Chapter 307: Lost Soul

Kong Xiang and Kong Yueqing returned from the Zhou family home, and the first thing they did was go to see Kong Nian.

"Miss, the Zhou family has already set the departure for the ancestral lands this weekend, and I have already accepted on your behalf."

There were still four days left, which was enough time for her to recuperate.

At this moment, Kong Nian had completely stopped caring about the trip to the ancestral lands.

"Uncle Kong, you should know my physical condition. It is impossible to fully recover in four days. You should just take Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and the others along."

Kong Xiang’s brow furrowed into a tight knot. He knew exactly what Kong Nian was thinking, but the greater good had to take precedence now.

"Miss, the Zhou family patriarch specifically designated that you must accompany them. Furthermore, we will be part of this trip; we will absolutely not let you become overexerted."

At the end, he deliberately increased his volume, intending to remind Kong Nian.

A flash of displeasure crossed Kong Nian's face before vanishing instantly. "Since Uncle Kong has already decided, then let it be so."

Kong Yueqing, who had been standing aside in silence the entire time, let out a cold snort.

In her view, Kong Nian was merely putting on airs on purpose.

Kong Nian's complexion looked much better now than when they had left at noon, and this fact only made Kong Yueqing's irritation burn more intensely.

"Very well, then I will go prepare," Kong Xiang replied, settling the matter.

Kong Nian rose and left. Right now, her mind was entirely occupied by how much longer it would take for Gu Yang to accept the fact that she was the child from his childhood.

***

At the publishing house.

Lu Feng had exhausted every method to get Gu Yang back to normal, and he was pacing around the office in a state of anxiety.

"This can't go on. I'm calling Su Yan right now."

He knew that the person Gu Yang cared about most was Su Yan, so perhaps only that girl could call his consciousness back.

However, just as he picked up the receiver, Gu Yang reacted and pressed the button himself.

"Lu Feng, I'm fine."

His raspy voice was like the calm before a storm.

"You're still saying you're fine? Do you know how terrible you look right now? What exactly did Miss Kong say to you to make you turn into this?"

Lu Feng was already drenched in sweat; had he known, he would have stayed there shamelessly.

Gu Yang still could not escape the sensation of suffocation caused by fear.

"Can you go out first? I want to calm down by myself."

"..."

Lu Feng's face was written with worry.

"I really am fine, I just need to quiet down and think," Gu Yang repeated.

If he had a mirror to see his current state, he would surely realize how unbelievable his words were.

"Alright, then I'll stay outside. If you need anything, just call me anytime."

Though Lu Feng was anxious, seeing Gu Yang's almost pleading gaze, he had no choice but to agree.

"Lu Feng, whatever you do, do not contact Yan Yan. I don't want her to worry."

Even though his mind was in a state of chaos, Gu Yang still did not forget to care for Su Yan.

Lu Feng let out a heavy sigh. "I understand."

A moment later, the office fell into a deathly silence.

The words Kong Nian had spoken echoed in Gu Yang's ears over and over again, cutting his heart like a knife.

At this moment, even if he wanted to deny it, he could find no reason to convince himself.

So, Kong Nian was the girl from his childhood, and the current Su Yan was merely someone whose identity had been swapped due to a series of unfortunate events.

How could something so absurd happen?

Gu Yang's entire body and mind rejected this truth; he felt as if he were being torn in two.

After an unknown amount of time, he gripped the receiver and dialed his home number.

The call was quickly answered, and Song Sining's voice came through the receiver.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Mom, it's me, Gu Yang."

Gu Yang exerted great effort to suppress himself, trying to make his voice sound as normal as possible.

Song Sining was both surprised and delighted. "Why are you calling back at this hour? Yan Yan went to your place a few days ago; you two have already met, right?"

Hearing that his mother's first thought was Su Yan, his eyes reddened.

"Yes, we met a long time ago."

"That's good. It's rare for Yan Yan to travel so far; you must take good care of her," Song Sining instructed thoughtfully.

Not hearing Gu Yang's voice, she didn't forget to add, "Of course, you must also take care of your health over there. Don't work too hard."

Regarding her son Gu Yang, Song Sining was exceptionally at ease.

Gu Yang gave an "Mm," took a deep breath, and forced himself to adjust his emotions.

"Mom, how is Uncle Su doing?"

Mentioning Su Jianguo, the smile on Song Sining's face was replaced by sorrow.

"Your father and I went to the hospital to see Uncle Su today. He is still the same, but the doctor said his condition is relatively stable and his various bodily functions are gradually recovering. We just don't know when he will wake up."

Hearing that Su Jianguo was still in a coma, Gu Yang's grip on the receiver tightened.

"Yan Yan and I are both away from home. It's hard on you and Dad to go visit Uncle Su so often."

"That goes without saying. Your father goes over whenever he has time." Song Sining paused slightly here, seemingly waiting for Gu Yang to continue.

"Mom, there is something I want to ask you."

As expected.

Song Sining knew her son too well; if it weren't for something important, he would never have called back now.

"What is it? Ask away."

Her tone remained as gentle as water.

"It's about things from when Yan Yan was a child. Do you remember when Auntie Kong took Yan Yan back to her maternal home and then returned?" Gu Yang spoke almost one word at a time just to keep his emotions in check.

Song Sining was slightly stunned; clearly, this question was unexpected. "Of course I remember. Why did you think to ask about this?"

"I can't explain the reason to you right now. Can you tell me if there was anything unusual when Auntie Kong brought Yan Yan back?"

Gu Yang could not lie to his mother, so he could only answer this way. Even now, he still could not fully believe Kong Nian's words, and his mother was his last hope.

"Don't you already know about those things?" Song Sining's expression turned serious on the other end of the line.

He was eleven years old back then; he should have remembered everything.

"Mom..."

"Fine, I'll tell you." Without waiting for Gu Yang to continue pleading, Song Sining began to recall carefully. "Xiangrou took Yan Yan back to her maternal home for an entire month. By the time they returned, she was terminally ill, and Yan Yan also fell gravely ill."

Even now, remembering it again, Song Sining felt a tightening pain in her heart.

A perfectly fine mother and daughter had completely collapsed physically just because they had returned to the maternal home once.

She had asked Kong Xiangrou back then what exactly had happened, and whether the mother and daughter had been mistreated by the maternal family. But Kong Xiangrou refused to say anything, only entrusting them to take care of Su Jianguo and Su Yan in the future.

Although Kong Xiangrou wouldn't speak of it, she and her husband both knew in their hearts that Kong Xiangrou's maternal family must have done something ruthless.

(End of Chapter)