Chapter 564 - 487: Of Course I Like You
Chapter 564: Chapter 487: Of Course I Like You
"The mission Brother Junfan is going on is very dangerous, so I can’t take you with me," Bai Junfan explained patiently, placing his hands on Tang Yaxuan’s shoulders as he looked at her.
"Xuanxuan, thank you for coming to see me off. You’re such a good girl—sensible, well-behaved, and understanding. Anyone who meets you can’t help but like you. I don’t know why the Tang family can’t accept you. Perhaps it’s because of Tang Manman. After all, she grew up in the countryside and is rather willful, narrow-minded, and selfish. She’s not as worldly as you or as considerate of the bigger picture... Actually, it doesn’t matter if you’re not a Tang Family Girl. You’re Aunt Wu’s daughter, and our Bai Family will take care of you. You’re smarter and cuter than Tang Manman. When you graduate from college, the Bai Family will definitely ensure you have a brilliant future. Your life will be in no way worse than hers! So, you don’t have to envy Tang Manman or feel sad about your birth. Your Brother Junfan is here, so you don’t have to worry about a thing!"
Tang Yaxuan’s heart warmed, and she was so moved that tears welled in her eyes. "Brother Junfan, do... do you like Xuanxuan?"
"Of course I do!" Bai Junfan answered without hesitation, then quickly added, "Xuanxuan, if Brother Junfan ran into trouble, would you help me?"
A deep blush spread across Tang Yaxuan’s round face. She struggled to suppress the joy overflowing in her heart and nodded eagerly. "I would do anything for Brother Junfan, even give my life!"
Bai Junfan smiled and stroked her face. "Xuanxuan, you’re truly the cutest, most considerate little sister in the world! Brother Junfan will protect you and make sure you grow up healthy and happy. How could I ever let you give up your life? It’s just that... right now, Brother Junfan has run into a difficult problem, and it’s a problem that perhaps you can help with."
"Brother Junfan, tell me! What’s the problem? As long as I can do it, I will!"
Bai Junfan’s smile vanished, his expression turning serious. "Your birth parents are in Gongdao Village in Wancheng. That’s where Tang Manman grew up. Logically speaking, it’s your hometown too. Xuanxuan, now that you’re back, haven’t you thought about returning to the village?"
The color instantly drained from Tang Yaxuan’s face. She stared blankly at Bai Junfan, her words stuttering, "B-Brother Junfan, w-why are you asking me this?"
Seeing he had frightened her, Bai Junfan quickly patted her shoulder. "Don’t be scared, Xuanxuan. I was just asking. I mainly want to understand a few things about Gongdao Village."
Tang Yaxuan breathed a sigh of relief. "What’s there to know about it? I’ve never actually lived in Gongdao Village. As Brother Jun Fan might know, although I was sent to a rural middle school for a semester, I lived in the dorms. Not long after you came to see me, Mother felt sorry for me and arranged for my transfer, so I left."
Bai Junfan nodded. "But your birth parents are in Gongdao Village. Are you really not going to visit them, Xuanxuan?"
Tang Yaxuan bit her lip. ’Country folk. Are they even worthy of being my parents?’
’Of course, I can’t say that in front of Brother Junfan. I still want to maintain my image in his mind as a sweet, pure, and good girl.’
Bai Junfan didn’t wait for her answer and continued, "Regardless, they are your birth parents. You can’t forget the debt you owe them for giving you life. You probably have full-blooded brothers and sisters there, too. You’ve come all this way from Beijing; it wouldn’t be right, emotionally or logically, not to return to your hometown for a visit! How about this? I’ll arrange it. I’ll have someone escort you back to Gongdao Village to visit your parents and siblings!"
"No, Brother Junfan, I won’t go! I... I don’t know them well! They only like Tang Manman; they don’t like me! And my younger siblings there can’t stand me. The moment they saw me, they looked ready to kill... Brother Junfan, you don’t know how it is. Country kids are savage and have no manners! I’m scared! I never want to set foot in that village again for as long as I live!"
Tang Yaxuan clutched the corner of Bai Junfan’s shirt, refusing to let go. She wasn’t lying; she was genuinely terrified of those little devils she had for siblings. She had only stayed in Gongdao Village for a single night, but the events of that night were enough to give her nightmares for the rest of her life. The mere memory made her break out in a cold sweat. She would rather die than set foot in that disgusting, impoverished mountain village ever again!
Bai Junfan put an arm around Tang Yaxuan, comforting her gently. "There, there, Xuanxuan. Brother Junfan is tied up with something and can’t get away, but the people I’ll send to protect you are completely reliable. Don’t be afraid. Didn’t you just say you’d do anything for me? Well, this is the one thing I need you to do."
Tang Yaxuan’s eyes widened as she stared blankly at Bai Junfan.
Bai Junfan glanced at his watch, frowning with a sigh. He said, "Time is precious, Xuanxuan. I’m really going to have to rely on you this time! It’s actually quite a coincidence; I only just realized it myself—that you have this connection to Gongdao Village! You said it was an impoverished mountain village, but you’re mistaken. Gongdao Village is incredibly wealthy now. The villagers have leased the mountain forests to grow fruit trees and timber, and they’ve found an even faster way to make money: cultivating herbs!
"Xuanxuan, do you know who the richest person in all of Gongdao Village is now, the one who grows the best herbs? It’s your biological grandfather! I heard that when Tang Manman was being abused by your birth parents, your grandfather rescued and adopted her. He even personally took her to Wan City to seek out the reclusive Imperial Doctor Sun and begged him to accept Manman as his personal disciple. That’s how Tang Manman gained her incredible medical skills. She also obtained rare herb seeds from Imperial Doctor Sun and gave them to your grandfather to cultivate. It’s grown so much that now there are dozens of herb gardens, large and small, in Gongdao Village! But a business partner your grandfather brought in has a monopoly on all of them. Brother Junfan can’t purchase a single stalk! So, I can only ask you, Xuanxuan, to go back to Gongdao Village. Find your birth parents and see if they have an herb garden. If they do, tell them not to sell their herbs to anyone else from now on—save them all for me. I promise the price I pay won’t be any lower than what they’re getting. If your parents don’t have one, then take this money and have them start one this year! Also, your grandfather is wary of outsiders and won’t sell his herbs casually. But your parents are locals, so he shouldn’t be suspicious of them. I’ll provide the funds. Have your parents try to buy herbs from your grandfather’s garden at a high price, claiming it’s for their own use. Remember: it absolutely must be the herbs from your grandfather’s garden! Once it’s done, I’ll give your parents another sum of money, enough for them to live on for a year! Remind them to be careful and not let your grandfather find out. We can’t tip him off. They should continue to buy more in secret going forward—the more, the better!"
"Brother Junfan..."
"Xuanxuan, are you unwilling to help Brother Junfan with this?" Bai Junfan’s voice was tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Tang Yaxuan quickly waved her hands. "No! I... I’m willing, I just..."
"Xuanxuan, the first time I saw you, I knew you were a kind and sensible girl. Kind children are always good to their parents. You surely want your birth parents to live a more comfortable and respectable life, don’t you? The money for the herbs is coming from Beijing. I can secure a generous payment for your parents, and I won’t forget you, either!"
Tang Yaxuan looked up at Bai Junfan’s handsome face. He met her gaze, the corners of his lips curling into a gentle smile. Her heart began to race. Even in such a dilemma, she was still completely captivated by him! ’Such a wonderful man. He was my husband in my past life. If I want to rekindle that love in this one, how can I not put in the effort?’
She bit her lip, her resolve hardening. Hugging Bai Junfan’s arm with both hands, she declared with a look of determination, "For you, Brother Junfan, I’ll go to Wancheng right now!"