Chapter 440: Chapter 440

Ji Wei’s cheeks flushed with a sickly red, and she slept fitfully, lost in a haze. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her mind tangled with a mess of memories.

The scene rewound to ten years ago.

Ji Yunli had just returned from work, carrying little Ji Wei on his shoulders and running circles around the courtyard.

"Daddy, Daddy, slow down! I’m scared!"

"What are you afraid of? With Daddy holding you, there’s nothing to fear!"

"Daddy, when I grow up, can I still ride on your shoulders ?"

Ji Yunli burst into laughter, "You little rascal, when you grow up, Daddy will be old. How could I still carry you?"

"You won’t grow old! In my heart, you’ll always be the youngest, Daddy!"

"Grandma, is this little bunny for me? It’s so cute!" Little Ji Wei hugged a chubby gray rabbit, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Of course, my dear granddaughter. Tell Grandma, is there any other gift you’d like?"

"Let me see... Grandma, how about giving me a different animal every year? Next year, I want to raise a python!"

Old Madam Ji’s face twitched in shock, "A python... Aren’t you afraid?"

"Of course I am, but I want to overcome my fear of snakes. Huo Yan isn’t scared of them, and I don’t want to lose to that coward!"

"Alright, alright, Grandma promises."

She jumped up in joy, hugging and kissing Old Madam Ji affectionately, her sweet voice calling out, "Grandma, you’re the best! I wish you a long life, and when I grow up, I’ll take good care of you!"

These childhood memories, long forgotten by Ji Wei, suddenly surged into her mind, leaving her stunned and elated.

But in the next moment, the scene abruptly shifted. Ji Yunli’s face darkened, his eyes glaring at her angrily as he rebuked, "You’re not my biological child. Leave the Ji Family this instant. You’re no longer welcome here!"

Even Old Madam Ji turned her back on her. No matter how desperately Ji Wei screamed for her grandmother, Old Madam Ji walked away resolutely without even glancing back.

The surrounding darkness consumed everything. Ji Wei was abandoned, left utterly alone. She squatted on the ground, crying so hard her sobs left her breathless.

The fever-stricken woman’s tears silently overflowed, dripping onto Gu Moqian’s hand.

He trembled all over.

"Weiwei, wake up, come back to me!"

Ji Wei sobbed with heartbreaking despair, suddenly hearing a familiar male voice echoing in the darkness.

She looked around frantically, disregarding her tear-streaked face, and anxiously called out, "I’m here, I’m right here! Please don’t leave me! You can’t abandon me, you can’t—" Content originally comes from n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Ji Wei gasped awake, her eyes meeting a pair of deep, somber black eyes filled with concern.

"Mo Qian..." Regaining her consciousness, she weakly murmured his name, instinctively clutching at his arm tightly.

Gu Moqian raised his hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes. Ji Wei stared at his actions, not blinking even for a moment.

When his fingertips brushed against her cheek, the burning heat of her skin made Gu Moqian’s heart tighten.

"You have a high fever. It feels awful, doesn’t it?"

Ji Wei slowly nodded.

Her chest felt weighed down like a heavy stone pressing against her, suffocating. But she knew it wasn’t the fever causing the pain—it was the chaos of those haunting dreams.

Ji Wei feared they were real, that she had truly become estranged from Ji Yunli and Old Madam Ji forever...

The mere thought made her tremble uncontrollably.

Gu Moqian pulled her into his arms, his expression serious. His thin lips gently pressed against her burning forehead, faintly kissing her.

When the woman in his embrace finally calmed down, he took out some medicine and held it to her lips, "Take this, and you’ll feel better."