Lin Fan's Past

The next morning, Bibi Dong got up, went to the window, and stretched.

I had a little wine last night, and it was the best night's sleep Bibi Dong had had in a while.

Ever since learning about her future fate, she has been afraid to sleep soundly at night, living in constant fear.

Now that Qian Xunji and Ling Yuan are married, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Plus, she had drunk a little wine, so last night was the most relaxing night's sleep Bibi Dong had ever had.

Bibi Dong stepped out of her courtyard and greeted Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

Yue Guan; good morning, Gui Mei.

After saying that, without waiting for the two to greet each other, Bibi Dong skipped away.

Yue Guan nudged Gui Mei with his shoulder and said, "The Saintess seems even happier than the Pope!"

Watching Bibi Dong's departing figure, Gui Mei nodded and said, "She must be very happy."

Bibi Dong first went to the kitchen to get breakfast, and then brought it to Lin Fan's residence.

He went to the door, knocked, and said, "Lin Fan, are you up? I'm coming in."

Lin Fan woke up abruptly from his sleep and said, "Dong'er, come in."

Bibi Dong pushed open the door and said, "You just got up? You've been up for ages."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "I drank a bit too much last night and went to bed a bit late, so I got up a little late today."

"Why are you up so early? The Village Chief is getting married, you've been busy for so many days, shouldn't you get some more sleep?"

Bibi Dong walked into the room, placed breakfast on the table, and said, "I'm used to it. Besides, I didn't help much."

Lin Fan smiled helplessly and said, "Okay, I'll wash my face first."

Bibi Dong nodded. "I'll wait for you to eat together."

Lin Fan groped his way to the bathroom, washed his face, rinsed his teeth, and then sat back down opposite Bibi Dong.

Lin Fan felt around and found an extra set of chopsticks and bowls, and couldn't help but ask, "Why is there an extra pair of chopsticks today?"

Bibi Dong smiled and said, "Because I didn't eat either."

"Okay, let's eat together then."

After taking a couple of sips of porridge, Bibi Dong couldn't help but ask, "Lin Fan, you said the Village Chief is married. How long will it take for your wife to get pregnant and give birth?"

Lin Fan smiled helplessly, "Dong'er, having a child depends on luck; it's not something you can just decide to do."

"Speaking of which, Dong'er, didn't you just have one thing on your mind last night because of the Village Chief's wedding? How come you have another one on your mind after only one night?"

Bibi Dong chuckled sheepishly and said, "Just curiosity, nothing more."

Bibi Dong certainly had something on her mind. Before the future Qian Renxue was born, she had no real sense of security.

This period could be one year, two years, or even five years.

If the child hasn't been born by five years...

At that time, she didn't know what Qian Xunji and his son Qian Daoliu would do for the sake of the Angel God.

Thinking about this, my relaxed mood from last night suddenly tightened.

Lin Fan casually said, "Actually, there's no need to think so much. You should think of it this way: the Village Chief is finally married, so he'll definitely pay less attention to me in the future."

"Or you could think of it this way: I'll have another teacher's wife who can love and care for me now."

Bibi Dong nodded emphatically. "Lin Fan, you're right. I've gained a teacher's wife who's more than family to me."

"Moreover, my focus now should be on hunting, improving my skills, to repay my teacher for his guidance."

Lin Fan laughed and said, "That's more like it."

Bibi Dong said, "Let's eat, it's getting cold."

After Lin Fan's words, Bibi Dong felt a little lighter.

She's thinking too far ahead, putting unnecessary pressure on herself.

After all, four or five years from now, they may have already taken care of themselves.

"Then let's make a three-year agreement." Bibi Dong secretly set a goal for herself, "If Teacher still doesn't have a child after three years, I'll take care of Lin Fan on the spot."

"Hmph, I want to be the one who controls my own destiny. Even if it's about having children, it's my right to decide with whom I have them!"

Lin Fan wiped his mouth after finishing his breakfast.

Lin Fan suddenly asked, "Dong'er, I've been here for almost a month now, haven't I?"

Bibi Dong asked in confusion, "That's about enough. Why are you suddenly asking this question? Is there something I did wrong?"

"No..." Lin Fan said, "I just wanted to ask, has the path been cleared after the Mudslide that blocked it during the heavy rain?"

Bibi Dong hesitated for a moment before answering, "Not yet. Normally, a month would be about right, but Teacher suddenly got married, so it's been put on hold for now."

"So, it'll be at least another month or so."

Lin Fan: "Okay!"

"Lin Fan." She put down her bowl and asked slowly, "Do you miss home? Who else is in your family?"

Lin Fan was taken aback and did not answer Bibi Dong's question immediately; a hint of dejection appeared on his face.

Bibi Dong observed this and quietly awaited Lin Fan's reply.

"Home," Lin Fan sighed Youyou, "I guess you could say I'm an orphan."

My parents divorced when I was young. My mother then went to work in another city, remarried, and has a new family with a new son.

Bibi Dong asked, "Didn't you go to see her?"

Lin Fan smiled helplessly, "I tried to contact them once, but I was already seventeen years old then. We hadn't been in touch for many years, and I couldn't integrate into their family anymore, so I went back to my hometown after a while."

"Alright," Bibi Dong asked again, "Then you still have a father, right?"

"Father," Lin Fan sighed again, "Married a stepmother when I was 14, and then adopted a younger sister. I've always lived at school, only returning home once a semester ends."

"Then, during my freshman year of college, my father became seriously ill, and my stepmother divorced him, taking my younger sister with her."

"Later, my father's illness became too severe and incurable, so I had no choice but to bring him back to my hometown, to let him return to his roots."

"And what will happen after you go back?" she asked. "Your dad's gone, and you can't fit in with your mom's side. Will you be living alone after you go back?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment and said, "Yes. After all, I'm an adult now, and life has to go on. I'll go back to school to study and work part-time to support myself."

"Then, after graduation, the rented apartment, the workplace, the breakfast vendor downstairs, the crowded subway—that's my life. Living alone is still living alone."

Bibi Dong held the bowl, not moving for a long time.

Lin Fan spoke calmly, as if he were telling someone else's story.

But Bibi Dong could tell that there was a lot more to Lin Fan's words than met the eye.

His parents divorced, his mother remarried, his father became seriously ill, his stepmother left with his younger sister, and in the end, he was the only one who sent his father back to his hometown.

"Your life hasn't been easy either," Bibi Dong remarked with a sigh.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "I'm used to it. Everyone has their own way of living; I don't need to consult with anyone or accommodate anyone."

"Sometimes when I get home from work and it's so quiet in my rented room, I have to turn on the TV for background noise."