The person who had vanished into silence on the phone suddenly descended from the sky—Li Wu didn’t know how to describe his feelings at this moment.

Perhaps it was more than just gratitude; more emotions were surging and swelling, so much that he instantly became flushed, his back beginning to break out in a subtle sweat.

His impression of his sponsor wasn’t deep; he only remembered a young couple, intellectual in bearing and not easily approachable. After completing the procedures, they never came to the mountains again. Only the sum that arrived punctually in his grandfather’s account every six months reminded him that a connection still existed between them and that he must succeed in his studies to repay their kindness like a gushing spring.

But repaying their kindness required leaving these mountains.

If he stayed here forever, he would be buried under soil and stone, never able to sprout and see the light until death.

Li Wu’s chest heaved as he stared intently at the woman in the doorway. Under the dim lamp, she seemed wrapped in soft light, and he urgently needed to confirm if she was real or an illusion.

His aunt’s loud voice brought him back to reality: “Why are you standing there like an idiot? Call her sister!”

Li Wu’s lips parted slightly, but he couldn’t squeeze out a single word. In their two meetings, they had never exchanged a single sentence, let alone such familiar forms of address.

On the day of the formalities, he had been pulled around like a puppet by Director Yuan, only answering simple questions, finally saying thanks, and taking photos. Throughout it all, only her husband had spoken kindly to him, while she remained aloof, never joining the conversation.

Seeing Li Wu remaining silent, his aunt began scolding him in frustration: “What’s wrong with you! Can’t even speak to people anymore?”

As her tone grew harsh, the child Li Wu had been feeding started making strange noises from the stool.

Though surrounded by adults, no one looked at or paid attention to him. Finally finding his chance to assert his existence, he immediately employed his full lung capacity, screaming hoarsely without pause.

Aunt Li walked over pretending to hit him, but the child wouldn’t give up so easily, continuing to shriek until the room reached maximum chaos.

Cen Jin’s brain, long deprived of rest, was near bursting. Her temples throbbed as a sharp pain shot through them.

Thanks to Cheng Lixue’s timely shout, the room finally returned to quiet.

Thank you, Cen Jin thought with genuine gratitude. If she hadn’t met this girl today, she might have been done for—if not from getting stuck in the mud along the way, then from having a heart attack from this noise.

The aunt pulled the child up, turning to smile apologetically: “Ah well, he’s still young, sorry to disturb you.”

Cen Jin curved her lips, moving only the flesh, without any real warmth: “Is he your child? How old is he?”

The aunt said: “Eight.”

Cen Jin glanced at the bowl by the stove, her voice soft but pointed: “Still needs someone to feed him at eight?”

The aunt was displeased at this but dared not show it, only answering cleverly: “This child doesn’t behave, never eats properly. That’s why we let his older brother feed him—his brother can handle him.”

Cen Jin stopped engaging, turning her gaze back to Li Wu.

She walked straight inside, finally stopping in front of the youth, evaluating him like a long-unseen elder: “You’ve grown taller.”

Indeed, up close she could see he was nearly a head taller than her. Cen Jin couldn’t help marveling again at the power of growth.

However—the youth’s body showed none of the vitality appropriate for his age. His cheeks were slightly sunken, and his increased height only made him appear more gaunt and impoverished.

Eye contact was social etiquette for Cen Jin, but Li Wu couldn’t manage it. He quickly lowered his gaze, thick eyelashes covering his dark eyes.

Cen Jin didn’t mention the phone call: “You probably don’t remember me.”

Li Wu’s brows tightened: “I do.”

Cen Jin’s eyes curved: “Have you eaten?”

Li Wu said: “No.”

Cen Jin asked: “Would it be convenient to step outside and talk?”

Li Wu nodded slightly.

His aunt’s expression changed subtly. She immediately released her hand from covering the child’s mouth and, despite her bulk, nimbly squeezed in front of them like a short wall: “We’re all family here, what can’t be said? I’ll get some porridge, you can eat here and we can all talk while eating, how about that?”

Cen Jin smiled faintly: “Just need to say a few words privately.” With that, she stepped around her and left.

The aunt made a sound of protest and tried to stop them, but Cen Jin ignored her, only turning to gesture for Li Wu to follow.

The two walked out the door one after another, coming to the courtyard.

It was already evening, and mist had risen in the mountains, spreading like ocean tides, suddenly beautifying the humble houses and lone peaks into celestial realms among the clouds.

The vegetable leaves at their feet were wet, gleaming with a vibrant green. Cen Jin glanced down at them before turning to ask, “Have you finished your homework?”

Li Wu, who had planned to maintain a respectful demeanor, was caught off guard by her casual opening, hesitating before saying: “Not yet.”

Cen Jin asked: “No time, or don’t want to?”

Li Wu stood silently for a moment: “No time.”

“Because of feeding the child?” What she had seen inside had already made Li Wu’s current situation clear to her, and his plea for help was indeed, as he said, born of having no choice. She continued: “Are there other household chores or farm work taking up your after-school time?”

Li Wu pressed his lips together before nodding in acknowledgment.

Cen Jin asked further: “When did you move here?”

Li Wu answered: “This month.”

“Was it Director Yan’s arrangement?”

Li Wu nodded.

“What about your old house? Why not live there?”

Li Wu said: “The village chief said it was unsafe, and wouldn’t let me stay there. My guardianship was also transferred to my uncle.”

Cen Jin paused: “How old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

“Second year of high school?”

“…”

Li Wu suddenly fell silent, his gaze shifting past her head.

Cen Jin turned to look and saw Aunt Li with both hands on the doorframe, eyes narrowed as she peered in their direction, not caring whether this behavior was appropriate.

Cen Jin sighed, giving her a helpless smile.

Aunt Li also smiled awkwardly, turning back while speaking to Cheng Lixue in a deliberately audible voice: “Talking for so long, what’s wrong with talking inside? What’s so important they have to stand in the fog? What can’t be said? Why hide things from me, their aunt?”

Though it seemed like complaining, it was sarcasm, deliberately spoken for them to hear.

Cheng Lixue pressed her lips together, not responding.

Aunt Li lowered her voice: “Secretary Cheng, do you know why this woman came today?”

Cheng Lixue shook her head, just pulling her inside.

Seeing them return to the house, Cen Jin turned back to continue their previous conversation: “You’re in your second year at Nongxi High School, right?”

Li Wu seemed somewhat surprised, finally raising his eyes to look at her.

Reading his confusion, Cen Jin smiled gently: “The young lady at the village committee told me.”

Li Wu fell silent again.

Having understood the basic situation, Cen Jin moved to the main point: “Do you still have your grandfather’s card?”

Li Wu shook his head.

Cen Jin’s patience was nearly exhausted, irritated by his muted gestures. She commanded directly: “Speak.”

Li Wu was startled: “No.”

“Is it with your aunt?”

“Mm.”

“How are your grades now? What’s your class ranking from the most recent test?”

“Second.”

“Why not first?” Cen Jin asked reflexively.

“…” Li Wu’s Adam’s apple moved as he said softly: “Didn’t do well.”

Cen Jin finally realized she was being too demanding and pressed her lips together: “Besides taking up your after-school study time, has your aunt done anything else to interfere with your studies or try to end your education?”

Li Wu’s jaw tensed for two seconds before finally speaking the longest sentence since their meeting: “She told me to stop studying after this semester, said uncle would find me a job in Peng City.”

Cen Jin fell silent. The mist flowed slowly, thinly brushing past people, smoke, grass, and trees. The entire mountain village was covered in a weightless veil.

After a while, the woman took a long, cool breath, her eyes growing sharp: “Come inside with me.”

—

Cen Jin arranged the impromptu negotiation for after dinner. She ate an extra bowl of rice porridge to help raise her blood sugar so she could stay alert.

Because no one was on duty at the village committee office, Cheng Lixue worried villagers might come looking for help, so she couldn’t stay long. She didn’t even eat dinner, just gave a few instructions and left.

During the meal, Cen Jin observed Li Wu several times. The youth just ate with his head down, barely touching the dishes, let alone asking for seconds. No wonder he was so thin—his rapid height growth was probably thanks to his parents’ genetic advantage.

After eating, he got up to clear the bowls and plates.

Cen Jin stopped him, her voice gentle: “Go do your homework.”

Li Wu’s hands paused, not putting down the bowl, head lowered and motionless.

His sullen state was truly irritating, and Cen Jin felt some annoyance. Just as she was about to urge him, his aunt beat her to it, saying impatiently: “Leave it there, if she says go do your homework then go do your homework!”

Li Wu didn’t say a word but at least put down the bowls and chopsticks, turning to walk toward the inner room.

“This child has a bad personality, so gloomy…” Once he was gone, the aunt shook her head in disgust at Cen Jin: “Doesn’t know how to adapt, really don’t know who he inherited it from, my brother and sister weren’t like this.”

Cen Jin didn’t agree, leaning back to look directly at Aunt Li: “You don’t want Li Wu to continue school, right?”

As if caught red-handed, the aunt’s voice rose: “He told you that? Just said he doesn’t know how to adapt, but he sure knows how to tattle.”

“Let’s not discuss that for now,” Cen Jin’s attitude remained calm: “Can you tell me the reason?”

“What reason could there be? No money! The old man’s dead, and Li Wu—” the aunt righteously unleashed a barrage of complaints: “Adopted by us, eating our food, drinking our water—isn’t my husband suffering enough working outside? Am I not suffering enough to look after children and work in the fields? And Li Wu’s got it good now, doesn’t have to take care of the old man anymore, just going to school comfortably. Life isn’t that sweet.”

Cen Jin frowned, her hand casually resting on the table edge: “As far as I know, all of Li Wu’s grandfather’s inheritance is in your hands.”

“I’m his daughter, who else should it go to?” the woman shouted.

Cen Jin felt there was a communication barrier: “I don’t want to discontinue Li Wu’s sponsorship, so I hope you can let him continue school. His grades are excellent, and if he focuses on studying, he’ll get into a good university. After he succeeds, his repayment to you will only increase, not decrease.”

The aunt shook her head firmly, refusing to agree.

Some people, growing up in mountain valleys, saw only a small part of the sky—it was normal for their views to be limited to this. Cen Jin wasn’t angered by this, only saying: “Then I might have to stop sponsoring Li Wu.”

The aunt’s eyebrows nearly knotted together as she spoke harshly: “Do what you want, he’s not continuing school anyway! The sooner he starts earning money, the sooner I’ll have peace!”

Cen Jin’s expression didn’t change, and her next words weren’t a negotiation but an announcement of the result: “I will take him to Yi City for school until he gets into university.”