"Stop your incessant chatter. Weren't you tired hauling stones to save people on the mountain? Go cool off!" Qin Tianyi interrupted Xiao Anjing's lengthy monologue. He was concerned about his image and didn't want Xiao Anjing to keep talking about these things in front of everyone.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop being so talkative. Who am I doing this for? Isn't it so the young madam treats you better, so you don't take it out on me every time you two argue? That way, my life will be a bit easier too." Xiao Anjing lowered his voice, but those nearby could still hear him.
Everyone stifled their laughter. Susu was deeply touched and smiled charmingly at Xiao Anjing, saying, "Mr. Xiao, thank you for your hard work. I won't allow him to take it out on you anymore."
Xiao Anjing immediately gave her a thumbs-up, mouthing "thank you" without making a sound.
Su Kangxi listened intently to the reasons they gave, feeling they were only barely plausible.
Before the mudslide, the orphanage had already been renovated by the local government. It was built with large stones by missionaries in the early years, making it very sturdy. Did they need to fund its reconstruction again?
He felt that Qin Tianyi and the others going to the orphanage wasn't as simple as it seemed, but Susu believed the reason Qin Tianyi gave, and she looked touched and happy. He didn't want to expose Qin Tianyi's lie, so he didn't question them further.
Qin Tianyi caught Su Kangxi's expression and knew he didn't believe their story.
In fact, ever since he left Eshan County and boarded the train, he had been thinking about Yang Sijie being alive.
After he and Xiao Anjing arrived at the orphanage, they had asked the director in charge of receiving external donations.
The director confirmed that the person in the wheelchair was Yang Sijie, which corroborated his suspicion. Allen hadn't come to Eshan for tourism but to accompany Yang Sijie.
The current director of the orphanage had previously been the head of the childcare department there. Foreigners didn't adopt children from here often, so Yang Sijie's adoption abroad had left a deep impression on her. She also recognized Yang Sijie, who had grown up in the orphanage.
Although Yang Sijie had changed somewhat since his youth, and was now paralyzed and mentally impaired, she wouldn't mistake his appearance.
Qin Tianyi still couldn't figure out how Allen had brought Yang Sijie back from abroad, given that Yang Sijie was now a living, breathing invalid. Where was he hiding him now?
Was Yang Sijie's current state of mental impairment genuine, or was he faking it? He needed to see for himself to be absolutely sure.
Moreover, Susu and Su Kangxi had grown up together in the orphanage with Yang Sijie. They had too many unbreakable bonds between them. If they knew Yang Sijie was alive like a cripple, they might soften and let him go.
He and Su Kangxi exchanged a glance. The two men understood each other. Su Kangxi didn't know what Qin Tianyi was hiding, but he was certain he was keeping something from Susu. He hoped whatever Qin Tianyi was hiding was a well-intentioned lie.
Upon arriving at Lancheng train station, they exited together. As they were about to part ways to go home, Su Kangxi said to Susu again, "Susu, please contact my colleague when you have time. You'll likely need to assist with the investigation."
"Okay, I understand," Susu replied, nodding. She waved goodbye to them and watched as they got into a car before getting into the car that had been waiting for her and Tianyi.
As soon as they got into the car, Qin Tianyi immediately asked, "Did something happen to you again while I was away? Why did the police get involved?"
Susu feigned a relaxed tone and said, "It was eventful but not dangerous. I didn't have time to tell you when I went to find you in Eshan. Someone tampered with the car I was driving, and the brakes failed. Xiao Lin was injured and is still hospitalized. I'm fine."
Qin Tianyi couldn't help but nervously grip her hand. Xiao Anjing, sitting in the front, also turned back in surprise and asked, "This is no small matter. It could have led to a car crash and death! Someone wanted you dead!"
Susu patted Qin Tianyi's hand with her other hand and said, "The police have already found out. It was Shu Zhongze's former assistant, but he's fled and is being pursued."
"Shu Zhongze's assistant?" This surprised Qin Tianyi as well, making him realize that Susu must have been even more heartbroken when she received this news.
Xiao Anjing immediately said, "The police should arrest Shu Zhongze directly. This is too obvious. He's still brooding over his daughter's death and probably blames you for it! What's the use of arresting just an assistant? He can send others to harm you!"
Susu gave a bitter smile and didn't respond to Xiao Anjing's words. Instead, she tried to cheer herself up and said, "By the way, there's good news. Xiaoxiao can have the bone marrow transplant surgery. A charitable old gentleman is willing to donate his bone marrow to Xiaoxiao, and the compatibility test is a match."
"Really? That's wonderful! Xiaoxiao is saved!" Xiao Anjing exclaimed with joy.
Qin Tianyi also said, "This is indeed good news."
"This old gentleman also said that once Xiaoxiao's illness is cured, he wants to adopt her. I didn't agree immediately. I wanted to wait for you two to come back and check on this old gentleman's background to see if he can provide Xiaoxiao with a healthy and superior environment to grow up in," Susu also shared her hesitation with them.
Xiao Anjing said with some regret, "The Shu family doesn't want to acknowledge this child. Actually, I wanted to adopt her myself... but I'm not married yet, and I'm not very good at raising children. I don't know if I can raise Xiaoxiao well."
Susu felt he wasn't suitable for adopting a child and said, "You're usually busy with work and don't have much time to spend with Xiaoxiao. Hiring someone might not be ideal either. I think it's best for a young couple who doesn't have children and wants them to adopt her. That way, Xiaoxiao will have a complete family."
Qin Tianyi agreed, saying, "Your consideration is very wise. If an elderly person adopts a child, what if he falls ill or dies before Xiaoxiao grows up? What will happen to Xiaoxiao then?"
Susu also nodded repeatedly. After a pause, she said, "Then let's wait until Xiaoxiao's illness is cured, and we can discuss this matter again to see if we can find a more suitable adopter."
...
Chen Ma's heart finally settled when she saw them return safely. She happily welcomed them.
Little Xingxing also ran over and threw himself into Qin Tianyi's arms, hugging him and saying, "Daddy is so amazing! My classmates all know my dad is a hero who saved people!"
Qin Tianyi lifted him and kissed him. "What hero? When I was trapped in the mountains, I was most afraid I would never see you again, my little one."
Susu also found it a bit strange and asked, "Xingxing, how did your classmates know Dad saved people?"
At this moment, Xiao Mei, who was following behind Little Xingxing, smiled and said, "Young Master, Young Madam, haven't you seen the trending searches online? Eshan County experienced a once-in-a-century mudslide. Volunteers risked their lives to save people. There are also some photos, and one of them is a close-up of the Young Master saving someone."
"Ah, you're trending," Susu said, smiling as she looked at Tianyi. "You've become famous now."