director’s steamed pork with preserved mustard greens."

Jiang Fan shook his head.

At that moment, Sun Yanzi’s heart ached for this man.

He always seemed so cheerful, like he didn’t have a care in the world, but in reality, the burden he carried inside was heavier than anyone’s.

It was a psychological gravity he had placed entirely on himself, having nothing to do with the outside world.

It was an indelible scar from his childhood.

’I think... maybe I should go back.’

Jiang Fan lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch.

8:00!

"Go back?"

"Back home? Okay, let’s go."

"I made some chicken soup for you. You can have it when you get home."

"No, not back home."

"And thank you for keeping me company. Don’t worry, I’m pretty resilient. I’m not the type to just give up and end it all."

"Why don’t you head back first?"

"Wherever you go tonight, I’m going with you."

Sun Yanzi linked her arm through his.

"Is that so?"

Jiang Fan didn’t refuse. He simply unlocked a shared bike on the side of the road.

He rode off, heading full speed into the cool night air.

Sitting on the back, Sun Yanzi held on tightly to Jiang Fan’s waist.

This was a completely new experience for her.

After a series of twists and turns, Jiang Fan arrived in an old district.

It might not have been as prosperous as the new city districts, but it made up for it with a stronger sense of community.

The two of them stopped in front of a large, tightly locked gate leading to a courtyard.

Even though it was nighttime, they could still make out through the dim yellow light that it was some kind of welfare institute.

It looked like it had been recently renovated.

"Grand Welfare Institute?"

"Why did we come here?"

Sun Yanzi was confused.

"Because this is where I grew up."

"You..."

"Jiang Fan, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know..."

"I’m not blaming you."

As they were talking, a tall figure appeared, helping an elderly woman walk toward them.

When the two of them saw Jiang Fan, they both unconsciously quickened their pace.

"Jiang, you’re back."

"Fan, hurry and come in."

"What took you so long to think of coming home?"

The elderly director opened the gate.

"Oh, my, this young lady is so pretty! Is she your new girlfriend?"

The elderly director moved closer and only then noticed someone was standing next to Jiang Fan.

She couldn’t help but look her up and down; the girl’s looks and features were top-notch.

"No, she’s a friend of mine. We didn’t have anything planned today, so I brought her along to visit."

"Grandma, you can just call me Sun."

"Alright, alright, good child. Come in, come in."

The elderly director was grinning from ear to ear. ’The fact that a girl was willing to come here with Fan this late at night already said a lot.’

The group walked inside, and Jiang Fan casually closed the gate behind them.

"Snot Girl, not bad. How’d you think of moving back here?"

"Of course! Who do you think I am?"

"Also, I’m all grown up now. Don’t call me Snot Girl anymore!!"

"My future sister-in-law is right here! I have an image to uphold!"

Li Qian’Er stomped her foot and said angrily.

"Snot Girl is Snot Girl. I’m not allowed to call you that now, is that it?"

Jiang Fan reached out and gave her a light bop on the head.

"Grandma, look! Jiang is bullying me again!"

"Alright, Fan. Qian’Er is a grown-up now."

Seeing Jiang Fan and Li Qian’Er bickering playfully, the elderly director’s face was wreathed in smiles.

"Hmph. I’ll listen to Grandma today."

"If you mess with me again, when you get a boyfriend, I’ll tell him this nickname."

"Pfft, I’m not scared. I’m not planning on dating anyone anyway."

Li Qian’Er paid his threat no mind whatsoever.

Standing to the side, Sun Yanzi watched the bickering siblings, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

She was especially envious of this kind of deep, sincere sibling-like bond that wasn’t based on blood.

"Jiang, let me tell you something. The reason we were able to buy back the welfare institute... well, we have a certain someone to thank for that."

Li Qian’Er suddenly grabbed Jiang Fan’s hand and spoke in a secretive whisper.