TSFLIP Chapter 834

“Axing, if something like this ever happens between us,” Feng Guang said with a gentle smile, “I hope… you won’t make the same choice that man did.”

And even if she did make that same choice… what then?

They had met against all odds, yet were destined to miss each other just the same.

It was a curse.

But all he wanted was for her to live.

This time, however, he had learned his lesson: as long as she couldn’t find his body, she would have no way to sacrifice her own lifespan to bring him back again.

In a place called Meihua County, several distinguished people suddenly arrived. A Xia Manor appeared out of nowhere, followed soon after by “Linglong Villa.” It was said that the Xia family had moved from elsewhere and made their fortune in the silk trade—but no one had ever managed to learn anything about the origins of Linglong Villa.

Before long, an imperial decree came down: Meihua County was to be renamed Tong County, and the reigning top scholar was personally appointed as its magistrate. The so-called “appointment”… was nothing more than surveillance.

Surveillance of the dangerous man living inside Linglong Villa.

Therefore, in this “Tong County,” there was no Magistrate Chen, no female constable Chen Hongdou, and no coroner Yang Jie—because she now existed decades beyond the original storyline.

On an old country road, a lone horse raced forward, throwing up clouds of dust.

Days of nonstop riding had left Feng Guang’s face weathered by wind and frost, but she, who normally loved cleanliness, had no time to care. She prayed silently that he would still be there—waiting for her at Linglong Villa.

Three days later, at dusk, a horse burst through the gates of Tong County and sped straight toward Linglong Villa. The woman in red dismounted, tossed aside the reins, pushed open the door, and rushed inside. But beneath the loquat tree in the pavilion… there was no familiar figure.

“Miss…” Lianzi called out in surprise.

Feng Guang froze. Slowly, she turned around. After a moment, her lips moved, and she whispered, “Xiaoxiao.”

“Mother!” Lianzi—Xiaoxiao—threw herself into her arms, tears streaming unchecked. Perhaps… perhaps she could finally call her by her real name now. Choking up, she said, “I thought… I thought I would never be able to recognize you as my mother in this lifetime…”

Xiaoxiao still remembered the day her father held a baby girl in his arms—eyes filled with a tenderness she had never seen before.

“Xiaoxiao, remember this. She is your mother,” Zhou Xing had said, the beautiful curve of his smile dazzling her young eyes. His voice was gentle. “You must protect her—but you cannot call her ‘mother.’”

Four-year-old Xiaoxiao didn’t understand. “Why can’t I call her Mother?”

He laughed softly. “Xiaoxiao can’t do it? If you can’t… then you will never have another chance to see your mother again.”

“I can do it!” the little girl promised immediately, raising her hand. “Xiaoxiao promises! I can do everything Father tells me to!”

Back then, Xiaoxiao understood so little—why her father forbade her from calling the woman “mother,” why her mother looked younger than she did… But when she grew older, Housekeeper Fu told her many, many things. And she finally understood.

Being called “mother” by someone who appeared older than she was made Feng Guang feel something strange and indescribable—but it didn’t affect the bond she felt toward Xiaoxiao. Gently, she patted the girl’s back. “Xiaoxiao, tell me… where did your father go?”

“I…” Xiaoxiao shook her head. “I can’t say. I promised Father I wouldn’t tell anyone where he went.”

“You came back after all.”

A cold voice rang out.

Feng Guang turned her head and saw Chi Yuan, his expression as frosty as ever. And suddenly—she had a hunch.

This man would give her the answer.