Aolai City, Soul Guidance Train Station.
"Attention passengers, train T520 from Donghai City is about to arrive. Please prepare to have your tickets checked and proceed to the station!"
An announcement echoed in the slightly noisy waiting room. Passengers who had been waiting for a long time stood up and gathered towards the ticket gate.
"Oh! My dear! You're finally here! I thought I wouldn't be able to leave today."
"What's wrong with this train? It's almost three hours late."
"Who knows? It's never been this late before."
The line moved slowly forward, and murmurs of complaints could be heard everywhere.
Although Aolai City was a small place, it was close to a metropolis like Donghai City, and many people went out to work.
At the exit, a blonde girl struggled to carry several pieces of luggage and let out a soft breath.
"Phew! Finally here!"
Tang Wuling raised her hand to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead and couldn't help but complain inwardly.
Today was really unlucky.
This was her first time riding this soul-guided train, and unexpectedly, it broke down five or six times along the way.
It wasn't as good as the news made it out to be… The Federation was even still operating this kind of dilapidated train.
"But at least I'm home, it's all worth it. I'll give Mom and Dad a surprise later."
Tang Wuling thought for a moment, a smile returning to her face. Picking up her luggage, she headed home.
This time, she didn't tell her parents she was going home, just to give them a big surprise.
Unlike boys, girls are always more attached to home.
Half an hour later.
"Dad! Mom! I'm home!"
Turning the familiar street corner, she saw the familiar little house and practically ran to the door.
She called out several times, but received no response, and no one opened the door to greet her.
"Strange! It's so late, why haven't they come back yet?"
Tang Wuling waited for a while, but Tang Ziran and his wife didn't appear, so she took out her key from her bag.
With a "click," the door opened.
The house was quiet and indeed empty.
"They're really not home?"
After putting her luggage away, Tang Wuling went to Tang Ziran and his wife's room, but still didn't see them.
"Then I'll cook first, so they can eat when they come back!"
Tang Wuling looked at the setting sun outside the window, and with a thought, she began preparing dinner.
Tang Ziran was a mecha repairman who usually repaired civilian soul tools, and sometimes he would be busy until very late. Lang Yue often helped him out.
Before long, several steaming dishes were served.
The blonde girl sat at the table with her hands supporting her chin, staring intently at the path outside the window, hoping that the two familiar figures would return in the sunset.
But even late at night, scattered starlight streamed through the window, illuminating a table of food that had long since gone cold.
She was still alone.
"Dad, Mom..."
Anxiety, like cold vines, crept into her heart. Tang Wuling abruptly stood up and rushed out of the house, not even bothering to close the door.
The night wind whipped at her face as Tang Wuling ran desperately, crossing several streets, finally stopping in front of a familiar shop.
But in this familiar place, she froze in place.
"Young lady, we don't open until tomorrow, you're early."
A middle-aged woman came out of the shop, a kind smile appearing on her face as she saw her standing there dumbfounded.
"This advertising paid off! The new store hasn't even opened yet, and customers are already coming in.
" "Xu's Braised Meat... how could this be..."
Tang Wuling stood there blankly, muttering to herself. Wasn't this her father's repair shop?
The middle-aged woman across the street noticed Tang Wuling's expression and realized something was wrong.
"Little girl, what's wrong? Didn't you come to buy braised meat?"
the woman asked with concern.
"Auntie," Tang Wuling cried out, as if grasping at a last straw, "What happened to the repair shop that was here before? That Tang's Repair Shop..."
"Oh, you mean the Tang family's shop?"
the woman said, then shook her head.
"It's been empty for over a week. They probably couldn't keep it going and ran away, without even paying rent. The landlord must be furious... So, they've sublet it to me."
"Young lady, did they run off with some of your things too..."
The woman's words struck like a thunderbolt, shattering the last shred of composure in the young girl's heart.
"Impossible... Why didn't Mom and Dad tell me they were leaving? Impossible!"
Tang Wuling murmured, tears welling in her eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall.
They must have moved! Yes, that must be it...
The next second, the girl turned around abruptly and ran like a madwoman, searching street after street, asking every neighbor she vaguely remembered.
"Sigh!" A middle-aged woman watched her departing figure and sighed helplessly. That couple was shameless, even cheating a little girl out of her things.
The sky grew increasingly gloomy, thunder rumbled, and a torrential downpour began.
Tang Wuling dragged her heavy steps, soaked to the bone, as she slowly made her way home.
Nothing! Nothing at all!
She searched the entire working-class neighborhood but couldn't find her parents.
Stepping back into her empty house, Tang Wuling's delicate body trembled violently. Finally, she couldn't hold on any longer and slid softly to the floor along the doorframe, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom and Dad, where are you... Don't you want Wu Ling anymore..."
...
The weather by the sea is always unpredictable. While a storm raged in Aolai City, the night sky over Donghai City was cloudless.
The bright moon hung high like a silver plate, its clear light bathing the ground and enveloping the three people walking towards the Donghai Club in a hazy glow.
Na Nali wore a pink, fluffy princess dress, her large eyes curiously surveying her surroundings, revealing a clear innocence.
Jiang Yi, dressed in a black suit, followed behind Na Nali with a composed demeanor.
Leng Yulai, walking ahead, was undoubtedly the most eye-catching.
Born into nobility, even with her disguise, she couldn't hide the innate elegance and grace.
A black gown accentuated her snow-white skin, her delicate collarbones and slender neck exuding elegance. With her chin slightly raised and her gait composed, she resembled a cold, beautiful black swan.
"Miss Jiang Yu, please come in! And Mr. Jiang Li, Young Master Jiang Yi..."
The three arrived at the entrance, and a waiter immediately greeted them respectfully, leading them into the brightly lit clubhouse.
Na Nali ali and Jiang Yi, as family members, followed closely behind.
"Why aren't you called Nana Yu, Nana Yi..."
Na Nali couldn't help but grumble to herself upon hearing the maid address her.
Even though it was a fabricated identity, having the surname Jiang with a young boy always felt strange to her.
She wondered why Little Phoenix hadn't agreed back then... Wasn't Nana Yu or Nan Nai nice enough?
(End of Chapter)