Chapter 34: Reality Is More Dramatic Than Fiction

The woman hurried forward and bent down to tightly embrace the little girl who had run into her arms.

Her arms tightened around Tongtong as her voice trembled with lingering fear.

“Tongtong, you scared Mommy to death.”

“You must never run off by yourself again, okay?”

“If you got lost, Mommy wouldn’t know what to do all alone.”

“I would be heartbroken for a very, very long time.”

Tongtong stretched out her tiny hands and gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her mother’s eyes.

Like a little adult, she patted her mother’s back and comforted her sweetly.

“Don’t cry, Mommy.”

“Tongtong knows she was wrong.”

“I’ll stay close to Mommy from now on and never run away again.”

“Today I met a super gentle pretty sister and a very handsome uncle.”

“They were the ones who brought me back.”

Holding Tongtong in her arms, the woman straightened up.

She looked at Tang Shu with sincere gratitude in her eyes.

“Thank you so much, miss.”

“I only looked away for a moment and she disappeared.”

“At the time, I was so terrified that my whole body went cold.”

“Thank goodness I met you.”

“Thank you for looking after Tongtong and bringing her back safely.”

Tang Shu shook her head lightly and smiled warmly.

“It’s nothing.”

“My cousin and I just happened to see Tongtong crying by herself on the roadside, so we brought her over.”

“Anyone would have helped.”

Looking at the beautiful and well-mannered young woman before her, the woman immediately felt a sense of fondness.

She took the initiative to introduce herself.

“My name is Qiao Chuqing.”

“To thank you, let me treat you to lunch today.”

“Consider it a small token of my gratitude.”

“No need, really.”

Tang Shu smiled and politely declined.

“My cousin is still waiting for me, so I won’t trouble you.”

Tongtong immediately lifted her head and wrapped her arms around Qiao Chuqing’s neck.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

“The pretty sister can paint too!”

“She draws really, really well, just like you!”

Qiao Chuqing froze slightly.

Surprise appeared in her eyes.

“Really?”

“What a coincidence.”

“You study art too?”

Tang Shu nodded.

“Mm. I’m an art student.”

“I saw your painting on the lawn just now.”

“The brushwork and composition were amazing.”

“I was actually hoping to talk with you about painting techniques.”

The two quickly hit it off.

They eventually sat together on a nearby wooden bench and began chatting.

Qiao Chuqing asked curiously,

“Are you from Yuncheng?”

“Which school are you attending now?”

“I’m from Yuncheng.”

“I’m currently studying at a university in Jiangcheng.”

“I’m a sophomore right now. After summer vacation, I’ll be entering my junior year.”

The moment she finished speaking, Qiao Chuqing’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She even leaned forward slightly.

“Jiangcheng?”

“You study in Jiangcheng?”

“Yes.”

After calming her surprise, Qiao Chuqing couldn’t help marveling at fate.

“What an incredible coincidence.”

“I’m actually from Jiangcheng too.”

“For the past few years, I’ve been traveling around with Tongtong, gathering inspiration and sketching landscapes.”

“I’m planning to return to Jiangcheng permanently with her in about a month.”

“Recently, I’ve been preparing to open my own art studio.”

Looking at Tang Shu, she spoke seriously.

“Would you be interested in working as a part-time assistant at my studio?”

“The work is very easy.”

“You’d mainly help organize art supplies and occasionally handle client communications.”

“The schedule can be adjusted completely around your classes.”

“And I’ll offer a very competitive salary.”

Tang Shu was stunned.

She had never imagined that a simple act of helping someone would lead to a job offer.

She hesitated.

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

“But my coursework can get pretty busy.”

“My free time isn’t very consistent, and I’m worried I might affect your studio’s work.”

“I understand.”

Qiao Chuqing smiled gently.

She clearly wasn’t the type to pressure others.

“Your studies should come first.”

“The studio is only just starting anyway, so there won’t be much work at first.”

“The schedule is completely flexible.”

“Let’s just exchange WeChat contacts for now.”

“Once I return to Jiangcheng and officially open the studio, we can discuss it in more detail.”

“You can come whenever you have time, and if you’re busy, that’s completely fine too.”

Tang Shu finally relaxed.

“Sure!”

“Let’s add each other on WeChat.”

The two scanned each other’s QR codes and saved their contact information.

Looking at the new contact in her friend list, Tang Shu couldn’t help feeling fortunate.

She had merely gone out for the day—

and somehow ended up finding a part-time job opportunity.

Her luck was incredible.

More than ten minutes later, Tao Hongyi finished his call and walked into the guesthouse.

At first glance, he spotted Tang Shu sitting on a bench.

He was about to walk over directly.

But the moment his eyes landed on the woman sitting beside her—

his footsteps froze.

The blood in his body seemed to solidify instantly.

It was her.

It really was her.

Every question buried in his heart surged up at once.

His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

Then he looked toward Tongtong.

The little girl’s features were almost identical to his own.

A chill spread through his heart.

So the child hadn’t mistaken him after all.

This really was his daughter?

But things weren’t supposed to be like this.

Back then, she had disappeared without a word.

She vanished completely without leaving any trace.

How could she have secretly given birth to a child and hidden away for all these years?

At the same moment, Qiao Chuqing instinctively lifted her gaze.

Without warning, her eyes met Tao Hongyi’s deep, restrained stare.

Her pupils contracted violently.

Shock and fear flooded her face.

Her fingers clenched tightly around her skirt.

Her entire body stiffened uncontrollably.

How could she run into him here?

She had avoided him for four whole years.

Avoided every city and every person connected to him.

She had wandered from place to place with her child because she didn’t dare remain in Jiangcheng.

So why was he here?

Why was he in Yuncheng?

Why was he on Yunding Mountain?

An oddly tense atmosphere instantly filled the air.

Beside her, Tang Shu noticed Qiao Chuqing’s pale face and rigid posture.

Following her stunned gaze, she turned around—

and saw Tao Hongyi.

She immediately waved at him with a smile.

“Hongyi-ge, over here!”

“I found Tongtong’s mother!”

Tao Hongyi finally tore his eyes away from Qiao Chuqing’s face.

His steps were heavy and slow.

He walked toward them one step at a time.

Every step carried emotions he had suppressed for years.

Tongtong recognized him immediately.

She slipped out of Qiao Chuqing’s arms and ran over on her short little legs.

Grabbing one of his long fingers with her tiny hand, she smiled brightly.

“Mommy!”

“It’s this uncle!”

“He looks exactly like the daddy in the picture!”

“Mommy, can you let Uncle be Tongtong’s daddy?”

That single sentence completely shattered Qiao Chuqing’s final line of defense.

Her face turned deathly pale.

She hurriedly pulled Tongtong back into her arms.

Her embrace tightened.

Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

Her lips moved slightly, but she was so nervous that not a single word came out.

Noticing her mother’s trembling, Tongtong reached out and touched her cheek.

“Mommy?”

“Are you feeling sick?”

Qiao Chuqing desperately suppressed the panic, guilt, and confusion raging inside her.

Forcing her trembling voice to steady, she gently stroked Tongtong’s head.

“Mommy’s fine.”

“Tongtong, be good.”

“You can’t say things like that.”

“You can’t randomly call someone Daddy.”

“Mommy told you before…”

“Your daddy went to outer space.”

“He’s already gone forever and can never come back.”

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