Phoenix Mountain

Fu Zhenzhen seemed overwhelmed by the honor.

"Oh, no, Auntie. I was happy to save Jici too. You really don't have to do this."

Looking at the modest, polite girl who had saved her son, Mrs. Song grew even more delighted. She took the jade bracelet worth seven figures straight off her wrist and slipped it onto Fu Zhenzhen's, showering her with praise.

Fu Zhenzhen's eyes lit up at the sight of the expensive bracelet, and she bashfully accepted Mrs. Song's compliments.

Only when Jiang Nian's stomach growled did Mrs. Song realize she had talked for too long.

"Oh dear, look at me. You must all still be hungry. I'll have the housekeeper bring out the food. We can't let our Nian go hungry."

As she spoke, she playfully brushed Jiang Nian's nose and led everyone into the dining room.

At the table, Mrs. Song seated Jiang Nian on her left and Fu Zhenzhen on her right so she could look after them both.

"Oh, Godmother, I bought an emerald brooch abroad. I was going to bring it when I visited you another day, but I came in such a hurry today. I'll have the butler deliver it later."

Mrs. Song chided her with a smile. "Just coming here is enough. Why bring a gift? What could your godmother possibly need?"

Jiang Nian pouted. "But I want to give you something."

"All right, then. Give me whatever you like. I love anything you pick out. The Shen Family patriarch's seventieth birthday celebration is next month. I'll get your outfit and jewelry ready for you. You'll absolutely dazzle everyone there."

Recalling the plot that unfolded at that birthday banquet, Jiang Nian happily agreed to Song Ling's offer.

This was an important part of Shen Hui's storyline. She would get to watch the drama again.

On Mrs. Song's right, Fu Zhenzhen watched the two of them with envy. She touched the bracelet on her wrist, then lowered her head sadly.

Mrs. Song noticed and took her hand, asking with concern, "What's wrong, Zhenzhen?"

Fu Zhenzhen forced a smile. "Nothing, Auntie. I just think you and Jiang Nian are so close-even closer than a real mother and daughter. I wish I had a mother who loved me that much. But I've never even met mine..."

Watching Fu Zhenzhen's performance, Jiang Nian inwardly hailed her as an Oscar-winning actress, while Song Ling and Song Jici both froze.

"Your mother..."

Fu Zhenzhen shook her head. "I'm an orphan. I've been in an orphanage for as long as I can remember. I've never met my parents."

At that, Song Jici first offered Fu Zhenzhen a few polite words of comfort, then lowered his head and ran his fingers over his plate.

No wonder he had been unable to find any trace of her back then.

Song Ling stroked her head affectionately. "If you don't mind, you can think of me as your mother. I can fund all your schooling from now on."

Fu Zhenzhen felt a little dissatisfied, but she still accepted their offer happily.

One step at a time. I have plenty of patience.

Beside them, Jiang Nian felt little at the sight of their kindness toward Fu Zhenzhen.

She knew their sympathy and help were largely based on the fact that Fu Zhenzhen had once saved Song Jici.

But in the original novel, even by the ending, no one knew that Fu Zhenzhen had led the traffickers who later tortured Song Jici right to him.

They were lavishing gratitude on the very person responsible. What would the Song Family do once they learned the truth?

The next day came in a flash. Amid her parents' endless reminders, Jiang Nian climbed into the chauffeur's car with a sigh of relief.

The Jiang Family parents were utterly obsessed with their daughter. Otherwise, they would never have raised the original Jiang Nian to be so spoiled.

Ever since she had come home yesterday, Jiang Nian had been surrounded by her parents' love from every possible angle. Having had no parents before, she had initially been overwhelmed by the attention, but she gradually grew used to it.

With a backpack full of necessities on her shoulders, Jiang Nian entered the classroom and greeted the people around her.

Beside her, Song Jici asked, "Did you bring everything on the packing list I gave you yesterday?"

Mrs. Song had drawn up a packing list for them based on previous years' military training, to make sure they wouldn't forget anything.

Jiang Nian nodded. "Everything."

She had even taken out the extra items Jiang Mother had tried to cram in because she thought there wasn't enough.

Seriously, I have to carry this bag on a cross-country march. Would I even survive with all that stuff on my back?

As their classmates chatted and laughed, Tan Zhuishi stepped up to the lectern in military training clothes.

"For the duration of training, I'll be your teaching assistant, helping the instructors supervise you. Now, everyone, open your backpacks."

With that, he picked up a metal detector and, ignoring the groans from some of the students, checked their bags one by one.

Once he had finally confiscated every unnecessary item, Tan Zhuishi led everyone to the sports field.

At the head of all the assembled groups stood a sturdy soldier with a resolute gaze, with a row of subordinates behind him.

"Good morning, students. I'm Lieutenant Jiang Cheng of the Armed Police unit stationed in City A. For the next seven days, I'll serve as your chief instructor and oversee the training of all cadets."

"I hope you'll uphold the spirit of never abandoning anyone and never giving up, help one another, stay united, and work together to complete this trial."

"Company instructors, organize your cadets and take them to the destination."

The row of instructors behind him dispersed, heading for their respective companies.

Classes One and Two were both assigned to the Forty-Fourth Company. Their instructor, Chen Shen, was a frank, hearty man from northeastern China.

After taking a head count, Chen Shen led everyone onto the coach bound for Phoenix Mountain, next to the military base.

On the coach, Song Jici had already sat down and was looking back at Jiang Nian, intending to invite her to sit with him. Before he could, Fu Zhenzhen suddenly ran over and grabbed his arm.

"Ji Ci, I get a little carsick. Can I sit with you?"

Looking at Jiang Nian, who had already sat down beside Tong Chuhe, Song Jici pressed his lips together in disappointment.

Does she really like her dear Chuhe that much?

He sighed and agreed to Fu Zhenzhen's request, though not very willingly.

It was strange. He had always thought that if he found the little girl who had risked her life to save him, he would treat her incredibly well and repay her kindness.

Yet now that he had found her, everything seemed completely different from what he had imagined.

He couldn't confirm whether Jiang Nian's thoughts were true, didn't know whether Fu Zhenzhen had any connection to the kidnapping, and had no idea whether he really would become her backup choice in the future.

All he knew was that he seemed to instinctively resist any contact with Fu Zhenzhen.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nian knew nothing of Song Jici's tangled thoughts. She had finally gotten her wish and sat beside Tong Chuhe.

[Chu He, here I come!]

Watching Jiang Nian sit excitedly beside her, Tong Chuhe smiled. She was quite fond of this adorable girl too.

"Hello, I'm Tong Chuhe."

Jiang Nian reined in her besotted grin a little. "Hi, I'm Jiang Nian."

Thinking of what she had found out after going home yesterday, Tong Chuhe took the initiative to ask Jiang Nian a question.

"My father has done business with your father. I heard him mention that you studied abroad for a few years. What made you decide to come back so suddenly?"

Faced with Tong Chuhe's puzzled gaze, Jiang Nian could only silently shed two streams of tears in her heart.

[Because I'll die if I don't come back and take part in the plot, Chuhe!]

Every member of the main cast on the coach who could hear her thoughts froze.

She would die if she didn't come back?

[Compared with dying, coming back to take part in the plot and getting thrown into prison by Song Jici doesn't seem so bad. Worst case, I'll just lie low in prison until the finale.]

"Ahem-"

Song Jici coughed violently twice and gave Jiang Nian a guilty glance.

I probably... wouldn't do that... would I?

Of course, Jiang Nian couldn't say what she was thinking aloud, so she could only make up an excuse.

"Because the food abroad was just too awful!" As she spoke, she pretended to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I couldn't stand another second of bread for breakfast, salad for lunch, and creamy soup for dinner!"

Hearing Jiang Nian's invented excuse, Tong Chuhe asked with an amused smile, "Oh? Then after all those years, you must be a pretty good cook, right?"

Jiang Nian was stunned. Jiang Nian froze. Jiang Nian guiltily looked away.

"I'm... just average, really."

[At least no one will come in standing and leave carried out.]

"Hahahaha!" Tong Chuhe laughed until she cried. "Then team up with me when we split into cooking groups. I'm a reasonably decent cook."

At least my food won't leave you needing to be carried out.

Once their excitement faded, the students on the coach gradually grew sleepy, slumping in their seats and sleeping in all sorts of awkward positions.

Only when the first whistle sounded did everyone wake. Looking out the windows at the lush green scenery, they realized-

They had arrived at Phoenix Mountain.