Chapter 241: Bai Ku Yao Clan

"Sister Su, will I be able to see you again?"

At the moment of parting, Qi Muyao showed deep reluctance, continuously stroking Su Huan's hand.

Qin Yun leaned toward Meng Tian and asked curiously, "What's the psychology behind lesbianism? Is it just pure attraction to women? No interest in men at all?"

Meng Tian looked at Qi Muyao, then said with a strange expression, "Muyao has had boyfriends—she's attracted to both genders. I, however, have a physiological aversion to men."

Qin Yun's expression changed instantly; now, watching Qi Muyao stroke Su Huan's hand, he felt something was deeply off.

He hurried forward, pulling Su Huan aside, and laughed it off: "If you want to see her, you can—just come to Hangzhou when you have time. It's easy."

Qi Muyao reluctantly let go of Su Huan's hand, feeling that Su Huan's skin was the smoothest she'd ever touched—flawless and exquisitely textured.

Ah… I really want to hold Sister Su naked.

A mournful glance drifted over Qin Yun, but she could only wave goodbye with reluctance.

Qin Yun pulled Su Huan and turned to leave without a trace of hesitation, leaving Su Huan utterly puzzled.

After walking far away, he warned: "Don't associate with Qi Muyao again—she's terrifying."

"Hehehehe…" Su Huan burst into laughter. "Is it because Meng Tian said Muyao is bisexual, and you're afraid I'll get taken by her?"

"Uh… how did you know?"

Su Huan kept laughing: "Of course Meng Tian told me—Meng Tian is a true lesbian, with a physiological basis. But Qi Muyao isn't—she just finds it fun, and same-sex intimacy excites her, which is why she's with Meng Tian."

"See how dangerous she is," Qin Yun said. "This little girl plays too wildly. Come on, let's go to Hechi."

…

Over two hours later, just before five in the evening, the two arrived at Hechi City People's Hospital and met the owner of the private message phone—Song Ying.

Following her detailed account, they gained a preliminary understanding of the girl with terminal cancer—Lan Duo.

Lan Duo was from Jiaping Village, Bayi Yao Township, Nandan County, Hechi, Guangxi. She was thirteen, and lived only with her grandparents. Her parents both died when she was five, and at ten she was diagnosed with cancer.

Due to lack of money, the illness was continually delayed until she collapsed repeatedly and could no longer be ignored, at which point she was brought to Hechi City People's Hospital for treatment.

After regaining consciousness, Lan Duo didn't stay long in the hospital—after one round of chemotherapy, she was discharged and returned to her village.

The hospital's prognosis gave her a maximum of two months.

Now, over a month had passed, leaving less than a month until the best-case scenario. If she didn't rest properly after returning home, she might already be gone.

Song Ying said: "Jiaping Village, where Lan Duo lives, is extremely poor. They are one of the few remaining 'indigenous White-Pant Yao deep mountain villages' in Nandan, located in a remote mountainous border zone between Nandan and Guizhou, with no proper road access—entry and exit require winding dirt footpaths. Walking out of the mountains takes three hours; a motorcycle can barely make it passable."

"She learned about nearby Liku Township becoming a viral tourist attraction, commercialized and lifted out of poverty, and that's what sparked this idea. I don't know why such a young child would have such thoughts," Song Ying sighed. "Children her age in the city are far from this mature."

Qin Yun and Su Huan exchanged a glance.

"How do we get to Jiaping Village? We plan to visit Lan Duo."

…

"Duo Duo, are you hungry? Grandma's cooking."

An old woman in a dark indigo homespun tunic, her silver hair tied in a bun behind her, entered the courtyard carrying a bamboo basket. Chickens and ducks clucked noisily around the yard. At the other end, an elderly man was busy working, beside him crouched a yellow village dog.

In the corner lay bamboo strips, dye vats, and a family heirloom bronze drum, half a person's height, engraved with sun patterns and frog motifs.

The old woman set aside the resin and indigo grass from her basket and went inside to check on her granddaughter.

Inside the room, a tiny girl, impossibly frail even lying in bed, radiated profound weakness.

"Grandma."

The old woman's eyes flickered with sorrow, but she suppressed her grief and gently stroked the girl's cheek.

"Duo Duo, are you hungry? Grandma will go cook for you."

"Grandma, I'm not hungry."

Lan Duo's voice carried a breathy weakness (like the final moments of A Jian)—she had lost nearly all her flesh; "emaciated to the bone" described her perfectly.

"Even if you're not hungry, eat a little—it gives you strength."

As she spoke, the old woman noticed a small card beside the pillow—a printed sheet, black-and-white, showing a man standing atop a peak, smiling broadly.

She said nothing, gently patted Lan Duo's hand, and turned to leave.

After the old woman left, Lan Duo turned her gaze to the Printout and whispered: "Grandpa Qin, did you see my private message?"

The old woman returned to the courtyard, glanced at the old man in the corner, then walked over and suddenly said: "Old man, Duo Duo doesn't have much time left. Why don't we take the child out for a trip?"

The old man's hands paused, then he set down what he was holding.

"Where to?"

"Beijing."

"Can Duo Duo endure the journey?"

"It's better than staying here like this. Watching her like this breaks my heart. How could this child's fate be so cruel?"

As she spoke, tears spilled down her cheeks.

The old man reached out to wipe them away, took a deep breath: "Then let's go. May Duo Duo leave with a smile."

No sooner had he finished than the village dog beside them suddenly stood up, growling low at the courtyard gate.

The old man patted the dog to calm it, then turned toward the gate. A voice came from outside.

"Excuse me… is this Lan Duo's home?"

The couple exchanged a glance, puzzled.

Does Duo Duo have friends? But this voice doesn't sound like a child's.

The couple walked toward the gate, and soon two figures, dressed entirely unlike the villagers, appeared in their view.

"Hello," Qin Yun bowed slightly and smiled. "Is this Lan Duo's home?"

Lan Duo's grandmother nodded. "Yes. Who are you?"

Qin Yun exhaled in relief—they hadn't come to the wrong place.

"More than a month ago, little Lan Duo left me a message in the backend. I was busy and only just saw it now. So I've come—do you know if Lan Duo is… still with us?"

The question "Are you there?" was asked with extreme caution.

Upon hearing this, Grandma Lan Duo was startled: "You're… you're Duo Duo's… the Qin who Duo Duo never stops thinking about?"

"Greetings, Elder, I'm Qin Yun, and this is my girlfriend, Su Huan."

"Come in, come in quickly!" Grandma Lan Duo hurried to welcome them. "Duo Duo has always been waiting, saying you'd come as soon as you saw her message."

Qin Yun entered the courtyard with the gifts and Su Huan. The courtyard was not tidy; all kinds of objects were scattered about—Bai Ku Yao tribe's sticky resin, bronze drums, and tops, visible at a glance.

"Duo Duo, Duo Duo, look who's here."

Qin Yun set down the gifts, took Su Huan's hand, and followed Grandma Lan Duo inside, where he then saw a girl who resembled her photo but was far more gaunt and frail.

At first, Duo Duo was confused, but when Qin Yun's figure appeared from behind her grandmother, she immediately covered her mouth, her expression filled with excitement.

"Qin… Qin Yun brother!"

Seeing the girl's withered state, it was impossible not to feel sorrow—even a stranger, witnessing such fragility, on the verge of life's extinction at any moment, would feel a deep, shared grief.

"Duo Duo, hello, I'm Qin Yun. I received your private message and came to find you."