Stars In His Eyes
Chapter 1070: Seeking the Truth 15

Chapter 1070: Chapter 1070: Seeking the Truth 15

In the past, He Zhilan was just He Zhilan. They might have stood idly by as He Zhilan was bullied and hurt. But once they discovered He Zhilan was Gu Zhilan, they would never allow anyone to harm their child!

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If you don’t step out of your little world, you will never know how wonderful the big world outside truly is.

This was something He Zhilan had read in a book once, and at this moment, the words naturally surfaced in her mind.

On the train journey, He Zhilan saw countless sights she had never seen before—the vast plains where the wind blew through the grass to reveal grazing cattle and sheep, the towering, majestic mountains and rivers. Under the same sky, within the same moment, different landscapes unfolded their beauty.

After a grueling five days and six nights on the train, He Zhilan and He Teng finally arrived at the transfer station. Since they couldn’t get tickets for the next train immediately, they found a small inn near the station to stay at.

The next train to their destination wouldn’t leave for another two days, so the two could stay for two nights and a day in the small town.

"The scenery on the train is beautiful, but sitting there really makes my back ache. Not to mention, you don’t eat well," He Zhilan grumbled as she followed He Teng into the inn. As soon as she put down her luggage, she darted straight to the bed. Lying down, she waved her hand at He Teng, "Brother, come lie down and rest."

He Teng knew that these past few days had truly exhausted her. The train seats didn’t recline, so there was nowhere to sleep, and He Zhilan had spent most nights curled up in his arms to rest.

It was different for him—he was a soldier, trained through rigorous discipline. Forget resting while seated, if necessary, he could sleep standing as long as his body allowed.

"Rest later. First, let’s go downstairs and find a place to make a call to Lin Chan, and also call home to let them know we’re safe." Normally, He Teng wouldn’t be so cautious, letting He Zhilan stay in his direct sight even for a call. But after the incident of Lan Song kidnapping He Zhilan, He Teng had learned his lesson. He couldn’t afford to be lax, especially in such precarious circumstances.

They found a small shop near the inn with a phone to use. They first called home, intending to check in and then talk to Lin Chan. However, as soon as they made the call home, they learned that the Gu Family and the Lan Family had visited their hometown several days ago.

He Da should have guessed the two were secretly heading back to the military base without informing their father, so while he was curious about their current whereabouts, he didn’t dare ask. Instead, he shared the news about the Gu Family.

He Da barely said a few words before their father took over the phone, calling for He Zhilan to speak. Yet, when he spoke, he hesitated for a long moment without saying anything.

"Dad, are you mad that I didn’t tell you?" He Zhilan asked nervously, fearing her father’s anger, and quickly explained, "I just didn’t want you to worry about me."

"Mad? Why would Dad be mad? Dad feels sorry for you~ You tell me, how could you be so stubborn at such a young age? You wouldn’t tell me anything, kept all your suffering bottled up. You were just a little girl, yet you carried so much in your heart. Dad thought your bad temper as a child was because your birth parents sold you, and you were sad about it. So, I wanted to treat you even better, to make up for what your birth parents did to you."

The father’s voice was filled with guilt. "Dad was foolish... How did I not notice how different you were from the other kids in our village back then? If your birth parents truly didn’t care for you, how could a child like you be so delicate, not understanding much, yet knowing how to read, write, and even recite poetry? If Dad had been more attentive back then, maybe you wouldn’t have been separated from your birth parents for so long, and all these things wouldn’t have happened. Dad feels guilty in his heart. Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for your parents, huh?"