---

*Xin Lei*

We were preparing to leave Tianjin. Since time was running short, Bro made arrangements for a flight for all to Beijing. It was a special airplane of the Intelligence Bureau that we could use to transport Duan Deming without any problem. There was a tight security prison to transport criminals across the air.

"Hahaha! Once we land in Dongcheng, I am free! My gang will have surely sent someone by now to take me out," Duan Deming laughed like a maniac. "You losers! You cannot do anything! Hahaha!"

Liao Huifang was also ready to jump at him any moment to beat the shit out of him, but Luo Zhiqiang held her back.

"Forget it," he shook his head.

"Ho!" Duan Deming sneered. "I see something is cooking between you two, aye? Wow, Song. I didn\'t know that you can like somebody too."

Luo Zhiqiang seemed unaffected while Liao Huifang burst out. "You!"

I dragged her away from Duan Deming and nodded. I typed. "Don\'t fall for his provocation."

She bit her lip and slowly nodded.

We went back to our seats. Two officers were strictly guarding Duan Deming.

I typed. "Where would we be heading to after we land in Beijing?"

Bro said, "Where Dad is."

I brightened.

Dad! Finally, I will meet Dad in person!

From the other side of the seat, I heard Yuan cough.

Bro shot a glare at him. He sneered. "Why are you so nervous, Kang Yuan? Afraid to meet Dad? Oh right. You are the ex-boyfriend, after all. Meeting Dad would be too much for your fragile heart, wouldn\'t it?"

"O-of course not. I am happy to meet him after so long."

"Heh!"

Yuan quietly retreated in his seat, and I sighed.

"Ugh…" Shi Ruiling came in, holding her head.

I immediately went to her side and patted her back and typed. "Are you okay?"

Bro sprung on his feet and made her comfortably sit.

"Ugh, this morning sickness…I have puked like five times already."

I typed. "The first three months are always tough."

"I didn\'t know it will be this tough. I cannot seem to eat anything either. Every dish makes me puke."

Bro said, "Don\'t worry. We will get through this together."

"Aww, you are so sweet, Zhen," she pinched his cheek, and I giggled.

My phone buzzed, and I recognized the same secure line number that Lin Zihao used to call.

I quickly typed. "Bai Li. It\'s Lin Zihao."

"Put it on speaker. I think he got a clue on Tan Ye."

"Bai Li. It\'s me," Shi Jianguo\'s voice came from the other end.

"Major General."

"Dad!" Shi Ruiling widened her eyes.

"Ruiling? Is it you?" His voice sounded shocked.

"Yes, Dad! I missed you so much! How are you? Are you taking care of your health? You are not slacking on it, right, just because I am not there?"

There was a long pause.

Shi Ruiling giggled. "Dad, are you crying?"

"I am not. I am just taken aback. I didn\'t expect you to be with Bai Li and Xin Lei."

"Hehe. It\'s a long story which I will tell you with," she looked at Bro and then her belly, "another big news as well."

I observed Bro. Bro seemed as if he was confident, but I knew him better than himself. It was his girlfriend\'s father speaking. His future father-in-law. How would he not be nervous?

"Really? What news?" Major General asked. I sensed the curiosity in his tone.

"You have to wait for that~"

"How long?"

"Hmm... that\'s a surprise."

"Ruiling…" He sighed.

"Sorry, Dad. But you have to wait. But for now, let\'s go back to the topic," then she turned serious, "Dad, did you call regarding Tan Ye?"

Bai Li said, "Do you know something?"

"Yes, it is regarding Tan Ye. Su Weiyuan had gone to visit retired Major Yu Zichen for some questioning regarding his death."

"I see. Because the timing of his retirement is quite convenient. And?"

There was a beat of silence.

Major General said, "I am not able to contact Su Weiyuan anymore."

***

---

Dongcheng.

Ying Lan was furious at Xue Jingjing. A gnawing feeling pricked her chest that something terrible was going to happen. She was worried like crazy. So, when she saw Xue Jingjing come back, she felt greatly relieved to know that Ying Yue was back too. But now, not seeing Ying Yue anywhere, the anxiety returned.

"How could you, Jingjing?"

Xue Jingjing gritted her teeth.

What is her problem!

"A-aunt, I am so sorry. It was just taking a long while, so…"

She glared at her. "Do you think that Yue would have left you alone if it was her in your place?"

She stiffened.

Suddenly, the incident flashed in her mind again. Ying Yue had helped her when Jingjing collapsed on the ground, but she ran away, leaving Ying Yue with those masked men.

Of course, she knew the answer because it had really happened. She had experienced it just an hour ago.

Ying Yue didn\'t leave her alone.

She clasped her sweaty hands.m together. "That I just-"

"Sis, what is happening?" Xue Xiying came, hearing all the fuss.

"Mom!"

"Jingjing."

"Hmph. I will tell you," Ying Lan said.

When Ying Lan retold everything, Xue Xiying said, "Sis, it\'s just an interview. What is the big deal if Jingjing came back alone? Yue would return after some time too."

Ying Lan clenched her fists. "But why couldn\'t she wait? She has an off day, and she came back home anyway! She has no work to do. Yue would have never left her!"

Xue Xiying\'s mouth twitched.

Just what is wrong with this idiot sister of mine? Why is making such a big fuss out of nothing? And why should my daughter wait for Yue? She is not her servant!

But she smiled in concern no matter how much she cursed her in her heart. "Sis, is anything the matter? I don\'t feel it\'s such a big thing…"

"Of course, you wouldn\'t feel that! Nothing is a big matter when it comes to Yue. But it is when it concerns Jingjing. If Yue had left her instead, then you two would have surely made such a big fuss!"

Her chest heaved up and down breathlessly. Ying Lan never spoke to them like that in all these years, and she always kept her bitterness for them hidden in her heart. But today, she was restless and worried about Ying Yue. She just couldn\'t throw that bad and unnerving feeling out of her, and so she snapped.

Xue Jingjing and Xue Xiying were shocked beyond words.

How dare she talk to us like that!

Their faces contorted into ugly expressions.

Ying Lan ignored their stunned looks and dialed Ying Yue\'s number. But it was unreachable.

She tried again and again, but it didn\'t connect. The ominous feeling intensified.

"Yue\'s phone is unreachable. This has never happened before!"

Xue Jingjing panicked and said, "Aunty, maybe she is busy in her interview. You shouldn\'t disturb-"

"Just stop talking. Both of you just leave me alone!" Ying Lan cut her off. She stomped her feet and angrily left.

Xue Xiying exclaimed. "What is her problem! How dare she talk to her elder sister like that! Who cares about that Yue bitch? She is not a toddler. She will come back on her own!"

"S-she won\'t come back, Mom."

Xue Xiying frowned. "Huh? Why wouldn\'t she?"

Xue Jingjing dragged her mother into her room and locked the door.

"Jingjing, why did you lock the door?" She was confused.

Xue Jingjing suddenly broke down in tears. "Mom, I am so scared…"

Xue Xiying widened her eyes. "Why are you crying, my dear? Tell your Mom everything. Don\'t worry. I will help you."

Sniffling and sobbing as she recounted everything, Xue Xiying covered her mouth with her hand in utter disbelief. She suddenly grabbed her shoulders. "Jingjing. You did the correct thing by lying to Lan. Listen to me. She must never know what happened today."

"R-really?"

She whispered. "Of course! Didn\'t you see how she snapped at us just now? She would be so mad if she knew the truth of how you left Yue. She might even go to the police!"

Xue Jingjing paled.

Cops? J-Jail?

"No, mom! I don\'t want to go to jail."

"That\'s why I am telling you to keep your mouth shut. Don\'t say anything."

"But Aunt would ask about Yue when she wouldn\'t return by the evening.?"

Xue Xiying shrugged. "So what? You already said that you left before her. What happened to Yue after that is none of our concern. How would you know anything if you weren\'t there anymore?"

"But Mom, Aunt will definitely go to the cops to drop a complaint about missing Yue. What will we do then? What if the cops find out about the kidnapping? They will know that I was lying!"

Xue Xiying hit her head. "Idiot. I just said that. What happens after you left the place doesn\'t matter. You returned home safe, right? That means the kidnapping happened after you were gone. We don\'t know anything about it. So, you are unrelated to the case."

"Ah, r-right…" she nervously wiped her forehead.

She nodded. "Now, stop crying and act as if nothing happened. Even if the cops came, act normal and stick to the lie. Everything would be alright."

Xue Xiying smiled.

"Just do as I say, and nobody would ever come to know what happened today with Yue."