Chapter 9: As If a Lifetime Ago

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: As If a Lifetime Ago

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EndlessFantasy Translation

Thinking back to a month and a half ago when her grandfather’s funeral had just concluded, Lin Wanwan was evicted by her uncle and aunt who had returned from abroad. It all felt like another world.

The scenes of that day are still vividly visible.

Her thoughts drifted to that time, a month and a half ago, which was the lowest point in her life.

"Wan, your things are packed for you, all in these three luggage bags. You can bring them to where you’re staying, right?" Xie Yuanying looked at Lin Wanwan with her tea-colored eyes, disdain evident, "Look, you’ve graduated from college, the family raised you for so many years. We don’t expect you to repay us, but you should be independent, don’t you think?"

"You, you’re really going to sell this place? What will we do when we return home later?" Lin Wanwan’s heart tightened slightly. This little villa carried all her beautiful memories with her grandfather and grandmother. Was it really about to be lost?

Xie Yuanying sneered, "Tch, we’re not coming back. Your grandparents are gone, so what’s the point of returning?"

Lin Wanwan lowered her head, feeling as if her heart was in turmoil.

If it’s sold, the new owner will surely replace everything inside, redecorate, leaving her with no trace of nostalgia. Even if she works hard enough to make money to buy back the house later, it would be of no avail.

But what else could she do? It wasn’t her house; she had no say. When her uncle was still studying domestically, he specially returned to handle it, registering the title under his own name, saying it would be more convenient this way, avoiding a big loss upon transferring after her grandparents’ death.

Her grandparents had two daughters and a son, but one elder daughter died early from illness, and the younger daughter died accidently. Now only the son is left. In the end, naturally, they were unable to refuse their son and registered the house in his name.

Afterward, her uncle went to study in the United States, got married, and had children there, returning only once in several years. The last time they returned was for her grandmother’s funeral, and this time, for her grandfather’s.

Apart from the funeral, they also wanted to sell this two-story villa where Lin Wanwan spent her childhood.

"Uncle, when are you going back to the United States? I’ll see you off when it’s time." Although her uncle and aunt hadn’t seen Lin Wanwan many times, they were her grandparents’ son and daughter-in-law. Lin Wanwan, on her grandparents’ account, reluctantly maintained some face, not wanting them to witness a dispute between niece and uncle right after her grandfather’s passing.

But the other side clearly didn’t want that.

Of course, afraid someone like Lin Wanwan, an orphan, might latch onto them.

"No need. You just work well; that’s the best repayment to us. No need to see us off." Lin’s aunt said coldly, while her uncle was busily chatting with the buyers and intermediaries, not giving her a glance.

"Alright." Lin Wanwan responded with her head down.

As for repayment? The people she wished to repay were no longer here to receive it, and her aunt, whom she had barely seen a couple of times growing up, had no right to demand it from her.

Lin Wanwan lowered her head, hoisted one luggage bag on her shoulder, carried two more in her hands, and walked out of the community, accelerating her pace.

"What’s wrong, young lady, what’s happened? No cry, anything say it? Speak out and you’ll feel better." The ride-hailing driver glanced at the tear-stricken girl in the rearview mirror several times before speaking up, interrupting Lin Wanwan’s recollection.

Lin Wanwan wiped away her tears, sniffed, and said, "Nothing."

Yes, it’s over now. Everything has passed, and soon this villa would truly belong to her!

There are her childhood and teenage memories, marking most of her growth.

Returning to her rented apartment, Lin Wanwan joyfully arranged a moving service. The place had been rented for less than two months, with hardly anything to move, making the process swift.

Taking out the key to open the villa door once more, Lin Wanwan was filled with emotions. She retrieved the portraits of her grandfather and grandmother from the package and hung them side by side on the living room wall again, gazing at them for a long time.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, if you have wisdom in heaven, rest assured that I will live better and better from now on." Lin Wanwan caressed the jade bracelet on her left wrist; perhaps this was the way her grandmother had paved for her.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She looked at the things she previously ordered online, which were sent to the apartment address. They should arrive in the afternoon, and she could retrieve them later; no rush.

After arranging everything, Lin Wanwan did a simple cleaning of the villa. It hadn’t been occupied for nearly two months, a layer of dust had settled.

After cleaning, she went to her room, drew the curtains, checked the time, finding it was already noontime, 12 PM. Then she placed her phone on the nightstand, carried the cloth bag full of items intended for the Tang Dynasty, traveled through time, and returned to the Tang Dynasty.

It was very quiet around; the nighttime life in the Tang Dynasty town was virtually nonexistent.

Lin Wanwan carried the large package wrapped in a tablecloth and headed to the inn.

There was only a candle burning at the bar, and Lin Mengli was asleep there.

Seeing her return, lugging a package larger than herself, he was shocked, rubbed his eyes, approached to help, and said, "Wan, why did you return so late? It’s already the hour of the ox, I thought something happened to you. You should have called me to go with you if you were fetching items. Walking alone with such a big package late at night, it’s tiring and unsafe."

The hour of the ox is roughly between 1-2 AM. She had left around seven or eight in the evening, so it seemed the flow of time was the same between the two worlds, except day and night were reversed, with a gap of about ten hours.

Lin Wanwan replied with a smile, "It’s okay, I’m used to it. Even when I’m with beasts on the mountain, I don’t fear them, why should I fear people?"

Lin Mengli said, "People harming others are indeed more dangerous than beasts. Wild beasts eat people to satiate hunger, but people can harm others without reason."

Lin Wanwan switched topics, "By the way, is the little one awake?"

By now, they had reached the door of the suite on the third floor. Lin Mengli put down the package and said, "No, she’s not, rest assured."

After thanking Lin Mengli, Lin Wanwan closed the door, latched it, and went to bed. Perhaps because she was too tired and too excited, she soon fell asleep.

The next morning, Lin Wanwan heard a soft and tender voice by her ear, "Mom, I need to pee."

Her brain hadn’t yet responded but she automatically replied, "Mm, go ahead."

Feeling someone crawl over her, Lin Wanwan suddenly became alert—did she have a child?

Upon opening her eyes, she saw Qingyu, still half-squinted, climb off the bed and find the toilet, obediently taking care of herself, with her eyes still squinted, before scampering back to bed, crawling over Lin Wanwan again, snuggling against her head, and wrapping her small arms around her neck.

It was hard to describe Lin Wanwan’s feelings at that moment, with a sudden surge of maternal affection.

She turned, stared at the little one for a while. Qingyu, previously half-squinted, noticed Lin Wanwan’s gaze and suddenly opened her eyes, giving her a big smile, with two sweet dimples, "Mom."

"Mm, little Yu’er is really good." Lin Wanwan fondled Qingyu’s face; her chin was sharp and lacked flesh. She must nurture her until she’s round and pinchable!