At Centrolis Prison.The tall building cast a somber shadow beneath the gray sky, and the surrounding barbed wire sent shivers down spines.Lina frowned, her steps heavy as if each foot carried a thousand pounds."If you don't want to go, you don't have to," Zuko said and wrapped his arm around her, sensing her unease. "Dealing with someone like her isn't necessary..."Lina glanced down, then replied softly, "Let's still go and see her. We've shared so many experiences, and those real memories can't be easily discarded. I'd rather believe Renee is ill than accept that she's gone bad."Zuko's grip on her shoulder tightened, and he walked alongside her with determination.The meeting place had a transparent partition. Lina saw the iron door open, revealing a haggard and cold face. Renee's eyes betrayed indifference, and she smiled mockingly.Renee wore rough clothes, her once-long hair cut short to her ears. She sat across from them, looking like a lifeless puppet.After a long s
Zuko's expression darkened."Lina, I asked you here today for one reason only," Renee said, looking at Lina intently. "You're a mother now. Whatever you do, please prioritize your daughter."Lina frowned. "What do you mean?""Cuz, are you planning to keep Lena with you?"Renee's eyes gave off a mocking gleam, unsettling Lina."I've been having nightmares lately... Remember when we were kidnapped and taken on that ship? We met Madame Krys there."Remember her? She was a human trafficker! Haha!" Renee laughed oddly. "She had another identity—she was Lena's mother!""Have you said enough?" Lina's face grew serious. "If you called me here just for this nonsense, I don't want to hear it!"Lina stood to leave.Behind her, Renee's voice turned hysterical and venomous. "You're guarding her like a treasure, but have you considered she's Krystal's daughter? She's the child of a human trafficker!"Lina halted, her back stiff as she turned around.A prison guard moved to restrain Renee,
Bianca suffered during the few days in the mountainous area.She had followed Chris and Lena all the way, but when they got off the train, it seemed like Chris had completely forgotten her existence.When they boarded a bus to head into the mountains, she didn't have any change, so Chris kindly helped her buy a ticket. But his demeanor toward her was like she was a complete stranger, merely assisting out of goodwill.Bianca tried to strike up conversations with him, but he brushed her aside, showering all his attention on Lena. Throughout the journey, Bianca gained nothing more than witnessing their affectionate interactions.In the mountainous region, she made it her mission to show up wherever they went, even visiting the local school and volunteering to take photos of the children with her camera. But Chris' attitude toward her remained lukewarm. His gaze was solely on Lena.Moreover, the signal was terrible in the mountains, making it difficult for Bianca to find someone to ve
Chris paused, then embraced her even tighter. Edward chuckled and excused himself to fetch some hot water.The mountain air had turned a bit chilly, and the desolate surroundings stirred up unpleasant memories deep within Lena."I ran away from there after growing up, and I've never dared to return," she whispered. "Even though I came here to teach in this mountainous region, I can never cross that mountain.""It's okay," Chris reassured her, gently caressing her hair. "There's nothing worth missing in that place. Plus, he's not your biological father."Lena looked up at him. "Chris, can I ever overcome this mountain? Do you think it's possible?"Chris' heart tightened. As he gazed into her bright eyes, he found himself at a loss for words."Lenny, you don't need to conquer everything in life. We won't be staying here, and this mountain won't relocate to Centrolis. This may be the last time you see this mountain in your life."So, avoiding it isn't a bad thing." He smiled tender
Bianca struggled to maintain her balance, desperate not to clumsily tumble over. Lena looked at her in puzzlement, frowning before silently entering the guesthouse. Chris was preparing to follow suit when Bianca abruptly stopped him."Chris, can you spare a moment to talk to me?"Chris sidestepped her touch and kept a respectful distance, his gaze distant. "What's up?""W-Why are you treating me this way?" Bianca's eyes welled up with tears. "Weren't we close as kids? But now you're so distant! You—"Chris interrupted gravely, "Bianca, our childhood is in the past. I'm only being considerate because of our history.""Chris!""I have a girlfriend, who will be my future wife and the mother of my children." Chris's voice held determination. "I'm keeping my distance from other women out of respect for my devotion to her."Bianca froze, disbelief washing over her.In her mind, Chris had always been like a steadfast tree, never showing interest in anyone. She had assumed they would
"But—" Before Bianca could finish, Chris had already walked back into the guesthouse.Bianca stomped her feet in frustration but couldn't express her anger. Unable to gain an advantage, she decided to visit the school in the afternoon to find a child to replace herself.When school ended, few people remained, just a few students cleaning the classrooms. Despite the old equipment and basic facilities, these girls cherished them, diligently cleaning every corner.They chatted excitedly about their upcoming trip. Even though they were heading to a big city, they stayed dedicated. Several girls joined hands and pledged to study hard, promising to change their lives when they grew up.Bianca impatiently rolled her eyes.These girls seemed to be the ones at the top of the school's list—the best achievers in this poor school. Replacing them would surely attract Chris and Lena's attention. So, who should she look for?Bianca wandered around a small, rough cement field that barely deserve
The boy's sarcastic response rendered Bianca speechless. She had always thought that kids in the mountains were sheltered and innocent. But this boy appeared as cunning as a fox from deep in the hills, with sharp eyes that noticed everything.Bianca took a deep breath and bravely asked, "Could you please give up your seat for me?""What did you say?" The boy frowned.Bianca lowered her voice and implored, "I know it's not a pleasant request, but can you do me a favor? You won't lose out, either. I can take good care of you when we get to Centrolis!""Take care of me?" The boy raised an eyebrow. "With money?"Bianca smiled, satisfied that her expectations were met. 'Children from the mountains often have no concept of money. It all comes down to that,' she thought."Of course!" she declared confidently. "I'll give you a substantial amount, enough for you to live a privileged life in Centrolis!""How much is 'substantial'?""Um, it's...""Do you have ten million?"The boy's que
"Are you trying to deceive me with small favors?" The boy jeered. "I might not know much about the world, but I do know that if you want to achieve something, you should aim high!"He then kicked over the anthill and walked away.Bianca was shocked by the boy's actions. After standing in the scorching sun for a while, she finally snapped out of her daze and realized it was already evening.The duty teacher began checking the classroom doors and getting ready to leave. The school principal emerged from a slightly better cottage, immediately spotted Bianca, and warmly greeted her."You're... Ms. Mosley, right? I remember you. You came with Ms. Harding and took lots of pictures of our children!"Bianca forced a smile, although her face was pale."Ms. Mosley, why are you here at this time?" The people from the mountains were straightforward and honest. The school principal considered anyone who came with Lena—the one who brought the kids to school in Centrolis—as benefactors. She hel