Chapter 10: Boarding the Green Train  

“Sorry, I don’t know you.” Without another word, Qian Lai grabbed Liu Heqing’s hand and turned to leave.  

She was terrified he might bring up that night again.  

What happened that evening—it would be best if everyone lost their memory of it.  

“Wait!” The man reached out to stop her, but as he stepped forward, a little child suddenly clung to his leg. “Daddy!”  

Daddy!?  

Daddy!!?  

Qian Lai couldn’t help but pause and look back at him.  

At that moment, his strikingly handsome face turned somewhat awkward at the sudden cry of “Daddy.”  

For a second, he seemed torn between picking up the child or stopping the girl.  

But now, Qian Lai wasn’t in such a hurry to leave.  

If he was already a father, how could he be so careless with his children?  

Letting a seven- or eight-year-old child feed a two-year-old all by themselves—  

Other trivial matters, she might ignore. But when it came to children, she had to speak up.  

She stood firm, crossing her arms in front of her.  

Glancing at the baby who had nearly choked to death earlier, she sighed. “Comrade, your children are still so young, yet you left them alone in such a crowded place. Aren’t you worried about their safety?”  

“They say when dads take care of kids, survival is the only goal. But just now, that little one almost lost his life.”  

“A friendly reminder: In busy places like train stations, it’s best not to let children out of your sight.”  

“Otherwise, if they get snatched by traffickers or accidentally swallow something like earlier, you’ll be crying with nowhere to turn.”  

With that, she took Liu Heqing’s hand and strode away.  

Mentally, she sighed at herself—why did she sound so much like a nagging mom?  

Qiao Muting bent down and picked up Wenquan.  

Watching her retreating figure, he instinctively wanted to chase after her—but her words made him hesitate.  

Suddenly, he realized he wasn’t the same person he had been just days ago.  

Now, he was legally the “father” of two children: Wenquan and Wen Nuan.  

When it came to parenting, he had zero experience.  

Earlier, he had only stepped away to fetch hot water for the kids—who knew Wenquan would nearly get into trouble?  

“Uncle Qiao…” Wen Nuan gazed up at him obediently.  

His heart clenched, and he pulled her into a hug, aching with tenderness.  

This trip to Nan City wasn’t just about picking up his “cousin’s wife.” There was another important matter to settle.  

He needed to reunite the ashes of Li Li, the widow of his best friend Wen Haibo, with her husband in their hometown.  

He had watched Wen Haibo die right in front of him. Back then, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t save his friend.  

Years later, he was equally powerless to save Li Li when she developed a brain tumor.  

He deeply doubted his own abilities.  

The Qiao family had produced doctors for three generations: His grandfather had been a medical authority treating high-ranking officials, and his uncle was the director of the Southwest Military General Hospital.  

But when it came to him—he couldn’t even save the people who mattered most, forced to watch them die one by one in his hands.  

At one point, he was convinced he wasn’t cut out to be a doctor.  

What use was a “scalpel” that had no real power?  

Carrying Li Li’s ashes, he arrived at the home of Wen Haibo’s parents in Xiaonan Village.  

Now, only Wen Mu remained, struggling to raise two young children alone in bitter hardship.  

He couldn’t bear to let his friend’s mother spend her twilight years toiling for the children, so he decided to adopt them both.  

After entrusting the elderly woman to the local civil affairs department and arranging comprehensive care for her remaining years, he finally brought the two children back to Nan City.

Although his status had undergone a tremendous change, he had to admit that he hadn’t fully adapted to his new role in every aspect.  

At times, he even found himself flustered and overwhelmed.  

Fortunately, Wen Nuan and Wenquan were exceptionally sensible children.  

Especially Wen Nuan—obedient and well-behaved, as if she understood the predicament she and her younger brother were in. She was compliant in every way, not only managing her own life without relying on adults but even helping take care of her little brother.  

She also held immense gratitude toward Qiao Muting, treading carefully at all times, afraid of displeasing “Uncle Qiao.”  

As for Wenquan, the moment they met, he had willfully called him “Dad.”  

The boy was a posthumous child, having never seen Wen Haibo in his life. Perhaps it was his desperate longing for a father’s love—since a “Dad” had fallen from the sky, he clung to him with all his might.  

At first, even in his dreams, he would stubbornly clutch the hem of Qiao Muting’s clothes, refusing to let go.  

The contrasting behaviors of the two children broke Qiao Muting’s heart.  

He wanted to do everything in his power to rebuild a home for them.  

He felt that this might be the greatest motivation to keep him going.  

Never did he expect to encounter the girl from his dreams again at the train station today.  

In the darkness that night, her delicate charm had already captivated him, leaving him unable to forget her.  

But today, seeing her again… she was even more breathtaking!  

A simple white nurse-collar dress cinched at the waist accentuated her already porcelain-like skin, making it appear even more translucent. The curves of her figure were perfectly outlined.  

Her high ponytail, seemingly tied casually with a white handkerchief, gave her an air of carefree innocence.  

Only today, the sweet, rosy smile was gone from her face, and none of the “little white rabbit” softness from that day remained.  

When scolding someone, her small face flushed slightly red, stern yet utterly harmless—like a little fox whose fur had puffed up in irritation, its anger laced with cunning.  

Heh.  

Qiao Muting chuckled to himself: Aside from being sly, she was also a bit mysterious.  

Meanwhile, Liu Heqing jogged after Qian Lai. “Sis, are you really sure you don’t know that man? He’s so handsome! I’ve never seen such a dashing comrade before. It’s just a shame he’s already a father…”  

“Comrade, I saw you save that child earlier—that was so dangerous!”  

The annoying Lu Ximing was truly relentless.  

Qian Lai kept her eyes forward, walking briskly without pause.  

“Comrade, my name is Lu Ximing. I’m from Xinda University. I’m a student there—would you honor me with your acquaintance?”  

In that era, university students were highly respected.  

Lu Ximing was well aware of how appealing his status was to young women.  

Unfortunately, Qian Lai was no ordinary girl.  

Sensing Qian Lai’s displeasure, Liu Heqing stepped between them. “Sorry, comrade. My sister has a train to catch.”  

“Is it the 9:45 train to Xinshi?” The man flashed a triumphant smile.  

Qian Lai didn’t even dignify him with a response, heading straight to the luggage storage to retrieve her belongings.  

By now, the crowd in the waiting hall had reached its peak. In fifteen minutes, the train to Xinshi would depart.  

A long line had already formed at the boarding gate. Qian Lai joined the end of the queue.  

Lu Ximing followed closely behind, about to speak again, when someone behind him gasped for breath and said, “Ximing, why did you run off so fast? It’s crowded here—we shouldn’t get separated.”

Liu Heqing pushed Qian Lai forward as if avoiding someone contagious, whispering, “Oh no, sis. Two annoying pests are on the same train as you. Should I buy a ticket and escort you there?”

Qian Lai nearly laughed herself to death.

Those two were more like sticky plasters than professional assassins.

In the distance, Qiao Muting held Wenquan in one arm and luggage in the other, with Wen Nuan tightly clutching the hem of his clothes.

This one-adult-two-kids arrangement made every step a struggle.

Standing at the far end of the queue, his gaze immediately landed on Qian Lai in her white dress.

She stood out like a beacon in the crowd!

Only now, there was another man sticking close to her.

Seeing the smile on the man’s face, Qiao Muting felt an unexpected pang of envy and jealousy.

[Attention passengers of XK945 to Xinshi: Please prepare your luggage for boarding…]

The carriage quickly filled with people, luggage, and squawking poultry.

This was Qian Lai’s first time riding the Green Train, and she felt more excitement than most.

The organization had originally booked her a sleeper ticket, which she’d politely declined.

The hard-seat section’s crowd meant she could slip into her Dimension unnoticed whenever she needed peace. The confined space of a sleeper berth would make her an easy target.

Carrying her luggage, she squeezed through the throng before finally finding her seat.

Outside the window, Liu Heqing’s eyes brimmed with reluctant tears. “Sis, if I’d known I’d have to cry twice sending off two people in one day, I’d have made you leave on separate days!”

“Sis, the train’s packed. Keep an eye on your things.”

“Don’t worry about home. Once term starts, I’ll be a police academy cadet. If anyone dares bully Auntie, they’ll regret it.”

“Take care of yourself…”

She’d underestimated the girl’s capacity for nagging.

Qian Lai smiled and handed her a “White Rabbit” milk candy, repeating her warning: “Since Qian Xiaozhen didn’t get that university recommendation letter, she won’t let this go easily. If anything happens, write to me.”

Liu Heqing nodded vigorously.

Just then, a clear, bright female voice rang out nearby: “My savior! What an amazing coincidence!”