Nineteen. He actually hugged himself?_1

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After a night of growth, all the Broccoli heads had fully opened, each one lush and tender green, set against a few dark green leaves, looking extremely pleasing to the eye.

He carefully plucked each of these green Huacai plants one by one.

Then he counted them carefully.

Goodness, one wouldn't know without counting; there were actually ninety-eight in total.

The number was astonishing.

He took out a nylon bag and packed each of the Broccoli heads into it.

But there were too many, and a single bag simply couldn't hold them all.

He had no choice but to pile up the rest, planning to buy more bags later when he went into town.

When Gu Chen left the space, dawn was already breaking.

He glanced towards Ji Pianran's house and noticed that the light in Ji Pianran's room had been turned on at some point.

It seemed that she must be up.

Thinking this, Gu Chen hurriedly scooped some rice from the rice barrel and cooked three eggs.

He also fished some pickles out of the pickle jar.

These pickles had all been made by Ji Pianran.

Because she had to take care of the child and work, Ji Pianran often couldn't manage to cook meals on time, and the house, if there was any decent food, was all saved for Tangtang.

As for herself.

Pickles and mixed grain pancakes were a meal.

Gu Chen got everything ready, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

Before he had time to step out, he heard the crying of Tangtang from inside the house.

The little girl's wailing sounded heartbreakingly sad.

Ji Pianran had just gotten up and was just finished dressing.

Hearing Tangtang's cries, her heart tightened, and she ran toward Gu Chen's house.

The little girl, upon seeing her mother, looked extremely aggrieved and stretched out her arms for a hug.

Without saying a word, Ji Pianran scooped up her child.

She was extremely anxious.

"What's wrong, Tangtang, what happened?"

The little girl's eyes brimmed with tears, and she pouted her chubby pink lips in distress.

"Mama, did Papa leave again?"

Truth be told, the moment Ji Pianran charged in, countless possibilities had flashed through her mind.

Had Tangtang had a nightmare?

Or had she fallen from the bed?

Of course, it seemed more likely the latter, as the intense crying made it seem like she had taken a harsh fall.

Seeing that she was unharmed, she immediately relaxed.

She gently patted her daughter's back, speaking in a soothing voice.

"Papa didn't leave, Papa will never leave, Tangtang can be sure of that."

The little girl looked up at Ji Pianran with pitiable eyes.

"Then where's Papa?"

?

Gu Chen wasn't there?

Ji Pianran scanned the room quickly.

Indeed, there was no sign of him in the house.

She had been too anxious before and hadn't noticed whether Gu Chen was present or not.

If he wasn't there, where could he have gone?

With that thought, she looked toward the door.

Just as Ji Pianran turned her head to look at the doorway, she saw Gu Chen anxiously pushing through the door curtain and coming in.

His face was filled with worry.

"What's the matter?"

Seeing her father return, Tangtang felt even more aggrieved.

"Papa, Tangtang thought you didn't want her anymore!"

As the little girl spoke, large tears fell from her eyes, lingering on her soft, pale cheeks.

Gu Chen hurried to the bedside, reaching out to wipe away the tears on her face.

Seeing the little one in front of him, so reliant on himself, he couldn't help but think of the scene before his daughter's death in his past life.

She had been the one in the most pain, yet she had strained to smile at him.

Telling him that she had never resented anyone.

The vision was as vivid as yesterday.

Pain surged once again.

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His voice trembled, and hot tears rolled down uncontrollably.

"Daddy will never abandon Tangtang. Daddy wants to watch Tangtang grow up little by little, wants to watch Tangtang turn from a tiny tot into a graceful young lady. Later on, Daddy also wants to be there when Tangtang gets married, to see little Tangtang give birth."

Tangtang didn't understand what getting married meant, let alone what little Tangtang signified.

She only knew that she didn't want to leave Daddy.

She lifted her little head, looking earnestly at Gu Chen.

Her soft voice was filled with indescribable determination.

"Daddy can't abandon Tangtang. Tangtang can work, Tangtang can help Daddy hold the bag, can go sell vegetables with Daddy!"

Gu Chen's heart was once again shattered by the blood-thicker-than-water family bond.

He held Tangtang, trying hard to calm himself down.

"Okay, Daddy promises you, Daddy will go sell vegetables with Tangtang!"

Tangtang's soft little body leaned against Gu Chen's chest.

Her little face was indescribably happy.

Witnessing the deep affection between father and daughter before her.

Ji Pianran's heart was also a mixture of emotions.

Relief, moved, gradually coming to terms.

But before she had time to ponder more, the sharp pain shooting up from her feet made her frown.

"Hiss."

Hearing the sound, Gu Chen hurriedly turned back to check on Ji Pianran.

Just now, his attention was all on Tangtang.

Turning back to look now, he realized that Ji Pianran was actually barefoot!!!

His room was very close to Ji Pianran's, but it was also diagonally across.

To come over here meant she had to cross the courtyard!

That is to say, Ji Pianran had actually run into his room across the yard, barefoot.

Gu Chen's pupils shook.

"You...."

Now, Ji Pianran's expression had clearly changed.

Due to pain, a fine layer of sweat beads had formed on her forehead and the sides of her nose.

Under the dim light, they shimmered brightly.

"Mommy!"

Tangtang seemed to notice that something was wrong with Ji Pianran as well.

Worried, she called out to her.

Ji Pianran, enduring the pain, forced a ghastly smile.

"It's okay. I just got too anxious and forgot to put on shoes. You take care of Tangtang, I'll go back first."

She always had a habit of hiding her true feelings, always wanting to make everyone believe that she was doing well.

After speaking, Ji Pianran turned to leave.

In fact, when she had just run towards Gu Chen's house, due to the haste and also because it was getting dark,

She hadn't noticed and stepped on a few pieces of dry wood scattered in the yard.

The countryside, though dependent on coal,

Also had each household keep some dry firewood ready.

Most of the firewood at Gu Chen's house were dry branches that Ji Pianran and Tangtang had picked up.

In the cold of winter, the branches had become significantly harder.

Stepping on them hadn't pierced her foot, but had sliced a large cut on her ankle.

As Ji Pianran walked away, exerting some force,

Blood flowed from her ankles, soaking into the ground.

Gu Chen, upon seeing the fresh red bloodstains on the ground, was startled.

He quickly let go of Tangtang's little hand,

And rushed over to Ji Pianran in nearly two steps.

Without a word, he picked her up in his arms.

Ji Pianran was taken aback by the sudden lift.

She hadn't expected Gu Chen to actually hold her.

Following that, the warm scent unique to Gu Chen, mixed with the cold air from outside, rushed into Ji Pianran's nostrils all at once.

Out of fright, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes widened.

Her moist eyes filled with terror.

"What are you doing?"

Honestly, in that moment he picked Ji Pianran up, Gu Chen's heart couldn't help but flutter.

Ji Pianran was very light, her body soft, with a faint scent of orchids.

It was extremely pleasant.