Shen Zha didn’t know, at that time he had invited Jiang Ning to participate in the variety show several times, but Jiang Ning did not agree. The reason she finally agreed was not because of his persistence, but because Jiang Ning heard a familiar place name from him.
The reason Jiang Ning decided to participate in this program was when she heard the words Hetian Town.
Back then, Jiang Ning and Huo Miao were accidentally swapped. Huo Miao’s biological parents took Jiang Ning home. This family preferred sons over daughters and didn’t like Jiang Ning, neglecting her care. At only six months old, Jiang Ning was taken away by traffickers.
Jiang Ning had bad luck, which was evident from being swapped at birth. Before she turned five, she lived a life like a commodity, being sold from one person to another.
It wasn’t until she was five that a couple bought her.
This couple couldn’t have a son and somehow heard that if they bought a child as a "catalyst," they could have their own child.
When Jiang Ning was six years old, this couple really did have a son of their own.
The couple who bought Jiang Ning with a purpose naturally didn’t treat her well.
Once they had their son, Jiang Ning held no more value in their eyes.
In this household, Jiang Ning was severely abused for three years, living in a pigsty and sleeping in a doghouse were common occurrences.
Until one day when she was eight, during a market day, she went to the town and never returned after sneaking away.
Being adopted by Grandpa Jiang happened after her wandering days.
Jiang Ning came to the police station this time to report the human traffickers who abducted her, as well as the villages she lived in as a child.
In the villages where the people who bought her lived, there were many other trafficked children besides her.
Jiang Ning came to the police station this time specifically to report these traffickers and provide clues to the police.
The police, upon hearing Jiang Ning’s story, immediately took her to an office. After hearing Jiang Ning’s statement, Officer Gong Li looked at the densely written notes on the notebook in front of him.
"How do you remember such small details?" he asked in surprise.
"I remembered them as a child, but the memories became blurry as I grew up. Recently, due to work reasons, I spent some time in Hetian Town, and it all came back to me." Jiang Ning took out a small notebook from her bag and handed it to Gong Li. "These are some things that I remembered. I’m not sure if they’ll be useful to you."
The System lingered in Jiang Ning’s mind, watching as the gray notebook was handed over to the police. It chewed on a little handkerchief, silently shedding tears. It wasn’t that the host remembered; it was clearly because it stayed up writing for several nights, its paws hurting from the effort...
The information Jiang Ning reported was significant and pertained to events over ten years ago, so Gong Li called in two more colleagues.
By the time Jiang Ning and Qi Xingzhou left the police station, it was more than an hour later.
Qi Xingzhou appeared somber.
He had accompanied Jiang Ning the entire time, never leaving, and had listened carefully to the conversation between Jiang Ning and the police.
With outsiders present at the police station, he had kept himself composed, but after getting into the car, he couldn’t hold it any longer and reached out to tightly embrace Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning was still immersed in the report, unsure when the police would investigate, and was briefly stunned when suddenly pulled into Qi Xingzhou’s embrace. She reflexively hugged him back. "What’s wrong?"
"I didn’t know you had suffered so much." Qi Xingzhou held Jiang Ning tightly, his body slightly trembling.
Jiang Ning instantly realized he was feeling bad for her.
Jiang Ning, still embracing him, gently patted his back. "It’s okay, it’s all in the past now."
Qi Xingzhou didn’t speak. He had many things he wanted to say but felt clumsy as they reached his lips.
He buried his head against her and softly pledged, "In the future, I’ll treat you well, treat you the best."
The two held each other for a long time before letting go.
It was only after they separated that Jiang Ning noticed Qi Xingzhou’s eyes were red as if he’d cry at any moment.
In contrast, Jiang Ning appeared calm.
It looked as if he were the victim who had come to report the crime.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I don’t remember my childhood. Do you believe that?"
Qi Xingzhou immediately said, "I believe."
But in truth, judging by the pained expression on his face, it was clear he didn’t believe Jiang Ning’s words.
If Qi Chen were present, he could surely tell at a glance that his Bitter Gourd Brother had returned.
Jiang Ning could also see that Qi Xingzhou didn’t believe her, she sighed inwardly. She wasn’t lying to him; she really didn’t remember her childhood.
In fact, even her numerous abductions were only known to her after binding with the System.
That night, Shen Zha called to invite her to the variety show. Fearing she might refuse like before, he hurriedly mentioned Sanwan Village to her.
At that moment, upon hearing Hetian Town, Jiang Ning felt a sense of familiarity and agreed.
The System had really surprised her.
She didn’t even know she had suffered so much hardship before she was five.
Jiang Ning’s memories of her childhood were already faded. She only remembered not being loved by her parents, frequently beaten and scolded, endless chores, and her experiences after wandering...
It was only after the System’s revelation that she realized how tragic her past was.
Looking at the downcast, gloomily silent Qi Xingzhou, as if with a little dark cloud hovering above, Jiang Ning didn’t know how to comfort him, yet couldn’t bear to see him suffer.
Her social skills were always minimal; in fact, delving into it, they weren’t much better than Qi Xingzhou’s.
Jiang Ning thought about it for a moment, then simply pulled Qi Xingzhou over and gave him a peck.
The kiss landed on his cheek with a loud smack, echoing in the car.
Qi Xingzhou’s expression shifted, and he raised his eyes to look at Jiang Ning.
His good looks were obvious up close, and his skin was remarkably flawless—fair and pristine. Jiang Ning couldn’t resist leaning in for another peck.
The kiss landed on his cheek with a loud smack, echoing in the car.
Qi Xingzhou’s expression shifted, and he raised his eyes to look at Jiang Ning.
His good looks were obvious up close, and his skin was remarkably flawless, fair, and clean. Jiang Ning couldn’t resist leaning in for another peck.
Just as she was about to pull back after the kiss, Qi Xingzhou finally reacted.
He raised his arm, wrapped his large hand around the back of Jiang Ning’s head, preventing her from retreating, and initiated a kiss himself.
Qi Xingzhou’s kiss was intense and domineering, a stark contrast to his clumsy attempts from earlier that morning. Now, it was as if he had instinctively mastered the skill, like a large wolfdog, pulling Jiang Ning’s hand to press her into the seat, his tall frame completely enveloping her, as if wanting to devour her whole.