Chapter 22

Director Chen’s heart skipped a beat.

They really came today, just like Old Qin said! That was fast — and urgent!

Even though Sisi wasn’t their biological daughter, they had raised her for over twenty years, after all.

“Director Chen?”

Director Chen snapped out of it. “Mm, they’ve gone out. When they return, I’ll have them come over. I have some things to take care of.”

Party Secretary Wang had no choice but to say, “Alright.”

Director Chen hung up the phone and returned to the dining table, saying nothing as he silently ate his breakfast.

Qin Hua glanced at her husband. Her instincts told her that phone call had something to do with Sisi.

Last night, she had suspected that Sisi’s biological parents might show up at Baiyang Village today. Could they already be here?

She didn’t say anything further and instead looked at Song Sisi, speaking gently and repeatedly, “Sisi, eat a bit more.”

Sisi replied, “Okay, Auntie Qin.”

But her mind was turning.

[Was that call just now from Uncle Lu’s parents?]

She didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask, so she turned her clear, water-like eyes to Lu Yancheng.

Lu Yancheng had the same suspicion but didn’t ask in front of her.

After breakfast, Director Chen wiped his mouth and turned to Lu Yancheng. “Take my car today and go to the city with Sisi. It’ll be faster and more convenient.”

Lu Yancheng paused. “Thank you, Director Chen.”

Director Chen replied, “No need to be polite. It’s getting late—go on now.”

Lu Yancheng looked at Song Sisi. “Let’s go, then.”

Sisi followed him out, her heart feeling warm and full.

[Wuwuwu, how lucky I am to have been reborn into a life where I met Uncle Chen and Auntie Qin—such golden benefactors. I’m moved to tears!!]

[What’s sad is that in my previous life, my biological parents ignored me. They weren’t even a tenth as good to me as Uncle Chen and Auntie Qin are now.]

Upon hearing this, Lu Yancheng felt a tightness in his chest and suddenly grabbed her hand tightly.

Not far away, Director Chen and Qin Hua were shocked and also deeply upset!

Shocked that—could it really be true that someone could die and come back to life?

Rebirth? That’s what she meant, right?

What upset them was—how could Sisi’s biological parents bear to treat such a beautiful and well-behaved girl so poorly?

After sending Lu Yancheng and Song Sisi off, Director Chen looked at Lu Yancheng and reminded him, “Drive carefully—don’t go crashing into any more rice fields.”

Lu Yancheng’s expression was a little awkward. “Understood, sir.”

Director Chen nodded. “Off you go.”

Lu Yancheng got into the driver’s seat. Once Sisi had fastened her seatbelt, he started the car and backed out, heading toward the compound’s main gate.

Once they were out of sight, Qin Hua turned to Director Chen and said, her voice full of emotion, “Old Chen, how about we just adopt Sisi as our daughter?”

Director Chen thought for a moment. “Alright!”

This child must have suffered a lot. They’d only shown her a little kindness, and she was already this moved?

Just hearing that made his heart ache!

Qin Hua glanced around and said, “Let’s talk inside.”

Director Chen replied, “Mm.”

He followed his wife back into the living room.

Qin Hua looked out the window and closed the door behind them. “What do you think she meant by ‘reborn’?”

Director Chen picked up a dictionary and looked it up.

Qin Hua leaned over to read it with him.

“Rebirth — a Chinese word. 1. To be born again; resurrection. 2. To cherish and care for one’s health and life. 3. To prioritize the lives of the people.”

From Sisi’s inner voice, it must’ve meant the first definition — to come back to life.

Qin Hua looked at Director Chen. “Old Chen, could it be that at that Eight-Wax Temple, the old Sisi died once and then came back to life?”

Director Chen: “…”

As absurd as that sounded, they could already hear Sisi’s thoughts—what else was impossible?

He looked at Qin Hua. “That phone call just now was from Secretary Wang. Song Dalong and Li Li have arrived at the educated youth camp. I didn’t tell Lu Yancheng or Sisi yet—I figured I’d let them enjoy their city trip first.”

Only then did Qin Hua recall the earlier call!

She’d completely forgotten, distracted by Sisi’s thoughts.

But then…

Her eyes suddenly lit up. “Old Chen, why don’t we go to the educated youth camp and meet with Song Dalong and Li Li, and bring up our idea of adopting Sisi?”

Director Chen paused and looked at his wife.

He seemed to understand what she was getting at.

Song Dalong and Li Li had saved the lives of Old Lu and his wife, so the Lu family naturally viewed them favorably—thinking they were honest and good-hearted. But he and Qin Hua didn’t feel the same.

At Lu Yancheng and Sisi’s last wedding, he and Qin Hua had gone in very plain clothes, posing as Lu Yancheng’s coworkers.

Song Dalong and Li Li had been cold and dismissive, leaving them off to the side and ignoring them.

But when Old Lu and his wife arrived, they were fawning and overly attentive.

Later, once Old Lu introduced them properly, Song Dalong and Li Li’s attitude made a complete 180, becoming suddenly enthusiastic and flattering.

He had wanted to bring this up to Old Lu but hadn’t found the right moment. After all, Song Dalong and Li Li were just ordinary people with their flaws, and they had saved the Lus’ lives—and were now their in-laws. Some things were better left unsaid.

But thinking about it now…

He looked at Qin Hua. “No time like the present. Let’s go now.”

Qin Hua remembered that incident too. “Let’s.”

Director Chen paused. “Wait a moment, I’ll put on my uniform.”

Qin Hua nodded. “Alright.”

…

Half an hour later, the two of them walked to the educated youth camp, accompanied by guards Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhao.

Just as they neared the dormitory where Sisi stayed, they saw the door wide open. Song Dalong was lying on Sisi’s bed, legs crossed, smoking. Li Li sat nearby, cracking sunflower seeds.

Director Chen stepped inside. “Comrades Song Dalong and Li Li, hello.”

Qin Hua followed him in.

Xiao Liu and Xiao Zhao stood straight as poles just outside the door, flanking the doorway.

Song Dalong was startled, his cigarette dropping onto the bedsheet and burning a hole through it.

“Di–Director Chen! What brings you here?”

He quickly rolled off the bed, clumsily grabbing the cigarette butt and snuffing it out with his bare hand, then frantically rubbed the sparks off the sheet.

Li Li’s face also changed as she forced a smile. “Director Chen, hello.”

Song Dalong jumped off the bed and reached for his shoes. “Director Chen, Comrade Qin, please have a seat!”

Director Chen gave a reserved nod and sat on the part of the bed that Song Dalong’s feet hadn’t touched. “Old Qin, sit here.”

Qin Hua sat beside him, wondering how such people could have raised someone as clean and well-behaved as Sisi.

Then again, Sisi wasn’t their biological daughter — that explained it.

She spoke softly. “Here’s the thing — we really like Sisi. She gets along well with both me and Old Chen, and we’d like to adopt her as our goddaughter. We came to ask for your thoughts.”

Hearing that, Song Dalong and Li Li were stunned.

What?

Director Chen and Comrade Qin wanted to adopt Sisi as their goddaughter?

Their hearts suddenly sank into an icy pit.

In that moment of hesitation, a sharp electronic voice rang out in their heads:

“Don’t agree to it! Whatever you do, don’t agree to it!”