Chapter 35: Dachun Drowns

Before Shen Qingyao could get a clear look, a young boy stepped out from inside. He looked to be under ten years old, yet his brow was tightly furrowed.

"Candy, eat candy..."

"Who is this?" The boy looked at Shen Qingyao and questioned the "Big Fool" with a wary expression.

The Big Fool pointed at Shen Qingyao. "A good person. She gave me the candy."

The boy was annoyed. "Why do you take candy from just anyone?"

Watching their every move, Shen Qingyao was confused. She took the initiative to greet the child, "Hello there, little one."

The Big Fool was busy trying to stuff candy into the boy’s hand, repeatedly calling him "little brother." "You eat the candy. Once you eat it, you'll be happy."

What was the relationship between these two? Brothers? They didn't really look like it. If they were brothers, why would they need to arrange a meeting in such a way? As Shen Qingyao pondered this, the Big Fool pushed her toward the boy. "Little brother, she’s here to teach you your homework. She’s a good person."

No sooner had the Big Fool finished speaking than the boy gritted his teeth and hopped back. "I don't need anyone to teach me! This group of people is just sent by my sister to spy on me!"

Shen Qingyao looked behind her. "What group of people?"

Seeing Shen Qingyao’s confusion, the boy assumed she was just putting on an act. "Stop pretending! Do you think that by giving Dachun a few favors, you can make me change my mind? Don't even think about it! You adults—everyone is more disgusting than the last!" As he spoke, the boy grew increasingly indignant.

Shen Qingyao was completely baffled. "Little one, is that any way to talk?"

"So what if I don't know how to talk? If you've got guts, come and hit me!" The boy stood with his hands on his hips, his tone sharp.

Shen Qingyao was infuriated, but she knew she couldn't lay a hand on him. Hearing the word "hit," Dachun reacted as if by reflex. He jumped in front of the boy. "Don't hit the little brother, don't hit..."

Shen Qingyao sighed helplessly, intending to tell Dachun it was time to go. Just then, a car pulled into the alley, and a refined-looking woman stepped out. Her features were cold and distant, and she carried an air of great authority.

"Xiaohao, did you chase away the teacher I hired for you again?"

"Sister..." Xiaohao tried to move toward the woman, but Dachun grabbed him firmly.

Dachun kept mumbling, "Little brother can't go, little brother can't go..."

"This isn't a bad person, this is my sister! Brother Dachun, this is my sister!" Xiaohao explained excitedly, then broke free from Dachun’s embrace. "Sister, you’re finally back!"

The woman’s tone remained steady. "I’ve hired so many teachers for you; is there not one you like?"

"I like them, I like them! Come on in with me." Xiaohao beckoned to Shen Qingyao, signaling her to follow him inside.

The woman looked at Shen Qingyao, her expression softening slightly. "I'm sorry, my brother is a bit mischievous."

Shen Qingyao shrugged. "No need to apologize; children his age are all like this."

Before she could clarify the situation, Xiaohao came out clutching his textbooks. Dachun dragged a desk under the eaves and brought over two chairs for Shen Qingyao and Xiaohao. The woman walked into one of the rooms, and when she emerged, she had changed her clothes and was carrying a cup of tea. She didn't say a word, simply setting the tea down before silently walking away.

"Teacher, how much money did my sister pay you to come here?"

"Your sister didn't hire me, because it seems..." It seemed there had been a misunderstanding.

Shen Qingyao turned to look for Dachun, but he was nowhere to be seen. She stood up anxiously and called his name several times, but there was no response.

"You start on the problems; I’m going to go look for Dachun."

"No need, he’ll come back on his own. Everyone around here knows him well; nothing will happen to him." Xiaohao called her back. "What did you say just now? My sister didn't hire you?" Xiaohao chewed on his pen, clearly not focused on his studies.

"No, I still need to go look for Dachun." Shen Qingyao didn't know why she felt so anxious, but she was overcome with a sense of unease.

"Really, there's no need to go, Dachun he—" Before he could finish, Shen Qingyao went to knock on the woman’s door, intending to explain the mistake and leave.

The woman opened the door. "Teacher He, what is it?"

"Hello, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I am not the teacher you hired. There must be some error. Also, my friend who came with me seems to have gone missing, and I need to go look for him..."

"You aren't Teacher He? Then you..." The woman frowned, her beautiful face twisting.

"I'm sorry, I think I saw him walk in this direction earlier. May I go look for him?"

"There is a disused pond behind the house. What good will it do for you to go there?" The woman was puzzled, but Shen Qingyao didn't know how to explain.

*Host, you have triggered the mission to save Dachun.*

*Where is he? Tell me where he is so I can save him!* Shen Qingyao was frantic. No wonder she felt so panicked.

Hearing Shen Qingyao’s words, Xiaohao bolted toward the backyard. A second later, Shen Qingyao heard Xiaohao’s piercing scream.

"Brother Dachun! Brother Dachun!"

"Sister! Brother Dachun fell into the water!"

As Xiaohao cried out, the woman’s face turned deathly pale.

"You go ahead, see if there are any sticks or ropes! I’ll go find someone who can swim!" Shen Qingyao and the woman exchanged a look and ran in different directions.

Shen Qingyao raced to the road, shouting for help, and those who could swim followed her back toward the pond. By the time they returned, the woman was tying a knot in a rope, trying to toss it toward Dachun. Dachun was thrashing wildly, having swallowed water, and was too terrified to even scream.

The men on the bank began to strip off their clothes, and Shen Qingyao gave them urgent instructions: "Grab him from behind and drag him to the shore! Don't approach him from the front!" In a situation like Dachun’s, if he grabbed onto them, it would be disastrous. He was paralyzed by fear, and if his survival instinct took over, he could endanger his rescuers.

The swimmers followed her advice. However, Dachun was heavy, and his panic left him unable to move in the water. Two men surrounded him to bring him to the bank, but they were being pulled down by his struggling. Realizing this wasn't working, Shen Qingyao called Xiaohao over.

"Xiaohao, you cannot cry! Tell Brother Dachun to relax, tell him not to be afraid..."

Xiaohao didn't know if it would work, but he knew he had no other choice. "Brother Dachun! These people are good people; they are here to save you! You have to trust them!"

Xiaohao repeated this for a long time until Dachun gradually began to relax. The scene was chaotic, with everyone holding their breath for Dachun. Finally, the woman threw the rope, and the rescuers tied it around Dachun. Seeing this, Shen Qingyao rushed to the woman’s side and helped her pull the rope to safety.