"I..."

Mom composed herself slightly and gently pushed me away.

"Ah... I suppose I need to start from the beginning," she sighed, taking my hand and smoothing my messy hair.

"This trip wasn’t a business trip. I went back to my hometown—a place very far from here."

"My mother... your grandmother... has passed away."

As she spoke, she lowered her head silently and swallowed hard.

"My grandmother... ah..."

I’d never met her, so I felt no grief. But she was Mom’s mother. Putting myself in her shoes, she must be hurting deeply.

I opened my mouth, trying to offer comfort—*Please accept my condolences* would’ve been the bare minimum.

But Mom continued:

"After marrying your father, I cut all ties with my family. No contact, no visits. That’s why I never told you about your grandmother’s side. It was my fault. Please don’t blame me, sweetheart..."

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she stroked my cheek.

Honestly, Mom was breathtakingly beautiful. How *had* my laid-back, messy-haired dad ever won her over?

Seeing her tearful, vulnerable expression twisted my heart. A tiny voice inside me screamed: *Pat her head! Comfort her!*

"It’s... it’s okay," I stammered, waving my hand helplessly.

She steadied herself again.

"Xiao Ji, there’s something I need you to hear—and accept calmly."

Mom spoke earnestly, head bowed.

Her serious tone made my pulse quicken. *What bombshell is coming?*

Am I adopted? Is Dad Wei Chuanyi secretly the world’s richest man? Something wilder?

No point guessing. Might as well listen.

At this point, if she said I was her amnesiac long-lost sister, I wouldn’t even blink. Hadn’t today already been absurd enough?

_

"Your father, Wei Chuanyi... isn’t actually a businessman."

Mom’s words jolted my mind.

Instantly, I recalled the knife-wielding maniac in our neighborhood: *“Daughter of a grave robber.”* Back then, it sounded vague.

_

"Your dad is actually... a tomb-raiding enthusiast..."

"Huh??"

Her hesitant phrasing made me snort.

"Come on! A grave robber’s a grave robber—what’s this ‘enthusiast’ nonsense?" I laughed.

Mom stared, utterly stunned.

"I was worried you’d reject it... So you *can* accept it?" she asked, voice trembling with surprise.

_

So the maniac *was* talking to me.

Truthfully? After Dad vanished for years, I could’ve accepted almost anything—even if he turned out to be an executed drug lord.

I’d long braced for the worst. An ordinary job wouldn’t keep someone away this long.

I nodded silently, face calm as still water.

Mom tilted her head, frowning.

_

"It’s not just him. For generations, the entire Wei family has been grave robbers."

"The Wei clan’s history is tangled. I’ll explain details later. Right now, only the essentials."

"But first, Xiao Ji..."

She gently patted my head.

"From today on, what happened to you may become routine. Your life won’t stay peaceful."

"And you have no choice."

Her voice was firm, yet her eyes held tender sorrow.

"Uh... so people will try to kill me *every day*?" I asked timidly.

Mom shook her head. "Not every day. *Frequently*."

"...What’s the difference," I muttered, taking a shaky breath. *Hunted regularly?*

Remembering the neighborhood incident made my stomach tighten.

_

Seeing my worry, Mom pursed her lips.

"Wei Chuanyi retired from grave-robbing the day you were born. He wanted peace—for us."

"But fate... isn’t always kind."

"The debts from his youth wouldn’t let him retire quietly."

"Debts?" I blinked.

Mom patted my shoulder.

"Your father guards a secret—known only to him."

"The Wei family’s sacred duty. And what every outsider craves to steal."

She lowered her voice, dead serious.

"Today’s attackers? Your father’s enemies. Unable to find him or the secret, they targeted *you*."

"All I know is... it points to a hidden place. Holding something that would shock the entire world."

She gently shook my dazed shoulder.

I snapped back, nodding quickly.

Her words were heavy, but I could process them. Still... why *me*?

"So... Dad is being hunted *right now*?"

"Yes. But trust me—he’ll be safe," Mom said with quiet certainty.

I looked down, silent. Curious about the secret? Yes. But pressing further felt pointless—and rude.

_

"Actually, I rushed back to XN City this morning. Planned to pick you up after school..."

Mom’s tone shifted abruptly.

"But you never came out. A classmate said you’d already left."

"Explain. Where did you skip class *to*?"

Just like that—back to strict mom mode, arms crossed, exasperated sigh included.

"Uh..."

I grinned sheepishly, scratching my head.

"What magic does that Lucky Clover Internet Cafe have? Luring my daughter in *night after night*?" she huffed.

"Uh... y-you already know..."

Cheeks burning, I gave a guilty, cringey smile and ducked my head.

_

_

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