The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

"You've come at a good time; this coal train is heading to Beijing."

Xie Ci turned around and changed the subject: "However, this train is special. Unlike other coal trains, it's not easy to get away with it. The train police will bring people to check each carriage every day."

So is this a blessing or a curse?

Fu Hua's eyes flickered, and she tightly gripped the man's hand, her voice soft and sweet: "Little brother, everything I just told you is the truth. If there's a single lie, may I be struck by lightning. You can definitely help me, right?"

"I absolutely cannot be sent back. Otherwise, my adoptive parents will never let me off the hook. I'm a beautiful young girl in the prime of my life, still in school. Can you bear to see me being abused by that old man?"

Fu Hua rattled off a whole bunch of things, but her only goal was to gain sympathy.

Since the man was willing to help her earlier, he certainly wouldn't just leave her to fend for herself.

Xie Ci's expression was normal at first, but when he heard "flower season" and "waste," his expression changed slightly.

This girl is really... straightforward.

Her face was covered in soot; it was impossible to tell if she was beautiful or not, she looked quite disheveled.

"I can help you, but I have one condition."

"What...requirements?"

Fu Hua tugged at her clothes and took a step back.

"What are you thinking about?"

Xie Ci's eyes showed helplessness: "I'm not that kind of person."

Who knows what kind of person you are?

It's hard for Fu Hua not to have impure thoughts.

"So what are your requirements?"

Xie Ci glanced at her, his face slightly embarrassed: "Tell me your name. Also, for the next two days in Beijing, you must stay in this carriage and not go anywhere else."

"You have two requests."

Fu Hua weakly made a two-sign, then quickly added with a smile, "It's okay, two requests aren't unreasonable."

My name is Fu Hua. As for staying in this carriage, as long as I'm safe enough, I promise I won't wander off.

"Fu Hua?"

The man slowly savored the two words, then asked her what her parents' names were and where they worked.

Fu Hua was unwilling to speak, and her farewell was not forced.

He went back to his car and soon brought out a military green quilt.

"It's cold at night, cover yourself with this."

Fu Hua glanced at the clean and tidy bedding, and felt too embarrassed to accept it.

"I have a coat, don't get your bedding dirty."

This must be something from the train. If it gets dirty, shouldn't I have to pay for it?

It's enough that the man is willing to cover for her.

"This is my own bedding; you can take it."

After saying that, Xie Ci grabbed his coat and hurriedly left the carriage.

Fu Hua hugged the bedding and smelled it; it had the same crisp cedar scent as her coat.

This man seems to have a kind heart.

He's good-looking too. I just heard the train police call him Comrade Xie.

So his surname is Xie?

Fu Hua spent the night lost in thought.

Because of the blankets, I didn't feel cold at all.

On the contrary, it was warm and cozy, and being far from the wolf's den, I slept exceptionally soundly.

During the day, the empty carriage was filthy and unbearable to look at.

Comrade Xie's bedding inevitably got dirty.

She patted it hard a few times, but couldn't get it off.

When I see Comrade Xie again, I'll compensate him.

She is not fond of owing others anything.

Favors are the hardest debts to repay!

Breakfast consisted of dry biscuits with water, while lunch consisted of dry biscuits soaked in water.

The North China Plain receded rapidly beside them, with its gullies and fields.

The autumn wind was whistling past my ears!

Countless specks of coal dust flew up and landed in her eyes, nostrils, ears, and water glass.

At times like this, there's no time for fancy gestures; filling your stomach is the most important thing.

Having waited all day for Comrade Xie, Fu Hua assumed he was unavailable during the day.

As night fell, she stared wide-eyed until the moon set, but she didn't see a single person.

Fortunately, the train police did not come up to check the carriage again.

The next day, Fu Hua had finished the water in her cup, so she could only eat dry biscuits.

With the beautiful scenery as a seasoning, the taste isn't too unpleasant.

Two days passed quickly, and in the evening, the coal trucks slowly pulled into the station.

Fu Hua didn't see that figure until she got off the bus.

She had intended to search for someone in the crowd, but now she looked like a walking, charred charcoal.

They are simply not suited to be in a crowd; they are too conspicuous.

Fu Hua, carrying a roll of bedding, crawled across the train tracks and stepped over countless sleepers.

We arrived in Beijing in 1985.

Skyscrapers, neon lights—everything felt both familiar and strange.

There were only a few scattered lights near the train station.

It should be a restaurant or guesthouse.

She didn't have a letter of introduction, so she couldn't stay at the guesthouse.

Even if she did have it, she couldn't show it to anyone right now and had to wash it clean first.

She remembered that there was a river in this area.

I don't know how long I walked along the train station, but finally I felt the space become damp and chilly.

After walking for a while, we heard the sound of flowing water.

The moon wasn't shy at this moment; it hung crescent in the sky, casting a soft, clear glow.

The sparse reflections on the river surface rippled like broken mirror shards.

Fu Hua could swim, so she braved the icy water and jumped in to quickly wash herself.

Without a towel, she could only wrap herself tightly in the blanket.

Once I felt less cold, I shook out my clothes.

This is just coal ash. Shake it clean, and although your clothes will be dirty, they won't be uncomfortable to wear.

After finishing the last piece of peach shortbread, Fu Hua curled up on a large rock, clutching her blanket.

I became an outdoor wanderer for a while.

The next day, I was woken up by a cold wind.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw passersby turning their heads to look at me.

A little girl was sleeping in the wild like a homeless beggar, which would seem strange to anyone who saw her.

Fu Hua quickly crawled into bed, got dressed, and folded the blankets neatly.

She wanted to find a rope to tie it up, but that proved difficult in this place free of plastic pollution.

I could only grab two relatively long willow branches, tie them together, and tuck them under my arm.

On the streets filled with blue, gray, and white, she was at best considered a less-than-respectable person.

It didn't attract much attention either!

She found out the location of the national-level youth art theater by asking only a few people.

However, the journey was quite long, and she didn't get there until evening.

"Hello, Grandpa, what time is it?"

Fu Hua politely leaned out of the window and asked a question.

The other person took a sip of tea, turned around, and sized up the young girl.

His face was sallow, his clothes were filthy, and he was carrying a military green bedding.

They look like relatives from the countryside who have come to look for someone. Their features look somewhat familiar. Who do they resemble?

Her eyes were bright and clear, and she spoke with grace and poise; she was a quiet and gentle girl.

The old man seemed to like her. He glanced at his watch, opened the small window, and said gently, "It's 5:30 now. The people working inside finish at 6:00. Who are you looking for? You need to register to go in."

"Thank you, I'll wait outside."

Fu Hua wasn't prepared to go in.

It would be easier to handle if we confirmed that her biological mother hadn't gotten off work yet.

Fu Hua stood quietly next to the gatehouse, in an inconspicuous spot, clutching her blanket.

There was a shiny glass wall right there.

Fu Hua stared intently at the face reflected in the glass.

Soon, the jingling of bicycle bells rang out from inside.

It's time to get off work!

Fu Hua stared wide-eyed at each of the middle-aged women in their forties.

She never met her biological mother, but it was mentioned in the book...

The original owner's biological mother looks very much like the original owner; anyone can tell at a glance that they are mother and son.