Chapter 353: Yi Nuo’s Past
"Miss Jiang."
Jiang Qingli had just gotten out of the vehicle when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
She turned and saw Mo Sinan and Fang Chi walking toward her.
Just as she was about to speak, Fang Chi shouted, "Sister!" and lunged at her.
He had his arms wide open, intending to hug Jiang Qingli, but remembering she had stopped him last time, he settled for grabbing the corner of her clothes instead.
Mo Sinan, who was following behind, facepalmed. "..."
Afraid of being misunderstood, Mo Sinan quickly stepped forward to explain, "Miss Jiang, he’s not usually like this. It’s probably because he hasn’t seen you in a long time..."
During the period his contamination value was decreasing, Fang Chi had been staying at the supervision facility. Although he still had the mentality of a nine-year-old, he became very cooperative with their work after being soothed by Jiang Qingli—even more mature than some adults.
Now, Fang Chi had changed out of his patient uniform and was wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt and long pants. When he wasn’t speaking, his face was that of a devastatingly handsome, cool guy.
But the moment he saw Jiang Qingli, his childish nature was exposed. Lynx ears popped out on top of his head, twitching happily.
Fortunately, Jiang Qingli knew his mental age was young. She patted his hair and softened her voice. "Long time no see, Xiao Chi. What are you doing here? Did your contamination value go up again?"
"It didn’t go up, but you haven’t come to play with me in a long time... I missed you a little..." Fang Chi frowned pitifully. "Did you find another lynx out there?"
Jiang Qingli choked. "Who taught you to say that?"
Mo Sinan rubbed the tip of his nose. "When he gets his shots, they play TV shows for him as a distraction. He probably learned it from a drama..."
Jiang Qingli patted the top of Fang Chi’s head. "Don’t learn lines like that anymore. It’s cheesy."
Fang Chi didn’t know what "cheesy" meant yet, but when he didn’t see the delighted expression of a female lead from a TV drama on Jiang Qingli’s face, he didn’t dare say anything more and just silently tightened his grip on her clothes.
Jiang Qingli looked at Mo Sinan. "So, is there something you need?"
Mo Sinan said, "It’s like this, Miss Jiang. Fang Chi’s current situation is rather unique. The researchers unanimously agree that if he returns to the Lower District and sees familiar sights, it might stimulate him to recover his memories..."
"So you want me to take him to the Lower District with me?"
"Yes. A researcher will accompany him to take care of him, so it won’t be a bother to you or Marshal Xie."
’They’ve been very thoughtful.’ Jiang Qingli agreed. "Well then, shall we have dinner first?"
-
There was still some time before their departure, so Jiang Qingli decided to go upstairs to her bedroom first to check if she had forgotten to pack anything.
Fang Chi followed her, sticking close to her heels.
When they got upstairs and the elevator doors opened, the gazes of several males immediately fell upon them.
Upon seeing Fang Chi, all of them frowned to varying degrees.
Gu Nian, ever impatient, asked, "Sister, what’s he doing here?"
Previously, when Jiang Qingli went to perform a healing session for Fang Chi, Gu Nian had accompanied her once.
The two of them had clashed during that meeting.
After the healing session ended, Gu Nian waited for Jiang Qingli at the door, took her hand, and called her "Sister" with a beaming smile.
But then Fang Chi, who was standing nearby, piped up, "Sister, is he nine years old too? How come he calls you Sister just like I do?"
Gu Nian replied coldly, "I just turned eighteen. And I am Sister’s husband."
Fang Chi nodded.
Before leaving, Fang Chi secretly told Jiang Qingli, "Sister, that husband of yours is so fierce. I’m scared he’ll bully you..."
For an S-rank male, the volume of a "secret" whisper was crystal clear.
Gu Nian was so angry he nearly ground his teeth to dust.
He knew Fang Chi’s mind was broken, which was why he followed Jiang Qingli around calling her "Sister," but he was still a grown male. Who knew if he might suddenly recover?
’Showing up at our house all of a sudden can’t be good.’
"Are you really getting jealous of a nine-year-old?" Jiang Qingli pinched Gu Nian’s cheek, amused, and explained the whole story.
Hearing that a researcher would be accompanying them, the Beast Husbands all breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
In the bedroom, the suitcases were neatly arranged.
Yi Nuo had always been considerate. Everything Jiang Qingli needed was there; he’d even packed the manga she read for entertainment.
Just as Jiang Qingli was about to put the suitcases into her Space Ring, she caught sight of a feather bag charm and a gift box sitting off to the side.
It was the feather charm Que Feiling had given her before, along with the return gift she had prepared.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Qingli picked them up and put them inside as well.
’Que Feiling is also in the Lower District. I’ll take it to him this time.’
...
Before departing, Jiang Qingli had dinner with her Beast Husbands.
The official duration for this trip to the Lower District was one month, but it could be longer.
For once, the Beast Husbands were all gathered together. With no snide remarks or passive-aggressiveness, they enjoyed a harmonious dinner.
It was time to leave after dinner.
The group went downstairs together.
Fang Chi and the researcher boarded the aircraft first. Jiang Qingli glanced around and asked Chen Mi, "Where are Xie Youchen and Yi Nuo? What’s taking them so long?"
Chen Mi answered truthfully, "Marshal Xie is on a call, and Doctor Meng is giving Yi Nuo a check-up. They should be here shortly."
’When did Doctor Meng get here?’
Jiang Qingli frowned. "Is something wrong with Yi Nuo? If he can’t go, he absolutely shouldn’t force himself."
Chen Mi shook his head. "No, it’s just a check on his mental state. The Marshal is worried that going to the Lower District will stir up painful memories, just like before..."
At this, Chen Mi stopped abruptly, looking nervously at Jiang Qingli.
She blinked in confusion.
He cursed inwardly. ’Oh no, so Jiang Qingli doesn’t know.’
Just as he was about to brush it off, Jiang Qingli narrowed her eyes. "What happened to Yi Nuo before? Does it have to do with his old injury?"
Jiang Qingli had asked this question when Yi Nuo first arrived at the Jiang Family home. At the time, Xie Youchen had only said he was brought back because he was injured.
But he hadn’t given any specifics.
Jiang Qingli was worried and said directly, "If you don’t tell me, I’ll go ask Xie Youchen."
This matter wasn’t a huge secret among the military’s top brass.
Chen Mi figured Jiang Qingli would find out once she got there anyway, so he said, "Miss Jiang, actually, Yi Nuo’s background is very similar to the Marshal’s."
"Similar in what way...?"
Chen Mi glanced around and sighed. "Yi Nuo’s parents were originally medical researchers at the military base in the Third District. They were later transferred to work in the Twelve Cities. As you know, the environment in the Twelve Cities is harsh, but because of that, their children receive special treatment. Yi Nuo got the chance to study at a military academy in the First District."
"Being a medical researcher isn’t a high-risk profession. As long as Yi Nuo’s parents successfully retired, their family would have been able to reside permanently in the First District."
"But unfortunately, Yi Nuo’s father was killed by a Mutant Beast, and his mother was swallowed whole by one."
"That day, Yi Nuo happened to be in the Twelve Cities visiting his parents. He witnessed everything."
"His contamination value skyrocketed in an instant. He went berserk and charged into a horde of Mutant Beasts. It was the Marshal who saved him and brought him back."
"When he woke up, the trauma was so great that he lost his memory of that event. The Marshal brought him back to the First District."
Chen Mi recounted the story calmly, but Jiang Qingli was left somewhat dazed.
She never imagined that Yi Nuo had such a dark past...
Footsteps sounded from behind her.
A disciplined and restrained voice, no different from usual, spoke up: "Miss."