Chapter 123 (Arc End)

Such a flashy car had only been seen in the village once before—when someone from Capital City came to pick up Mr. Su and his wife.

Now another one had driven in and parked right in front of the Li family’s house. Many villagers speculated it had something to do with Mr. Su again.

A crowd had gathered around the car, eager to see what was going on.

The passenger door opened first, and Xiao Song, the Production Team Leader’s son, jumped out with a grin and greeted the villagers.

Some of the Production Team Leader’s grandchildren were in the crowd. They had been too timid to come forward, but once they saw it was their uncle, they rushed over excitedly, eyes fixed on the car.

Xiao Song had studied hard for years just for this moment—to return in glory. Holding his brother’s daughter in his arms, he asked with a smile, “Want to sit inside?”

The little girl chirped a clear “Yes!” and Xiao Song carried her into the car, making the other village children green with envy.

The driver’s door opened next, and Li Dazhuang stepped out, carrying a bag of things he’d bought for his son. Ignoring the curious stares of the villagers, he headed straight for home.

He and Xiao Song had been sent by Old Wang to a special training location, where they took multiple exams. Only after passing all of them were they assigned to their positions.

Using his connections, Old Wang placed both of them under his wing. Together, the three traveled far and wide, and dabbled in a bit of speculative trading on the side.

People in that line of work tended to be bold, and in recent years, the authorities hadn’t been cracking down as hard as before, so no one really cared.

Old Wang’s previous transport team had been scared stiff by past incidents. Even when Old Wang wanted to do something, he had to tread carefully, sometimes even hiding things from his own men—it was suffocating.

But Li Dazhuang and Xiao Song had joined precisely for that kind of work. They hit it off with Old Wang right away, and the three of them made a fortune together.

On the surface, they were just transport workers. But behind the scenes, all three had become ten-thousand-yuan households.

Old Wang’s son had just turned one and taken leave, and since Li Dazhuang and Xiao Song didn’t want to work with unfamiliar people in the transport team, they took the opportunity to return home for a visit.

Xiao Song was fine—he was young and carefree, just wanted to come home and show off to his dad.

But Li Dazhuang was different. After years away, he truly missed his son.

Every time he came across something suitable for his boy during their side business, he’d set it aside. Over the years, he’d amassed a big bundle, and this time he brought it all home.

Granny Li had thought the exam results were out. She wiped her hands on her apron and was about to step outside when Li Dazhuang walked in.

Compared to when he left, he looked older and more mature.

Before coming back, Li Dazhuang had cleaned himself up. After all, the transport team ran long hauls, and it was all men—no one cared if they were a bit dirty or messy.

But this time, he was coming home. He changed into new clothes, wore leather shoes from Hong Kong City, and carried a bag the likes of which had never been seen in their little village.

From head to toe, he was dressed in a completely new getup—only his face still bore some familiarity to Granny Li.

“It’s been so many years, and you finally decided to come back.”

Granny Li placed her hands on her youngest son’s shoulders, gave him a good look to make sure he was all right, then sniffled and broke into a smile.

“Good. As long as you’re back safe.”

“I’ll have your father kill a chicken—we’re going to celebrate properly!”

Her youngest son had come home after years away. Granny Li was so overjoyed, she completely forgot about the exam results.

An An, just like when he was little, moved fast the moment he heard his grandmother mention killing a chicken. He quickly scooped up the one passing by and held it in his arms. Granny Li came over, pinched its wings, and carried it off with practiced ease.

Her movements were just as swift and clean as they’d been years ago. Li Dazhuang couldn’t help but focus on his son.

When he left, An An hadn’t even reached his shoulder. Now, he was nearly as tall as him.

An An stood stiffly, unsure how to react to the father who had suddenly reappeared after years of absence.

Li Dazhuang looked at his nearly grown son, set the bag down in front of him, and said with a smile, “Huh? It’s only been a few years, and you don’t recognize your old man anymore?”

That familiar, teasing tone seemed to melt the distance between them in an instant.

“No… Dad, what’s this?”

An An glanced at the large black bag. It was stuffed so full it bulged at the seams.

“Brought you some things. We’ll look at them inside.”

After years out in the world, Li Dazhuang had become much more cautious. He knew if the villagers saw what was in that bag, they’d gossip endlessly behind their backs.

“Oh, okay.”

An An bent down to pick up the bag and carry it inside. Remembering how effortlessly his dad had lifted it with one hand, he tried to do the same—but the moment he lifted, he realized how heavy it was. Gritting his teeth, he used both hands and all his strength, but still couldn’t budge it.

Seeing his son struggle, Li Dazhuang couldn’t help but chuckle. He walked over, picked it up with ease, and carried it into An An’s room.

He was no longer the petty troublemaker who used to sneak around the village. These days, transport team workers had to know how to drive and fix vehicles, and he’d built up plenty of strength.

Just as the chicken was being slaughtered, the Production Team Leader arrived, beaming as he carried something into the courtyard.

He excitedly told Sister-in-law Li that An An had become the province’s top science scorer!

As soon as the results came out, Capital City University sent someone to ask if he was interested in enrolling.

Capital City University! One of the best in the country, a dream school for countless students.

The Production Team Leader thought that if his own son had achieved something like that, he wouldn’t even mind if the boy walked all over him—he’d just worry he might fall.

Li Dazhuang had just set down the bag when he heard the news. He rushed out and asked, “My son got into university?”

The Production Team Leader had just returned from the county. When he saw Li Dazhuang, he paused, then remembered who he was.

“You’re back? Where’s my son?”

“He’s back too. Wait—Production Team Leader, did you say my son’s the top scorer? He got into university?”

“Yes! Top in the province! Capital City University!”

With that, the Production Team Leader stuffed the things he’d brought from the county into Li Dazhuang’s hands and turned to leave.

That rascal had only written home once every three months for years. Didn’t he know how much his family missed him? Now that he was back, he was definitely getting a good scolding.

Not even his grandparents could protect him this time!

An An didn’t go outside. Instead, he unzipped the bag.

Before joining the transport team, Li Dazhuang had been busy—attending classes, taking exams, afraid he might squander such a rare opportunity.

After joining, he got even busier. The road wasn’t smooth, and sometimes even dangerous.

Whenever he saw something that might suit his son, he kept it. The bag was stuffed haphazardly with all kinds of things.

An An took each item out and laid them on his desk.

There were toy cars and airplanes—brand new, finely made, with remote controls. One look and you could tell they weren’t cheap.

His sister-in-law and older sister worked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Whenever something new came in, they’d call An An over to take a look.

Shitou’s wife didn’t know about An An’s special status. She simply treated him kindly because her husband valued him, and over time came to see him as a little brother.

Even so, An An had never seen remote-controlled toys like these at the Cooperative.

He thought to himself that he was too old for such childish toys now, but his hands betrayed him—he picked up the remote to give it a try.

The front of the bag had toys, but toward the back were watches, radios, and children’s clothes and shoes.

Though Li Dazhuang had missed a few years of An An’s growth while chasing his dreams, these items made it clear—he’d never stopped thinking about his son.

Any lingering emotions in An An’s heart were completely soothed by the contents of that bag.

Soon, the university admission letters arrived. Of all the Educated Youth at the Educated Youth Point, only two had gotten in—both had only arrived that spring.

The ones who had been in the production team for years didn’t pass, and the whole ordeal had cost them valuable work points.

When the Production Team Leader heard, he just hoped they’d keep their word and not make him clean up their mess once the food ran out.

Xiao Hua had once admired the Educated Youth at the Point, especially how they stood at the blackboard and taught lessons.

She dreamed of becoming someone like that.

She seized the opportunity and got into a teachers’ college.

With both Li family children accepted into university, it was impossible for the villagers not to feel envious.

Even the Educated Youth who didn’t pass whispered bitterly behind their backs: “It’s only because Mr. Su tutored them. If he’d helped us, we’d have passed too.”

When Xiao Song and Li Dazhuang returned in that car, the villagers had been curious.

Later, the Production Team Leader’s mother let it slip while doing laundry—they’d joined the transport team! That news was even more shocking than the Li family producing two college students.

An An and Xiao Hua had both gotten into university. Shitou became deputy factory manager after the old one retired. Li Dazhuang, after years away, had returned home.

For the Li family, this was the most perfect year yet.

After the New Year, Xiao Song asked Li Dazhuang when they’d be heading back. The two agreed on a date.

Before leaving, Li Dazhuang left 2,000 yuan with his parents and gave 1,000 to his sister-in-law.

He told them to tear down the old house and build a brick one, and to use the rest for household expenses.

His parents were getting old. If they wanted to work, they could do something light. If not, they could just rest at home.

Everyone knew transport team workers made good money. Shitou was now factory manager. Even so, they kept a low profile.

That year, An An and Xiao Hua both went off to university. Privately, Li Dazhuang gave Xiao Hua 500 yuan and An An 1,000, along with a stack of ration tickets.

He told them not to scrimp in college—spend what needed to be spent.

System watched Zai Zai’s eyes go wide at the sight of the money and wanted to roll its eyes. Really, this kid had seen so little of the world.

Sure, Li Dazhuang had been a bit of a rascal at first, but he wasn’t beyond saving. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a mission target.

Everything in the Li family was moving in the right direction. Another mission, successfully completed.

After the semester started, Shitou took An An to Capital City, while Xiao Hua was escorted to school by her sister-in-law. The couple used the trip to broaden their horizons.

At university, An An studied under Mr. Su and became his last disciple.

When the arrangement was finalized, Mr. Su was so proud he practically wanted to tell the whole world about his brilliant new student.

Mr. Su’s wife, after recovering her health, returned to the hospital. She was a renowned practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and occasionally lectured at Capital City University.

The university assigned the couple a home near campus. Mr. Su often brought An An over, and his wife even prepared a room for him to stay in.

That same year, the country began its Reform and Opening Up.

The furniture factory’s manager resigned after an accident, and Shitou took over. With guidance from his uncle, he implemented several reforms. Despite the wave of layoffs sweeping the country, the factory remained strong.

His wife’s job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was affected, so following Li Dazhuang’s suggestion, she prepared to use their savings to start a private business.

Elder Brother Li was brought into the factory by his son, and Sister-in-law Li managed the household.

After graduating, Xiao Hua became a teacher—a career she loved. At twenty-four, she married a fellow teacher and lived a happy, fulfilling life.

After university, An An continued working with Mr. Su and joined his research lab.

He had an exceptional talent for biology, developing numerous innovations that benefited the country and its people. He became the youngest biologist ever to receive an international award.

With each new generation in the family achieving greater success than the last, Granny Li and Grandpa Li should have had nothing to worry about. But then there was Li Dazhuang.

After the Reform and Opening Up, he leveraged his position to expand his business ventures rapidly.

It wasn’t until the crime of “speculation and profiteering” was officially abolished that Granny Li finally let out a sigh of relief. But then, her worries shifted to his lifelong bachelorhood.

Elderly folks often think this way—they’re afraid that once they’re gone, Li Dazhuang will be left all alone.

As his business grew, and with the legal shackles removed, Li Dazhuang partnered with Old Wang and Xiao Song, riding the waves of the era to soar higher and higher.

Years of working in the transport team had already given him a broader perspective than most. Coupled with his sharp business acumen, every venture he undertook was a guaranteed success.

Even as he entered middle age, Li Dazhuang refused to slow down. He believed he still had plenty of fight left in him.

So when his mother called him home to talk about marriage, he played deaf and dumb—visiting his parents often, but brushing off any discussion beyond that.

His son was already nearing marriage age, and he himself had long since lost interest in such matters.

Besides, he was too busy with work and didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.

An An stayed in the lab all year round. By the time Granny Li passed away, he was already forty and still unmarried.

Lying on her hospital bed, Granny Li had wanted to see her grandson married before she left this world, to ease her heart.

But when she saw An An nervously clutching her hand, eyes red with emotion, the words caught in her throat.

This child was obedient and filial. If she said anything, he would surely agree just to comfort her, even if it wasn’t what he truly wanted.

She was already at the end of her life. Granny Li didn’t want her own wishes to become a burden that would make her grandson unhappy for the rest of his days.

With a hand as thin and brittle as a twig, she gently patted his head.

The mission wasn’t completed until the year Li Dazhuang passed away peacefully. Maybe it was all the years spent in the lab, but An An had always been emotionally reserved.

He handled his father’s funeral with calm efficiency, showing little visible grief.

It wasn’t until one day, back at the old family home, that he was struck by a sudden impulse to open the cabinet. As he reached for it, he noticed a small, rusted iron handle tucked beneath.

At his current height, it was awkward to reach. The handle was so narrow only two fingers could fit.

He pulled it gently, opened and closed it again. A wave of emotion surged in his chest, making his nose sting with the threat of tears.

Stepping outside, he looked around at the village—so familiar, yet tinged with unfamiliarity. Every corner seemed to hold memories of his grandparents, his uncle and aunt, and his father.

In the nearby fields, the rapeseed flowers bloomed beautifully. But no one would ever again come home at dusk to make him a flower crown and place it on his head, saying how pretty he looked.

His heart felt hollow. His eyes were unfocused. Even he didn’t know what he was thinking.

When the mission ended and he returned to the System space, the System watched as Zai Zai reverted from an old man to a child.

While Zai Zai’s memories and emotions were being cleansed, the System submitted the mission report.

In that moment, it realized that having a little monster as a Host wasn’t so bad—at least he didn’t have to deal with some arrogant human bossing him around.

When An An woke up, the System repeated the mission briefing—something it had probably done countless times before.

Using the promise of a loving father or mother, the System once again successfully coaxed An An into nodding eagerly, excited to start the next mission.

After the brief moment of weightlessness passed, An An opened his eyes and looked around.

He was lying on a large bed in a room that looked like a hotel suite.

He threw off the covers, hopped down, slipped his feet into a pair of fluffy cartoon slippers by the bed, and, relying on the original host’s memory, opened the door and ran out.

Just as the door cracked open, a fierce argument erupted from downstairs.

A man’s furious roar and a woman’s tearful accusations made An An instinctively shrink back.

Downstairs, He Dongling and Lu Mingzhe were at each other’s throats. He Dongling’s hair was a mess, her eyes bloodshot—she looked like a madwoman off the street.

“It was just a normal business dinner. Why do you have to twist it into something so dirty? Is it because the parties you go to are always like that?”

Lu Mingzhe stared at the woman in front of him, a flicker of disgust in his eyes.

“I’ve seen the photos. What else is there to say? What kind of ‘normal’ business dinner requires you to wear something so revealing and bend over to pour him a drink?”

“You already wore the dress—what’s the point of covering up now? Afraid someone might see?”

“Divorce. I can’t stand being married to someone as filthy as you for even one more second.”

As soon as he said that, it was like a giant hand had clamped around He Dongling’s throat. Her eyes reddened as she stared at Lu Mingzhe, refusing to let tears fall in front of him. Her body trembled with rage.

“Is this really about the photo—or is it because you’re already cheating with Li Lulu?”

Lu Mingzhe, who had been so self-righteous, faltered for a moment when he heard that. Guilt flashed in his eyes before he grabbed a glass off the table and smashed it to the floor.

“Say whatever you want. I’m divorcing you! And I don’t want custody of that child either.”

“You’re already married with a kid, and you still want to act in dramas and go to parties. Who would want a woman as promiscuous as you?”

“Li Lulu is better than you in every way. She said that once she gets married, she’ll be a full-time housewife—take care of her husband and kids.”

“Her family’s better than yours. She can get me the lead role in Director Zhao’s new drama.”

“Look in the mirror. What part of you even comes close to comparing with her?”

After that long tirade, Lu Mingzhe didn’t bother waiting for a reply. He stood up and slammed the door behind him without a second glance.

The moment the door slammed shut, He Dongling collapsed onto the cold floor, all her strength drained. The tears she’d held back for so long finally spilled over.

She tilted her head back and stared at the crystal chandelier in the living room. The light felt unbearably harsh.

The shouting had been so intense that it frightened An An, who had just arrived in this world. Only after the noise quieted did he gently open the door and step out.

He held onto the stair railing as he made his way down, then crouched beside He Dongling and used his chubby little hands to wipe away her tears.

Her lifeless eyes seemed to regain focus at the child’s touch, slowly settling on An An.

Seeing her looking at him, An An let out a tiny sigh and wiped the rest of her tears with his other hand. In a soft, slurred baby voice, he said:

“Don’t cry, okay?”

He Dongling had been silently grieving, but the moment she heard the child’s comforting words, her tears flowed even harder.

An An was startled. He quickly hid his hands behind his back, his face full of confusion and helplessness.

He Dongling reached out and pulled him into her arms. As she held him close, her tears soaked through the child’s absorbent clothes.

The dampness made An An uncomfortable, and he instinctively squirmed.

It took more than ten minutes for He Dongling to calm down.

She looked down at the child in her arms. His dazed expression made her panic—she thought she had scared him.

Just as she was about to carry him to the hospital, An An wrapped his arms around her neck and said in his soft baby voice:

“Don’t cry, An An’s heart hurts.”

The System was even more worried about Zai Zai than He Dongling was.

So the moment Zai Zai got frightened, the System immediately transmitted all the data about this world to him.

An An had arrived at a fortunate time. The original host had just turned three and already had some cognitive ability, so there was no worry of him forgetting everything.

In this world, An An’s main mission target was the woman in front of him—He Dongling.

She came from a middle-class family. Her mother gave birth to her at forty and raised her with a focus on the arts. She later got into the country’s top film academy.

Before graduating, she gained minor fame from a web drama she acted in during summer break. In her junior year, she signed with an agency that planned to promote her heavily.

Her first job after graduation was playing a lively junior martial sister in a historical anthology drama, which made her popularity soar and landed her a second female lead role.

Everyone could see she was on the rise.

But during that pivotal time, she started dating Lu Mingzhe, the third male lead in the same drama.

Her public image was that of a pure and innocent fairy. When the dating news broke, she lost more than half her fans. Many couldn’t accept her being with someone like Lu Mingzhe.

He already had a reputation—arrogant on set, disrespectful to staff, caught on camera leaving bars with models, and two-timing. The photos were damning.

She was a fairy-like actress; he was a scandal-ridden third-tier celebrity. Fans concluded they must be the same kind of people.

Her career took a nosedive. Many potential collaborators backed out.

Image is everything in the entertainment industry. After the dating news, her public favorability plummeted. No sane brand would risk working with her.

Three months after going public—and despite taking precautions—He Dongling discovered she was pregnant. They got married.

Her pregnancy was difficult. She gained weight, developed stretch marks, and suffered from severe swelling. Lu Mingzhe began using work as an excuse to stay away.

All of it was unbearable for someone who had always cared about her appearance. After giving birth, her mother hired a nanny to help.

As soon as her postpartum confinement ended, He Dongling rushed to get back in shape, leaving the baby in the nanny’s care.

Her public image was already shaky. After disappearing for over a year, her return was even harder. She couldn’t even land minor roles.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingzhe had become a second-tier celebrity. His past scandals were brushed off as youthful mistakes by his fans.

He Dongling never asked him for help. She clawed her way back on her own—until she saw intimate photos of Lu Mingzhe and Li Lulu.

A quick search revealed they had starred in a modern drama together. Their CP tag was trending at number one.

Lu Mingzhe didn’t even try to hide it. When she called, he came home, admitted everything, and asked for a divorce—giving up custody of the child.

Her mother, heartbroken and knowing the child would only cause her more pain, took An An home to raise him, letting her focus on her career.

After years of struggle, a director finally cast her as the second female lead in a film.

Her years of experience paid off. When the movie aired, audiences were captivated by her performance.

She became popular again, drawing public attention. Old scandals resurfaced.

Now in her thirties, He Dongling was no longer the naive girl fresh out of college. She calmly gathered evidence to clear her name.

But just then, the child raised by her grandparents gave an interview—accusing her of never visiting and neglecting her duties as a mother.

The backlash was swift and brutal. Before she could hold a press conference, her parents were hospitalized from the shock.

Her father didn’t make it. Her mother fell into a coma.

The sudden tragedy left He Dongling overwhelmed. Clearing her name had to wait.

By the time she was ready, the public had moved on. No one cared anymore.

Disheartened, she sold everything and took her mother abroad for treatment.

The child who had betrayed her was left behind. Lu Mingzhe wanted nothing to do with him. He drifted aimlessly until he died in a drunk-driving accident.

An An only had a rough understanding of the story and hadn’t pieced everything together yet.

But seeing the young woman’s panicked expression, he instinctively wanted to comfort her.

He hugged her neck and gently patted her back, just like the nanny used to do for him.

“Don’t cry, Mama. An An has candy~”

He pulled a piece of candy from his pocket, waved it in front of her, then carefully unwrapped it and held it to her lips.

The sweetness spread in her mouth. He Dongling sniffled, wiped her tears, and forced a smile.

“Thank you, An An. It’s really sweet.”

Her feelings toward this child were complicated. His arrival had been an accident, and her pregnancy had been miserable.

To make things worse, he looked just like Lu Mingzhe. No one would doubt they were father and son.

Lu Mingzhe’s betrayal made her physically sick at the thought of their past.

But now, she could clearly see the pain and concern in the child’s eyes. His scrunched little face was full of worry.

Sometimes, sweet things really do help lift the mood. As her emotions settled, she heard An An’s stomach growl.

She heard it. Of course, An An heard it too.

He Dongling watched as An An’s ears turned bright red. He covered his belly and said in a slightly aggrieved voice:

“It’s being naughty!”

His innocent words made her laugh. She reached out and gently ruffled his soft hair.

“Mommy will make you some formula, okay?”

“Okay~”

She found the formula in the cabinet. The nanny had labeled everything with instructions, knowing He Dongling rarely cared for the child herself.

An An clutched the bottle and drank eagerly, the gulps loud and fast—he was clearly starving.

While he drank, He Dongling went to the bathroom. She stood at the sink, staring at her disheveled hair, swollen eyes, and ruined complexion in the mirror.

Then she splashed her face with cold water.

On the wall hung a schedule posted by the nanny, detailing An An’s bedtime. He Dongling glanced at it, then gently coaxed An An to sleep.

An An had only just woken up not long ago and wasn’t really sleepy yet, but when he was carried to bed, he obediently closed his eyes.

After settling An An in and watching him drift off, He Dongling turned off the lights in the room and stepped out, planning to clean herself up and get a good night’s rest.

Her love for Lu Mingzhe had long since been worn away—back when she was pregnant and every glance he gave her was full of disdain. Now that things were finally coming to an end, it actually felt like a relief.

No one should have to live or die for a man, not at the cost of their own life.

She filled the bathtub with hot water, soaked for a while, then stepped out of the bathroom in her pajamas. Just as she was about to lie down and rest, her phone suddenly rang.

She picked it up and saw that it was her agent—the one assigned to her by the company.

Back when she had just graduated, her agent had treated her very well, practically holding her in the palm of his hand.

But after she insisted on being with Lu Mingzhe, then got married, got pregnant, and had a child, his attitude had gradually turned cold.

Since returning to work after giving birth, the minor roles she’d been landing didn’t even require the agent’s involvement. He hadn’t proactively contacted her in months.

After a moment’s thought, He Dongling answered the call.

“Hello, Qian-ge. Calling this late—what’s up?”

“Your kid’s three now, right? I’ve got a spot on a parenting reality show—interested? It airs during prime time on Fruit TV. The main focus is taking care of your kid.”

This parenting show had been trending lately, and He Dongling had to admit she was tempted. After so many years in the industry, she’d learned to keep her guard up no matter what.

“Qian-ge, a great opportunity like this—why me?”

A cold scoff came through the receiver.

“You’re the only artist I’ve ever managed who went and got pregnant and had a kid right when her career was starting. So, are you in or not?”

Thinking about the exposure the show could bring, He Dongling gritted her teeth and agreed.

“I’m in.”