Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Painful Past (20) Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Painful Past (20) It was already after-school time in the afternoon when Ji Tingyang and his two siblings slowly made their way toward their uncle’s house from the school gate.

It took them a painful hour to cover the ten-minute journey back to the apartment complex.

It was easy to leave their uncle’s house in the morning, but they didn’t dare return in the evening, fearing they would run into him and get beaten up again.

“How about we sleep in the park tonight?” Ji Zeqiu looked hesitant.

He had heard from a classmate that some people without a place to stay would sleep in the park–perhaps they could sleep there too.

Ji Tingyang pursed his lips, pondering for a moment. “I’ll sneak upstairs first and take a look. If uncle isn’t there, we’ll go upstairs; if he is, we’ll head to the park.”

“Okay.” Ji Zeqiu nodded, then waited downstairs with Ji Lanyue.

Fortunately, the man wasn’t at home, and they returned to the house feeling relieved.

The mess of furniture from the night before lay untouched on the floor–the man hadn’t bothered to tidy it up.

Ji Tingyang didn’t touch them either. He led his siblings into the bedroom and locked the door once again.

It wasn’t until late at night.

As Ji Tingyang was dozing off, he heard some noise in the living room.

The man was still cursing about something, his body swaying unsteadily before collapsing on the sofa.

His string of curses lasted for an indefinite time before he finally fell asleep on the sofa.

When they woke up the next day.

Ji Tingyang and his siblings sneaked out of the bedroom quietly.

Just as they were about to leave the doorway, Ji Zeqiu suddenly stopped, cautiously approached the man, and withdrew a loose ten-dollar bill from his pocket.

After leaving the residential area, Ji Zeqiu shook the money in his hand with a triumphant expression, “We have money for food today!”

Ji Lanyue also cheered happily, “Hooray!”

Ji Tingyang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words after a long pause.

By the afternoon, when they returned to the apartment, the man was not home, just like before, only coming back late at night, drunk and passing out on the sofa.

The next day, they would slip out again before the man woke up.

If they were lucky, they could sometimes find a few dollars in his pocket.

They lived like this, not interfering with each other, for half a year.

Until one evening, the man returned, still heavily drunk, cursing at Ji Yiyun.

“Ji Yiyun, that damned woman, hasn’t given the money for this month. I’m almost out of money for drinking.”

“I called her so many times, and she didn’t pick up. She’s definitely doing this on purpose!”

“Does she think I’m easy to bully? I’ll go find her tomorrow!”

Two days later.

Another stranger appeared before Ji Tingyang and his siblings.

“Your uncle says he can’t support you anymore. He asked me to take you away,” the man said.

“Who are you?” Ji Lanyue clutched at Ji Tingyang’s clothes, her voice carrying a hint of fear.

“I’m your uncle, though we’re somewhat distantly related,” the man said with an indifferent expression as he took the three children away.

But this time, the place they were heading to was a bit far, and they couldn’t return to their school here anymore.

The man transferred them to a new school, and it was as if their lives were starting all over again.

Uncle’s wife had been unable to have children, and they had no descendants. After hearing about Ji Tingyang and his siblings from a cousin, they took the initiative to adopt them.

Compared to Ji Yiyun and the cousin, Uncle treated them considerably better.

Though Ji Tingyang and his siblings still had to do the chores at Uncle’s place, Uncle didn’t scold them like their Aunt did, nor did he beat them like their cousin.

Ji Tingyang had grown fond of this calm lifestyle, except he occasionally thought of Wen Li.

He had transferred schools hurriedly and hadn’t told Wen Li, and he wondered how she would react when she saw he was no longer there?

Time flew by, and half a year had passed.

Ji Tingyang had also started junior high.

“Big brother, what’s junior high like? Is it more fun than elementary school? Is there less homework?” Ji Lanyue asked curiously as Ji Tingyang picked them up to go home.

Ji Tingyang could immediately tell what she was getting at, “You still have to do homework in junior high.”

Ji Lanyue’s face fell instantly.

Ji Zeqiu pinched her cheek, “You wish, there’s no such thing as no homework.”

The three of them returned to Uncle’s house, chatting and laughing. As soon as they entered, they saw Uncle’s face lit up with an unusual glow.

“Uncle, what’s the happy news?” Ji Lanyue asked.

“It’s that your aunt is pregnant, we’re finally going to have our own child.” The man’s face was flushed with joy, his eyes curving into crescents.

“That’s great, I can play with my brother or sister.” Ji Lanyue clapped her hands joyfully.

“Yes, when the time comes, Lanyue, you have to take care of the baby just like a big brother,” Uncle said with a smile.

Ji Lanyue nodded vigorously, “Yes, I definitely will!”

However, once Uncle’s child was born, he said awkwardly to them, “Since the baby was born, your aunt and I have been taking care of it, and we really don’t have the energy to take care of you as well.”

“I’ve found another family for you, they are willing to adopt you, what do you think?”

Ji Tingyang’s expression stiffened suddenly.

Ji Zeqiu’s eyes, trembling with disbelief, filled with an incredulous look.

Ji Lanyue also suddenly looked up, her eyes sad, “Uncle, don’t you want us anymore?”

The man’s gaze flickered awkwardly, “Your aunt and I are already quite old, we really don’t have the extra energy…”

Ji Lanyue’s eyes suddenly turned red, her voice choked, “We’ll be very obedient, you won’t have to take care of us, please don’t give us up…”

The man stammered, struggling to look away.

Just as Ji Lanyue was about to say more, Ji Tingyang stopped her and shook his head.

“Uncle, we understand,” Ji Tingyang said quietly.

Just when they thought they had finally found a good family to take them in, reality cruelly abandoned them again.

The next day.

A strange couple arrived at the man’s house, looking Ji Tingyang and his siblings up and down.

“Are these the three kids you told us about? They look so skinny, can they even work?” The woman’s tone was full of disdain.

The man immediately replied, “They are very well-behaved and industrious. See how clean and tidy my house is? It’s all thanks to their cleaning.”

“Alright then.” The woman clicked her tongue, “Pack your things and come with me.”

Just like that.

Ji Tingyang and his siblings were taken to another unfamiliar place.