Chapter 159: Chapter 149: Gu Shaoqin

It wasn’t like she’d never flown in her past life, but a fully enclosed passenger jet was a completely different experience from this helicopter ascending straight into the sky. Though Xiao Man knew there wouldn’t be any accidents, she still subconsciously gripped the handrail, her heart pounding wildly for a good while before it finally calmed down.

The helicopter slowly gained altitude and then leveled out for a steady flight. Staring out at the inky black night sky, Xiao Man finally began to sort through her thoughts. Back in the jeep, Zheng Shaolian had been as loud as the helicopter, chattering nonstop. He’d tried to cram every single detail about Beijing into her head, leaving her completely frazzled.

’I was going to come to Beijing eventually. I was actually planning to wait until summer vacation, when I’d have more time. But I guess plans can’t keep up with change. With the Gu family as an excuse, coming now is just as well. It’s perfect, just going with the flow!’

The helicopter landed at some airfield. Xiao Man had no idea where she was, but it had to be somewhere in Beijing. It’s not like she was familiar with the city anyway.

Gu Shaozhen and a handsome young man who looked identical to Zheng Shaolian were there to pick her up. Xiao Man knew who he was. She hadn’t interacted with him much in her past life, but she remembered him as gentle and refined, with a warm, friendly smile that naturally made people feel at ease. He was the complete opposite of the devilishly handsome and eccentric Zheng Shaolian.

Zheng Shaojin placed his hands on Xiao Man’s shoulders and studied her carefully. "You must be my long-lost sister? You really do look like us! I’m your brother!"

Xiao Man smiled and nodded. "Brother Shaojin!"

Gu Shaozhen stood to the side with his hands in his trench coat pockets, waiting for the siblings to finish their reunion. Then, he pulled Xiao Man over and wrapped an arm around her. "Call me Brother Shaozhen. We haven’t seen each other in so long, and you don’t even say hello? Where are the manners I taught you?"

Xiao Man: ...

’You’ve really got some nerve.’

This time, Gu Shaozhen didn’t pull her braids. Seeing her hair was a mess from the wind, he kindly used his hands to smooth it down. He cupped her face, his eyes full of hope. "Shaolian said Big Brother asked you to come. He also said that as long as you came, Grandpa could be saved. Can you... can you really do it?"

Xiao Man pulled his hands away. "I’ve studied traditional Chinese medicine. I think I can help. But let’s see what the situation is first."

Gu Shaozhen and Zheng Shaojin exchanged a look, both sighing in relief. Like Zheng Shaolian, they hadn’t dared to place their hopes in a little girl, but they had one hundred percent faith in Gu Shaojun!

Gu Shaozhen led Xiao Man outside. He figured the little girl must be exhausted after flying for several hours. Zhang Qingwan had taken her to wash up and drink some hot water earlier, but she hadn’t eaten anything. He asked Xiao Man if she wanted to rest first.

Xiao Man shook her head. She didn’t feel tired. Since everyone was so on edge, they must all be anxious. It would be better to go see Mr. Gu first.

As they reached the car, she saw a thin, frail-looking boy with a pale complexion and delicate features running around it, hurrying to open the doors for them. His sparkling peach blossom eyes, a signature of the Gu family, were fixed on Xiao Man. His lips moved as if he wanted to call out to her, but he didn’t seem to know what to say.

Xiao Man stared back at the young boy for a long moment before she couldn’t resist stepping forward to pinch his cheek. ’The stern, serious, and proper lawyer from my past life... to think he was like this at ten years old!’

Ooh, his pale little face flushed bright red. He was actually shy!

Xiao Man couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, unable to stop. She tugged on Gu Shaoqin’s cheeks a couple more times and even gave them a little pat. ’In my past life, this little guy kept such a close eye on me. He had to stick his nose into everything I did. Whenever I tried to do something creative on my own, he would always end up leading me astray!’

Watching Xiao Man "torment" Gu Shaoqin, Zheng Shaojin’s lips twitched. He shook his head helplessly. ’Our sister absolutely cannot hang around Zheng Shaolian. She’s becoming just as mischievous and devilish as him!’

Gu Shaozhen: ...

’Little girl, my brother didn’t do anything to offend you, did he? You can’t just tease people like that!’

Xiao Man pulled Gu Shaoqin into the back seat with her. "Little brother, Big Sister will give you some candy."

Gu Shaoqin looked like he was about to cry. "I don’t want any... I’m not a little brother!"

"Come on, the candy from our Wancheng is different from the candy in Beijing. It’s a hundred times better! Really, just try it!"

A piece of fruit candy was forcibly stuffed into Gu Shaoqin’s mouth. It had been stored in her "space" for several months. Xiao Man had originally meant to give it to Zheng Shaolian but had forgotten.

Of the two sitting in the front, Zheng Shaojin chuckled while Gu Shaozhen raised an eyebrow. "Zheng San Niu, the candy from Wancheng is a hundred times better than Beijing’s? You can bully Shaoyu, but you can’t fool me!"

"You’ve been to Wancheng, but have you ever tried its candy? I bet you weren’t so lucky, were you?" Xiao Man retorted.

Gu Shaozhen was speechless. ’I really didn’t have any last time I was in Wancheng. But could candy from the countryside be better than Beijing’s? A hundred times better? He wouldn’t believe it if you beat him to death.’

Gu Shaoqin kept the candy in his mouth without a word. His eyes darted back and forth for a moment before he said to Xiao Man, "Do you have any more of this candy? Can I have another one? I want to let my mom try it!"

"I do. Here’s a whole handful, take it!" Xiao Man pulled a bunch of candy from her green satchel. Gu Shaoqin cupped his hands to receive them and hurriedly stuffed them into his two pockets.

"Thank you. I’ve never had candy this good before! We have lots of kinds of candy at home, but they taste awful, so I stopped eating them a long time ago."

Gu Shaozhen: ...

’You’ve got to be kidding me, kid. Won over by a single piece of candy?’

Zheng Shaojin was just about to speak when Xiao Man handed him a handful of candy. He quickly took it, breaking into a huge smile as he showed it off to Gu Shaozhen. "My sister gave me candy!"

Gu Shaozhen glanced at his hand, feeling an urge to bash his head against something. ’So all the imported candy I supply you guys with on a daily basis has gone to the dogs! This garish, tacky-looking fruit candy is what you call good?’

But then Zheng Shaojin stuffed a piece of fruit candy into his mouth. After smacking his lips a few times, he exclaimed, "Oh my God! Where is this fruit candy made? Quick, look at the wrapper!"

Zheng Shaojin turned a piece of candy over and over in his hand. "It’s not written on here."

"No way! That’s impossible. Who would dare sell a product with no information?"

Zheng Shaojin kept looking. "It’s really not listed."

"AHH! Zheng San Niu... where did you get this?"

Xiao Man couldn’t suppress her laughter. "It’s made by our local Wancheng candy factory. It won’t kill you! They don’t supply it to big cities like yours. It’s just something we local common folk know about!"

Even knowing it was an unlabeled product, Gu Shaozhen, fearless in the face of death, popped several more pieces into his mouth as he drove.

The car took Xiao Man directly to the hospital where Mr. Gu was staying.

It was a military hospital, so as soon as she got out of the car, nearly everyone she saw was either in uniform or a white lab coat. Xiao Man felt like she had walked onto a military base and couldn’t help but look around. Gu Shaozhen, anxious to get going, pulled her so hard she stumbled. Zheng Shaojin silently took her from Gu Shaozhen’s grasp, gently putting an arm around her to guide her forward slowly. He pointed out the surrounding buildings and scenery, giving her a general layout of the hospital and pointing out north, south, east, and west. Gu Shaoqin followed, staying close to Xiao Man. "Don’t be scared," he said. "I’ll stay with you. Third Brother isn’t a bad person."

Gu Shaozhen: ... ’Shut your mouth, kid! Do you even know how to talk?’

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