“Dad—” Han Shen walked over and helped him up, turning to Jiang Da to offer thanks. “Don’t take it personally, my dad has a bit of a temper.”
Jiang Da waved it off. “It’s fine.”
With that, he walked off without looking back.
Han Qishan snorted coldly, “I’ve got a bad temper?!”
Han Shen didn’t back down, throwing the question right back: “Do you think you’re acting like someone with a good temper right now?”
The old man’s throat caught, and he lifted his foot to head inside.
“What are you doing?” Han Shen immediately pulled him back, his heart nearly stopping.
“I want to go in and see Little Ru!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You stroll in like this, and believe me, she’ll think you’re just some crazy old man!”
Based on the information the two of them had uncovered, even though they didn’t want to believe it, the truth was undeniable—
Little Ru had lost her memory.
No wonder she hadn’t come home all these years—not even once, not even to let them know she was safe.
But the reality was, she had forgotten the past… and forgotten the way home.
“Ah Shen, but I miss her so much, what am I supposed to do? I just want to go in and see her, ask if it hurts. Do you remember? When she was little and scraped her knee, she’d cry like the sky was falling. But now, she’s bled so much and didn’t make a sound. I… it breaks my heart!”
The old man’s eyes turned red as he pounded his chest, as if trying to beat out the pain buried deep inside.
“Alright,” Han Shen held his hand tightly, the sour ache rising in his chest, “The fact that she’s alive is already the best outcome. We’ll take it one step at a time…”
“Yes!” The old man nodded. “She’s alive, that’s what matters!”
Suddenly, he asked, “Ah Shen, do you think your mom would forgive me?”
Han Shen fell silent.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Dad…” Han Shen struggled to speak, “Mom has already…”
“Forget it!” Han Qishan abruptly cut him off, as if afraid to hear the rest. He started muttering to himself, “Your mom was always soft-hearted. If she saw Little Ru now, she’d probably let go of all the past grudges… She wouldn’t still treat me like an enemy… She hasn’t talked to me in so long. She used to be so chatty—I even teased her about becoming a nun, chanting sutras all day…”
Han Shen pressed his lips together, his gaze toward the old man full of complicated emotions.
If only you had known this would happen, why did you act the way you did back then?
…
Jiang Da returned with hot water and saw the old man and the good-looking man still lingering at the doorway.
He nodded slightly, acknowledging them, then happily walked back inside.
“Wife, have some hot water.”
Han Yunru instinctively reached out to take it.
He pulled back slightly. “Your hand’s not convenient. I’ll feed you.”
Actually, her other hand was fine and she could drink on her own, but since Jiang Da wanted to wait on her, she didn’t refuse.
“Slowly… Is it too hot?”
Han Yunru shook her head.
“Want more?”
“No, let’s go home.”
“But the doctor said you need to stay for half an hour.”
“I’m fine now…”
Jiang Da said seriously, “There’s still fifteen minutes. It’ll be quick.”
“…Alright.”
Outside the door, the father and son were clinging to the frame, sneakily peeking inside.
“That guy Jiang—Little Ru just said she wants to leave, and he disagrees?! Outrageous!”
Han Shen shot him a glance. “He’s following medical advice. Seems pretty reasonable.”
“What do you know?! Little Ru’s always had a strong will—why should someone else boss her around? She used to order me around all the time…”
Han Shen said bluntly, “That ‘someone else’ is her husband.”
“I don’t accept that! That guy’s big and burly—just a cook. How is he good enough for my Little Ru?”
Han Shen calmly replied, “You don’t have to accept it. They have a marriage certificate.”
“…”
Like a couple of thieves, father and son stayed plastered to the doorframe, peeking inside for ten whole minutes.
Han Shen studied his sister’s profile intently. Even after twenty years, she looked exactly like how he remembered.
She had just turned eighteen when she went missing. A beautiful young girl, her smile brighter than any flower. Anyone who’d met her praised her looks.
Even his gang of buddies had dropped hints, asking if they could court his sister, only to be met with a fist each from Han Shen—swift and clean.
When he heard she was missing, Han Shen thought it was a joke. He couldn’t believe it.
She wasn’t a child anymore—how could she just vanish?
Especially on the day of her engagement party.
Just two hours earlier, he’d watched her get ready, cheerful as a lark, saying she was finally marrying her beloved Brother Lin.
She had smiled so sweetly then, like she was bathing in honey.
Who would have thought that in just a few hours, the bride would vanish without a trace?
Han Shen even scolded the person who called him, warning them never to joke like that again.
Then, he went back to working on company files.
Until—
His mother called.
Her voice hoarse, exhausted after panic, so intense it had flattened into eerie calm.
She said, “Ah Shen, come home. Your sister’s gone.”
Gone? What did that mean?
Han Shen flew home like a madman. The engagement party was canceled. His father knelt before his mother—it was the first time Han Shen ever saw Han Qishan cry, pitiful and humble, yet unable to earn even a sliver of pity from their once-gentle mother.
At that moment, Han Shen knew—this family was broken.
They waited half a month. No ransom call ever came. So, it wasn’t a kidnapping.
The cash they had prepared for a ransom became useless.
Han Shen would have preferred it was a kidnapping—better that than not knowing whether she was dead or alive.
The police were investigating, and he even hired people in the underworld to put out a bounty.
But there was never any news.
Only one possibility remained—
Human trafficking.
What would happen to a girl her age if she were trafficked? What would she go through?
Han Shen didn’t even dare imagine.
Thankfully…
Thankfully, she’s alive. And she didn’t go through any of that filth.
“Dad, it’s time to go.”
“But…”
“Tomorrow, we’ll find a chance to formally visit.”
“Alright.”
Father and son turned to leave.
…
Han Yunru said, “Fifteen minutes are up.”
Jiang Da checked the time. It was. “Let’s go home.”
“Did you take care of things at the shop?”
Jiang Fuyue replied, “Don’t worry. Uncle Cao is watching it. Nothing will go wrong.”
“Good.”
“Dad, you take Mom downstairs first. The car’s at the front entrance. I’ll go pay the bill and catch up.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Fuyue turned the corner and entered the elevator. Hu Ben, just back from the police station, followed close behind.
Their reflections shone on the polished metal doors.
“All handled?”
Hu Ben: “Surveillance footage’s been handed over to the police. Yang Jinqiu is temporarily detained. Can’t escape the charge of intentional injury. If they press charges, it’ll be at least a year.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Get a lawyer. Try to get the trial started before the New Year.”
This wasn’t just about accountability—it was a swift and ruthless strike.
Hu Ben nodded. “Understood.”
“What about Jiang Hua?”
“He injured his hand. It’s being treated at another hospital. After that, he’ll cooperate with the investigation.”
“He’s had it too easy—that’s why he gets caught up in nonsense. Have Uncle Liu’s team give his parts factory some ‘business’.”
Hu Ben’s eyes flickered. “Crush it completely, or… leave some breathing room?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Half a breath.”
Hu Ben lowered his eyes. “Got it.” And quietly lit three metaphorical candles for Jiang Hua.
“Also, find out who those two men were outside the exam room—one old, one young.”
Hu Ben was surprised. There were people outside?
Of course. That was a hallway. Plenty of staff and patients passing through.
But with that description, it shouldn’t be too hard to track.
“I want to know by tomorrow at the latest.”
Hu Ben’s back straightened. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ding!
The elevator opened.
Jiang Fuyue stepped out and found the billing line, queuing up from the end.
Hu Ben watched her blend into the crowd, looking like any other regular girl—aside from her natural beauty and figure, her aura was cool but not cold, lovely and harmless. You’d never guess that just moments ago, she was making swift, ruthless decisions in the elevator.
He looked down at himself—burly frame, black suit, sunglasses, a scruffy beard he’d been growing. He looked like a street thug, nothing like a proper professional.
Hu Ben couldn’t help wondering—maybe it was time for a new look?
…
After paying the bill, Jiang Fuyue stepped out and spotted the Cullinan parked across the street.
She got in and the car quickly drove off.
Not far away, in a temporarily borrowed black Toyota, Han Shen watched the Cullinan vanish into the distance before withdrawing his gaze.
“Dad, be nice tomorrow. Brother-in-law’s not as bad as you think.”
Anyone who could afford a Rolls-Royce—even if he was a cook—was a d*mn capable one.
“Hmph!”
So what if it’s a Cullinan?
He’d buy ten of them for Little Ru if she wanted!
