Reborn in the 90s, tearing apart scumbag men for the sake of women.

Song Lingge looked down at Song Jianping. She couldn't sympathize with him because he had only himself to blame.

However, seeing him like this, I still felt a deep sadness.

No wonder, no matter how firmly she assured that she had no more father-daughter feelings for Song Jianping and could sever ties immediately, Qiao Nansheng, Song Jianmei... they never truly believed her.

So this is what blood ties are all about, an unbreakable bond.

"You know, the commotion at the hospital a few days ago was embarrassing, but I actually felt a sense of relief. I finally got rid of that woman."

Song Lingge didn't know how to comment on the ill-fated relationship between Song Jianping and Zhou Songmei, so she simply remained silent.

“I thought you and Jianmei had forgiven me because you came to the hospital to bring me soup. But now I realize that I didn’t even apologize, so why should I ask for your forgiveness?”

"Later, you brought me your mother's diary. You may not know this, but I actually know that your mother has a habit of writing a diary. But I have never peeked at it because I disdain it; I don't care at all about her thoughts and ideas."

As Song Jianping spoke, he laughed, and perhaps because his legs were numb, he plopped down on the ground.

"This time, because you brought it, and because I've been thinking about her a lot lately, I'm looking through it carefully for the first time..."

"When I watched it the first time, I could still fool myself into thinking it was just girlish sentimentality. But when I watched it the second time, from the very first word, I couldn't accept it. Every single word in it is your mother loving me. But I only found out so long after she died."

"I killed the person who loved me most in this world with my own hands."

Song Jianping burst into tears.

“I used to say that I married her because of her family background, but after she married me, she cut off her relationship with your maternal grandparents. I know they wouldn’t really abandon your mother and would still secretly help her out, but we still had a hard time during that period, but I never felt that way.”

“I didn’t understand it back then. I thought it was because I knew your grandparents wouldn’t really abandon us, so I was willing to stay with your mother. But now I know that’s not it… really not.”

“I’m willing to live a peaceful life with your mother, not for any other reason than because she’s your mother.”

Song Lingge turned her head away and looked at the peach tree outside the window.

Boomerangs are the most dangerous.

Those past experiences you take for granted will one day leave you utterly scarred.

"But it was all too late. I killed her, I killed the only person in the world who loved me. I didn't even let her know that I was content to live with her, that I was truly content to spend my whole life with her!"

Song Jianping stood up and looked at the peach tree outside the window.

At his age, talking about love is meaningless, especially since that person is already dead.

However, it seems that he only realized it was love after reading Zhao Jueyu's diary.

There was no earth-shattering love at first sight, nor the gentle, gradual unfolding of affection.

His love was like a gentle rain, nourishing silently through habit and loss.

When he discovered love, he had already lost it for a very, very long time.

~~~

"Lingge, you must be alright." Qiao Nansheng had never been so afraid before.

We finally arrived at Nanzhou Middle School and parked the car at the school gate.

"Young man, you can't park here, and you can't drive your car in either," Grandpa Wu said sternly.

"Sir, I want to go in and find someone, Principal Song Jianping, and this girl. Did you see her go in?"

Qiao Nansheng took out his wallet, inside which was a photo of him suddenly kissing Song Lingge's cheek during the New Year.

Grandpa Wu took out his reading glasses and moved the photo to a slightly farther distance.

"Isn't this Xiao Lingge!"

"Yes, yes, it's Song Lingge, sir. Have you seen her? Is she here?"

"Yes!"

Qiao Nansheng took off running into the school.

Grandpa Wu took off his glasses: "Hey—young man, you can't go in, there's class in session!"

Qiao Nansheng had no time to worry about that now; he just wanted to find Song Lingge as soon as possible and see that she was safe and sound.

Previously, although he knew that Song Lingge lived here, he did not know exactly where.

"Lingge—Lingge—" Qiao Nansheng shouted from under each building.

"Young man...you're in class, don't shout! Listen to me."

Despite his old age, Grandpa Wu finally caught up with Qiao Nansheng, but he was so exhausted that he couldn't breathe and couldn't speak.

Qiao Nansheng ran over: "Grandpa, do you know where Lingge's family lives?"

"Know...know..."

Grandpa Wu hadn't caught his breath yet, but fearing that Qiao Nansheng would run away again and he definitely wouldn't be able to catch up, he forced out those two words.

Qiao Nansheng had no choice but to wait patiently.

"Sir, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Could you please tell me? I need to find her immediately."

Grandpa Wu reached out and grabbed his arm, and after a while he finally calmed down: "Young man, why don't you listen to what people have to say! Xiao Lingge did come here, but she left not long ago."

"Gone? Where did they go?"

"How...how could I possibly know that!"

Qiao Nansheng was anxious. If he couldn't find her here, he really didn't know where else to look for her.

"Sir, think about it again. Did they say anything to you?"

Grandpa Wu was so shaken by Qiao Nansheng that he almost fainted. He broke free of Qiao Nansheng's hand and said, "How would I, a mere gatekeeper, know? Maybe she went back. I saw Principal Song with her."

These words only made Qiao Nansheng more anxious.

Song Jianping and Song Lingge left together, so where else could they go?

"Sir, how long have they been gone?"

"It's been almost an hour!"

Qiao Nansheng immediately ran back to the car.

He started the car, but didn't know where to drive.

They've been walking for almost an hour, so they definitely aren't heading back to Hele Manor. And since Grandpa Sun hasn't called, it's even more certain they haven't gone back.

But if we don't go back to Hele Manor, where else can we go?

Qiao Nansheng closed his eyes and bit his lip tightly. It was precisely at times like this that he couldn't panic.

Why did Song Jianping invite Song Lingge here?

They moved so long ago that no one lives here anymore.

A conversation can be held anywhere, so why insist on meeting here?

Song Lingge said she gave Zhao Jueyu's diary to Song Jianping, and she's been waiting for him to contact her. Could it be...?

Qiao Nansheng then thought of another place.

"Lingge, wait for me, you must wait for me," he said silently in his heart.

Qiao Nansheng never imagined that when he saw Song Lingge again, she would be lying in the arms of a strange man, covered in blood.