On the way back, Shen Lingxi felt a bit uneasy, but the moment she saw the gate to her home, she tossed everything to the back of her mind. She jumped happily off the Fire-wheeled Carriage and rushed inside.
“Father, Mother!”
Pushing the door open, she saw two middle-aged people sitting in the room. A man and a woman; the man was napping in a chair, while the woman was mending clothes.
Hearing the sound, they both looked up. When they saw the person who had entered, they were stunned for a long moment.
“Lingxi?”
Their voices were filled with astonishment.
In the short span of about a month, the hair at both their temples had turned white, making them look much older.
Not long after Shen Lingxi had left, Father Shen and Mother Shen had missed their daughter so much that they traveled across mountains and rivers to Saintess Mountain to visit her. However, they were refused entry by the disciples guarding the gate.
When they handed the disciples a few Spirit Stones and gave Shen Lingxi’s name, they were told that no such person existed.
They suddenly realized they might have been deceived.
That Elder Li was nothing more than a liar and a human trafficker.
They had sold their lovely daughter for just a few High-grade Spirit Stones!
Father Shen was filled with regret, and Mother Shen was heartbroken. The hair of the two elders of the Shen Family had turned white from worry.
After returning, the atmosphere in the Shen Family home had become exceptionally heavy.
The two elders of the Shen Family originally thought they would never see Shen Lingxi again, never expecting that she would suddenly reappear.
As the family reunited, Mother Shen ignored the work in her hands, stood up, and rushed over to embrace Shen Lingxi.
“Lingxi, my dear daughter — “
Mother Shen wept with joy, hugging Shen Lingxi so tightly that it became difficult for the girl to breathe.
“Mother, I… I can’t really breathe.”
“Oh, oh, I’m sorry, Lingxi.” Mother Shen hurriedly let go.
Father Shen was a step slower, but he still walked over. Although his emotions did not seem as exaggerated as Mother Shen’s, a light flickered in his cloudy eyes.
“You’re back. It’s good that you’re back.” Father Shen only said those few words, his face full of tenderness.
“Mhm, mhm.”
Shen Lingxi nodded. She suddenly remembered something and was about to run out, but she stopped the moment she turned around.
A youth was standing at the entrance of the Shen Family home. He was about the same age as Shen Lingxi and was carrying a large bag of things in both hands.
Father Shen and Mother Shen noticed him as well, but seeing their daughter’s reaction, they knew that this person was definitely not a lost stranger.
“Who is he?” Father Shen asked.
“He, he, he is — “
Shen Lingxi’s eyes flickered. She had planned a long introduction beforehand, but when the time actually came to speak, she felt some hesitation in her heart.
‘Lingxi, once you grow up, it’s enough to marry someone of equal social standing.’
Father Shen’s previous constant teachings still echoed in Shen Lingxi’s ears.
She wanted to speak, but she was afraid Father Shen would not approve.
“A friend.”
Gu Ming saw her predicament and stepped in to help with a smile.
“Right, right, right.”
Shen Lingxi hurriedly followed up, glancing at Gu Ming from time to time to observe his expression, deeply afraid that he might be unhappy.
“Is that so? Then hurry on in.” Mother Shen quickly waved to invite Gu Ming inside.
“Hello, Uncle and Aunt. These are some gifts I brought for you.”
Gu Ming walked into the house and handed the gifts to Father Shen. When Father Shen took them and looked, his eyes widened.
“Wine?!”
“And it’s Spirit Wine!”
Father Shen counted them; there were at least eight or nine bottles. He picked up one of them and examined it carefully, occasionally letting out sighs of admiration.
“It really is Spirit Wine, and it’s even the Millennium Spirit Wine produced by the Immortal Wine House.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This stuff isn’t cheap, is it?”
He glanced at Gu Ming, suddenly feeling that this youth’s identity was not simple. Bringing out Millennium Spirit Wine as a casual gift was quite a gesture.
The Immortal Wine House was a household name, a winery famous for producing Spirit Wine.
The Spirit Wine produced by this winery not only had an excellent taste but was also rich and fragrant. Additionally, it had the effect of nourishing the body. Therefore, their Spirit Wine was not only expensive but also limited in quantity.
Even average local gentry and powerful figures couldn’t get a bottle without some connections.
And now, this youth had produced eight or nine bottles all at once…
Father Shen immediately put down the Spirit Wine, pulled Shen Lingxi to the side, and asked, “Lingxi, are you two really just friends?”
“Yes, yes, is there a problem?” Shen Lingxi’s eyes flickered as she spoke with a guilty conscience.
“Don’t lie to your father. If you’re just friends, why would he give me such expensive Spirit Wine?” Father Shen didn’t quite believe her.
Shen Lingxi’s face stiffened. Her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say she wasn’t lying, but she also felt this was a good chance to confess.
Finally, just as she made up her mind to come clean, a sentence from Father Shen made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
“Were you bought by his family to be a Child Bride?”
“Huh?”
Shen Lingxi stared at Father Shen in a daze, not understanding why he would have such a thought.
“No!”
She immediately denied it.
Just then, a man walked in from outside carrying two bolts of high-quality fabric.
His appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Father Shen and Mother Shen might have been confused, but Shen Lingxi recognized him at a glance as the driver who had brought them there.
The driver ignored the reactions of the people in the room and asked Gu Ming, “Young Master, where should I put this fabric?”
“Aunt, that’s a gift for you. Where would be the best place to put it?” Gu Ming didn’t rush to answer the driver, instead asking Mother Shen.
Mother Shen was slightly stunned. She blinked and asked uncertainly, “For me?”
“Mhm, mhm.”
“Oh my, you are so thoughtful. Thank you.”
Mother Shen immediately beamed with joy and then gestured for the driver to follow her into the room to put it away.
After the driver put the fabric down, he walked out of the room. Unexpectedly, not long after, Mother Shen’s repeated exclamations came from inside:
“Oh my god! This is—this is top-quality fabric!”
Soon after, Mother Shen ran out and pulled Father Shen and Shen Lingxi into the room.
Before going in, Mother Shen specifically apologized to Gu Ming.
“I’m sorry, we have something we need to ask Lingxi.”
“It’s no problem.” Gu Ming smiled politely.
As soon as they entered the room, Mother Shen cornered Shen Lingxi. “Honestly, who is that boy outside?”
“He, he… his name is Gu Ming…”
“Gu Ming?”
As soon as Shen Lingxi reported Gu Ming’s name, it drew gasps from Father Shen and Mother Shen.
“Could it be that he’s from that Gu Family?”
“I think so.” Father Shen nodded. “If he weren’t from the Gu Family, it would probably be very difficult to buy Millennium Spirit Wine. That stuff is worth a fortune.”
“The fabric he gave me is also incredibly good. It’s so soft and smooth. It feels better than the best fabric store in our town.” Mother Shen agreed. Then, her expression changed, and she said to Father Shen, “Maybe we should return the things. They’re too valuable.”
Father Shen was very distressed and shook his head slightly.
“Lingxi has already become a Child Bride for their family. If we return them, he might feel like we’re insulting his pride. Lingxi’s life in the Gu Family might be very difficult in the future.”
“What?!” Mother Shen was shocked.
Father Shen explained:
“Before, didn’t we suspect that Elder Li was a human trafficker? Now it’s confirmed; he really was one. He sold our Lingxi to the Gu Family as a Child Bride. I suppose this counts as a blessing in disguise.”
After hearing Father Shen’s words, Mother Shen suddenly understood. Indeed, if they were just ordinary friends, why would he give such expensive gifts? If she were a Child Bride, it would make sense.
“Besides, it’s clear that the boy really cares about our Lingxi. At the very least, we can be sure that Lingxi won’t have too hard of a time in the Gu Family,” Father Shen added.
“It’s hard to say. You men, which of you isn’t fickle? Right now, the Young Master of the Gu Family is still young, so he might like Lingxi, but what about when he grows up?” Mother Shen was still worried. “If he gets tired of her one day and abandons our Lingxi, won’t she suffer then?”
“How about we buy her back from the Gu Family?” Mother Shen suggested worriedly.
“That makes some sense. After all, our social statuses don’t match.” Father Shen was silent for a moment before saying, “Fine. Even if our family has to sell everything we own, I will buy our daughter back.”
Listening to the increasingly ridiculous conversation between Father Shen and Mother Shen, Shen Lingxi finally couldn’t help but stop them.
“Father, Mother, what are you thinking?”
“I wasn’t sold!”
“And I’m not a Child Bride for the Gu Family!”
“I am his girlfriend!!!”