At Yihuan Hospital, inside a private ward.
“Don’t worry, child. It’s nothing major. Just a small opening in my stomach, and I’ve already had a few stitches. I’m practically fine now!” Song Zhao Ye said with a hearty laugh, looking at the deeply worried Song Qiuyu.
He then glanced at his equally distressed wife and continued, “I told you it was fine. See? Even after taking a blade, didn’t I still flip the killer over my shoulder and pin him to the ground?”
Hearing this, Su Luo sighed. Song Qiuyu knit her brows and bit her lip, mentally retracing the events that had unfolded.
The situation was indeed as her proud father described. The knife-wielding attacker had been incredibly frail, and his mental state had seemed completely unstable. Her father had taken him down with ease and even had the presence of mind to call the police himself.
Given the disparity in size and strength, that man hadn’t been able to resist at all.
But that was exactly what made it so strange. What kind of grudge or hatred could drive someone to do this? And what was wrong with his eyes and brain—why would a “glass cannon” decide to charge straight into a “tank”?
This same confusion lingered in the minds of the three people standing beside her.
Whether it was Jiang Xiao, Jiang Li, or Xie Zhuran, none of them could make head or tail of this sudden incident.
As if to answer their questions, the female and male officers in charge of the case walked into the ward.
“Comrade, don’t worry. We’ve investigated the matter thoroughly!” the young female officer said with a serious expression, looking at Song Zhao Ye on the hospital bed.
“Sigh, it turns out there were still some who slipped through the net from that previous case,” the young male officer added, frowning as he sighed.
*Huh?*
These two officers seemed very familiar with her father. Song Qiuyu’s eyes widened.
In fact, when they had arrived earlier to take their statements and haul the scrawny man away, their attitude toward her father had been somewhat peculiar. Compared to the biological bond between her and her father, the relationship between those three seemed even closer and more familiar.
Thinking back to her father’s sudden disappearance for over ten years and the past he still hadn’t fully explained, a certain suspicion began to form in her heart.
At that moment, the two officers looked thoughtfully at Song Qiuyu before glancing at the others in the room, seemingly weighing their words.
Not counting themselves, there were six people in the room. The most crucial family of three was easy to identify, but they weren’t sure about the status of the other three. There were some things that weren’t easy to say in front of outsiders.
“Li, Old Xie, let’s step out for a moment,” Jiang Xiao said. He seemed to understand the situation and took the initiative to lead his sister and roommate out of the ward, closing the door behind them.
Once the door was shut, the two officers took one last look toward the hallway before returning their gaze to the family of three.
Under their scrutiny, Song Qiuyu unconsciously held her breath and clenched her hands.
The two officers noticed her tension and looked helpless. The truth might be a bit cruel for this child.
Then, they began to recount the results of the investigation in meticulous detail.
They had originally thought that the drug ring had been completely dismantled, but in reality, a few individuals had managed to evade capture through a series of coincidences. Those few were all addicts, and their mental states were no longer normal. Furthermore, they had been biding their time to find Song Zhao Ye and exact revenge. The opportunity they found to track his movements had come from certain videos on the internet.
This included the live broadcast at the comic convention as well as several short videos. Those people had confirmed that Song Zhao Ye had a wife, a child, and many close associates.
After listening, Song Qiuyu’s tense nerves didn’t relax; instead, she stood there dazed, her eyes turning hollow.
“But don’t worry. This time, everything should be completely settled,” the male officer said, his brow furrowed with exhaustion.
*Should be?*
Song Qiuyu recalled the gaze she had felt at the comic convention and finally understood.
Perhaps she had been targeted back then? But because her father and mother hadn’t returned yet, the attackers hadn’t made a move?
Or maybe it was after that?
It made sense. Back then, the female internet celebrity had been livestreaming around her constantly, and her parents had ended up in the frame as well. There was also the short video by the seaside where her parents had helped out by playing passersby.
No… perhaps it was even earlier. It might have started from the day they filmed their first short video and she showed her face online…
So, her father’s injury was all because…
Song Qiuyu pursed her lips and took a sharp breath. Her chest felt incredibly stifled.
“I was a bit negligent. I can’t believe a few of them slipped through. I’ve really caused you a lot of trouble,” Song Zhao Ye said, sighing as he looked at his two colleagues.
The two officers turned to each other, exchanged a look of confirmation, and then simultaneously removed their hats to salute him. “We should be the ones saying that to you, Comrade.”
For over ten years as an undercover agent, they had seen firsthand the blood, sweat, and sacrifices their colleague had made. Because the mission was so classified, many things couldn’t be brought into the light. Even when they wanted to help take care of his family, they couldn’t do it too obviously.
He had endured over ten years of suffering and had finally reunited with his family, only for this to happen.
There were likely many things they wanted to say, but in the end, they remained unvoiced. The two officers simply offered some words of concern to their colleague before shifting their attention to his child.
“This child… is a boy, right?” the female officer asked, narrowing her eyes.
The male officer didn’t think much of it. No matter how he looked at it, the child was a girl.
Seeing this, Song Qiuyu uncomfortably cast her gaze downward. Her heart rate accelerated as she remembered her parents taking her for an examination earlier. The person who had helped with the checkup then was a doctor from a different hospital.
“Ahem, that is a long story,” Song Zhao Ye coughed, explaining the truth to his two colleagues who were “in the know.”
Upon learning the truth, the colleagues simply nodded with an “I knew it” expression. They didn’t ask any more questions and soon left the ward.
Only three people remained in the room. At first, they all maintained a tacit silence.
“How about…” Song Qiuyu’s voice finally broke the dead silence. “Let’s not go to Jiang Xiao’s house after all.”
The moment those words left her mouth, both Song Zhao Ye and Su Luo were stunned.
“How can we do that?” Su Luo frowned and asked in return. “Little one, this is something we already agreed on. Besides, Jiang Xiao’s side has already informed his parents.”
At this point, she stroked her daughter’s head. “More importantly, we’ve all been looking forward to this day for a long time.”
“But it might cause them trouble!” Song Qiuyu looked up at her mother. She didn’t want to see anything like today happen ever again. “Also, I’ve already had my fill of being a director, and writing scripts has been fun enough. I want to try changing my major. I want to try something else, like the Dance Department or something.”
“Alright, child. This isn’t your fault,” Song Zhao Ye sighed and said.
“I’ve already decided. Dad, you get some good rest. Mom, take good care of him.” Song Qiuyu turned around and walked toward the door. “I’m going to tell Jiang Xiao and the others about this.”
Song Zhao Ye wanted to say something more, but he watched as his child pulled the door open, walked straight out, and shut it behind them, leaving him no chance to speak.
“Why doesn’t this kid ever listen to people finish? Their temper is so stubborn,” Song Zhao Ye remarked emotionally.
“It really is. You two are exactly the same,” Su Luo said, glancing at her husband.
Song Zhao Ye froze. He looked down and clutched his bandaged abdomen, frowning in distress as he reflected for a moment. Just now, out on the main road… the child must have been terrified.
“Wife, maybe I shouldn’t have wanted you, and I shouldn’t have had this child with you.”
After all, many of the colleagues he knew—specifically those in the undercover business—remained alone until they were old. It was because they didn’t want to have “weaknesses” once they had a family, and they didn’t want their loved ones to be targeted by those evil men.
“Oh please, you already made me pregnant and slept with me so many times, turning me into a real woman. What are you saying now?” Su Luo sat on the edge of the bed and playfully tilted her head. “If you’re regretting it now, I really will stab you.”
Song Zhao Ye felt as though he could see an invisible kitchen knife in his wife’s hand. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
“I was just saying… just saying. Don’t take it seriously, Wife.”
“Then don’t ever say things like that again,” Su Luo said after thinking for a moment. “I’m almost at menopause. Menopausal women are not to be trifled with, Husband.”
With that said, the middle-aged couple looked at each other and both narrowed their eyes into a smile. The path they had already walked was now their child’s turn to walk.
As parents, all they could do was try their best to hold an umbrella for their child and block out the wind and rain from the outside world.
—
“Song Qiuyu?”
Jiang Xiao immediately walked up to her when he saw her exit the ward. However, he quickly noticed that she was incredibly downcast for some reason. Even the rims of her eyes were slightly red.
Seeing this, he unconsciously lowered his voice. His tone was gentler and slower than usual as he looked at her and asked, “What’s wrong? Is it your father…?”
“It’s nothing.” Song Qiuyu bit her lip and struggled for a moment. She took a shallow breath and looked up at Jiang Xiao, trying her hardest to remain calm as she spoke. “Jiang Xiao, there’s still time to leave. You guys should head to the train station. My parents and I… we won’t be going.”
Jiang Xiao was stunned.
Jiang Li and Xie Zhuran, who were slowly approaching from the side, also froze, coming to a dead stop. Both of them had expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Although, if they thought about it carefully, it seemed reasonable for them to leave first since the departure time was nearing…
However, the meaning behind those words didn’t seem to be just telling them to go ahead. It sounded like she didn’t plan on going at all anymore.
Jiang Li was completely confused. But she quickly made a decision and grabbed the hand of the person next to her.
“?” Xie Zhuran was startled.
*So… so soft…*
“Brother Zhuran, let’s go outside and buy some fruit,” Jiang Li said, looking back at Xie Zhuran.
“Oh.” Xie Zhuran didn’t overthink it. His briefly rejuvenated face returned to its usual world-weary look, and he nodded honestly.
There must be another reason why Jiang Li was suddenly holding his hand. It was absolutely impossible that it was out of affection.
Jiang Li knew exactly what Xie Zhuran was thinking. She didn’t offer any explanation, only casting a hopeful glance backward as she thought to herself, ‘Brother, I’m leaving you some private space. You have to take this chance to convince Autumn Rain Bro.’
“Let’s go somewhere else to talk,” Jiang Xiao said.
Noticing his sister had already led Xie Zhuran away, Jiang Xiao narrowed his eyes and stopped holding back. He simply grabbed Song Qiuyu’s small hand.
Song Qiuyu pursed her lips and remained silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiao tightened his grip. He already had a faint, sinking feeling. He led her toward a stairwell where there were fewer people.
‘Jiang Xiao, I’ve already decided. I’m not going to your house for the Lunar New Year. I also don’t want to be a director anymore, and I don’t want to film short videos.’
Song Qiuyu desperately wanted to say all those things, but she opened her mouth and couldn’t squeeze out a single word. She simply lowered her head.
The words of the two officers, the sight of her father’s abdomen covered in blood, the killer’s vicious and cold gaze, and everything they had experienced while filming short videos this semester kept echoing in her mind.
The thought that continuing to chase her dream might cause things to spiral—like a butterfly effect—made her subconsciously grab onto Jiang Xiao. However, she didn’t dare to hold on too tightly.
If she didn’t let go of Jiang Xiao, would there come a day when he met the same fate as her father?
Not just Jiang Xiao, but everyone around her—everyone she cared about—might fall into danger because of her.
When they reached a quiet spot, Jiang Xiao stopped and turned around to ask what was wrong. But before the words could leave his mouth, he saw the person with their head bowed bite their lip and silently crash into his chest, wrapping their arms around him.