Chapter 17: The Mother Behind the Sunflowers

As noon approached, Cangcang bought a five-yuan portion of hot and sour noodles from a roadside stall.

 

She found a quiet spot and sat on some steps to eat.

 

“Master, does that mean the ghost sister’s biological parents once came to the orphanage?

But by then, she had already been adopted by someone else?”

Cangcang said while slurping her noodles.

 

Qianyang pressed her lips together, not answering immediately, instead wearing a thoughtful expression.

 

– Possible.

– But if the ghost sister was adopted, the orphanage would definitely have records.

– Right.

With adoption records, how could her biological parents not have found her?

– Ehh, the orphanage was clearly irresponsible.

Cangcang ran away and was recorded as dead from illness.

Maybe their records weren’t that complete.

– That makes sense!

– …

 

Qianyang didn’t comment on this.

She only said, “Once we find her biological parents, everything will become clear.”

 

Cangcang nodded.

“That makes sense.”

 

Qianyang stared at the chili-oil-coated noodles on the screen and unconsciously swallowed.

“…Is it good?”

 

“It’s good!

Really fragrant.

And very cheap.”

 

– Street food isn’t clean.

You shouldn’t eat this stuff.

– …You’re insane.

Then what should she eat?

Will you pay for it?

– Just because she has no money, should she give up on being healthy?

– Doesn’t health need money to maintain?

– I don’t get it anyway.

I never eat street food.

I wouldn’t dare eat anything under fifty yuan.

– The sense of superiority is overflowing the screen.

If you had Cangcang’s background, you probably wouldn’t even be alive now.

– …

 

The comments often erupted into arguments for all kinds of reasons, and Qianyang had grown used to it.

Her attention was on Cangcang’s hands.

 

Seeing the comments, Cangcang gave an embarrassed laugh.

“This stuff really isn’t healthy.”

 

Qianyang asked, “Is it better than the giant grab-and-go pancake?”

 

“The giant grab-and-go pancake?

Isn’t that more expensive?

Probably not as tasty,” Cangcang said.

 

Qianyang felt a craving.

She wet her lips and turned her head.

“Apprentice, I want to eat hot and sour noodles, exactly the same as Cangcang’s.”

 

Yang Mao agreed.

“There’s a place right outside the neighborhood.

I’ll go get some.”

 

– The streamer seems to really like eating.

– She’s mentioned the giant grab-and-go pancake many times too.

– Haha, who knew she was a foodie.

 

Qianyang said candidly, “The food down the mountain is very delicious.

I’ve never had it before.”

 

– Oh right, the streamer just came down from the mountain not long ago.

– There are so many delicious things in this world!

– I can introduce you!

– Hot pot, barbecue, Chinese food, Western food, Cantonese food, grilled meat, hulatang…

– Hiss… now I’m hungry.

Ordering takeout!

– Eat, eat, eat!

– …

 

Before long, Yang Mao returned with two servings of hot and sour noodles.

Cangcang had finished eating and thrown her container into the trash.

 

– Done eating?

Get to work.

Streamers on other platforms have been lurking, and they’re starting to use brute force to find the people on the visitor list.

– We can’t let them find her first!

Giving someone else the credit?

Please no!

– It doesn’t matter.

Our streamer found the list first and confirmed that the biological parents are on it.

– Even if others find them, it doesn’t prove anything.

– Exactly, exactly.

 

Cangcang sat back down on the steps, took out the documents from her bag, and said, “Master, besides the names, the visitor list also has phone numbers.”

 

“Is that so?”

Qianyang said with surprise.

 

“Yes.

I was worried that if their contact information got exposed in the stream, it might cause trouble for innocent people and the ghost sister’s biological parents, so I put them away,” Cangcang said.

 

The entire occult streaming circle was paying attention to this.

If someone got those numbers and started harassing people on the list, it would definitely cause unnecessary trouble.

 

Qianyang nodded.

“You’re right.

With the contact information, we can just call directly to confirm.”

 

As she spoke, Qianyang took a bite of her noodles and stuck out her tongue because they were too hot.

 

A little hot, but they smelled very fragrant.

 

Cangcang asked, “Master, what should I say?”

 

Qianyang didn’t understand.

“Can’t you just ask directly?”

 

Yang Mao interjected, “That’s too direct.

Since the biological parents went to the orphanage, they at least once found her whereabouts.

Maybe, like Cangcang’s recorded death, they thought their missing daughter could no longer be found.

To suddenly tell them that their biological daughter has already died and become a ghost—normal people wouldn’t be able to handle that.”

 

Qianyang frowned.

“Then what do we do?”

 

Yang Mao said, “This kind of thing is better to tell them in person.”

 

Qianyang thought for a moment and felt that made sense.

“Then let’s do that.”

 

Just then, Cangcang gave an awkward laugh.

“Master, I’ve used up my monthly free call minutes.

Could you make the calls to confirm?”

 

“Okay.

Send the contact information to my apprentice.”

 

“Thank you, Master!”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

– Sigh.

– In this day and age, someone still worries about phone charges.

– Let them eat cake.

There are probably people living in even worse circumstances than Cangcang.

– Dying of laughter.

Back when I just graduated, I couldn’t find a job and didn’t have a cent to my name.

I had to borrow money to buy food.

– Reminds me of my early days in the workforce as a beast of burden.

– …

 

Seeing the comments, Yang Mao spoke from the heart.

“I just got lucky and found my master.

Otherwise, even if I didn’t die, I’d be living on the streets.”

 

Cangcang privately sent the complete visitor list to Yang Mao.

 

“Master…”

Cangcang suddenly called out.

“Someone else has found my account and wants me to send them the contact information.

They’re probably occult streamers from other platforms.”

 

Qianyang said, “Weren’t you worried about disturbing other people?

Let Yang Mao do the confirming.”

 

Qianyang didn’t care if others found the ghost sister’s parents first.

She didn’t care about the title of “only true god” of the occult streaming circle either.

If Cangcang chose to seek help from someone else, Qianyang wouldn’t have any reaction.

 

She simply thought Cangcang’s initial concern was reasonable.

Frequently disturbing other innocent people, especially the ghost sister’s biological parents, would definitely—definitely—not be a good thing.

 

“Okay.

I won’t send it to them.”

 

Yang Mao got the contact information and, in order of the visitor list, called each number one by one.

 

“Hello, is this Ms. Yang?”

 

“Who’s calling?”

 

“We’ve received a request for help regarding Sheng’an Orphanage.

We see that you once visited the orphanage and would like to ask you a few things.”

When serious, Yang Mao was fairly reliable.

 

Ms. Yang was taken aback.

“Sheng’an Orphanage?

Hasn’t it already closed down?”

 

“That’s correct.

Don’t worry, we’re just asking about the orphanage.

Do you remember when you visited?”

Yang Mao said.

 

Ms. Yang wasn’t very guarded.

“Five or six years ago?

I don’t remember the exact time.

I only remembered that I had been there when the news about the child abuse at the orphanage broke.”

 

It seemed this woman was not the ghost sister’s biological parent.

 

Seeing this, Yang Mao didn’t continue to bother her.

He thanked her politely and hung up.

 

“That means the ghost sister’s biological parents likely visited the orphanage about five or six years ago,” Qianyang said.

 

“Yes.

The people on this list probably all visited around the same time, not too far apart.”

 

– I remember that Sheng’an Orphanage was exposed for child abuse five years ago.

– That’s right.

 

Yang Mao continued calling the other numbers on the list.

 

He probed carefully, using the person’s attitude to determine if they might be the ghost sister’s biological parents.

 

After several calls, everyone’s attitude toward Sheng’an Orphanage was neutral.

It didn’t seem like they had any deep connection.

 

“Master, I have a question.”

 

After finishing a few calls, Yang Mao paused.

 

Qianyang raised her eyes slightly.

“What?”

 

“How does the ghost sister know her biological parents’ names?

Did she meet them while she was alive?

Or was she still at the orphanage at that time?”

 

– !!!

– Holy shit!

– Right!!!

Senior Disciple Brother spotted a blind spot!

– That makes sense!

If the ghost sister even remembers her biological parents’ names, she must have met them, or at least knew that they came looking for her.

– Then why didn’t she reunite with her biological parents while she was alive?

– …

 

“That makes sense…” Cangcang agreed.

 

Qianyang didn’t seem surprised by their confusion, as if she had already realized it.

 

Instead of answering, she said, “Keep calling.

Once you find her biological parents, you’ll naturally know.”

 

She said “you’ll,” not “I’ll,” which showed she already knew something.

 

Seeing that she didn’t plan to elaborate, Yang Mao didn’t press further.

He trusted his master.

If she told him to do something, there was a reason for it.

 

– What does that mean?

– Does the streamer know the key point?

– Why not just say it?

– AHHH don’t leave us hanging!

 

Qianyang ignored the wailing in the comments.

 

Some things couldn’t be said yet because the time wasn’t right.

 

Yang Mao finished calling all the numbers and listed several people who might be the ghost sister’s biological parents.

 

“The ghost sister’s biological parents are probably among them.

But what excuse can we use to ask them to meet in person?”

Yang Mao said, troubled.

 

– That makes sense.

– Well said.

 

Qianyang glanced at the names he had compiled.

 

“That’s all?”

Qianyang asked.

 

Yang Mao said, “One number couldn’t be reached.”

 

“I see.”

Qianyang nodded.

 

Yang Mao looked at her suspiciously.

“Master, you have an idea?”

 

Qianyang looked puzzled.

“Didn’t I say?

Other than myself and the dead, I can calculate anything.”

 

Yang Mao: “…”

Qianyang said, “As long as I have the Sky-Asking Compass, finding someone isn’t difficult.”

 

– Cheating is forbidden!

– Wow, with such a powerful cheat, if used to catch fugitives, I can’t imagine how satisfying that would be.

– So would it cure my problem of always losing one earbud?

– Fellow practitioners: She comes with a built-in cheat.

How can we compete?

– Haha, awesome!

– …

– It’s not as simple as you think.

– In the hands of an ordinary person, the Sky-Asking Compass is no different from a toy.

– Fellow practitioner, aren’t you afraid of backlash?

– Fellow practitioner is truly gifted.

I wonder which school you belong to, to possess such an extraordinary object.

– A man may be innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

In this world, there are still occultists who take unconventional paths.

Fellow practitioner, be careful.

– If fellow practitioner is willing to join my master’s school, all of us disciples will protect you.

 

Qianyang didn’t seem concerned.

 

“The Sky-Asking Compass is just convenient to use.

Not a rare item.”

 

She smiled slightly.

“However, all my things are cursed.

If anyone can steal them and break the curse, they are welcome to try.”

 

– Curious.

What curse?

– I want to learn this!

I hate people who touch my things without permission.

 

Qianyang said, “The Hundred-Claw Heart-Piercing Curse.”

 

Yang Mao, who was reaching for the Sky-Asking Compass, shuddered at these words.

His fingers instinctively loosened, and the compass hit the ground with a solid smack.

 

The stream fell silent for a few seconds.

Qianyang and the terrified Yang Mao stared at each other.

 

– ???

– You big idiot!!!

What are you doing!!!

– This is a sacred artifact of the occult!

Priceless!!!

– I’m done!

– It looks so expensive.

What if it breaks!!!

– Master, expel him from the school right now.

Let me be Senior Disciple Brother!

– …

 

Yang Mao snapped out of it, immediately bent down to pick up the compass, and said helplessly, “Sorry, Master.”

 

Qianyang glanced at him and said, “Why are you nervous?

You’re not an outsider.

The curse doesn’t work on you.”

 

Yang Mao was stunned.

No one had ever said such words to him before.

 

He wiped the dust off the compass and handed it to Qianyang with both hands.

“Thank you, Master.”

 

Qianyang took the compass, looked at the comments, and said, “Expel him from the school?

Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

“Compared to my apprentice, the thing isn’t precious.

If it breaks, I’ll just make a new one.”

 

– …Wow.

– Suddenly a bit jealous of Senior Disciple Brother.

– Sob sob, I want such a gentle master too.

– The streamer is really good to Senior Disciple Brother.

She always defends him in the stream.

– Envious.

– Is the streamer still taking disciples?

– …

– ???

– Fellow practitioner, are you saying you can make a Sky-Asking Compass?

– Huh???

– Holy shit?

– Master!!

Name your price!

I’ll buy it!!

 

Qianyang said, “The Sky-Asking Compass is not an ordinary tool.

It cannot be bought or sold with money.”

 

Ignoring the comments further, Qianyang said, “Cangcang, I’ll guide you to find the last person on the list.

After you find her biological parents, you will tell them.”

 

Cangcang nodded.

“I understand, Master.”

 

Sheng’an Orphanage wasn’t large.

Most of the prospective adopters who visited were locals.

After getting a general sense, Qianyang indeed didn’t find it difficult to locate them.

 

The stream was buzzing with excitement.

Viewers spread the news far and wide.

Viewership smoothly broke the one hundred thousand mark.

 

– AHHH!

I actually caught some hot gossip in real time.

– Came here from stream clips.

The streamer is awesome!

– I learned how to open the yin eye!

– So nervous!

So exciting!

First time experiencing this live.

– If this is scripted, I’ll eat my phone!

– Scripted my ass.

Every streamer in the occult zone is paying attention to this.

– I went and looked up information about the Sky-Asking Compass.

All I can say is, the streamer seems even more awesome than you imagine!

– …

– Narrow-minded!

Family, you’re narrow-minded.

– Not just occult zone streamers are paying attention.

The bosses of several major streaming platforms are also watching.

– Definitely.

Qianyang has leaped to become a top streamer in the occult zone.

Her popularity on other platforms has crushed Qingsi’s.

Her value has definitely multiplied several times over.

– (Rubbing hands together) I never expected the little streamer I nurtured to become an internet sensation in less than half a month.

– The streamer should have become famous after Brother Wang’s stream.

She was just co-opted by some streamer on Shark.

 

Under Qianyang’s guidance, Cangcang found the first person on the list.

 

It was a middle-aged couple who ran a small braised meat shop.

 

Cangcang claimed to be a volunteer and spoke with them briefly.

 

The wife had miscarried when she was younger, which left her unable to have children.

They had gone to Sheng’an Orphanage three years ago only to adopt a suitable child.

 

After learning the situation, Cangcang politely said goodbye and went to find the next person.

 

To keep the stream viewers from getting bored, Cangcang talked about some of her own experiences.

Yang Mao, who had gone through similar hardships, couldn’t help sharing his own stories as well.

 

With nothing else to do, Qianyang did a set of tai chi on the balcony.

 

When she found the second person, Cangcang didn’t approach them rashly.

 

They were a very busy couple, both running their own businesses.

They looked to be in their thirties, too young to be the ghost sister’s parents.

 

Cangcang continued to the third, the fourth… still, she didn’t find the ghost sister’s biological parents.

 

By the time she had seen the last couple on Yang Mao’s list, the sky had darkened completely.

It was already nine at night.

 

Cangcang was hungry.

She bought some bread and yogurt, sat by the roadside, and sighed.

“Master, what now?

None of them are the ghost sister’s parents.”

 

– Sigh.

– Were the ghost sister’s biological parents really on that list?

– Cangcang worked so hard today.

– Is the streamer wasting time?

– Is it really this miraculous?

Being able to hear a ghost speak?

– Frustrating.

So tired watching this.

– …

 

Viewers who had been following all day without a resolution had started to complain.

 

Qianyang didn’t seem bothered.

She said, “There’s still one more person on the list.”

 

Yang Mao said, “Master, you mean the one whose number couldn’t be reached?”

 

“Yes.”

Qianyang nodded and looked at Cangcang on the screen.

“Cangcang, are you tired?”

 

Cangcang shook her head.

“This is nothing.

I can keep going!”

 

“Alright.”

 

Just then, Yang Mao asked, “Master, should I call that person again?”

 

“No need.

He should be close to Cangcang’s location.”

 

Yang Mao was surprised.

“Really?

I thought you could only find them after I called and got through.”

 

Qianyang said, “No.

I had you make the calls just to rule out the others and save time.”

 

“I see!”

 

– Ah… I hope you’re not just showing off.

– Who told me she was so awesome?

I’ve been watching for a long time and she seems pretty ordinary.

– Ordinary?

If I gave you my name, could you find me?

– Isn’t that thanks to the Sky-Asking Compass?

What does it have to do with the streamer?

– You say that.

Did the compass move on its own?

The streamer is the one using it.

– …

– Unbelievable.

If you don’t want to watch, leave.

No one is forcing you to stay.

– Exactly.

Since you’re so eloquent, why don’t you go help Cangcang search?

– Those occult streamers on other platforms who came to ride the coattails can’t find a damn thing.

Why don’t you go lecture them?

 

Qianyang and the others had long learned to ignore the comments.

No matter how fiercely they argued, they remained unmoved.

 

Qianyang guided Cangcang to look for the last person on the list.

 

Cangcang retrieved her fully charged scooter and rode in the direction Qianyang indicated, finally stopping in front of a flower shop.

 

The flower shop was open.

Potted plants were placed at the entrance, filled with a dazzling array of flowers of all kinds, too many to tell apart.

 

At this hour, there were few customers.

 

Cangcang parked her scooter by the roadside, took off her helmet, and peered inside.

 

There was only one woman in the shop, standing at the counter wrapping a bouquet of sunflowers.

 

Hearing footsteps, the woman looked up and saw her.

 

“Welcome,” the woman said.

 

The woman had white hair at her temples, a peaceful expression, and eyes as calm as a still lake, yet somehow carrying an air of exhaustion and sorrow.

 

Cangcang walked into the shop, looked around, and seemed inexplicably nervous.

She asked, “Excuse me, are you Qin Yizhen, Ms.Qin?”

 

The woman looked startled.

“I am.

May I ask… who are you?”

 

Cangcang said directly, “My name is Cangcang.

I used to live at Sheng’an Orphanage…”

Hearing this, the woman’s expression changed noticeably.

 

She composed herself somewhat, though her eyes remained gentle.

“Is there something you need from me?”

 

Suddenly, Cangcang didn’t know what to say.

 

“Master…”

In her earpiece, Yang Mao called out.

 

Qianyang was silent for a moment, then said, “Cangcang, talk with her.”

 

– This aunt looks so gentle.

– Could she be the ghost sister’s mother?

– Strange.

I feel like I’ve seen this aunt somewhere before.

– Me too!

– So familiar.

– …

– I remember her!

She’s the one who reported the child abuse at Sheng’an Orphanage!

– Yes, yes!

She was on the news!

 

Qin Yizhen looked at her nervous face and smiled.

“How old are you?”

 

Cangcang said, “I just turned twenty this year.”

 

“Twenty…”

Qin Yizhen seemed lost in thought.

She looked at the plastic bag in Cangcang’s hand, which held some bread and cheap yogurt.

“Haven’t you eaten yet?”

 

Cangcang said, “I, I ate some bread and yogurt.”

 

Qin Yizhen nodded.

“Come in and sit down.

Take your time telling me whatever it is.”

 

“Okay…”

Qin Yizhen had Cangcang sit at the table.

She poured her a glass of water, prepared some pastries, then sat across from her.

 

Qin Yizhen spoke first.

“Where do you live?”

 

Cangcang had her phone hanging around her neck.

The camera showed her nervously intertwined hands.

She answered, “I live in an old neighborhood on Beiyou Road.”

“…All alone?”

Qin Yizhen looked at her with pity in her eyes, as if looking through her at someone else.

 

“Yes.”

Cangcang lowered her head.

“Auntie, I’m sorry to bother you today.

I actually came because I wanted to ask why you went to Sheng’an Orphanage five or six years ago.

I’m really sorry if I’ve offended you, but I have a reason for needing to ask.

I hope you can understand.”

 

Qin Yizhen smiled.

“It’s okay.

I did go to Sheng’an Orphanage five years ago.

Did you see me back then?”

 

Cangcang shook her head.

“I wasn’t at the orphanage at the time.”

 

Qin Yizhen nodded, her gaze very gentle.

“Cangcang, did you suffer a lot at that orphanage?

Can you tell Auntie about it first?”

 

– Sigh…

– Auntie must be the ghost sister’s biological mother.

– She must be thinking about the ghost sister.

Wanting to know what her situation and feelings were like back then.

– Auntie seems so kind.

If the ghost sister hadn’t gone missing, she would have lived a very happy life.

 

Cangcang realized that Qin Yizhen was reminiscing about her missing daughter through her.

 

“Auntie, I don’t really remember,” Cangcang said, not answering directly.

She smiled.

“If it had been that painful, I probably wouldn’t have forgotten so easily, right?”

 

Qin Yizhen lowered her gaze.

The corners of her eyes carried deep marks left by time.

When she looked up again, her eyes were slightly red.

 

“Five years ago, I went to Sheng’an Orphanage to search for my daughter, who had been missing for many years.”

 

– !!!

– She really is the ghost sister’s biological mother!

– AHHH!

Found her!

– Oh my god… I can’t imagine how she will react when she learns her daughter is already dead.

– So many years have passed.

Maybe she’s already moved on.

Maybe it’s better not to tell her?

– Impossible.

She hasn’t moved on.

Five years ago she still hadn’t moved on.

How could she have moved on now?

 

Cangcang was speechless.

She really was the ghost sister’s mother.

 

But now that she had found her, how was she supposed to tell her that the ghost sister had died a year ago?

 

Qin Yizhen seemed lost in memory.

She sighed.

“We searched for her for many years.

Only five years ago, from the belongings of a suspect, did we finally find the city where she was abandoned.

We came to this city and searched for a long time until we learned that she was in an orphanage.

But we were too late.”

 

Cangcang pressed her lips.

“Auntie, after that, did you ever see her or get any news of her?”

 

Qin Yizhen looked up at her.

Her eyes were red.

She shook her head.

“Never again.”

 

Cangcang opened her mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.

 

Qin Yizhen seemed to sense her difficulty.

She managed a faint smile.

“I know.

She’s dead.”

 

Cangcang shuddered.

She instinctively stood up.

“I’m sorry…”

 

– Sob sob…

– Auntie already knew.

– Isn’t Auntie from this city?

Did she choose to stay here after that?

 

Qin Yizhen looked at Cangcang.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She took Cangcang’s hand and pulled her to her side.

“Cangcang… thank you for coming to see me.”

 

“If she were still alive, she would be turning twenty this year too.”

 

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