Chapter 138 (Arc End)

The gatekeeper at the He Family residence was still the same one from An An’s memories.

Only now, he looked much older. His temples had turned gray, and his face was lined with wrinkles.

“Young Master?”

The gatekeeper stared at He Shian for a long time, trying to recognize him. When he finally realized this was the young master who had been studying abroad, his expression changed instantly. A wide, wrinkled smile spread across his face as excitement lit up his features.

He called out to another gatekeeper to hurry and open the main gate, then kicked a dozing boy who had been napping in the sun against the door.

“The young master is back! What are you waiting for? Go tell the Old Madam and the eldest young master right away!”

“Got it, Dad.”

Carrying his suitcase, He Shian stepped inside. As he walked down the corridor, the familiar scenes around him stirred a flood of emotions.

Time had passed, leaving its marks everywhere. During the years he spent abroad, He Shian had missed many things, and a vague sense of regret settled in his heart.

He hadn’t walked far when he heard a commotion up ahead. A young maid was helping the Old Madam as they made their way toward him.

He Shian instinctively quickened his pace. When he was just three steps away from his grandmother, he knelt down and bowed deeply, his voice hoarse as he said, “Your unfilial grandson has returned.”

Old Madam Yang rushed forward to help her grandson up. She leaned all her weight on him, wrapping her arms around him tightly, as if trying to release all the years of longing and sorrow in one embrace.

Her hand, trembling slightly, patted He Shian’s back. Her voice quivered with emotion.

“How could you say something like that? You’re cutting your grandmother’s heart open!”

“As long as you’ve come back safe and sound, that’s all that matters.”

He Shian could feel her body shaking through the hug, and the guilt in his heart only deepened.

Standing nearby, Young Master He waited quietly for the reunion to settle before stepping forward and gently patting his son on the shoulder.

“You’ve grown taller. You’re even taller than me now.”

Hearing his father’s words, He Shian quickly cupped his hands and bowed respectfully to greet him.

“Good boy. You’ve been abroad for years and still haven’t forgotten the family rules.”

While father and son exchanged greetings, Old Madam Yang wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her eyes never straying from An An.

He Shian didn’t even have time to rest properly before he was called to his grandmother’s courtyard to have lunch with her.

Old Madam Yang rarely broke her own rules, but today she personally picked dishes for her beloved grandson and asked how his life had been while studying abroad.

Naturally, An An had learned a great deal during his time overseas—things that would benefit him for a lifetime.

But the differences in lifestyle and language had made things difficult. He and Li Qi had spent a long time adjusting.

He Shian had gone abroad to study medicine, and he had shown remarkable talent in the field. The country he studied in had tried several times to persuade him to stay, and his mentor even offered him incredibly generous terms.

But once his study period ended, He Shian resolutely chose to return home.

He couldn’t bear to leave his homeland, nor could he bear to part from his grandmother and father.

During their years apart, he had thought of his aging grandmother every single day.

Of course, he didn’t mention any of the hardships to her, not wanting to worry her. Instead, he only shared the lighthearted and cheerful parts, coaxing Old Madam Yang into smiling from ear to ear.

“I knew it. With someone as capable as our Yao Zu, who wouldn’t want to keep him?”

Many families in the East City had sent their children to study abroad, but very few had received such enthusiastic invitations to stay. Her grandson was the only one in all of East City.

After years of keeping a low profile, Old Madam Yang even sent out numerous invitations the day after Yao Zu returned, asking her close friends to come over for a gathering.

Using the excuse of not having seen each other in a long time, she took the opportunity to proudly show off her precious grandson.

Dressed in a Western-style suit, He Shian, despite his Western education, still respectfully followed behind his grandmother, tending to her needs. This made Old Madam Yang the envy of many.

After all, many of their own children who had returned from abroad spoke constantly about how the family’s old traditions were nothing but feudal relics that should be discarded.

Maintaining those customs—greeting elders at dawn and dusk—was now something people mocked.

Some of the visiting ladies had even brought their own children along, hoping to make a good match or connection.

When these young men, also recently returned from abroad, saw how respectfully He Shian treated his grandmother, they couldn’t help but sneer.

Right in front of He Shian, one of them mocked him, saying that all his Western education had gone to waste.

He Shian, holding a cup of tea for his grandmother, looked up calmly and met the man’s gaze. His voice was steady and composed as he replied:

“My teacher once told me that reading makes one wise.”

“My professors abroad said that the purpose of education is to rise above ignorance, not to mock those who are still in it.”

“If someone uses their learning to mock others, then that person is more deserving of ridicule than the ignorant themselves.”

“As the sages have said, among all virtues, filial piety comes first.”

“So what’s wrong with showing respect to my grandmother?”

He Shian said this only to refute the insult. He had no intention of engaging in a deeper debate.

He understood well that when two people’s beliefs were fundamentally different, there was no need to convince the other. It was enough to stay true to oneself.

The group of ladies sitting nearby could hear every word He Shian said.

Before they could even comment on it, He Shian had already placed the tea in front of his grandmother. His graceful and courteous demeanor made many of them look on with admiration.

Sending children abroad had become a popular trend in East City.

Even families without the means would stretch themselves thin to send their children overseas.

But most of those children came back thinking their elders were relics of a bygone era, meant to rot away in the shadows of old mansions.

If that had been the case for every family, perhaps it wouldn’t matter. But here was Old Madam Yang’s grandson—so outstanding that foreign professors had begged him to stay—yet he still returned home and paid his respects to his grandmother.

It was no wonder so many were envious.

That evening, after all the guests had left, Old Madam Yang called Yao Zu to her side. Holding his hand, she smiled and asked:

“Yao Zu… do you now look down on your grandmother for having bound feet, for being ignorant and backward?”

It was a common accusation from children who had studied abroad.

Yao Zu adjusted the cushions behind her on the couch to make her more comfortable. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

“If others knew your grandmother had bound feet, they’d probably laugh at you.”

Old Madam Yang had always been a proud woman. From the day she married into the He Family to the years she carried the family on her shoulders, she had never bowed her head.

But now, in front of the grandson she loved most, she couldn’t help but smooth out her deep purple robe and stare blankly at her bound feet.

When she came to her senses, afraid Yao Zu would follow her gaze, she quickly tucked her feet to the side.

He Shian tested the temperature of the tea through the porcelain cup. Once he was sure it wasn’t too hot, he pushed it in front of his grandmother and answered in a calm, unwavering voice:

“Grandmother, I would never be friends with people like that.”

“You are not ignorant or backward. To me, you are the wisest person in the world.”

“If not for you, there would be no Yao Zu today.”

“No matter what happens, I will never look down on you. There is nothing about you that deserves scorn.”

After speaking, as if to prove his words, He Shian knelt beside her and rested his head on her knee, just like he used to as a child.

Old Madam Yang looked at the side of his face, smiling as if she were seeing the little boy who used to cling to her all the time, the one she could never shake off.

She reached out and gently stroked his cheek, her voice soft.

“Yao Zu, your grandmother is old now. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be with you.”

Only one lamp was lit in the inner room, casting a dim golden glow. The entire space was cloaked in quiet warmth.

From the courtyard outside, the chirping of unknown insects could be heard.

“I used to think… I wouldn’t live to see my Yao Zu come home.”

“Just seeing Yao Zu one more time is enough for me,” Grandma Yang said with a gentle smile. “If I’m no longer around, remember to take good care of yourself.”

Old age tends to make people more talkative, and even someone like Grandma Yang was no exception. Especially when facing the grandson she’d been thinking about for so long, finally reunited after such a long time.

He Shian didn’t like hearing her talk like this. He reached up and covered his ears.

Just like when he was a child and threw tantrums—whenever someone said something he didn’t want to hear, he’d immediately cover his ears.

If his father were around, he’d even add, “Not listening, not listening, like a turtle chanting scriptures.”

Grandma Yang swallowed the rest of her words, not wanting to upset him further.

“You only pull this act in front of your grandma. Who knows how much longer you’ll get away with it.”

“Forget it, forget it. You’ve always known how to soften my heart since you were little.”

He Shian used every ounce of self-control to keep his tears from falling. He selfishly wished his grandmother could stay with him a little longer, just a little longer.

After staying at the He residence for half a month, He Shian finally began to wonder about his mother. He asked the household servants, but none could give him a clear answer.

He had assumed it was because his father didn’t want to see or hear anything related to his mother, so even the servants avoided mentioning her.

But that night, Young Master He came to his courtyard.

“Stop looking for your mother. Even I don’t know where she is anymore.”

Not long after An An went abroad to study, Zhou Xiaoya began submitting articles to major newspapers under the pen name “Si An.”

She called on women who had been abandoned after their husbands returned from overseas studies to stand up for themselves and protect their rights. She urged parents to bring their daughters back home.

She also spoke to women raised in patriarchal households, telling them they shouldn’t live for others but should instead live for themselves.

Zhou Xiaoya’s ideas, published in the papers, ran completely counter to the prevailing norms of the time. Yet more and more women were inspired by her words to break free from their pasts.

Words can carry power. When that power grows strong enough, it becomes a thorn in the side of others.

Threats, intimidation, insults, and attacks came one after another. Zhou Xiaoya was an ordinary woman, and when these things suddenly happened, she had no way to defend herself.

When Young Master He learned of it, he stepped in to help. He relocated Zhou Xiaoya to a new place and gave her a generous sum of silver.

After that, even he didn’t know exactly where she had gone.

The only trace of her came from the articles published in the newspapers.

Despite all that had happened, Zhou Xiaoya didn’t become afraid. Instead, her writing grew sharper and more biting. She used seemingly innocuous words to scold her enemies so thoroughly they couldn’t respond.

For safety’s sake, she never contacted anyone from the He family again.

After hearing his father’s explanation, He Shian wasn’t too disappointed. It was enough to know that his mother was safe and had found a cause she was willing to fight for.

After returning, Master Li’s young grandson took over the family business. From the moment Old Master Li brought him back, he handled several matters with great skill, earning the admiration of many.

Young Master He even tried bringing Yao Zu along with him for a few days, but he turned out to be just like when he was a child.

Whenever Young Master He was discussing business, Yao Zu would quietly find a seat and remind someone to bring over some delicious pastries.

Once it was clear that Yao Zu truly had no interest in this line of work, Young Master He didn’t push him.

The year after Yao Zu left, one of Young Master He’s concubines gave birth to a son. The boy was still young but had already been sent to school.

That evening, after returning home, Young Master He instructed the nanny caring for the child to bring him to the young master’s side, so the two could grow closer.

Since Yao Zu had no interest in taking over the family business, he would raise a child who did.

When the day came that he could no longer manage things himself, the responsibility would fall to Yao Zu’s younger brother.

He Shian, who had been peacefully reading in Grandma Yang’s courtyard, was now forced to babysit. He simply held the child in his arms and continued reading.

Grandma Yang had a distant attitude toward this younger grandson. Partly because of her age and lack of energy, and partly because she truly didn’t want to raise another child.

Not every child was as obedient and sweet as Yao Zu. This little one cried and screamed at the top of his lungs, giving Grandma Yang a headache just hearing it.

He Shian didn’t have any strong feelings about his little brother. If he cried, he’d soothe him. If he was hungry, he’d hand him to the nanny.

Aside from his grandmother and father, He Shian treated everyone with a calm detachment.

As a child, he had been clingy and affectionate. But as he grew older, he became composed and reserved.

His little brother, however, adored this rarely smiling older brother. His favorite thing was to wobble along behind him, even ignoring the father he used to love.

He ignored people who tried to shower him with affection, but eagerly clung to the brother who always wore a cold expression.

Young Master He was more than happy to see the two brothers getting along.

In such turbulent times, ten years later, the He, Zhou, and Li families—who once competed to be the top of the merchant guild—had banded together to survive the chaos.

Young Master He had been well-trained by his grandmother and was outstanding in every way. He was especially good at reading the situation and always ensured the other two families were prepared before trouble hit.

In this environment, even the young master of the Zhou family let go of his old grudges.

In the face of life and death, everything else seemed trivial.

Because of its terrain, the eastern part of the city was less affected by the turmoil. Combined with Young Master He’s sharp judgment and decisive actions, they managed to survive each crisis by cutting their losses in time.

Amid increasingly violent upheaval, the He family remained standing.

Another five years passed, and the eastern part of the city still saw the best business from the three families. The heads of the families became increasingly cordial, no longer arguing over childish boasts about being number one.

In a chaotic world, the greatest blessing was for one’s family to be safe.

One bitterly cold winter, Grandma Yang caught a chill. Her health quickly declined, and she was confined to bed.

Doctor Li was called to examine her and could only shake his head helplessly after taking her pulse.

Grandma Yang had lived a long life, and the years of hard work had taken their toll. Even Doctor Li was surprised she had lived this long.

As he stepped out of the inner room, the maid closed the door behind him. Young Master He, He Shian, and little He Zhouzhou, who barely reached his shoulder, all looked at him with anxious eyes.

“She doesn’t have much time left. Take good care of her. Make sure her final days are as comfortable as possible.”

When He Shian heard those words, it felt like his heart stopped.

In that moment, the world fell silent. Even the sound of snowflakes falling could be heard clearly.

Though he had long known that his grandmother couldn’t stay with him forever, he still couldn’t bring himself to accept it.

Standing in the corridor, snow piled on his shoulders, yet he felt no cold. Instead, a chill spread slowly from the depths of his heart.

Only after he had composed himself did he gently push open the door and step inside.

Grandma Yang remained unconscious most of the time, barely waking. Even feeding her medicine had become impossible. Her condition was worse than Doctor Li had said.

He Shian stayed by her bedside. The room was sealed tightly to keep warm.

Grandma Yang, now elderly, carried the scent that all old people eventually have.

To most, it might have been unpleasant, but to He Shian, it was something he cherished. He wanted it to linger just a little longer.

He sat quietly at her bedside. From time to time, the crackling of the burning charcoal would break the stillness.

He Shian didn’t feel bored. As he looked at her now frail face, memories of their time together flooded his mind.

Especially when he was little—he had thought those memories would have long faded. But now, they were clearer than ever.

Every morning, before he was even fully awake, Grandma would push open his door to check on him and see if he was doing well.

At mealtimes, she always had Ya Huan place his favorite dishes in front of him.

During his morning playtime, the snacks laid out on the side table were always the ones he loved most.

Grandma’s eyesight had long since deteriorated from staying up late reading account books in her younger years.

Even so, when he was little, she still managed to sew him two sets of clothes by hand.

Even when they became worn and torn from too much use, they remained his favorite outfits.

Whenever he had nightmares at night, he would run to her door in his pajamas, clutching a small pillow. Even if she was woken in the middle of the night, Grandma would only pull him into a warm embrace.

Then she would gently pat his back, soothing him with a soft, comforting rhythm.

There were so many memories that even just sitting by her bedside, He Shian never felt bored.

The lively, spirited old lady in his memories overlapped with the lifeless figure lying in bed before him, and tears began to blur his vision.

He Shian sniffled unconsciously, then saw a trembling hand reach out toward him, gently wiping away the tears that had just fallen.

“Yao Zu, don’t cry…”

At some point, Yang Laonainai had woken up. He Shian instinctively wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, and the world before him became clear again.

Once he was sure Grandma was truly awake, He Shian was about to call for the doctor and have Ya Huan bring over her medicine.

But just as he stood up, Yang Laonainai reached out, tugged on his clothes, and patted the spot beside her, motioning for him to sit.

“Go, call the Young Master over.”

Ya Huan had just entered, opening the window a bit wider and adding more coal to the brazier. Hearing the old madam’s words, she quickly turned and left.

He Shian could feel that Grandma’s hand was cold, so he placed his other hand over hers, wrapping them both in his palms to warm her up.

When that didn’t seem to help, he gently rubbed her hands.

Yang Laonainai leaned against the headboard, her gaze soft and kind as she looked at Yao Zu.

She reached out and tousled his hair. Seeing his reddened eyes, she even let out a small, amused chuckle.

“Yao Zu, you know this—whenever Grandma sees you cry, it breaks my heart.”

He Shian had been holding back his emotions, but hearing those words made his nose sting. In an instant, the tears came pouring out.

“Grandma.”

He clutched her wrist tightly and collapsed onto the quilt, sobbing uncontrollably.

Yang Laonainai used her free hand to gently pat his back, just like she did when he was little and came to her after a nightmare.

Only after He Shian had calmed down did Yang Laonainai reach into the cabinet by the bed and pull out a box, placing it in front of Yao Zu.

The box was clearly heavy for her frail frame—her arms trembled—but she held it steady.

She then removed a key from around her neck and unlocked the box, explaining each item inside to Yao Zu.

There were pieces of jewelry from her dowry, prepared by her mother when she got married.

There were savings she had quietly set aside after marrying her husband.

And there were a few items left to her by her mother-in-law after she passed.

Though gravely ill, Yang Laonainai spoke clearly. Her fingers gently brushed over each item, and in those few simple words, she seemed to recount the story of her life.

“These are Grandma’s private gifts to you. Don’t let anyone else have them. If anything ever happens, take these with you. They’re all valuable.”

“If the time ever comes when you truly need them, then… then let it be Grandma’s last way of taking care of you.”

Young Master He arrived a bit late. The snowstorm was so fierce he nearly slipped on the way.

“Mother?”

Yang Laonainai took out another, slightly smaller box from the bedside and handed it to her son. Inside were mostly property deeds for shops and estates in the countryside.

These had always been in her possession, and now it was time to pass them on.

“This is the He Family’s fallback. No one else knows about it. If the worst comes to pass, take Yao Zu with you.”

Yang Laonainai had seen enough of the chaos in the world. She didn’t hope for the He Family to continue its legacy, only for her children and grandchildren to live safely.

“Yes, Mother.”

Just giving these instructions seemed to drain all the strength and spirit from Yang Laonainai. She collapsed heavily against the bed, gasping for breath.

“Yao Zu, Yao Zu…”

She kept calling his name. He Shian reached out and placed his hand in hers, the one grasping at the air. Sniffling, he choked out a word through his tears.

“Grandma.”

Once she held Yao Zu’s hand, Yang Laonainai seemed to calm completely. With a faint smile on her lips, she closed her eyes.

He Shian could feel the hand that had been gripping his suddenly go limp. He looked up in disbelief.

Seeing that Grandma had closed her eyes, sorrow overwhelmed him.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Outside, the muffled sobs of Ya Huan and the maids echoed through the halls.

After about half a stick of incense’s time, He Shian suddenly threw himself over Grandma’s body and cried out in anguish:

“Grandma, Grandma! Please open your eyes and look at Yao Zu one more time!”

Young Master He stood to the side, and in that moment, he seemed to see little Yao Zu from years ago, mischievously climbing onto his mother’s lap while she napped on the lounge chair in the courtyard, gently shaking her shoulders and calling out in his childish voice, “Yao Zu is here, Grandma, open your eyes and look.”

Now, in these troubled times, the He Family didn’t dare hold a grand funeral. They simply hung white lanterns at the gates of their residence.

Families who had close ties with them sent offerings.

Most of the He Family’s stewards could match the gifts to their senders, except for one set of incense and candles that bore no identifying mark.

The steward was puzzled, but Young Master He told him not to dwell on it.

He Shian knelt in mourning clothes before the ancestral hall, his face pale and bloodless.

He wasn’t overwhelmed with grief, but it felt as though a large piece of his heart had gone hollow.

Winter passed and spring arrived. After a light rain, He Shian returned under an oil-paper umbrella. For some reason, he found himself walking toward the courtyard where his grandmother had lived.

There, her favorite rosebush was in bloom. A few dewdrops clung to the petals, making them look especially delicate and vibrant.

He crouched beside it, and the moss, damp from the rain, soaked through his shoes.

Along with it, his longing for Grandma seemed to seep slowly into his heart.

He stayed there for a long time before standing up again. Gripping the umbrella handle tightly, his head spun and his vision blurred. He stood still for a while before regaining his composure.

As a child, he had loved fussing over the flowers Grandma grew. Every day, he would come pick the prettiest bloom to show her.

Only later did he understand how much care she had poured into those flowers.

Now, he couldn’t bear to touch a single one. But the old lady was no longer there to admire them.

…

The world grew more chaotic. In the second year after Yang Laonainai passed, they were forced to abandon the He Family’s ancestral home, which had been passed down for generations, taking only what valuables they could carry.

He Shian packed just one trunk, inside which were the box Grandma had left him and two of the flowers from her courtyard.

Together with his father, he began a life of wandering.

The Zhou and Li families, perhaps recognizing Young Master He’s capabilities, left East City with them. The three families traveled together, looking out for one another.

No matter where they went, Young Master He never stopped building his family’s business. He traded everywhere he could, and over time, amassed a considerable fortune.

Only when his hair had turned completely white did the world finally begin to settle. They returned to East City and bought back the old He Family residence.

After decades of wind and rain, the grand estate had fallen into disrepair.

No one else had cherished it, and many of the traces He Shian had left there as a child had been erased.

Fortunately, the courtyard where Yang Laonainai had lived hadn’t been too badly damaged. One could still see the echoes of what once was.

On the first day back at the grand courtyard, He Shian replanted the rose that had stayed with him for so many years.

He carefully loosened the soil, hoping it would survive and thrive again in its homeland.

The reason their three families had managed to survive everything they’d been through and even return to East City was largely thanks to He Shian.

He Shian’s medical skills were exceptional, and many people were willing to lend a hand when they ran into trouble because of him.

He had even taken Li Qi’s son as his disciple and personally taught him medicine.

When Young Master He left, he was younger than Granny Yang. Over the years of wandering, he had encountered many dangers and eventually died from the recurrence of an old injury.

After his death, just as he had arranged while alive, He Zhouzhou—who had a deep bond with his older brother—took on the responsibility of protecting him.

He Zhouzhou never realized this was actually his father’s plan. He willingly took care of the brother who had once taken such good care of him, even putting his own son second.

In his eyes, aside from being a medical prodigy, his brother needed looking after in every other aspect.

In the He Family’s large estate, it was common to see a little one who had only recently learned to walk, still wobbling with every step, storming out of a courtyard to complain to the current head of the He Family.

“Uncle, he bullied me again.”

He Zhouzhou didn’t even lift his head from the account book when he heard this. Only when his son reached him did he gently pinch the boy’s chubby cheek and solemnly say,

“You should give way to your uncle. Don’t bully him.”

“It was Uncle who bullied me.”

The little one was indignant, earnestly correcting his father’s mistake.

He Zhouzhou nodded absentmindedly, ruffled his son’s fluffy hair, and continued,

“Then if your uncle bullies you, you mustn’t cry. He really hates it when kids cry, understand?”

“Okay~”

The child’s soft little voice rose at the end as he responded, firmly imprinting the rule of “no crying” into his memory.

After the mission ended, Xie Shian was brought back into the System space. The System stood beside him, accompanying him through the process of erasing memories and emotions.

In this world, their Zai Zai had once again performed exceptionally well.

Granny Yang left in the end with almost no regrets.

Her beloved grandson had grown into a capable young man who stayed by her bedside and fulfilled his filial duties. Everything she had saved up over a lifetime was passed down to her children and grandchildren.

The System privately believed that the year Granny Yang passed away was the perfect time.

East City descended into chaos the following year. Had she lived to see it, she would have suffered greatly.

This way was better. At least in Granny Yang’s memories, her final years were peaceful and without regret.

This time, because Zai Zai had experienced quite a lot, the memory-clearing process took longer. The System waited patiently by his side, even taking a moment to glance at the world where Zai Zai had first appeared.

At first, the System had thought this Host didn’t quite match the image of the ancient monster-like Hosts it expected. But as time went on, it began to see him as the Zai Zai it had raised.

With that bias came a natural instinct to protect him.

The original head of the Xie family had used Zai Zai’s luck and merit to shelter and prosper the family.

But after the System took Zai Zai away, the Xie family, having consumed so much fortune without any new source, began to decline step by step.

In fact, they became even more unlucky than before.

The System might occasionally stall, but that didn’t mean it lacked power.

Once it decided someone needed to be dealt with, it would make sure they paid the price.

No one knew how much time had passed before Zai Zai seemed to have gone through another cycle of reincarnation and entered a new world.

This time, when he opened his eyes, he looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, even sitting up and hopping out on his own.

Looking like a child of about three years old, Zai Zai stood on the ground and stomped his foot lightly, fascinated by the sensation of standing on something he couldn’t see but could feel.

“Wow~”

The System quietly watched Zai Zai’s curious behavior without interrupting.

Many things in the System space were indeed strange and magical. A child like An An, at such an age, was naturally full of curiosity about the outside world and eager to explore every corner.

From a child who once only longed for parents who loved him, he had slowly grown into a lively and outgoing little boy. The System even felt a strange sense of pride.

It had raised Zai Zai so well, all by itself! It had helped him forget those dark memories!

Just watching himself float in midair while still feeling the solid ground beneath his feet was enough to keep An An entertained for a long time.

He even ran over to check out the breeze blowing from who-knows-where and the sunlight filtering in from some unknown place.

He poked at a flower the System had been idly growing for a long time with his finger.

The flower quietly closed its petals and turned its head away, clearly not interested in interacting.

Eventually, when An An got tired from playing, he found a spot that felt clean and sat down to rest.

Only then did the System appear before him and explain that in the mission world, he would meet a family member who cared deeply about him.

It could be a mom or dad, a grandparent, or sometimes even an older brother or sister.

An An propped his chin up with both hands, staring curiously at the strange-looking System in front of him with big, round eyes.

To leave a good impression on Zai Zai, the System even put on a little suit that had been gathering dust in its wardrobe and used a tentacle to straighten its tie.

“Have you decided? Want to do the mission with me?”

“Yes~”

Zai Zai eagerly held out his hand to the System. The System paused for a moment, then tentatively used a tentacle to grasp Zai Zai’s tiny, chubby hand.

Before, it had always been cautious when appearing in front of Zai Zai, afraid of scaring him.

But seeing Zai Zai’s eyes light up the moment he touched the tentacle, the System realized it might have misjudged things for once.

There was no fear. Zai Zai even treated it like a fascinating new toy.

“So when do we start?”

“If the Host is ready, we can start right now.”

“Yay, let’s go!”

An An was very cooperative. He even closed his eyes, and after a brief moment of dizziness and weightlessness, he once again felt the solid ground beneath his feet.

“Hello everyone, and welcome to the new season of X-Change. This season, we’ll be introducing ten new participants. During the two weeks of filming, all their electronic devices and snacks will be confiscated.”

“Every parent who sends their child here hopes to see a change. Trust in X-Change, and we promise not to let you down!”

Among the participants in this show, the one who stood out was the child from the city being swapped with a child from the countryside.

At the front stood a teenager with bleached blond hair. Behind him was a girl with hair dyed in a rainbow of colors. The other two looked similar—typical rebellious teens.

When the camera panned to the last child, it noticeably tilted downward.

There stood a tiny toddler in overalls, clutching a stuffed toy, eyes brimming with tears as he stared at the camera. He wasn’t even as tall as the other participants’ waists.

——Arc End——

— Translator’s Notes —

• half a stick of incense’s time: A traditional Chinese method of timekeeping using the burning rate of incense sticks; one full stick typically measured about 30-60 minutes, so half would be roughly 15-30 minutes.

• oil-paper umbrella: A traditional Chinese umbrella made from oiled paper stretched over a bamboo frame, waterproof and used for protection from rain or sun, iconic in classical literature and period settings.

• filial piety: Filial piety (xiao in Chinese) is a core Confucian virtue emphasizing children’s respect, obedience, care, and devotion to their parents and elders throughout life, often prioritized above personal desires.

• bound feet: Foot binding was a historical Chinese practice from the Song Dynasty to the early 20th century, where young girls’ feet were tightly wrapped to prevent growth, creating small ‘lotus feet’ considered a symbol of beauty, status, and femininity. It caused severe pain, infections, and mobility issues, and was widely criticized and banned in the Republican era.