Chapter 868: Extra Chapter 4: 105

Early the next morning, the sky just began to lighten, and Xiao Jiu got up and started putting on clothes.

Liu Junyan narrowed his eyes at her: "You really won't accept my suggestion to move in?"

"No move." Xiao Jiu emphasized repeatedly, "Jiuzhou Fu is mainly for office work; if I always lived here, what would that be like? Besides, I still have to guard the Yin Dang Hang at night."

Liu Junyan sat up, leaning against the headboard, and suddenly asked: "Xiao Jiu, has Feng Ran that girl started college?"

Xiao Jiu blinked, replying: "Ranran is already a sophomore, nineteen and a half, turning twenty at the Dragon Boat Festival—what's up?"

The year Liu Junyan ascended, Feng Ran was eight; Liu Junyan spent over ten years clearing and smoothing the meridians; the Suedi affair then dragged on for several months, and in the blink of an eye, Feng Ran is almost twenty.

Liu Junyan listened to Xiao Jiu's words, his brows knitting tightly.

Xiao Jiu felt creeped out by his reaction: "Āyàn, what are you thinking?"

Liu Junyan replied: "I'm thinking, at her age you were already able to stand on your own."

At twenty, Xiao Jiu was indeed quite capable.

But what does that have to do with Feng Ran?

Xiao Jiu snapped: "You wouldn't be trying to get Ranran to come back and take over my post, so I can dump this Yin Dang Hang burden, would you? Liu Junyan, I warn you—don't even think about it! Ranran studies well; as long as she wants to study, I'll support her with all my might whether she pursues a master's or a doctorate—no one will hinder my foster daughter's education!"

Back then she had no choice; after getting into college she went just to register, then was forced to return to take over the shop.

Later, although she had business dealings with Jiangcheng University and visited a few times, there remained regrets.

Feng Ran has been promising; since childhood her grades were good, and it seemed fated that she also got into Jiangcheng University, though she studies the wood carving track within the sculpture major, also belonging to craft aesthetics—Xiao Jiu doesn't fully understand, but has always supported her.

Although she's only a sophomore, her advisor already values her talent highly, and her future development will be fine.

Moreover, Tang Tang is also at Jiangcheng University, now a professor-level figure, and she greatly likes Feng Ran.

Tang Tang, acting as an aunt, is quite proper—she not only looks after Feng Ran in every way, but whenever there's some activity or research at the college that can include Feng Ran, she brings her along.

Well, Tang Tang and Feng Ran came back together yesterday; Feng Ran told Xiao Jiu that in a few days, Fujian will host an Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival, with many ancient artifacts on display, including wood carvings—from large carved beds and spirit altars to small bead bracelets and microcarvings—anyway, it's quite meaningful.

This quota was secured by Tang Tang for Feng Ran; the little girl was overjoyed, and as soon as she returned she shared the good news with Xiao Jiu.

She also said that if she sees anything nice there, she'll definitely bring it back for her foster mother.

She also teased Xiao Jiu, saying that if she learns good patterns or special skills, she could personally carve a wedding gift for her foster mother.

Xiao Jiu blushed and moved to smack her butt, but Feng Ran hugged Xiao Jiu and kept giggling.

Upon hearing that, Xiao Jiu realized she had been raising this little girl for over ten years!

Time really flies.

Back then, the scene of her pulling a tiny child, whose vision had deteriorated to almost nothing, out of that lightless basement remains vivid in her mind.

Now, this little girl has become an adult.

Yet in Xiao Jiu's mind, Feng Ran is still just a child—how could she be talked about as capable of standing on her own?

But Xiao Jiu also understands Liu Junyan; he wouldn't bring up Feng Ran's age for no reason, so she asked again: "Āyàn, what exactly do you want to say?"

Liu Junyan shook his head: "Nothing much—just that when you brought Ranran back back then, you told me she was the one you selected from countless fates across China as the most suitable to inherit your mantle; given that, I believe what fate has in store won't come too late."

Xiao Jiu didn't continue discussing this topic with Liu Junyan.

She left Jiuzhou Fu, smoothed her coat, and took a deep breath.

Yes, Feng Ran is already twenty.

Even if the little girl's fate is special, she's still just a mortal body.

Life is but a few short decades; if fate truly has a great mission to entrust to her, twenty… is that really too late?

Or perhaps back when Fang Chuanzong helped me screen candidates, he made a mistake and picked the wrong person?

Xiao Jiu walked and thought, lost in reverie.

She thought, anyway, as a phoenix-bodied being she can live a very long time; if Feng Ran is just an ordinary child, under her wing's protection she could live out this life peacefully, and Xiao Jiu would gladly accept that.

She and Liu Junyan fought so desperately to win this realm—wasn't it just to protect the shop, Wufu Town, and everyone dear to them nearby?

With them holding up the sky if it falls, this younger generation should be able to live peacefully.

Yet why does she feel so uneasy?

Because of this school event, last night Feng Ran rode in Tang Tang's car back to Jiangcheng University.

Xiao Jiu took out her phone intending to call Feng Ran, but seeing the time—just past six—she thought the kid should still be catching up on sleep.

Let's wait a bit; I'll call her again at noon……

A car horn blared; Xiao Jiu jumped, and in an instant saw Liu Junyan driving up beside her: "What are you thinking about? I called you and got no response—quick, get in, I'll give you a ride back."

Jiuzhou Fu isn't far from Wufu Town, but walking the back roads takes over half an hour even at a quick pace.

Xiao Jiu got in the car, sitting in the passenger seat, still pondering Feng Ran's matter.

Liu Junyan drove slowly, waiting for Xiao Jiu to speak.

After a while, Xiao Jiu suddenly asked: "Āyàn, when Feng Ran came back yesterday, how did her complexion look?"

Liu Junyan spoke earnestly: "Xiao Jiu, the children have grown up; they have their own paths to walk. How many obstacles and trials they will face in life are predetermined—you can't shield them from everything, and that might not be good for them."

Xiao Jiu raised her hand and firmly pinched her brow.

Knowing Liu Junyan was right, she strove to calm herself.

Let everything take its natural course.

When the children grow up, if they suffer injustice outside, encounter difficulties, and need help, they will know to come back for reinforcements.

What she ought to do is not to shield them from disaster, but to become their eternal backing when they need it.

Just like with the Xiao Lao San matter, she and Liu Junyan have endured for a long time—isn't that precisely why?

Xiao Jiu, loosen up—children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

But no one expected that the one who worries most about others, Xiao Jiu, would be the first to run into trouble.

After returning from Jiuzhou Fu, Xiao Jiu peacefully took to guarding the Yin Dang Hang.

After Jiuzhou Fu began official operations, Liu Junyan also gradually became busy.

A week passed in a hurry, and at three o'clock that morning, Xiao Jiu closed the door of Yin Dang Hang, got into bed, and went to sleep.

That sleep, and he never woke up……