After finishing her call with her mother, Su Liyun instantly panicked. Her first instinct was to hide the ceramic bottle and the handwritten clues from the ancient texts. She searched every corner of the room: first trying to shove the ceramic bottle into an old box under the bed, but fearing that wasn't secure enough, she decided to move it to the top shelf of the wardrobe. Her palms sweated and her fingertips trembled as she reached for it. Her hand shook, the ceramic bottle clattered against the wardrobe's inner wall with a dull thud. The muffled sound exploded in the silent room, making her heart skip a beat.
Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock reached her from the entranceway—her foster father was home from work. He had clearly heard the commotion in her room. His footsteps grew closer, stopping outside her door. "Li Yun, what are you doing? Are you okay?" His voice carried a barely perceptible hint of concern. The soft knock on the door and the vibration of the door panel made Su Li Yun's heart race.
Frantically, Su Liyun shoved the scattered clothes back into the wardrobe and kicked the box under the bed further in. Only then did she rush to open the door, her cheeks still flushed: "Uncle... Uncle, I'm fine... I was just looking for a book and accidentally bumped into the wardrobe."
The moment the door swung open, her gaze involuntarily fell upon his chest—his deep blue work jacket still dusted with faint grime. The ID badge pinned to his collar swayed slightly, revealing three clear characters: Gu Jianjun. Su Liyun froze, blurting out, "Uncle, so your surname is Gu? I don't recall you ever introducing yourself."
"Ah, right," the man murmured, glancing down at his badge before scratching his head with a faint chuckle. Gentle amusement played around his eyes. "I've gotten used to you calling me Uncle. Plus, with me getting off work late lately, I never found the right moment to mention it. From now on, if you'd like, you can just call me Uncle Gu."
"Okay~ Uncle Gu." Su Liyun obediently agreed, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at the wardrobe behind her. She silently prayed: Please, ceramic vase, don't make any more noise.
That night, Su Liyun tossed and turned, constantly worried the ceramic bottle might cause trouble. After all, the last time, under the moonlight, the character 'Su' had faintly glowed. The moonlight had been unusually bright these past few nights, and she feared she wouldn't be able to hide the glow emanating from the bottle.
The next evening, her parents arrived at the host family's house right on time. Su Liyun approached the door with a heavy heart, her pulse pounding so fiercely it felt like it might leap from her throat. As the door creaked open, the long-missed yet familiar figures stepped into view. Her mother carried a small bag, while her father pulled a large suitcase behind her. Though her mother's face bore a gentle smile, Su Liyun detected an almost imperceptible tension.
"Li Yun, it's been so long. How have you been?" Her mother's voice was calm, yet her eyes held an inexpressible depth.
Su Liyun was incredibly nervous. She cautiously replied, "Mom, I'm fine. Please come in and sit down."
No sooner had she spoken than Uncle Gu emerged from the room. His stride was steady, his face adorned with a gentle smile. "Sir, Madam, you must be tired from the journey. Please come in and rest a while." With that, he took the luggage and placed it by the guest room door.
Uncle Gu returned to the living room and sat down on an armchair. His gaze swept over her parents before he spoke. "Hello, I'm the father of this host family. My surname is Gu."
"Hello, Mr. Gu. It's wonderful to finally meet you. Thank you for taking such good care of our Li Yun all this time," Mother said with a smile, though Su Li Yun noticed it felt a bit stiff.
The atmosphere in the living room suddenly grew heavy, as if an invisible pressure had settled over everyone. Su Li Yun thought to herself that her parents' visit seemed unusual. She decided to pay closer attention to their words and actions in the days ahead.
At the dinner table, the atmosphere appeared harmonious. Her mother kept serving Su Liyun food while chattering incessantly about the daily routines of her younger brother and sister at home. Each remark seemed superficially concerned for Liyun, yet carried a blatant undertone of comparison. Su Liyun responded half-heartedly, her heart tightening with discomfort and awkwardness. Until her mother shifted the topic: Oh, Li Yun, I heard there's a special building at your school? Have you seen it?" Su Liyun's hand holding the chopsticks froze, her heart racing. She glanced up quickly, meeting her mother's half-smiling gaze, then hurriedly looked away. "No... I haven't been. That building looks spooky, and the school doesn't let people go in freely."
"Is that so?" Father suddenly spoke in a low voice. "I heard it houses quite a collection of old artifacts. Seems some historical events happened there too. Of course, I only read about it in old newspapers—might just be rumors. Don't take it too seriously."
Su Liyun's face flushed instantly. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Uncle Gu walked over carrying the soup Aunt Gu had just simmered. He smiled and interjected: Schools are strict these days. They wouldn't let kids just wander around like that. Li Yun's mind is on her studies; she doesn't have time for all that nonsense."
Her parents exchanged a glance and didn't press further, but Su Liyun could feel the slight tension in the air. After dinner, her mother suggested visiting Liyun's room. "Liyun, why don't you show Mom your room?" Su Liyun instantly felt flustered. "Mom, my room's a bit messy. Why don't I tidy up and show you tomorrow?" "Messy is exactly why we should see it—I can help you clean up while I'm at it." Without waiting for a response, her mother pulled her toward the bedroom. Su Liyun's fingertips grew unnaturally cold. Her father followed quietly, his footsteps almost inaudible. Uncle Gu watched their retreating figures from the living room, his brow imperceptibly furrowing before he returned to his study. Seated at his desk, he stared at the crystal ball, lost in thought.
The moment they entered the room, her mother began surveying the space. Her fingers lightly brushed the desk surface before she moved to the wardrobe, making a move to open it. "Are all your clothes in here? Should I help you organize them?"
"No, no need!" Su Liyun hurriedly stopped her, palms drenched in cold sweat, her back pressed so tightly against the door it felt like it might sink in. At that moment, she could distinctly sense a faint warmth emanating from the top shelf of the wardrobe. Tonight's moonlight was unusually bright, streaming through the window and illuminating the wardrobe. That warm glow seeped out through the cracks in the wood grain, spreading like a living thing. Su Liyun was utterly panicked inside. She couldn't understand why the light felt so intense this time.
Her father leaned against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on her tense shoulders. Suddenly, he spoke: "Liyun, you seem very nervous. Is something wrong?"
"N-no... I'm fine." Su Liyun hurriedly denied it, her voice trembling slightly. Just then, that familiar voice entered Su Liyun's ears again, "Open... open... open..." This time, the mysterious voice spoke something strange, unlike the previous times. Su Liyun was instantly caught up in those words. Open... open what? Lost in thought, she unconsciously took a step forward. Taking advantage of the space she created, the wardrobe door suddenly swung open by itself. Su Liyun and her parents instantly turned their gaze toward the wardrobe. In the far corner of the top shelf, the character 'Su' on the ceramic bottle glowed intensely, trembling slightly as if it might fall at any moment. Seeing this, her father rushed forward to catch the bottle, but her mother stopped him. The bottle did not fall.
Her mother's eyes brimmed with complex emotions. She fixed her gaze intently on Su Liyun, then shifted it back to the bottle. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but just then, Uncle Gu's voice came from outside the door: "Are you all right? I heard a loud noise just now."
Hearing Uncle Gu's voice, Su Liyun felt an immediate sense of relief wash over her, as if she'd grasped a lifeline. Her mother hurried to the doorway and replied calmly, "We're fine. We were just trying to tidy up the child's clothes, but she wasn't very cooperative." Uncle Gu's tone remained even, yet carried an underlying seriousness: "Glad to hear it. Children grow up and develop their own minds. There's no need to interfere so much. You two should head back to your room and rest. I won't disturb you any longer." With that, he turned and left, leaving Su Liyun and her parents alone in the room.
Su Liyun's parents exchanged glances, each seeing the same doubt in the other's eyes. They had intended to have a serious "discussion" with Su Liyun about the porcelain bottle, but now they had to put it off for the moment. They knew this matter couldn't be delayed any longer; they had to uncover the bottle's origins.
Her mother sighed softly and asked Su Liyun, "Child, do you know where that vase came from?" Su Liyun shook her head, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. Her father frowned, pondered for a moment, then said, "This vase seems quite special. We'll study it properly another day. But for now, go rest. You have school tomorrow."
Su Liyun nodded silently, her heart heavy with questions and unease. What secrets did that bottle hold? Why were her parents so tense? She resolved to examine it closely one last time before bed, hoping to uncover some clue.