Huo Chao booked two rooms at a local hotel.
It was getting late, so the two of them returned to their rooms to rest.
The next morning, although Shu Jia Er initially said they would each do their own thing, she still eagerly followed Huo Chao and had breakfast with him.
Shu Jia Er had decided that today she would cling to Huo Chao; wherever he went, she would follow.
County B wasn’t small, but that was only when compared to Beijing City.
Shu Jia Er didn’t inherit the original owner’s memories and thought that a small county like County B would be about the same size as a small town. However, it was quite different. In recent years, County B had undergone significant reconstruction after a disaster, with towering buildings and a thriving atmosphere.
She was completely unfamiliar with County B and didn’t recognize anything. To avoid raising Huo Chao’s suspicions, Shu Jia Er decided to keep a low profile today and talk as little as possible.
Noticing that Shu Jia Er was unusually quiet, Huo Chao raised an eyebrow in surprise. “What’s up today? Why so quiet? You haven’t said a word.”
Holding a steamed bun in her hand, Shu Jia Er nibbled on it like a little hamster and made up an excuse, “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Huo Chao thought for a moment and patted her fluffy head. “Are you missing your grandma?”
The original owner of the body had lived in County B for seventeen years, and this place held all her memories of her loved ones. So Huo Chao assumed Shu Jia Er was feeling nostalgic.
Shu Jia Er mumbled a vague response, “Brother, I don’t really want to talk today.”
What would she say if Huo Chao asked her how to get to xx road or where the earthquake site was? She wouldn’t know either.
To avoid any awkward situations, it was best to remain silent.
After finishing breakfast at the hotel, Shu Jia Er followed Huo Chao outside. Once they stepped out, she realized she had been overthinking things.
Huo Chao had initially planned to come alone; he had already arranged for a local guide and transportation, so he didn’t need her to show him around.
Once they got in the car, Shu Jia Er let out a sigh of relief, but she still aimed to speak as little as possible.
During the ride, the driver kept initiating conversations to lighten the mood. “You two are from Beijing City, huh? That’s quite far from County B! Are you here visiting relatives? County B has changed a lot in recent years. Look how well it’s developed.”
Neither Shu Jia Er nor Huo Chao felt like chatting, so the driver kept talking to himself, happily chattering away.
“You want to go to the earthquake site, right? Can you believe it’s been ten years since that earthquake? Time flies! I’m not from here and didn’t experience that earthquake, but I heard it was devastating. Sigh.”
After a while, the driver finally stopped the car. “We’re here.”
This area had residential buildings and shopping malls, showing no signs of the devastation from the earthquake ten years ago.
Time is the best healer; it can erase many scars, but the emotional wounds in one’s heart are not so easily forgotten.
Huo Chao told the driver, “Wait here,” and then got out of the car with Shu Jia Er.
Curious, Shu Jia Er looked around; this was her first time here, and she was surprised by how prosperous the area was.
Since it was still a holiday, the faces of passersby didn’t show much urgency or stress. Occasionally, a few children walked by holding their parents’ hands, their faces full of joy and happiness. How many people still think about the earthquake from ten years ago?
Huo Chao led the way toward a neighborhood.
He was only here to revisit some memories; in fact, he had already hired a professional detective agency to investigate what happened ten years ago. It would be unrealistic for him to investigate it all on his own.
Though a long time had passed, he thought there must still be witnesses who remembered how he was saved.
Some small details that he hadn’t noticed at the time seemed to stand out in hindsight, revealing many inconsistencies.
When he opened his eyes back then, he saw a clean little girl whose smile appeared somewhat surreal under the sunlight.
He had asked, “Did you save me? Thank you.” Then he added that he would repay her.
His promise, of course, was meant to last a lifetime.
Provided that she truly was the one who saved him.
At that time, Huo Chao was young, and his mind wasn’t calm enough to sense anything amiss. However, after receiving a few messages from Shu Er, he reflected on that day’s events more carefully, realizing that things didn’t quite add up. The little girl had seemed too clean and tidy, and her smile felt too relaxed, contrasting sharply with the devastation surrounding them.
Is what Shu Er said true?
Even if it is true, was that little girl truly his savior?
These questions were precisely why he had come to County B in person and hired a professional detective agency to investigate the facts.
As Huo Chao walked ahead, he observed the unknown flowers in the neighborhood, lost in thought.
Huo Chao remained silent, and Shu Jia Er didn’t feel like speaking either, creating a moment of quiet.
Just then, an elderly person walking a dog passed by.
The dog looked quite old, moving slowly and pausing every few steps. The elderly person holding the leash was also quite aged, with age spots on their face and thin, wrinkled hands.
It was an ordinary scene: an old person and a dog.
Shu Jia Er even made eye contact with the elderly person for a second.
Just as she was about to look away, the elder suddenly exclaimed, “You’re Xiao Shu Er!”
Shu Jia Er’s heart skipped a beat.
No way—could she really encounter someone familiar with the original owner here?
The elder stopped, a kind smile on their face. “Little Shu Er, didn’t you go to Beijing City? Are you back to visit your grandma?”
Shu Jia Er nodded.
The elder sighed. “Ah, come to my house for a glass of water? You seem to have nowhere else to go now.”
Shu Jia Er didn’t respond, but Huo Chao asked, “What do you mean she has nowhere to go? Isn’t her grandma…”
The elder glanced at Huo Chao and said, “You don’t know? She and her grandma lived in a rented house. Now that her grandma is gone, and Xiao Shu Er has gone to Beijing City, they returned the rental. Someone else is living there now.”
Huo Chao was curious about Shu Jia Er’s past life and accepted the elder’s invitation, leaving Shu Jia Er no choice but to follow along.
Noticing Shu Jia Er’s silence, the elder didn’t find it odd; the original owner had always been quiet, shy, and sensitive, only close to her grandma.
Once they arrived at the elder’s home, the elder’s partner hurried into the kitchen to prepare drinks for them. “It’s hot outside, so have some water. We don’t have kids at home, so there aren’t many snacks—only some tomatoes and cucumbers.”
Shu Jia Er smiled faintly and replied, “That’s okay, Grandma; I like tomatoes.”
The elderly woman replied, “Oh, then I’ll go wash some for you.”
After sitting down, the elder had a chance to closely examine Huo Chao. He hadn’t paid much attention to him earlier, but now that he looked closely, he realized this young man was quite handsome.
The elder joked, “Are you Xiao Shu Er’s good friend?”
Shu Jia Er finally showed some interest in chatting, shaking her head and denying, “No, he’s my brother; I recognized him myself.”
The elder nodded, noting that Xiao Shu Er seemed much more lively since moving to Beijing City.
“Did your brother come with you to see your grandma?”
Upon hearing this, Shu Jia Er felt a pang of guilt; she was just here to tag along. However, she had already made up her mind that once Huo Chao learned that Shu Er was his savior, she would visit her grandma’s grave, and if possible, burn some paper money for her to have a better afterlife.
Shu Jia Er shook her head. “No, he came to find his childhood savior.”
The elder seemed to understand. “A savior, huh? Was it from that earthquake ten years ago?”
Shu Jia Er nodded.
At that moment, the elder’s partner interjected, “Didn’t Xiao Shu Er also save a boy back then? Why hasn’t he come to repay his gratitude?”
This statement surprised not only Huo Chao but also Shu Jia Er herself.
The original owner had saved someone when she was young?
Who was it?
This was the downside of not inheriting memories; she knew nothing and had to rely on others for information.
Huo Chao raised an eyebrow. “Shu Er, you saved a boy?” After hearing the elder refer to Shu Jia Er this way, he decided to use her former name too.
Shu Jia Er could only smile foolishly, remaining silent.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak; it was just that she had no idea what was going on.
“Speaking of which, you really are a straightforward child. You dared to rush into such a dangerous situation, almost losing your own life.”
Upon hearing this, Shu Jia Er suddenly thought of the scar on her back.
She had always been self-conscious about that noticeable scar, believing it marred the beauty of her back.
So, was it possible that the scar was a result of saving someone?
Shu Jia Er wasn’t in a position to ask questions since she was the one involved. Wouldn’t it seem strange for her to ask, “What happened?”
Fortunately, Huo Chao asked the question for her.
His brow furrowed, his voice growing serious. “What happened? Was it very dangerous at that time?”
The elder replied, “Of course it was dangerous! Little Shu Er shielded that boy with her own body to save him. The boy seemed to be fine, but Xiao Shu Er got knocked unconscious by a beam. Luckily, her neighbor saw what happened and rescued her. At one point, she even stopped breathing, but her neighbor knew some first aid and performed CPR on her, which brought her back. It’s a miracle she survived and grew up safely.” The elder paused to catch his breath after this lengthy explanation.
The elderly woman beside him looked at them with a sigh.
Huo Chao’s expression darkened as he processed everything.
The fact that Shu Jia Er had once risked her life to save a boy astonished him.
What was their relationship?
How could she have been so brave and reckless, disregarding her own safety like that?
Wasn’t she smart and cautious in front of him? How could she have acted so foolishly back then?
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