Chapter 34: Investigation

Wen Ming Yue and Xie Cen had many miscellaneous items, many of which were old objects from years past. Though not worth much money, they were reluctant to throw them away. All of these were moved into Fan Xia’s home. The small two-bedroom apartment already had limited living space, and now the living room and balcony were almost completely occupied.

Wen Lan Sheng helplessly said a few words to Xie Cen: “Dad, old items like tea mugs don’t need to be brought over. We have water cups at home, and they take up too much space.”

Xie Cen lowered his head to organize things. Hearing Wen Lan Sheng speak this way, he sarcastically retorted: “Although they’re old things, they’re durable. In case we old folks are driven out by you again, we can sell these things as scrap to earn a few coins and delay starving to death for a few days.”

“……” Wen Lan Sheng was choked by Xie Cen’s words, feeling extremely aggrieved.

Wen Jing was the one who made the mistake, yet they protected her like an ancestral treasure. He just didn’t want to fill the hole for Wen Jing, but instead became the sinner.

Since they harbored such resentment and blame towards him in their hearts, why did they still move into his home?

“The money will be in the account tomorrow. We’ll compensate the other party and then go pick up your sister,” Xie Cen picked up a cloth bag and piled it in a corner of the living room. The heavy atmosphere of the last century emanating from the tattered bag clashed jarringly with the carefully decorated living room, like a piece of vegetable leaf stuck to an expensive painting, looking out of place no matter how one looked at it.

After all, they were his own parents. Wen Lan Sheng held back and nodded: “Alright.”

It happened to be the weekend, and Fan Xia wasn’t working either. She drove everyone to the police station to pick up Wen Jing.

When Wen Jing was released, she was still wearing wrinkled pajamas, her hair was very oily and messy, and her complexion was quite poor.

Xie Cen hugged Wen Jing worriedly, asking this and that: “Jing Jing, how are you? Did anyone bully you in the detention center?”

Wen Jing shook her head, opened the car door and climbed in, resting her head blankly against the window without speaking.

Wen Ming Yue stopped the anxious Xie Cen: “Jing Jing just got out, don’t disturb her.”

“Sister-in-law, please take me home,” Wen Jing spoke up, her voice hoarse. It seems this detention center experience had truly taught her a bitter lesson.

“Alright,” Fan Xia nodded.

Everyone got in the car and drove back to the residential complex.

Seeing that it wasn’t the work unit housing she had lived in since childhood, Wen Jing said, “Sister-in-law, I mean back to my own home.”

Xie Cen nervously lowered his head, and Wen Ming Yue remained silent. The car was terrifyingly quiet.

“Dad, Mom, why aren’t you saying anything?” Wen Jing finally realized something was wrong and looked at them.

“The house has already been sold,” Wen Lan Sheng finally spoke up: “Just to bail you out, we compensated the other party one million yuan. We had no choice but to sell Mom and Dad’s house. Wen Jing, look at what you’ve done!”

“Wen Lan Sheng, how can you talk to Jing Jing like that!” Xie Cen protected his daughter, holding Wen Jing’s hand: “Dad knows this isn’t your fault. You were just pushed to the limit.”

“What do you mean it’s not her fault? Wen Jing, you’re over 20 now, an adult. How can you still be so irritable and impulsive, thinking you can solve everything with your fists? Now look, because of you, Mom and Dad don’t even have their old house anymore.” Wen Lan Sheng, who had been holding back his anger, now let it all out.

“Lan Sheng,” Fan Xia gently squeezed Wen Lan Sheng’s hand, indicating he shouldn’t continue.

Fan Xia’s hand was soft and delicate, like a gentle rain soothing his anger. Wen Lan Sheng stopped speaking.

It took Wen Jing a long time to react, realizing what a great price had been paid because of her willfulness.

Xie Cen set up a simple small bed on the balcony for Wen Jing to sleep. Fortunately, the balcony was fully enclosed, and it wasn’t winter, so sleeping there wouldn’t be cold.

“Jing Jing, Dad has laid several layers of cotton quilts for you. It’s very soft to lie on, not at all inferior to the bed at home,” Xie Cen said, hunching over as he made the bed.

Wen Jing’s eyes stung: “I’m sorry, Dad. It’s all because of me that you had to sell your only house. I’ve let you down.”

Xie Cen wiped away her tears lovingly: “Silly child, what fault do you have? You haven’t let me down. If anyone should apologize, it should be your brother.”

Wen Jing looked at Xie Cen’s eyes filled with resentment: “Why?”

Wen Lan Sheng was in the kitchen making a welcome-home meal for Wen Jing, and Fan Xia was in the bedroom. Xie Cen closed the glass door between the living room and the balcony and said softly: “Your sister-in-law has been planning to buy a new house recently. With so much money, how could she not be able to come up with a mere million yuan? It’s because of your brother. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to live in a big house and was unwilling to spend that little money. That’s why your mom and I had no choice but to sell the house.”

“Think about it, you’re both children of the same father. He’s your own brother, yet he’s so cold-blooded. Now when I see him, my heart goes cold.”

True friendship is seen in times of adversity, and even blood relatives are no exception. It turns out her own brother was so iron-hearted and stone-cold.

After hearing this, Wen Jing’s face turned ashen.

However, Wen Lan Sheng was unaware of all this. He happily brought out the freshly cooked soup: “Dinner’s ready!”

Wen Jing sat down expressionlessly, looking at the happy Wen Lan Sheng as a cold feeling arose in her heart.

Ever since her good brother got together with Fan Xia, the smile had never left his face. House, car, and a considerable monthly allowance – he had everything. Though just the son of a small factory accountant, he lived as comfortably as a wealthy husband. Even perfumes and skincare products costing thousands per bottle, he bought without hesitation.

Yet this extravagant person was unwilling to give her the money that could save her life.

If it were Fan Xia who disagreed, she could understand. Although a sister-in-law, she was still an outsider. But who knew that the one strongly opposing giving the money was actually her own brother? It was ironic to the extreme.

This brother, it’s better not to have one than to have one like this.

“Jing Jing, are these dishes not to your liking? Why aren’t you eating?” Fan Xia asked with concern.

Wen Jing shook her head: “No, I was just thinking, sister-in-law, your wedding with my brother is coming up soon, right?”

“Mm, it’s soon,” Fan Xia smiled, holding Wen Lan Sheng’s hand.

Wen Lan Sheng smiled sweetly: “The day after tomorrow.”

“That’s nice,” Wen Jing said with an ambiguous smile: “Congratulations.”

After dinner, Wen Ming Yue paced back and forth in the living room.

Fan Xia came out to drink water and saw her.

She walked over and asked, “Auntie, what’s wrong?”

Wen Ming Yue looked at Fan Xia, feeling a bit apprehensive.

Before, when she lived in Fan Xia’s home, it was because she was injured. She had her own house, her daughter was studying abroad, and the future looked promising. So even though she lived in Fan Xia’s home, she felt confident.

But now, she had no house and no money, and her daughter was also… Even though Fan Xia was her daughter-in-law, in front of such a wealthy and well-connected daughter-in-law, she naturally felt inferior and lacked confidence.

However, her strong desire for money forced her to swallow her pride: “Fan Xia, you often accompany CEO Rong and attend various dinners. Have you heard of any new, quick money-making investment projects recently?”

“Auntie,” Fan Xia said with difficulty: “Last time I helped you was already an exception…”

“I know, but auntie is also anxious. Look at Jing Jing, she’s lost her job. In the future, marrying a man, starting a family, all these things need money. I don’t mind for myself, but we can’t ignore Jing Jing’s future.”

Wen Ming Yue held Fan Xia’s hand, her tone almost pleading: “You and Lan Sheng are about to get married. I’m practically your mother now. I’ve watched you grow up since you were little, and in my heart, I’ve always treated you like my own daughter. If I earn some money, then I can help Jing Jing move out sooner, which will also lighten your burden, right? Fan Xia, you need to understand mom’s good intentions.”

The word ‘mom’ caused a barely noticeable change in Fan Xia’s expression.

“Alright then, but auntie, this is really the last time. If it’s discovered, I really won’t be able to keep my job,” Fan Xia sighed helplessly.

Wen Ming Yue nodded repeatedly with relief: “I knew our Lan Sheng hadn’t misjudged. Marrying him to you puts my mind at ease.”

Fan Xia said: “The contractor for our sanatorium in Hainan is Hongyuan Real Estate. This deal was recently finalized, and the news hasn’t been made public yet. Once it’s announced, the stock will definitely surge. As long as you have enough initial capital, earning enough for a house shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve invested 200,000 yuan myself. If it weren’t for the wedding expenses with Lan Sheng and buying a house, I would have invested it all.”

Wen Ming Yue was overjoyed: “You invested 200,000 yuan yourself?”

But Fan Xia couldn’t smile, her eyes filled with worry as she admonished again: “Auntie, please don’t tell anyone about this. Not your old colleagues or neighbors. The fewer people who know about this, the better.”

Wen Ming Yue nodded. Of course, she wouldn’t tell others about this money-making method. She wasn’t stupid.

However, seeing how nervous Fan Xia looked, and the fact that she had invested 200,000 yuan herself, this time’s profits must be even more than last time.

Wen Ming Yue immediately sprang into action.

Yunshui Bay

Rong Xiu sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the documents handed over by the private investigator.

Wen Ming Yue’s parents in her hometown had already passed away. Among the old neighbors, some had died, some had dementia, and no clues could be found.

The only lead was the auto repair shop that had repaired Wen Ming Yue’s car years ago. Although Wen Ming Yue’s car had fallen into water, the body hadn’t completely submerged. It was discovered and towed to the repair shop. The mechanic said the car body only had minor issues and could be fully repaired.

However, Wen Ming Yue insisted that a water-damaged car was prone to accidents and demanded the vehicle be thoroughly cleaned inside and out before going through the process of being scrapped.

Generally speaking, vehicles to be scrapped don’t need such thorough cleaning, especially over a decade ago when bridges were small and cars were rare.

Therefore, even after so many years, the mechanic still had a vivid impression of this incident.

After that, all information about the Wen family’s car disappeared.

Then he opened the investigation report on the car accident of Fan Xia’s mother, Fan Yun, from years ago. There were no surveillance cameras, no witnesses, and the victim died on the spot.

Because the road where the incident occurred was an outbound city road, many dump trucks secretly entered and exited the city at night. The victim’s body was run over multiple times, and the tire marks of the perpetrator’s vehicle were also destroyed.

The only clue was that traffic police deduced from the vehicle impact debris left at the scene that the offending vehicle might have been a Santana.

Snap—

Rong Xiu closed the file, his eyes as deep as the sea.