"Just now, Little Qin said this room won't be listened in on, so Grandma, you can speak freely."
Wen Shu sat obediently beside Xu Lanzhi, but in her heart, she was a little confused, "Grandma, what is it you want to say?"
Xu Lanzhi's hand lightly patted Wen Shu's, and in her pair of dim, shadowed eyes, there unexpectedly appeared a trace of worry.
"Little Shu, Grandma knows, you've always been a person with your own thoughts."
"Whether it's studying or life, you never needed Grandma to worry, nor did you ever need me to say much."
"Speaking of which, this blind old woman of a Grandma, aside from adding trouble to your life, it seems I haven't helped you with much."
"Grandma, don't say that. Without you, I really don't know how I would've lived on."
Xu Lanzhi shook her head, "Even without me, you would have learned to adapt sooner or later. Child, you must know, time will wash everything away. Grandma has lived to this old age, and the pain I've experienced is far greater than you can imagine. But didn't I still live well up till now?"
"Grandma…"
"All right, let's not talk about those faraway things. Let's return to the present."
"You must've already made up your mind before deciding to come with Qin Siyang to study in District 7, right?"
Wen Shu pressed her lips together without speaking, and Xu Lanzhi didn't intend to pry further.
"Grandma won't ask about your plans. You've always had many of your own, I know that. But I've never tried to question you."
"This world, sequence abilities and such, has become terrifyingly powerful. Grandma's afraid that if I knew too much, one day someone might use a sequence ability to muddle my mind and make me say things I shouldn't, accidentally leaking your secrets."
"You are Grandma's only concern now. If I caused you trouble because of that, Grandma would probably regret it to death."
Hearing this, Wen Shu's heart trembled.
How could she not hear the hidden meaning in Grandma's words?
'Could it be… Grandma has always known something about me?'
She looked at Xu Lanzhi in shock, wanting to confirm if Grandma truly couldn't see anymore.
Xu Lanzhi smiled gently, her hand sliding up along Wen Shu's cheek, brushing away the stray hair on her forehead, "Little Shu, are you wondering how a blind old woman like Grandma knows these things?"
"Little Shu, even though I'm blind, I've listened to you, smelled you, and watched you grow up. How could I possibly not notice when something's going on with you?"
"It's just that I never said anything out of worry, afraid you'd lose focus, afraid it'd affect you. Grandma believes whatever you're doing must be right."
"You've finished the college entrance exam, and now you're about to enter university… oh no, they call it an academy now. You're going to the academy, becoming an adult in the true sense. So Grandma wants to tell you what's been on my mind all these years."
Wen Shu still hadn't come back to her senses, staring blankly at Xu Lanzhi.
All these years living together depending on each other, this was the first time she had ever heard Grandma bring up such things.
In her mind, Xu Lanzhi had always been someone who paid no attention to the outside world, peaceful, content, and living quietly alongside her.
She had never imagined Grandma was actually a woman so meticulous, so meticulous it was almost excessive.
Xu Lanzhi once again placed her hand over Wen Shu's, and said slowly, "Little Shu, you have a good eye for people. You take after your old Grandma."
"Qin Siyang is a good boy. For you to find someone with such a calm heart and outstanding ability in that rundown area at the edge of the Safe Zone, to rely on each other like that, it's not easy."
"Ever since you met him, you've come home laughing more than before."
Then, Xu Lanzhi hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Even if you two have done some bad things together, your mood afterward was much better than when you did bad things with that other person before. Grandma can tell, you like Qin Siyang."
"Grandma?"
Wen Shu could no longer remain calm. She jerked her hand free from Xu Lanzhi's grasp, staring at her in disbelief.
'Bad things?'
The way Grandma said it instantly reminded Wen Shu of her killing someone before.
'But how-how can Grandma possibly know about that?'
She couldn't help but suspect in her heart, was the old woman before her really the same Grandma she'd always known?
Xu Lanzhi sighed softly, "Grandma knew that when I brought this up, you'd definitely react like this."
Wen Shu frowned, "Grandma, can you really not see anything at all?"
"See?", Xu Lanzhi pointed to her nose, "Sometimes, smelling is more useful than seeing."
Wen Shu was even more shocked, "Grandma, your sense of smell is that sharp? Don't tell me… you've awakened the [Scent Seeker] sequence?"
"[Scent Seeker]? Sequence?", Xu Lanzhi let out a bitter laugh, "Little Shu, you're giving Grandma far too much credit. If I had awakened some sequence ability, would I still have let you live with me in that shabby place?"
"But you're right. I don't know when it started, but my nose did become really sharp. Sometimes I think I might be catching up to a dog's sense of smell." [T/N: Dareveil 2]
Wen Shu continued to stare at her, "So you really haven't awakened a sequence ability… no wonder."
"Little Shu, after saying all this, Grandma just wants you to know, I actually know about your matters. And Grandma's heart will always be with you."
As she spoke, Xu Lanzhi's hand fumbled around the sofa again, found Wen Shu's palm, and slowly held it tight.
"Now, you're the only hope Grandma has to live for. All I wish is for you to live well."
Though surprised by Grandma's sudden outpouring, Wen Shu was still moved by the warmth and care in her words.
The memories of their years depending on each other surfaced one by one, and their hands, four palms, tightened together once again.
"Grandma…"
Xu Lanzhi spoke earnestly again, "Little Shu, Grandma originally thought you would go to one of the lower-ranked academies, Tiantong Academy or Renxing Academy."
"You used to think only those two offered single dorm rooms, that's why you wanted to go there."
"Grandma supported that, because the students in those academies would probably have simpler backgrounds, meaning you'd face fewer troubles in the future."
"But this Jiulong Academy…"
"Let's not talk about anything else, just look at that Qin Siyang who brought us here. Though he's a good boy, he's no easy one either. Just downstairs, he was talking about chamber of commerce and family matters, those sound like things filled with danger and complications. With your background, one misstep could cost your life."
"Little Shu, are you really sure you want to settle here? You haven't submitted your college choices yet. If you want to change, it's still not too late. Grandma is worried."
"Grandma, I hope you can believe in me like you always have."
Wen Shu gently held Xu Lanzhi's hand, her gaze firm and deep.
"Believe me, I'll lead you into days of safety and peace. When facing the future, retreating and running away won't necessarily bring fewer dangers than stepping forward bravely. Besides—"
"Retreating and running away, that's no longer how I deal with danger."
After a brief silence, Wen Shu added softly, "It's not anymore."
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