This was the time of day when the street saw its peak foot traffic.
The interesting scene immediately caught the attention of a sizable crowd of onlookers.
"Little brother, you're so young, why aren't you in school?"
A pregnant woman with a bulging belly approached and tossed 10 yuan into the bowl marked 'Female'. Before Qi Weiran could even open his mouth, the nearby Yi Qingju spoke up first: "My brother is blind, deaf, and mute, thank you auntie."
The blind, deaf, and mute Qi Weiran: "....."
Hearing this, the woman felt even more sympathetic.
She then tossed another 10 yuan into the bowl.
It was already time for work, so after throwing in the money, she was about to leave, but Yi Qingju reached out and grabbed the corner of her dress.
The equally grubby little girl took out a notebook and an automatic pencil and handed them to her: "Auntie, please leave your name and contact information, I'll pay you back."
The little girl's eyes were resolute and bright.
Perhaps this promise cannot be fulfilled now, and it will take many years, but she will definitely make it happen.
The woman hesitated, obviously not taking it seriously, but not wanting to disappoint the little girl either, so she signed her name and phone number.
Her name was Duan Chuchu.
Looking at the girl who was poor but still had a smile as bright as the sun on her face, the woman couldn't help but recall a poem.
She caressed her bulging belly and smiled happily.
"I envy your youth and your bright future, like the rising sun of the Fusang tree. Your name from now on shall be Fusheng."
...
In the dilapidated van, Yi Qingju tightly clutched the stack of money, her eyes shining brightly.
Qi Weiran, no longer blind, deaf, and mute, took the notebook with the names and contact information from her hand.
Although some people found it too much trouble and didn't write anything, the young master who had been pampered since childhood experienced the warmth and coldness of the world for the first time.
"I will become a formidable person in the future and repay them."
He will definitely use this 'money' of goodwill to become the best adult to repay these strangers.
For the first time, Yi Qingju saw the emotion of 'ardor' in Qi Weiran's eyes and stared at him curiously.
[Don't worry, I'll help you pay them back in the future]
Hearing this, Qi Weiran even forgot that it was 'auditory hallucination', and turned to look at Yi Qingju.
In the future.
Was she implying...that she wants to be with me forever?
Hearing Qi Weiran's resolute words, the driver Old Li in front cheered: "Good! You have ambition."
"As a man! Either wear a medical uniform and save lives, or wear a military uniform and defend the land!"
These stirring words immediately ignited Yi Qingju's passion, and she echoed along: "Or ride a tricycle and collect old refrigerators!"
"Or wear a short skirt and cross-dress as a woman!"
She glanced sideways at Qi Weiran.
After a moment of silence, under her expectant gaze, he reluctantly uttered the last sentence.
"Or lie in a coffin, eyes devoid of light."
Yi Qingju applauded.
Old Li: "....."
Where exactly did we go wrong......
"Today we've saved up more than 100 yuan, the tickets are already covered, the rest is for food and travel expenses. Next time I'll borrow Uncle Li's ID to buy the tickets."
Breaking half of the instant noodles Uncle Li gave them to share with him, Yi Qingju sat in the cave and discussed with Qi Weiran how to help him return home.
Seeing the girl in front of him who had her heart set on helping him, Qi Weiran pushed the instant noodles in his hand towards her and asked, "Why are you helping me so much, when we are complete strangers?"
[Good question, how do I answer this, I can't just say it's because I covet something you'll have in the future]
So Yi Qingju carefully considered her response and said, "Because you're good-looking."
"I believe you." Qi Weiran replied immediately.
No matter what you covet, I will satisfy you.
He believed in this little girl who had hugged him and told him not to be afraid when his body and mind were on the verge of collapse.
"Oh yes." Yi Qingju took out the flashlight she had borrowed from Uncle Li and handed it to him.
[I almost forgot that Qi Weiran has claustrophobia, although this place isn't enclosed, it'll be very dark at night, and this person, even if he's afraid, probably won't say anything, sigh]
Qi Weiran hesitated.
How did she know?
"I'm leaving now, Qi Weiran, see you tomorrow."
She stood up and said goodbye to him.
Qi Weiran nodded blankly: "Okay."
After Yi Qingju left, a little brat who had been hiding in the tree shadows came out and looked at the hidden cave.
...
"Oh dear, where have you been!"
As soon as Yi Qingju got home, an unfamiliar auntie came rushing out, her face full of anxiety, and the house was lit up even though it wasn't dark yet. She instinctively felt that something had happened.
"What happened?"
The woman pulled her not-so-gently: "Your grandma is ill, she's already gone to the county hospital."
Yi Qingju's mind went blank, the image of the old lady who had just given her pocket money that morning was still fresh in her memory.
[Host, you should hurry and go see your grandmother one last time]
Yi Qingju immediately turned to leave, but then abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"Auntie." She turned to look at the woman with a hint of impatience on her face.
"What is it?"
"Auntie, can you look after the house for me?" To look after the original host and her grandmother's home.
Vaguely, Liu Cuicui seemed to see the soul of an adult in this young girl's eyes.
"Okay." She heard herself answer.
The one who took Yi Qingju to the county hospital was Liu Cuicui's husband, Er Gouzi.
"Little Ju, don't worry, the old lady has good fortune, nothing bad will happen to her."
Yi Qingju forced a smile, but her heart was filled with sorrow.
Only she knew the truth.
"Are you a relative of Ms. Xie Hongzhu?"
The nurse's emotionless voice came from above, and the young girl nodded.
"Go see the patient one last time."
Seemingly considerate of her young age and the fact that she wasn't crying or making a fuss, the nurse's voice softened a bit.
Yi Qingju went in.
The old lady, who had been full of vigor just yesterday, delighted that she had won a fight and relieved her granddaughter's grudge, now lay on the bed with an oxygen mask, her vitality seemingly drained.
She was too old.
Yi Qingju walked over and gently grasped the old, withered hand, her voice choked with sobs as she called out, "Grandma."
The old woman's eyelids fluttered abruptly, and then the heart monitor next to her let out a flat, rapid beep.
She had held on to that last breath, waiting to see her beloved granddaughter before she closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I'm not her." Yi Qingju's voice trembled as she spoke.
The system sighed: [Host, don't blame yourself. In the story the transmigrator wanted, they took over the original host's body and successfully killed the young Qi Weiran who would have given the future male lead a bright future.]
[And this mysterious old lady who came to the mountain to teach, she never got to hear the last heavenly voice that would have comforted her fading soul...]
"...Is this the meaning of my preventing the transmigrator?" Yi Qingju silently spoke.
Those transmigrators who occupy other people's bodies for their own selfish desires, using others' identities to harm people recklessly without having to pay any price.
The process was swift.
Death certificate, funeral home, cremation.
A living person, reduced to a small urn after death.
When Yi Qingju returned home, there were many people waiting outside the door.
Seeing her arrive, the crowd, who had been banging on the door, stopped their actions.
The leader's greedy eyes were fixed intently on Yi Qingju, who was holding a small jar: "Girl Ju, where did your grandmother's bank book go? I was her favorite student, so I should get a share of the inheritance, right?"
"That's right! The old lady gave charity to so many people during her lifetime, so after she's gone, we former disciples should get a piece of the pie!"
Yi Qingju swept her gaze across their absurd and ugly faces, as well as the villagers standing in the distance who clearly had work to do but were content to just watch the show.
Then, she slowly tugged the corners of her mouth.
【System, do you know of any weapons I can use to fight back against a group without breaking the law, but that are still quite deadly?】
Little Jiji: 【I don't know】
Entrusting the jar to the dumbstruck Er Gouzi standing nearby, Yi Qingju rolled up her sleeves, snatched a mop from an old lady's hands, dipped it in the freshly shoveled manure, and charged at those scoundrels -
"Mop soaked in shit, sweep them all away!!"
