Chapter 185: 101. I have been looking for someone (2 updates, 1).
The whole world quieted down, and Shi Nian could only hear the gentle hum of the machine in her ears. The rhythmic sound made her feel sleepy, so she simply closed her eyes.
The scene from four years ago unexpectedly resurfaced in her mind, piece by piece.
Those things she thought she had long forgotten...
Back then, she had just finished all the examinations, and the doctor told her she was fine. The eyes of all the police officers and medical staff were brimming with tears of excitement, as if it was themselves who had survived the disaster.
She knew she should be happy too, but somehow she just couldn’t bring herself to smile.
The first thing she did after sitting up was to grab the attending doctor’s hand and shake her head vigorously, "The doctor is wrong, really wrong. There’s something wrong with me, I feel like something must be wrong. Doctor, please do another CT scan for me, okay? Check if there’s something wrong with my brain. Why do I feel I’ve forgotten someone? Please, help me remember him, okay?"
Everyone present looked at each other, and the doctor asked her sympathetically and patiently, "Why do you have such a thought? Why don’t you try to describe him; what kind of person is he? The officers are all here, maybe they’ve already found him for you."
Shi Nian shook her head and shook it again, "...Someone who was held hostage with me. He’s a young guy, very tall."
She squinted her eyes and continued slowly, "He’s very mischievous."
Speaking of this, she revealed her first smile since being rescued. But with that smile, even though a sweet feeling quietly bloomed in her heart, her nose suddenly stung with acidity.
Where is he?
.
Because this case might be targeted at Shi Nian’s father and involved the kidnapping of a police officer’s relative, the public security system paid great attention to the case from top to bottom. Director Zheng, who was in charge of criminal investigation, personally took command. At this time, Director Zheng was also present and quickly stepped forward upon hearing her words.
"Shi Nian, the person you’re talking about, we’ve rescued him too. Fortunately, just like you, he only suffered minor injuries, and it was your father who personally saved him."
"Really? Where is he, Director Zheng? Could you take me to see him, please?"
Director Zheng personally took her to the ward.
At that moment, time seemed to stop. The sunlight fell on the white walls, on the equally white beddings, creating a dazzling glare.
She had just been rescued from darkness, and her eyes couldn’t adapt to the light of reality, so she squinted her eyes.
After a few minutes, she saw the man in that dazzling halo.
He sat quietly amidst the white, wearing a white hospital gown, yet his hair was jet black, and his eyes, like dots of lacquer, were also jet black. Seeing her arrive, he looked slightly disoriented before smiling, standing up despite the IV needle in his hand, and walked towards her.
Standing in front of her, he bowed his head to align their gaze and said softly, "Hey... you came?"
He was indeed a handsome man, so handsome that for a moment sunshine faded to colorlessness.
But she inexplicably panicked, unable to face his eyes or answer his question, only turning back to search for Director Zheng.
Director Zheng stepped forward with a smile, "Shi Nian, what’s the matter? This is the boy who was rescued with you. His name is Xiang Yuan. Haven’t you always wanted to see him?"
Shi Nian shook her head in confusion, "No, something’s not right."
Indeed, she had neither seen him nor heard him speak before... So despite his attractive demeanor and gentle voice, something felt off; the current situation wasn’t the way they would communicate.
"Oh," under the surprised gazes of Director Zheng and others, Xiang Yuan suddenly smiled, took Shi Nian’s hand, and wrote with his fingers, "Shi, Nian, Xiang, Yuan."
Only then did Shi Nian lightly cover her mouth with her hand, as two lines of tears quietly rolled down.
He finished writing, then raised his eyebrows and looked at her gently, "Is it right this way, my little girl?"
Shi Nian could no longer hold back and rushed forward to embrace him.
She found him...
At that moment, she really thought she had finally found him.
Yet later, how did everything change?
In the end, was it her who recognized the wrong person, or was he no longer that gentle, patient, and mischievous person from the dark years?
.
The machine stopped, and she was "spit out" from it. The doctor spoke through the microphone from behind the glass window, "Alright, please step away and wait outside for the report."
Tang Yanqing hurriedly helped her up, but saw her face full of tears.
Tang Yanqing’s heart tightened as he quickly asked, "What’s wrong, hmm? Did it really hurt?"
She quickly wiped away her tears, shaking her head vigorously, "No, maybe it’s because the strong light inside stung my eyes."
Tang Yanqing helped her out, to sit on a chair outside to wait for the report. Suddenly, she said, "...I want to see A Yuan, okay?"
.
"What did you say?"
Tang Yanqing seemed to take a direct blow, standing up with a start, staring at her for a long time.
Shi Nian frowned, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.
"...I think, given what just happened, he should know. After all..."
Tang Yanqing clenched his teeth, sneering coldly: "After all, you two are still married. Is that right?"
Despite hesitating, Shi Nian still nodded.
Tang Yanqing angrily held his waist, walked around the seat a few times, found a large pillar thick enough to hug, and couldn’t help but kick it fiercely... Of course, the inevitable result was that he hurt himself and couldn’t bend his foot for a long time.
Shi Nian saw it all and felt distressed. But the confusion lingered, entangling her heart.
In recent years, especially in the latter two years when their marital relationship gradually cooled, she had asked herself more than once: Did she mistake someone?
But Xiang Yuan was personally rescued by Dad from that place, and he knew the way she communicated with that person by writing in the palm. Such a secret, besides the two of them, how could anyone else know?
But if she didn’t mistake... why did Xiang Yuan change upon returning to the world of light, becoming nothing like the person he once was?
Even during the best two years of their relationship, he treated her with utmost gentleness, but at that time he always remained a gentleman... Where did his mischief go, when they depended on each other in the darkness?
That person who could make her laugh even in hardship, who could still "talk" to her even if only by drawing... where did he go?
Those memories slowly awoke, even though fragmented, each piece was clear, so clear that each fragment cut her heart, causing unbearable pain.
Perhaps she was wrong, truly wrong. That mischievous guy in the darkness was merely something she conjured up in the dark, in despair. And in real life, she never got the chance to reunite with him.
Seeing her drop her head deeply in sorrow and hug her arms...
That was [loneliness], like a child losing parental protection.
He then endured the pain in his foot, resolutely took out his phone, and dialed Xiang Yuan’s number.
.
Police Station.
Jia Tianzi came out of the interrogation room, couldn’t help but slam the notebook on the table, cursing: "Bastard!"
Guan Liang also walked over: "He still refuses to say anything?"
"That’s right." Jia Tianzi gritted his teeth: "He insists on waiting for his lawyer. He said he won’t utter a single word until the lawyer arrives."
They were talking about Mark.
At that time, they had just finished the case analysis meeting. Tang Yanqing was preparing to return to Kangchuan University when he heard about a police incident outside the university. In broad daylight, someone attempted to injure another.
The police near Kangchuan University arrived at the scene first and brought Mark back.
Upon hearing that Mark tried to harm Shi Nian, Tang Yanqing went mad, demanding to interrogate Mark personally. Ultimately, it was Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang who strongly stopped him, taking him behind the coated glass, and Jia Tianzi conducted the interrogation.
——If Tang Yanqing interrogated him personally, Mark would know his identity.
Inside the interrogation room, Mark wore a smile, sitting behind the desk staring at Jia Tianzi, without speaking.
Tang Yanqing left halfway, and Jia Tianzi spent another hour with Mark, yet couldn’t pry his mouth open.
Tang Yan Yi came over with a teacup: "Not saying a word is also his right. It’s the judge and jury’s job to determine guilt. We don’t have the authority to decide."
Jia Tianzi exchanged a glance with Guan Liang.
At this moment, a police officer hurriedly reported: "Mark’s lawyer has arrived."
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang both turned to look. A well-dressed man, carrying a briefcase, came through the dim hallway, step by step, until he was before them.
Jia Tianzi and Guan Liang’s expressions both changed.
.
Tang Yanqing put down the phone and sat beside Shi Nian: "His phone was transferred to his secretary. The secretary said he’s on official business. You, don’t wait anymore."
"Oh." Shi Nian forced a smile: "No matter what, thank you for calling him for me."
Her body instinctively recoiled, creating a distance between them.
He squinted, carefully observing her: "Sleeping Beauty, are you still mad at me, hmm?"
"No." Shi Nian shook her head, denying it.
"Hmph," he hugged his elbow: "All your body language tells me you are." He reached out his hand toward her: "I know I was wrong, not being able to protect you. You can pinch me."
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Police Station.
Facing Jia Tianzi’s surprised gaze, the lawyer smiled, extending his hand: "Mr. Jia, we meet again."
Jia Tianzi frowned: "Lawyer Xiang, how come it’s you?"
Mark’s lawyer was none other than Xiang Yuan.
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Second update of the morning~