Meng Shuo Jing, unaware of being coveted by someone, was unconcerned even if he were. After all, too many people liked him. Moreover, the moment he saw Miss Fu Yin, he knew she had developed feelings for him. His current concern was whether Fu Yan was well, if she had been wronged, and how her new family treated her.
Meanwhile, Lin Yan, whom Meng Shuo Jing was worried about, was doing very well. The family's hot pot restaurants had entered a steady phase, with both establishments generating good profits. Lin Yan's junior high school entrance exam results were out; she received a scholarship from the top-ranking school and another bonus from her parents. This exam earned Lin Yan nearly a hundred thousand yuan.
Lin Yan chose not to attend the high school in the county town, opting for the best one in the city. Her parents initially wanted to rent a place near the city high school to accompany her, but Lin Yan refused, preferring to board at the school. With two hot pot restaurants in the county and Mrs. Lin's job, her parents couldn't stay with her for long, likely having to shuttle back and forth. Lin Yan also didn't want her parents to abandon their work to accompany her, so she chose boarding. Having experienced many worlds, Lin Yan had never felt the atmosphere of dormitory life before, so she planned to experience it in the new semester.
Since Lin Yan's junior high exams were over, the Lin family planned a vacation to relax during the summer. After Lin Yan chose her high school, she confessed to her parents that she would continue to skip grades and take the college entrance exam early. Although her mother strongly disagreed, she understood that her daughter was opinionated and not arrogant, so she agreed, allowing Lin Yan to skip grades if her performance in the first year of high school was excellent. However, skipping grades wasn't strictly necessary; one could also take the college entrance exam in the second year of high school. If her performance wasn't up to par, she could continue to the third year. Even repeating the third year would still classify her as a first-time taker, not a repeat student. If she scored well, she could go directly to university. Lin Yan was surprised to learn this but quickly accepted the situation, attributing it to the frequent reforms in the college entrance examination policies. She intended to take the exam directly in her second year of high school.
In truth, Lin Yan didn't consider the college entrance examination a challenge, as she had already taken it several times. Her knowledge was profound, and high school material presented no difficulty. The only challenge was some of the poetry in Chinese literature, which had become a bit fuzzy but could be quickly recalled with some reinforcement. However, Lin Yan didn't tell her mother the whole truth, as her mother would surely worry and think she was boasting.
Given Lin Yan's excellent junior high results, her parents decided to use two months' worth of their businesses' revenue for a family vacation. Their first stop was an ancient town with a long history. It hadn't been extensively developed, so there weren't many tourists. The weather wasn't excessively hot, making it a good place to escape the summer heat. They visited several other places along the way, all cool spots, as traveling in the summer heat was an ordeal.
On their way back, Lin Yan's parents were organizing their luggage while Lin Yan went to use the restroom. On her way back from the restroom, Lin Yan accidentally bumped into a middle-aged woman carrying a child. Lin Yan quickly helped steady the child and apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry, so sorry. Are you alright? How is the baby? Was it startled?"
The middle-aged woman quickly dodged Lin Yan. "I'm fine, and the baby is okay. See, she's not crying at all. I have to catch my bus. Little girl, be more careful next time!" The woman prepared to leave, but Lin Yan quickly blocked her path. "Is the baby really okay? She almost fell. Was she scared?" Lin Yan leaned forward, trying to see the infant.
The middle-aged woman looked at Lin Yan, her eyes darting. "No, she's sleeping soundly. Don't worry." She lowered the baby, showing Lin Yan. Lin Yan, seeing the sleeping infant, breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good the baby wasn't scared. Then I'll be going. I'm sorry, Auntie, for almost bumping into you."
"It's okay. By the way, young lady, Auntie needs to use the restroom. Could you hold the baby for me for a moment? I'll be right back." The middle-aged woman asked Lin Yan with a hint of embarrassment.
"No problem, Auntie. I'll watch the baby for you." Lin Yan said enthusiastically.
"That's perfect. Wait for me right outside the restroom. I'll be back soon." The middle-aged woman led Lin Yan to the restroom and handed the baby to her. Lin Yan carefully held the child and said, "Auntie, please go quickly. I'll wait for you here."
"Thank you, young lady. You're such a good person!" The middle-aged woman entered the restroom.
As soon as she saw the woman disappear inside, Lin Yan immediately took the baby's pulse. Although she wasn't an expert in pediatrics, she could still take a baby's pulse. Just as she suspected, the baby had been given a sedative. It smelled similar to what she had detected on the middle-aged woman earlier. It seemed the child's origins were suspicious. Lin Yan quickly called the police and also contacted her parents.
Before Lin Yan's parents arrived, the middle-aged woman emerged from the restroom. She walked up to Lin Yan, took the baby from her arms, and said, "Let's go, come with Auntie to the car!" She then prepared to cover Lin Yan's mouth and nose with a handkerchief. Lin Yan was about to dodge, but someone from behind blocked her. Lin Yan couldn't escape; she was holding a baby and couldn't use her hands to defend herself, watching helplessly as the handkerchief approached her face. Lin Yan quickly held her breath, turned her head to avoid it, and simultaneously tried to kick out in defense.
"What are you doing to Yan Yan!" Lin Yan's father's angry roar was heard from nearby. Lin Yan seized this opportunity to wriggle out from between their arms. Thankfully, she wasn't very tall, or she wouldn't have escaped so easily. "Dad, Mom!" Lin Yan ran towards them, still holding the swaddled infant.
"Put the child down! What are you doing? Where are you taking my child?" The middle-aged woman wailed, slapping her thighs. "Yan Yan, come here quickly." Mrs. Lin immediately shielded her child behind her. "Mom, that person is a child trafficker! She was trying to drug me!"