White Night Loner: This is quite unexpected.
[Yi]: I heard Linchuan County is a very small place, and quite backward.
I checked online; it’s a resource-depleted city.
The average monthly income there is even less than 2,000 yuan.
White Night Loner: So the remaining options have been completely ruled out through the process of elimination?
[Yi]: Yes, Uncle Bai.
White Night Loner: Linchuan, huh…
[Yi]: What is it, Uncle Bai?
White Night Loner: I suddenly thought of my grandmother.
She passed away many years ago.
She doted on me, of course, but she was very traditional.
She used to tell me that I should never have a girl in the future.
She’d say girls were just money-losers, and if a family wanted to continue its line, they needed a boy.
Ridiculous things like that.
White Night Loner: I was actually thinking that maybe back then it wasn’t just hospital negligence, but someone acting with malicious intent.
[Yi]: People’s hearts are truly sinister.
White Night Loner: Always have to prepare for the worst.
Maybe when you get to Linchuan, it might all be for nothing, or just some civil dispute.
But for you, it should be a good thing.
[Yi]: A good thing?
[Yi]: Uncle Bai, I hope my parents can find their biological child.
White Night Loner: Even if the result leads to your parents loving you less, it doesn’t matter?
[Yi]: Yes, Uncle Bai. I’ve already made up my mind.
White Night Loner: Even if your biological parents might be poor people living in Linchuan County?
White Night Loner: Even if they might not have wanted a girl like you to come into this world from the bottom of their hearts, it still doesn’t matter?
[Yi]: I’ve thought it all through, Uncle Bai.
[Yi]: Some things can’t be avoided.
White Night Loner: You’re truly an amazing girl.
‘An amazing girl?’
Gao Hongyi stared at the phone screen, her pretty face suddenly flushing crimson as heat surged from her ears down to her chest.
She had actually been praised by Uncle Bai.
She was so happy.
She cradled her burning cheeks in her palms and sank into the soft bed, as if trying to press the praise into her chest.
Under the covers, she couldn’t help but kick her legs excitedly.
But she wasn’t an amazing girl.
Because the worst outcome might actually be the best.
If she really lost her place here, she would pack her bags, buy a train ticket to Xinghai City, and rent an apartment with Uncle Bai.
They could depend on each other.
Even without a wealthy life, it wouldn’t matter.
Gao Hongyi was a girl willing to drown in romance.
She loved chatting with Uncle Bai.
He was always gentle, rational, and patient.
Come to think of it, when did she start liking Uncle Bai?
When her parents were busy with work, Gao Hongyi could hardly see them for an entire year.
During that time, she found White Night Loner’s novels.
It probably started when she read a certain passage in one of his books.
‘The world isn’t gentle, but kind people can huddle together for warmth.’
In his books, the male leads were often criticized by some readers as ‘preachy saints’ because they weren’t ruthless like in other webnovels and even sympathized with their enemies.
But Gao Hongyi happened to love that rare gentleness.
If possible, she also wanted to become a gentle character like the ones in Uncle Bai’s books.
He was her pillar of support when she was at her loneliest.
A certain thought surged like a tide to her throat, almost bursting forth.
[Yi]: Uncle Bai, thank you.
[Yi]: Yes, I’ve decided.
I’m going to Linchuan County in Dongling Province with my parents this time.
[Yi]: Instead of waiting painfully, it’s better to take the initiative.
Even if no one welcomes me, even if the boys my age in Linchuan County curse me, it doesn’t matter.
I’m going to set out and show them kindness.
[Yi]: I won’t be lost anymore.
White Night Loner: Actually, there’s really no need to go to Linchuan…
[Yi]: My mind is made up.
White Night Loner: Alright then.
I’ll be rooting for you.
10:00 PM.
Gao Hongyi’s father, Gao Hongzhi, finally finished his day’s work and returned home.
The butler stepped forward and took his coat with meticulous movements.
“Father.”
Gao Hongzhi stood in place, offering a loving and graceful smile.
“Not asleep yet, little princess?”
“Hard work today, Father.”
“Not as hard as your schooling. Kids these days have so much pressure. You’re a freshman in high school now. Besides school, you have to prepare for studying abroad, learn French, and practice piano at night. There’s really very little time to relax.”
Gao Hongzhi changed into his slippers and walked toward the living room.
Even though he knew this little piano princess wasn’t biologically related to him, Gao Hongzhi still pampered Gao Hongyi exceptionally, treating her as his own.
“Father, are you planning to go to Linchuan County in Dongling Province soon?”
Normally at home, Gao Hongzhi never brought up this topic.
It was a taboo.
As the pillar of the family, he had to protect his daughter’s fragile emotions.
However, since she brought it up herself, he didn’t intend to hide it.
“Yes, Hongyi. But I promise you, you will always be the most important member of this family.”
“I want to go to Linchuan County, too.”
“Nonsense.”
Gao Hongzhi frowned slightly.
“Hongyi, we aren’t going on a vacation. Linchuan is a very backward place with poor conditions. You have classes, and you — “
“I don’t want to wait at home for the results. I want to face it myself,” Gao Hongyi said, her voice a few pitches higher than usual.
“Whether that family welcomes me or not, I want to see them. Maybe that’s the life I was originally supposed to face. If I turn a blind eye and cover my ears, I’ll hate my cowardly self. So Father, please…”
Gao Hongyi’s voice tightened, sounding like a porcelain doll about to shatter.
Whenever he saw his daughter with this expression, Gao Hongzhi would always give in.
“Hongyi, after your mother and I found out you weren’t our child, our love for you didn’t change at all. You’ve always been sensible and a good child who knows right from wrong. Now that so many years have passed…”
“That’s exactly why I want to face it with you and Mom. Whether it’s something joyful or something sad, I want to face it together as your daughter.”
Gao Hongzhi hadn’t expected to hear such words from his daughter.
After a long silence, he slowly nodded.
“You’ve grown up, Hongyi.”
“So I can go, right?”
“Yes, you can go.”
Gao Hongzhi then looked at the butler.
His voice was filled with a sense of steady authority.
“Prepare the information on Linchuan County in Dongling Province. Transportation, hotels, hospitals, police stations, and details on any local contacts who can receive us. Have it in my study by 9:00 AM tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Everything will be done as you ordered.”
The butler bowed slightly, saluted Gao Hongzhi, and then took his leave.
“Father…”
“What is it?”
“When winter break starts this year, I also want to go to Xinghai City.”
“Do you want to go to Xinghai City for a trip?”
“I want to meet someone.”
“Is it a boyfriend?”
Gao Hongzhi asked tentatively.
“It’s my idol.”
After this incident was over, she had to meet Uncle Bai.
She needed to thank him properly.
And then… she would say those words she had suppressed for so long, the thoughts that had made her toss and turn for countless nights.