Chapter 6

Chapter 6: So It Was Because I Was Special That She Avoided Me... At 4 a.m. on June 17th, a full twelve hours had passed since Lin Qiaoqiao had disappeared. The phone at Simenkou Paichusuo suddenly rang. The officer on duty picked it up and quickly stood up. "Alright, we understand. We'll send someone over now." "The Jianghai Dicai Phase One construction site, right?" "Correct." After hanging up, the officer on duty snapped fully awake. He looked at the call log and quickly began contacting one person after another. Within just ten minutes, the entire Simenkou Paichusuo was bustling with activity. At the same time, they specially assigned a new intern to go to the Gu family residence to notify Lin Meiyan. At 4:10 a.m., Lin Meiyan, who had been tossing and turning, heard the knocking outside. To her, it was like a lifeline. She stumbled down from the bed and went to open the door. The other members of the Gu family had also been awakened by the knocking. Almost all of them appeared at the doorway within moments. Wang Xia hadn't expected so many people to be looking at her when the door opened. But then, thinking about it, it was only natural that a family would react this way after losing a child. With that in mind, Wang Xia said, "Comrade Lin, we at Simenkou Paichusuo have received word that Lin Qiaoqiao was discovered at the Jianghai Dicai Phase One construction site during a transaction." The moment those words fell, Lin Meiyan was like a dried-up fish finally meeting water. She bent over, clutching her chest, gasping for breath. The summer heat was stifling. Her disheveled hair clung to her forehead, her skin was pale as snow, and her delicate features held a kind of ethereal, fragile beauty. Even Wang Xia was struck by her appearance. "Where is my daughter now?" Lin Meiyan's voice choked with sobs, her large eyes brimming with tears. This time, it wasn't despair, confusion, or helplessness. It was tears of joy. When a beauty cries, all who see her heart aches. Wang Xia was no exception. She helped Lin Meiyan up and said, "Lin Qiaoqiao is on her way here." "Comrade Lin, please come with me to the station." Lin Meiyan nodded and stepped forward to follow. Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju exchanged a glance. He didn't feel comfortable speaking up, so he gave Ye Qiuju a look. Ye Qiuju cleared her throat and said, "Yanyan, since Qiaoqiao has been found, there's no rush now." "Go change into some clean clothes." Lin Meiyan had always been particular about her appearance, but she was still wearing yesterday's clothes. After losing her daughter, she had been like a lost soul, tossing and turning all night. She truly didn't look presentable at the moment. But Lin Meiyan couldn't care about that now. She couldn't wait any longer. In the end, Ye Qiuju had no choice but to grab a white dacron shirt and hand it to her. Lin Meiyan looked at her gratefully, then draped the white shirt over her shoulders and followed Wang Xia out. On the way to the police station, the morning light finally broke through the clouds, and the sun revealed just a corner of itself. That single corner was enough to illuminate the entire road ahead. Wang Xia couldn't help herself. She asked curiously, "Comrade Lin, do you know the boss of Jianghai Dicai?" Normally, finding a missing child wouldn't happen this quickly. But yesterday, not only had Simenkou Paichusuo sent people out to search, but so had the other four police stations, along with the Municipal Public Security Bureau. And even the gangsters in Jiangcheng, along with the beggars sleeping under bridges, had all joined in the search. Throughout that night, in corners unseen by anyone, Jiangcheng was exceptionally lively. Every year, so many children went missing in Jiangcheng, but this was the first time Wang Xia had seen such a spectacle—both the lawful and unlawful worlds searching simultaneously. The result of everyone mobilizing was that the missing child was found in less than twelve hours. This could be said to have set a miracle for finding missing children in Jiangcheng—no, in the entire country. Facing Wang Xia's probing, Lin Meiyan paused. She didn't know how to answer. After a moment, she said, "I don't know him." She didn't know the boss of Jianghai Dicai. She only knew Yu Jianghai. Wang Xia didn't believe her, but they had already arrived at the police station entrance. Still, she couldn't help asking, "Comrade Lin, if you don't know the boss of Jianghai Dicai, then why would they..." Why would they go to such lengths to help find the child? Lin Meiyan looked up, her voice soft. "I don't know the boss of Jianghai Dicai, but I do know Yu Jianghai." Wang Xia's eyes widened slightly. "Sister Lin, you know someone that important?" It was common knowledge that Simenkou Hengjie was slated for demolition, fenced off for the Jianghai Dicai Phase Two construction. Mentioning Jianghai Dicai in Jiangcheng was to invoke a name known by virtually everyone. Who wouldn't want to buy an apartment from Jianghai Dicai? Living in a bright high-rise, with security guards at the entrance. These years were no longer like the past. With reform and opening up, and the development of the market economy, this era was all about money. The more money you had, the more choices you had. Seeing the look in Wang Xia's eyes, Lin Meiyan understood Yu Jianghai's influence in Jiangcheng. She shook her head and said, "I know him." By this time, everyone at the police station had gone out to handle cases, leaving only Wang Xia, an intern, to mind the station. With just her and Lin Meiyan there, she unlocked the door with her keys while curiously prying. "Then you two must have a really close relationship. Otherwise, a big boss like him wouldn't have nearly turned all of Jiangcheng upside down just to find someone." How was Lin Meiyan supposed to answer that? She sank into her memories as the past gradually surfaced bit by bit. Finally, she opened her eyes and said softly, truthfully, "He and I met when we were sent down to the countryside back then, but—" She paused, unsure how to describe the relationship between them. To say they were familiar? Five years had passed without meeting or contact. To say they weren't familiar? Yet they had once been the closest of people. Lin Meiyan seemed hesitant, and Wang Xia immediately sensed something. "Not close?" Anyone who was truly familiar wouldn't hesitate and struggle like that. Her question conveniently gave Lin Meiyan an out. She hummed in acknowledgment and said softly, "Not that close anymore." Note that. Not that close anymore. Strangers who hadn't seen each other in five years. Outside the Simenkou Paichusuo, behind the towering plane trees. A tall man hid in the shadows, about to step forward. Upon hearing those words, his footsteps faltered slightly, and he suddenly snapped a branch underfoot. In the faint morning light between darkness and dawn, his expression betrayed neither joy nor anger. Lin Meiyan looked over. "Who's there?" That single "who" made Yu Jianghai's footsteps pause—it was the second time in five years he'd heard her voice. He stood silently in place, but all that echoed in his ears were the words Lin Meiyan had just spoken—I know him, but we're not that close. Not that close. Not that close. Faster than Yu Jianghai could react—Lin Qiaoqiao. She rushed out almost without a second thought. "Mommy." "Mommy." "Mommy." Three calls in a row. In her previous life, Lin Qiaoqiao hadn't returned to her mother's side until she was fifteen. Three years later, at eighteen, her mother left her. Lin Qiaoqiao was lost at four, returned home at fifteen, and lost her mother at eighteen. From eighteen to twenty-five, a full seven years, she guarded Linji but had no mother. Like an orphan wandering alone. Those calls of "Mommy" were too crisp and clear. From the first sound Qiaoqiao made at eight months old to now, at four years and three months, she had called out "Mommy" tens of thousands of times. Lin Meiyan knew it better than anything. She had heard it countless times. Almost by reflex, she turned around, crouched down, and caught Qiaoqiao. Every movement was fluid and seamless. The moment Lin Meiyan caught Qiaoqiao, she wept tears of joy, holding her like a precious treasure, kissing Qiaoqiao's cheeks again and again. "Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao." "Mommy's Qiaoqiao, you're finally back." From the moment she discovered Qiaoqiao had been taken to now, the anxious, agonizing feeling in Lin Meiyan's heart had finally settled. This was instinct. A mother's instinct for her daughter. Lin Qiaoqiao nestled in her mother's arms, greedily breathing in the scent of her. As her mother kept kissing her gently, she secretly opened her eyes. So this was how beautiful her mother was when she was young. So her mother, when young, had not a single wrinkle on her face, nor a trace of worry between her brows. Her features were relaxed and serene. If there had been any lingering concern, it had completely dissipated with her return. Her mother, in her youth, was an absolute beauty. Behind the plane trees, Yu Jianghai stood quietly. The man who was always imposing and sharp-edged now seemed like air itself, as if he might vanish at any moment. If there was one thing prominent about him, it was that pair of piercing eyes, fixed on Lin Meiyan. As the morning light finally broke through the clouds, after five years. Yu Jianghai finally saw her again. She had lost quite a bit of weight. The loose white shirt hung slack on her frame, still as thin and delicate as before. Only those eyes, bathed in the light of the approaching dawn, were graceful and clear, gentle and refined—her whole person seemed to radiate light. Yu Jianghai stared at her without blinking, his gaze dark and unreadable. Using the dim morning light, he measured every inch of her skin, every line of her features with his eyes. That gaze was far too intense. Even Lin Meiyan, whose entire heart and mind were on her daughter, couldn't ignore it. She followed that sharp gaze and looked over. Unfortunately, there was no one beneath the plane trees anymore. Not even a silhouette. Lin Meiyan was startled. She helped Qiaoqiao up. "Qiaoqiao, who brought you back just now?" Lin Qiaoqiao was still immersed in the joy of reuniting with her mother. She answered instinctively, "A uncle." Seeing her mother's expression wasn't quite right. She thought for a moment, then added, "A very handsome uncle." Lin Meiyan instantly knew who it was. Drawing on courage she didn't know she had, she called out in that direction, "Yu Jianghai, thank you." In the darkness. Yu Jianghai's footsteps paused. With his suit jacket draped over his arm, he strode away with long, quick steps. He turned and left Simenkou Hengjie. Secretary Shen was waiting nearby in the car, and it was unclear how long he had been there. "Boss." Yu Jianghai grunted in acknowledgment, pulled open the car door, and got in quickly. "Is the handover over there done?" Secretary Shen nodded. "Three traffickers were caught on the spot. In addition, there were five children, four of whom have already been taken away by the police station. The other one—" He paused for a moment. "Boss, that one was the Zhou family's grandson. He's been picked up." Yu Jianghai grunted again, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, resting. Secretary Shen stole a glance through the rearview mirror and happened to catch the dark circles under his boss's eyelids. From the phone call at eleven last night to now, five-thirty in the morning. For over ten hours straight, his boss hadn't closed his eyes. But— Was that all? What about Youth Lin? Just as Secretary Shen was puzzling over this, Yu Jianghai suddenly snapped his eyes open, sharp and piercing. Secretary Shen instinctively lowered his head, a hint of deference in his posture. "Boss, where are we heading now?" Yu Jianghai averted his gaze, rubbing the space between his brows as he looked at the rundown street of Simenkou Hengjie. His tone was calm. "Put pressure on Simenkou Paichusuo." "I want the traffickers executed!" Secretary Shen was taken aback for a moment, but quickly agreed. "Yes, boss." As for the fact that trafficking six children didn't quite meet the threshold for the death penalty—that didn't matter. He would handle it. There were plenty of ways to reach the execution standard. The traffickers had blood and lives on their hands. As long as they were willing to dig, they would definitely find something that would cost them their lives. After replying, Secretary Shen focused on driving. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that the boss who had just sent Lin Qiaoqiao back seemed to carry an even heavier aura of authority than before. Sending the daughter of the woman he loved back home—shouldn't that be a good thing? Normally, one would use the opportunity to close some distance. Wouldn't everything naturally fall into place? Others might not know, but Secretary Shen did. For years, his boss had never stopped searching for her. So why was this? They had met, so why wasn't he happy? Had they argued? Just as Secretary Shen was letting his mind wander, the man in the back seat suddenly spoke, his voice low and hoarse. "She said we're not familiar with each other." "Why?" There was still confusion in the man's brows and eyes. How could they not be familiar? They had walked through the hardest years together. They had known each other, accompanied each other. They had shared intimate moments, had been entangled in passion. She had chosen to leave without a word to return to the city. Five years later, when they met again, she told outsiders that they weren't familiar. Not familiar? Not familiar? Not familiar! How was Secretary Shen supposed to answer that? It was a difficult question. No matter how he answered, it would be easy to get it wrong. Secretary Shen deliberated for a long while before carefully explaining. "Boss, actually, from Youth Lin's perspective, it doesn't seem wrong?" Yu Jianghai suddenly opened his eyes, a cold gleam shooting out like a volley of arrows. Secretary Shen was startled. He instinctively swallowed and explained in a low voice. "Boss, think about it. From Youth Lin's perspective, she hasn't seen you in five years, hasn't been in contact with you. Isn't that exactly what 'not familiar' means?" "Besides, it's also about avoiding suspicion." Secretary Shen's silver tongue continued. "If it were an ordinary friend, Youth Lin would definitely say 'friend.' But it's you. Your relationship with her is different. She can't call you a friend, and she can't call you a stranger. In the end, she could only use 'not familiar' to cover it." From the rearview mirror, he watched Yu Jianghai's brows slowly relax. Secretary Shen pressed on. "Think about it—because the relationship is complicated, because it's unique, because it's different, that's why she used 'not familiar' to draw the line." "But is that really the case? No, boss." Secretary Shen was getting more and more into it, as if he had discovered the truth. "When Youth Lin's daughter was trafficked, that was a moment of helplessness and panic. She didn't call anyone else—she called you." "Just based on that late-night phone call, tell me—if the relationship weren't good, if you weren't familiar, would Youth Lin have called you?" Yu Jianghai's furrowed brows completely relaxed. He grunted, signaling Secretary Shen to continue. Secretary Shen continued, "And with the effort you put in to help Youth Lin, does that look like 'not familiar'?" "Clearly not." "But Youth Lin told outsiders 'not familiar.' What does that mean? It means you hold a special place in Youth Lin's heart!" After saying this, Secretary Shen cautiously watched him. He noticed that the boss's cold, displeased aura seemed to have receded considerably compared to before. Secretary Shen let out a quiet breath, raising a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, thinking to himself. With this high salary, being a personal secretary really wasn't easy. After a long moment. Yu Jianghai made a precise conclusion, his voice cold and deep. "So it's because I'm special to her that she's avoiding suspicion?" Author's note: From Brother Jianghai's journey of self-persuasion.