Anping Village is essential without any great traits. It is situated in a mountainous environment that is far away and has limited transportation options. It makes sense that the village chief would like to restrict the flow of people, but how could the younger generation choose to remain here for the rest of their life after seeing the vibrant world outside?
Simply put, without Qin Mu, the outer world—no matter how wonderful—is useless.
When this unexpected event occurred, Xie Ge was at a loss for what to do for a while. Originally, he had planned to wait for Qin Mu to graduate school before leaving to work and venture into the world.
On the side, Xie Fenglan persisted: “Those old women harassed me, saying that they only gave me three days, and if I don’t leave, they will set fire to this place…”
Xie Ge, weary of being read, replied impatiently, “I see, let me think about it.”
“What are you thinking about?”
Xie Fenglan rolled his eyes at him and was about to continue convincing when Qin Mu’s voice from outside the door called out, “Xie Ge, Xie Ge.”
“Hey, your good brother is coming to look for you,” Xie Fenglan knocked on melon seeds lazily while leaning against the door frame. “You just used this chance to bid him farewell.”
Without saying anything, Xie Ge pushed her away so he could walk out the door.
Su Jia and Qin Mu were waiting at the door when it was finally opened. Xie Ge exited the room and shut the door. “What brings you here?”
“Guo Guo left his longevity locked with you when we went fishing just today, so we came to get it back from you.” Qin Mu said.
“Longevity Lock? Didn’t I return it to you?” Xie Ge questioned, turning his attention to Su Jiayu standing next to Qin Mu.
Su Jiayu’s eyes widened with surprise when he heard this: “When did you return it to me? Why can’t I remember?”
At this point, Xie Ge was concerned about moving, and his tone was rather offensive: “What do you mean, I’ll still take your stuff?”
“Don’t quarrel, let’s talk about it.”
Qin Mu was unsure of whom to believe. Guoguo had always been regarded favorably by many parents and teachers from an early age. He was intelligent, well-mannered, honest, and considerate. He was well-liked by everyone in Anping Village. Although Xie Ge had a criminal history before, his petty thievery tendencies have changed since he mixed up with him.
“Think about it again, did Xie Ge return the longevity lock to you?” He asked Su Jiayu after pausing for a while to consider the question.
“No.” Su Jiayu’s eyes were black and white, and he said decisively.
“You’re a f*cking fart! Don’t blame me for you losing anything yourself.” Xie Ge snarls while glaring at Su Jiayu sullenly.
“I don’t.” Su Jiayu is not as afraid of Xie Ge as when he was younger. He also knows Xie Ge after many years of getting along. Xie Ge is a strong and aggressive man, yet he was unable to express his rage as soon as he encounters Qin Mu.
“I already know you’re a bad guy, so screw you!”
As soon as Xie Ge moved forward and rolled up his sleeves, Qin Mu appeared in front of Su Jiayu and said, “We’re all brothers, don’t fight.”
“Who is his brother?” Xie Ge spat on the ground, his dark eyeballs like black holes glaring at Qin Mu, and delayed his sentence as if swearing: “If I remove his longevity lock, then I shall have a dreadful death!”
Qin Mu’s heart was shaky after hearing him recite such a severe oath, and he couldn’t decide which side to take.
Guo Guo has never lied, and he also has no justification for doing so, but Xie Ge doesn’t appear to be fabricating anything. One of them must be mistaken if Guo Guo claimed to have given the longevity lock to Xie Ge and Xie Ge claimed to have returned it to Guo Guo.
Is there any misunderstanding here?
“When did you return the longevity lock to Guo Guo?” Qin Mu raised his head and asked Xie Ge.
Xie Ge’s brows creased like a hill. “My mother urged me to return and put stuff in his pocket before I left.”
“Did auntie see it?”
“No.”
But the thing was indeed gone. Moreover, Guo Guo said that Xie Ge did not give him his longevity lock back. Qin Mu didn’t want to doubt Xie Ge, but if he had to pick one, he would still choose to believe Guo Guo over Xie Ge. Since the longevity lock is the most meaningful thing for Guo Guo, jokes about it are out of the question.
Thus, after a little moment of hesitation, Qin Mu softly said to Xie Ge: “Or otherwise you look for it again, things can’t disappear for no apparent reason.”
Almost in disbelief, Xie Ge stared at Qin Mu and blink very slowly. The second time he opened his eyes, the color of his eyes darkened, and he fixed a very unusual glance on Qin Mu. The latter was ready to avert his eyes since he was a bit uncomfortable with the intensity of his gaze when he overheard Xie Ge saying in a glum and frigid tone, “You don’t believe in me?”
As Qin Mu opened his mouth, he said, “I … didn’t.”
“You simply don’t trust me!” Xie Ge pulled at the corners of his mouth while grinning widely, exposing a chilly and repulsive aura in the dusk.
Qin Mu knew he shouldn’t doubt Xie Ge even before there was any concrete evidence, but Guo Guo’s longevity lock was the key to finding his biological parents. He always wants to help Guo Guo in reaching his only hope.
“Xie Ge, it’s not that I don’t believe in you.”
“I’ve had enough.” Once turning away from Qin Mu, Xie Ge sneered. The low light didn’t change the fact that his straight back was still proud, but there was a hint of sorrow and isolation in his words. “I always thought you were different from others.”
Translator: If you like my translation, tip me…
