When Xu Ruizhi returned with two bottles of chilled drinks, he saw Fang Hanmeng standing there chatting with a little girl who looked about seven or eight years old.
"Big brother, you're back!" Fang Hanmeng turned at the sound and immediately spotted Xu Ruizhi, her face lighting up with a smile.
She bounced over and grabbed Xu Ruizhi's arm, then pointed to the little girl beside her. "Big brother, let me introduce you. This is Sitian, a friend I just made!"
Xu Ruizhi naturally turned his gaze toward Sitian, finding the little girl exceptionally pretty and adorable. He nodded at her with a warm smile and asked, "Hello, I'm Xu Ruizhi. Nice to meet you."
Sitian looked up at the man before her, thinking to herself how incredibly handsome this big brother was.
And he was so gentle and friendly, even more charming than those celebrities on TV... But Sitian, being young, wasn't one to get overly infatuated, so she didn't act too flustered.
She politely nodded back, her voice soft and sweet as she said, "My name is Zhu Sitian. You can call me Tiantian!"
Just as the three were chatting, a distant shout suddenly rang out—"Tiantian! Tiantian!"
Hearing her name being called, Sitian immediately waved her hands toward the direction of the voice and responded crisply, "Mom! I'm over here!"
The figure in the distance drew closer and soon came into everyone's view.
A plainly dressed woman hurried over from afar, sweating profusely and looking around anxiously. Upon spotting Sitian, she immediately stopped, her face lighting up with overwhelming joy before she rushed forward.
"Mom!"
Seeing her mother approach, Sitian cheered and ran to meet her.
The woman scooped Sitian into her arms, holding her tightly as tears began to fall uncontrollably.
"You naughty girl, why did you run off like that? You had me searching everywhere."
"Mom, I didn't run off. You took too long buying cola, and I couldn't find my way. I've been waiting right here for you," Sitian said innocently, reaching out her small hand to wipe the tears from her mother's eyes.
"Really?" The woman looked around and indeed realized they were still in the line for tickets, with Sitian obediently waiting right where she had left her. A hint of guilt appeared on her face as she whispered, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you here. It's my fault."
Meanwhile, Xu Ruizhi finally got a clear look at the woman's face and couldn't help but freeze. This woman was extraordinarily beautiful.
Xu Ruizhi had seen many beautiful women, but few could compare to the one before him. Even though he was accustomed to the stunning looks of his mother, Aunt Song, Teacher Li, Fang Hanmeng, and others, he was still taken aback by this woman's beauty.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, wearing a faded blue-checked shirt, dark gray jeans, and black canvas shoes. Though her attire was simple, it carried a strong, rustic charm.
Her chest wasn't particularly large, but its curve was graceful and rounded. The top button of her blue-checked shirt was fastened, perfectly concealing the proud peaks beneath.
Her cascading hair fell like a waterfall, smooth and jet-black, swaying gently in the breeze. Her fair, delicate skin resembled polished ivory, so flawless it seemed as if it could be bruised by a mere touch. A pair of peach-blossom eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, and her slightly parted red lips exuded a captivating charm.
Yet, what stood out most was the weariness and melancholy etched between her brows, evoking an instinctive sense of pity in anyone who saw her.
Her long, slender legs were encased in jeans, revealing only a glimpse of her smooth, snow-white skin. The denim hugged her hips tightly, accentuating the perfect, rounded curves of her buttocks.
At that moment, the woman had already released Sitian and turned to face Xu Rui Zhi and Fang Han Meng, speaking with a hint of embarrassment, "Hello, I'm Sitian's mother, Zhu Xiefang. Thank you for keeping my daughter company. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do."
Xu Rui Zhi quickly shook his head. "Auntie, you're too kind. We didn't do much. Sitian, on the other hand, has been very sensible, waiting for you all this time."
Just then, it was finally their turn.
...
After checking and confirming the tickets, the amusement park staff handed them to Xu Rui Zhi. As he took out his wallet to pay, Zhu Xiefang quickly pulled out her own wallet, ready to settle the bill.
"Auntie, you really don't have to do this," Xu Rui Zhi said, hurriedly stopping her.
Zhu Xiefang waved her hand dismissively. "You saved my Sitian, which is like saving me. I must thank you. Besides, today is my daughter's birthday. If you don't mind, please stay and spend some time with her. She doesn't have many friends at school and often seems down. It's rare for her to meet someone like you two, and she really enjoys being with you."
"Yeah, big brother, please stay and play with me! I promise I'll be good!" Sitian chimed in, grabbing Xu Rui Zhi's arm and pleading sweetly.
Xu Rui Zhi looked at the mother and daughter, feeling conflicted. He had originally planned to spend the whole day with Fang Han Meng, but now... He glanced at Fang Han Meng, seeking her opinion. Fang Han Meng smiled and said, "Big brother, since Sitian really wants us to stay, let's stay and have fun. It's more lively with more people, and I enjoy spending time with Sitian too."
Fang Han Meng genuinely liked Sitian, as her words resonated deeply with her.
After a moment of thought, Xu Rui Zhi nodded. "Alright then."
"Yay!"
Overjoyed by Xu Rui Zhi's agreement, Sitian cheered and threw herself into his arms, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Big brother, you're the best!"
"Haha!" Xu Rui Zhi touched his cheek, unable to help but smile.
Seeing this, Zhu Xiefang's smile widened. It had been a long time since she had seen Sitian so happy. She sighed inwardly. She had given birth to Sitian out of wedlock. Growing up in the countryside, her parents favored sons over daughters, and she had endured endless mistreatment.
Timid and submissive by nature, she never dared to resist. At nineteen, her parents, desperate to raise money for her brother's wedding, forced her to marry a man from a neighboring village. Bound by her parents' wishes and the matchmaker's arrangement, she had no choice but to comply.
The man had taken one look at her and lusted after her. To force her into the marriage, her parents locked her in a room with him, and the man took advantage of the situation, violating her against her will.
Then, taking advantage of the man's distraction, Zhu Xiefang grabbed the nearby iron poker and smashed it hard against his head. The man collapsed into a pool of blood, his eyes forever closed.
After that incident, Zhu Xiefang became a murderer. Her parents were also taken away by the police and sentenced for their involvement in aiding the deceased in the rape of a woman.
As for her?
At the time, there were two opposing arguments. One side believed she had acted in self-defense—the man had been assaulting her, and she had killed him unintentionally while defending herself. The other side argued that her self-defense was excessive, resulting in the man's death, and she should be sentenced to prison.
Coincidentally, she was pregnant at the time. Ultimately, the court ruled that she had acted in self-defense but still bore responsibility. She was given a three-year suspended sentence and released on the spot.
After her release, Zhu Xiefang wanted to abort the child. After all, the man was dead, and she hated him deeply, having no desire to keep his child.
However, when she went to the hospital for the procedure, the baby in her womb seemed to sense something and moved slightly, as if saying, "Mom, don't abandon me."
In that moment, Zhu Xiefang suddenly felt cruel. This child was innocent, her own flesh and blood.
In the end, she chose to keep the child and named her Zhu Sitian, hoping that perhaps this child would bring her hope and free her from hatred.
Over the years, Zhu Xiefang devoted herself entirely to Sitian. She had long let go of the past and no longer wanted to dwell on those memories. Now, she only wished for Sitian to be healthy and happy, nothing more.
...
"Mom? Mom?"
Seeing Zhu Xiefang standing there lost in thought, Sitian couldn't help but call out twice. She was puzzled—just moments ago, her mom had been fine. Why had she suddenly frozen?
Hearing Sitian's voice, Zhu Xiefang snapped back to reality, smiling as she reached out to pick Sitian up. "What do you want to play? Mom will join you."
"Mom, I want to play bumper cars," Sitian said happily.
Hearing Sitian's request, Zhu Xiefang turned to Xu Ruizhi and Fang Hanmeng and asked, "Do you two want to play?"
When Zhu Xiefang asked them, Fang Hanmeng felt a surge of curiosity. Were bumper cars really that fun?
Though she had never played them before, she had seen children on TV having a great time, crashing into each other with delight.
Seeing Fang Hanmeng's expression, Xu Ruizhi guessed she had never played before and said with a smile, "Sure, let's go play bumper cars."
"Yay!"
Sitian cheered instantly.
Immediately, Sitian grabbed Fang Hanmeng's hand and ran toward the bumper car area, while Zhu Xiefang reminded her to watch her step.
Zhu Xiefang followed behind at a leisurely pace.
"I need to tell you something," Xu Ruizhi said as he walked, hesitating for a moment before leaning half a step closer to Zhu Xiefang and whispering into her ear.
"Wh-what is it?"
Xu Ruizhi's voice was low, his warm breath brushing against Zhu Xiefang's sensitive earlobe, sending a tingling sensation through her body. She couldn't help but shrink her neck slightly. The masculine scent of him filled her senses, making her feel flushed and feverish.
For a single woman in her late twenties, this was utterly tantalizing.
Moreover, as a cultivator, his physique was extraordinary, exuding a faint, pleasant fragrance that made people unconsciously feel drawn to him. With the help of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, Xu Ruizhi's aura became even more captivating.
"It's like this..."
Xu Ruizhi briefly explained the situation regarding Fang Hanmeng to Zhu Xiefang, of course, still using the identity of Fang Hanmeng as his cousin to avoid making Zhu Xiefang overthink.
After listening, Zhu Xiefang was momentarily stunned, then a look of sudden understanding dawned on her face. No wonder, when Fang Hanmeng spoke earlier, she felt a bit like she was talking to her own daughter. Despite having a mature and charmingly beautiful face, her tone of voice was exactly like that of a girl her daughter's age.
However, when she thought about Fang Hanmeng's actual age, Zhu Xiefang's expression turned strange. Fang Hanmeng was a full five years older than her, and her own daughter was only six years old. By age, she should be calling Fang Hanmeng "big sister," and even her daughter calling her "aunt" would be normal. Yet, these two were addressing each other as sisters—what on earth was going on?
Moreover, the two of them were getting along very well now, clearly having become good friends. Zhu Xiefang couldn't help but feel a bit absurd about the whole situation.
Seeing Zhu Xiefang's strange gaze, Xu Ruizhi also felt a bit awkward, but he added, "When we play games later, just join them normally. No matter what they do, don't be surprised. Just treat her like a seven- or eight-year-old girl."
"Mm." Zhu Xiefang took a deep breath and nodded.
...
Soon, Xu Ruizhi and the others arrived at the bumper car area. Several bumper cars were already parked there, and the place was bustling with people, mostly parents with children. The screams of children rose and fell as a group of kids wildly turned their steering wheels and charged forward, zigzagging around.
"How many rounds?" a young man in work clothes approached as soon as he saw Xu Ruizhi and the others.
Without hesitation, Xu Ruizhi arranged for two bumper cars—one for him and Fang Hanmeng, and the other for Zhu Xiefang and Sitian.
And so, the two cars began chasing each other wildly. At first, Fang Hanmeng and Sitian didn't know how to drive the bumper cars and were a bit scared. But gradually, as they watched Xu Ruizhi and Zhu Xiefang skillfully maneuvering the cars and having a great time, they started trying it out themselves. The two cars chased each other, one after the other, following the four bumper cars ahead.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
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