Chapter 186

Words : 1341 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Under the curious gazes of the onlookers, Chen Mo led Ji Nian up another mountain path. After climbing a few steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Ji Nian didn’t even need to ask why, as her eyes followed Chen Mo’s gaze to the house across the way. It was a two-story concrete house with a large courtyard in front, looking quite impressive and completely different from the rustic mountain cottage Ji Nian had imagined. "Uncle, can I go knock on the door?" Ji Nian thought that there must be a reason Chen Mo hadn’t dared to come here for so many years. She decided to take the initiative, hoping to help break the ice. Many people say that there’s no such thing as lasting grudges between parents and children, but that’s not always true. Not all parents are as perfect as they’re portrayed in books. Ji Nian firmly believed this. But at this moment, at least, she didn’t want Chen Mo to feel sad. If his wish was to reconcile with his parents, Ji Nian was willing to help him. "Alright, thank you, Nian Nian." Realizing that the child was being so thoughtful for his sake, Chen Mo felt a warmth in his heart. Ji Nian, accompanied by Wei Yang, walked up to the door and tapped on it with her small hand: "Hello! Is anyone home?" She knocked twice and then stopped. After a moment, footsteps could be heard from inside, followed by a frail voice: "Coming, just a moment." Earlier, after a scuffle with a chicken had left her hair and clothes dirty, Chen Mo had someone take Ji Nian to the car to change into a clean outfit and tidy up. When she emerged again, she was once more a fair and delicate little girl. Old Lady Chen unlatched the door and pushed it open. The first thing she saw was a firm chest. The old lady was startled, her gaze slowly rising until it met Wei Yang’s face. It wasn’t until Wei Yang gestured for her to look down that Old Lady Chen noticed the little girl standing there. Most people, upon first meeting Ji Nian, were immediately struck by her unusually deep emerald-green eyes. But the old lady’s gaze fell on the child’s curly black hair instead. Soft, fluffy, and cascading down her back, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks from the heat of the journey. Only then did she look into the child’s gem-like eyes, which seemed to hold years of depth. Finally snapping out of her daze, Old Lady Chen—who, despite her title, looked much younger than her age—had her hair neatly tied back without a single strand out of place. Her features were gentle, but her hair was completely white, and her eyes bore the weight of years. "Little one, who are you looking for?" She bent down kindly to look at Ji Nian, her eyes lingering on the child’s hair with a flicker of nostalgia. Ji Nian hadn’t expected her to look like this. Younger than she’d imagined, yet so aged... "Hello, I’ve brought my uncle to find his mother," Ji Nian said politely, her eyes curving into a smile. Old Lady Chen thought the child was playing a game and continued to humor her: "And who is your uncle?" Just as she finished speaking, a hoarse voice came from behind Wei Yang: "...Mom." At the sound of that voice, Old Lady Chen froze as if struck by a spell. It took her a moment to react, and only when Wei Yang stepped aside to reveal Chen Mo did she respond: "...Xiao Mo." It was true that she had always favored her daughter, who had grown up by her side. But Chen Mo had returned to her after starting school, and he was still her flesh and blood. How could she not care for him? Seeing Chen Mo’s face, which was noticeably thinner and more composed than it had been years ago, Old Lady Chen couldn’t hold back her tears. She knew she hadn’t fulfilled her duty as a mother. After losing one child, she had been consumed by grief, effectively abandoning the other. When her husband had driven Chen Mo away, it must have broken his heart. He hadn’t returned in all these years—had he been holding onto resentment? So Old Lady Chen believed she no longer had the right to call herself Chen Mo’s mother. "What brings you here all of a sudden? Look at me, getting all emotional." Time may not heal all wounds, but it can dull them. Compared to the lifeless woman she had been years ago, lying in bed, Old Lady Chen was clearly in a better state now. Chen Mo didn’t say anything more. Unlike when he was with Ji Nian, facing his own parents left him at a loss for words. "Is it just you at home?" Old Lady Chen tried to tidy her hair, but instead of making it neater, it only became more disheveled. "Yes, your father... he went out to look for a chicken. One of our hens went missing." Wei Yang glanced down at Ji Nian, then silently pulled out the trussed-up chicken he’d been hiding behind his back: "Is this the one?" Old Lady Chen exclaimed in surprise: "Chen Huahua! Yes, that’s her! Thank you so much." When she looked down and met Ji Nian’s slightly awkward gaze, she suddenly remembered something, her expression faltering for a moment. Wait, this child had come with Chen Mo. Chen Mo wouldn’t bring someone unrelated with him. What had the child said earlier? That she’d brought her uncle... to find his mother? Old Lady Chen’s head snapped up as she stared at Chen Mo— Chen Mo met her shocked, trembling gaze, filled with disbelief. "She’s... she’s..." "Her ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍name is Ji Nian. She’s my sister’s child," Chen Mo said softly. At the same time, Ji Nian gave the old lady a smile: "Hello, Grandma. My name is Ji Nian." Old Lady Chen’s ears rang, her eyes fixed on Ji Nian. For a moment, she didn’t know how to react, her lips trembling uncontrollably. Tears welled up before she could speak. Her legs gave way, and it was only Wei Yang’s quick support that kept her from collapsing. But the old lady was beyond caring. She reached out a hand, wanting to touch Ji Nian but not daring to, and finally managed to find her voice. "Xin Xin’s child...?" "I thought she... had gone with Xin Xin..." Fearing this was all a dream, Old Lady Chen stared at Ji Nian without blinking. Chen Mo stepped forward, placing a hand on Ji Nian’s shoulder, and explained: "Xin Xin was your mother’s nickname." Then, to Old Lady Chen, he added: "It was a misunderstanding back then. My sister gave birth to twins. Someone took her away and brought her to her father." Hearing the truth, Old Lady Chen could no longer hold back. She pulled Ji Nian into a tight embrace: "My dear child... my dear child..." Ji Nian was hugged so tightly she didn’t know where to put her hands. Worried that Ji Nian might be suffocated, Chen Mo gently pulled her back: "Let’s go inside to talk. It’s hot out here, and Nian Nian isn’t in the best health. We don’t want her getting heatstroke." Ji Nian: [Since when am I not in good health?] System: [Ever since he found out about what happened to this body before the age of five.] Now, Chen Mo no longer hesitated at the doorstep. Any feelings of apprehension were cast aside at the thought of Ji Nian’s well-being. Old Lady Chen, still crying, straightened up and wiped her tears: "Yes, you’re right." "But wait, your father is still outside. I’ll go find him. I’ll bring him back." Ji Nian offered: "I’ll go." She wanted to give Old Lady Chen some time to collect herself. Besides, the earlier explanation clearly hadn’t been enough—Chen Mo would need to elaborate further on Ji Nian’s background.

Chapter 186

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