Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.
The assault happened right under his nose, yet he, the esteemed Public Security Deputy Director, couldn’t find a single clue.
What kind of formidable figures had the Dai Family offended?
After discussing for ten minutes, Shu Cheng’an and Xiao Liu decided to drop the matter.
They deserved what happened to them.
The two continued their undercover investigation in the village, and after another day, they had gathered nearly all the details of Dai Zhi’s life from childhood to adulthood.
Shu Cheng’an meticulously recorded everything they found in his notebook: “Shall we move to another location? Let’s visit her school.”
Xiao Liu: “Alright.”
Both of them felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
The Dai Family truly didn’t treat their daughter as a human being. No matter what, she was their own flesh and blood—even with a preference for sons over daughters, they shouldn’t have abused her like this.
Shu Cheng’an had a vague sense that there was more to the story.
He thought of the person who had tasked him with investigating this matter and couldn’t help feeling restless.
Over the past few days, thanks to the presence of Zhou Jihuai, a reliable soldier, Wen Zhile had been sleeping much more soundly. She no longer woke up startled by footsteps in the hallway, nor did she have to push a chair against the door after locking it.
The young girl woke up, stretched, freshened up briefly, and was about to head out.
As soon as she opened the door, she froze on the spot.
The next second, she immediately shut the door tightly.
Zhou Jihuai glanced over and spoke coldly: “What are you doing here?”
Zhou Yusheng replied cautiously: “Big brother, Mom, Dad, and Grandma said you should come back home to stay.”
“Your leave is almost over. You should spend some time with the elders.”
Zhou Jihuai scoffed lightly: “I stay at a hotel at night, but I’m home during the day. Zhou Yusheng, you don’t even bother preparing your lies anymore. Who taught you that?”
He glanced at the blushing Wen Nuan, feeling a surge of impatience: “It seems your brain is being eaten by dogs. Instead of spending time on romance, you should visit home more often.”
Wen Nuan looked flustered: “Big brother, Zhou and I—”
Zhou Jihuai had no patience to listen to her. His clear, sharp eyes swept over her: “What are you calling me?”
With that, he shut the door without hesitation.
Zhou Yusheng’s expression turned grim, and Wen Nuan, feeling humiliated, was displeased. After a moment, she tugged at his arm: “Let’s go. We’ll be late for class.”
Zhou Yusheng forced a stiff smile and went downstairs with her.
He had meddled in coming to see his eldest brother today because Nuan Nuan said persuading him to return home would make the family happy. But he wasn’t foolish.
He knew it was just an excuse—Nuan Nuan simply wanted to see his eldest brother through him.
Zhou Yusheng sometimes felt he was quite pathetic. Even though he knew the girl he liked was trying to get his eldest brother’s attention, he was still willing to help.
Wen Zhile pressed her ear against the door, only stepping out when she heard no more sounds in the hallway.
Then, she met the lazy gaze of Zhou Jihuai leaning against the doorframe.
She felt a bit awkward.
“Know them?” Zhou Jihuai asked.
Wen Zhile nodded honestly: “I know that girl.”
She knew the guy too, but that was in her previous life.
Zhou Jihuai had pretty much figured out who her biological parents were. He locked the door behind him: “Stop standing there. Let’s go eat.”
Wen Zhile trotted after him eagerly: “Where are we eating today?”
Over the past few days, she and Zhou Jihuai had become meal buddies. He took her out for all three meals a day. After a few days of this, Wen Zhile felt as though she had been a fake Jing Zhou resident in her previous life. How did Zhou Jihuai know so many delicious private restaurants?
“Where do you want to eat?”
“Let me choose? Then let’s go to that dough drop soup place from yesterday morning.” Wen Zhile didn’t stand on ceremony with him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she looked at him after speaking.
Zhou Jihuai couldn’t help but chuckle: “Alright.”
Seeing that he agreed, the young girl beamed and began massaging his shoulders: “No wonder you’re my brother. If others knew I had such a handsome and wonderful brother, they’d be absolutely jealous of me.”
Zhou Jihuai snorted dismissively: “You and your antics.”
After leaving the hotel, Wen Zhile obsequiously opened the car door for him, only to be lifted by Zhou Jihuai and placed in the passenger seat instead.
She stood at 1.6 meters tall, while Zhou Jihuai was nearly 1.9 meters. When standing together, Wen Zhile only reached his chest, making it effortless for Zhou Jihuai to lift her.
After breakfast, he was about to leave.
“I’m returning to the military base today. If you need to reach me, call this number.”
Zhou Jihuai handed Wen Zhile a handwritten note with a phone number.
“How do you plan to reunite with your biological parents? Still don’t want my help? Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”
Wen Zhile carefully folded the note and placed it in her new backpack – which Zhou Jihuai had insisted on buying for her after he couldn’t bear seeing her old tattered one: “No.”
Zhou Jihuai didn’t press further. After looking her over, he found something else he couldn’t tolerate: “Come on, I’ll take you to buy some new clothes.”
Wen Zhile didn’t even need to think: “Not going.”
“Not short sleeves, just some clothes with breathable fabric.”
The man leisurely rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows. As the weather grew hotter, he could barely stand wearing shirts anymore.
Wen Zhile paused for a moment, then realized that after sharing several meals with Zhou Jihuai, he must have noticed the scars on her arms.
“Still not going. I’ll buy them later.” She met Zhou Jihuai’s gaze and added by way of explanation, “After I reunite with my parents.”
Zhou Jihuai thought for a moment, then nodded and called for the bill.
Wen Zhile quickly paid, afraid that if she delayed even a second, she might miss the chance.
The restaurant owner, a middle-aged man in his fifties who was familiar with Zhou Jihuai, couldn’t help but laugh at the scene: “This is the first time I’ve seen someone so eager to pay. Regimental Commander Zhou, your sister is quite amusing.”
“First time for me too,” Zhou Jihuai’s lips curved slightly upward, “My leave is almost over. This kid will be coming here to eat alone from now on – please look out for her.”
“No problem!”
Wen Zhile felt touched. Zhou Jihuai was such a good person, though it was unfortunate that in her previous life he had died young, leaving her no chance to know him properly – she had only heard his name.
Remembering the family banquet between the Zhou and Wen families in her previous life, Wen Zhile’s mood grew somewhat heavy.
In her past life, Zhou Jihuai had sacrificed his life on the very day of that first formal meeting between the two families.
She had been sixteen then too.
As they left the restaurant, Wen Zhile kept her head down, only speaking up after getting in the car: “Brother, is your military base in Jianghe Village?”