The car stopped outside the villa. Qin Shuo peered through the window and let out a string of wows loud enough to drown out Jiang Yanzhi’s parting instructions.
“Big Boss is this place a castle?”
“Who would have guessed our Chief has a real princess for a sister!”
Lights came on downstairs then upstairs right after. Xu Jiu did not want Xu Zhen to know just yet that she and Jiang Yanzhi had grown close again. She stepped out and turned to them quickly.
“You should go. I will head in first.”
She did not give Jiang Yanzhi a chance to speak. Grabbing her bag she hurried toward the gate. It opened before she reached it. Xu Zhen stood there in thin pajamas peering out.
“Your friend dropped you off again?”
Xu Jiu glanced back. The car was already gone leaving only the faint glow of taillights fading into the dark. She nodded gently.
“Was he driving a jeep?”
“Yes it is a bit beat up and so loud nothing like our cars at home.” Xu Jiu slipped her arm through Xu Zhen’s. “Sis when will I have a car of my own like you?”
“Why the sudden wish for one?”
“All my friends have them it looks so cool.”
“For your eighteenth birthday I will give you a Mercedes how does that sound?”
“You are the best sister ever.”
Xu Zhen stroked her hair and kept her gaze fixed on where the car had vanished. “What does this friend’s family do for work?”
“His dad runs an auto repair shop and his mom manages a convenience store.”
“And him?”
“He is into music always traveling around hardly ever at school.”
“You seem to know a lot about him do you like him?”
Xu Jiu covered her face pretending to be shy. “Sis you are making things up I am not talking to you anymore.”
Xu Zhen laughed warmly. “You can tell me anything. If you really like him bring him home on your birthday and let Dad meet him. If it works out we can have you engaged right then.”
“Is not that a bit soon?”
“Not at all. Mom was already carrying me when she was your age.”
Xu Jiu smiled brightly eyes crinkling. “But you and Brother in Law are not engaged yet. Should I go ahead of you?”
“Dad would not stop you if that is what you truly want.”
“I suppose so. If he objects I will run away and cut ties with him.”
Xu Zhen laughed at her tone. “Do not worry Mom and I will stand by you.”
“I knew you would be on my side.”
“Such a sweet talker.”
Xu Jiu knew exactly what Xu Zhen was thinking. She hoped Xu Jiu would go astray and get cast out by Xu Yongcheng. Even if he was far from perfect he would never wish his own daughter harm. Xu Zhen had been foolish easily misled by Fang Xue and her daughter and had turned against him. In this new life Xu Jiu would not forgive him but neither would she give up a penny of what was hers.
Back in bed her mind turned back to the case. Who owned those oversized dresses and the wig at Wang Jianjun’s place? Why had he suddenly confessed? Was Wu Cuilan really the killer? And what part had Li Tianci played? Questions kept crowding in. She sat up abruptly and phoned Jiang Yanzhi.
“Are the blood match results ready?”
Silence came from the other end. Her breath caught. “They do not match Wu Cuilan?”
“They do.”
Her spirits lifted instantly. “Then the case is closed?”
“Wu Cuilan claims the knife set was hers. She bought it at a department store for several hundred yuan and said it went missing a few days ago. Wang Jianjun told her he had given it away so her blood being there is nothing unusual.”
“And Wang Jianjun confessed?”
“He did.”
“How can that be?”
“Reporters somehow got word and have surrounded the station completely.”
Xu Jiu’s head spun. She did not hear Jiang Yanzhi call her name several times. “Is Wu Cuilan being released?”
“She is. The paperwork is being processed now.”
“Wang Jianjun is not the killer.”
“I know.” His voice carried quiet resolve. “And I will not let the true culprit escape.”
Before dawn broke sounds of shouting rose from outside followed by knocking at her door. Xu Jiu reached for her phone half asleep and noticed the call with Jiang Yanzhi was still connected. She marveled at how long the battery had lasted.
The knocking continued and Xu Zhen’s voice came through. “Little Sister wake up please.”
“What is it?”
“Dad wants to speak with you.”
“About what?”
“Do you need a reason for your father to want to talk to you?”
Xu Jiu frowned wondering what had put him in such a foul mood so early. No wonder he had suffered a stroke before turning fifty. She whispered a quick goodbye to Jiang Yanzhi and ended the call then opened the door. The whole family stood outside as if gathered to watch something at the zoo craning their necks to peer into her room. She leaned casually against the doorframe.
“What is going on?”
Fang Xue spoke in a gentle tone. “Jiu Jiu who were you talking to just now?”
“No one.” Xu Jiu looked back innocently. “Aunt Fang what is the matter why is everyone gathered here?”
Xu Yongcheng looked down at her from where he stood. “Such serious trouble at your school and you come home without a word?”
“You mean about the baby?”
“A teacher is also involved. Someone in that position should set an example not lead students into such shameful things.”
Xu Jiu nodded listening not quite sure what point he was trying to make. He looked at her face so beautiful and with a touch of impatience and sighed quietly.
He and Ye Min had both been striking and their daughter had inherited the best of both. She used to cling to him as a little girl sitting on his shoulders calling him daddy in her sweet voice sharing her candy and showing him characters she had just learned to write. When had things changed? He had rushed back from Guangcheng heartbroken after hearing Ye Min had been killed. She had cried so hard saying she had no mother left. After the funeral once she recovered he had to return to Guangcheng to oversee business and wanted to take her along. She had asked if he could stay.
He could not. Fang Xue and her daughter were there waiting. Xu Jiu went to stay with the Jiang family where Liu Shuran who had been Ye Min’s closest friend would care for her. When they met again years later when he moved his business back she had been polite but distant. They argued over everything sometimes coming close to blows yet he could never bring himself to raise a hand against a face so like her mother.
“Choose your friends carefully.” He spoke with feeling. “Not everyone means well. You are still learning to tell right from wrong so come to the family when something happens.”
In her past life she would have snapped back at the first word of criticism. This time she listened calmly.
“Thank you Dad. I will keep that in mind.”
He had not heard her call him Dad in so long he fell silent and his eyes grew warm. Fang Xue seeing her plans falter quickly stepped in.
“Jiu Jiu is growing up she knows right from wrong you should not speak that way to her.”
Her words sounded supportive but carried a sting. Xu Jiu simply yawned unaffected.
“Dad Aunt Fang Sister if that is all may I go back to sleep?”
“Of course.” He softened at once. “Breakfast will be kept warm for you.”
Fang Xue walked downstairs arm in arm with him and Xu Zhen followed Xu Jiu into her room.
“Why did you not tell me what happened at school? We saw the news and were so worried.”
“I was not at school yesterday I had no idea it had become such a big story.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” She met Xu Zhen’s gaze steadily. “Sis do you doubt me?”
Xu Zhen laughed it off quickly. “Never I was just worried about you getting hurt. Even Dad says you should be careful with friends.”
Xu Jiu lowered her head then looked up again. “He talks a lot. I am just having fun with my friends what harm can come of it?”
“Why did you not argue back?”
“Because I spent all my allowance treating friends to dinner yesterday. If I upset him I will have no money left.”
“You ran out of money? Why did you not ask me?”
“Could you lend me some?”
“How much?” Xu Jiu held up five fingers. “Fifty?” She shook her head. “Five hundred? Whatever do you need it for?”
“I need five thousand.”
“Five thousand!” Xu Zhen’s voice rose. “Whatever for?”
Xu Jiu’s expression softened eyes pleading. “I knew it was too much. I will go to Dad and be extra nice I am sure he will say yes…”
“No!” Xu Zhen caught herself and softened. “Do not go to Dad. If you two start fighting you will get no allowance next month at all.”
“But how will I go out with my friends?”
“I will get it for you now.”
Xu Jiu followed her to Fang Xue’s room and heard Xu Zhen speak sharply from inside.
“Mom do you know what that little wretch asked for?”
“Keep your voice down what did she want?”
“Five thousand yuan! I barely get one thousand a month why should she have so much?”
“Give it to her. If she goes to your father he will give her fifty thousand without blinking. Do not underestimate how much he favors her.”
“It makes me sick looking at her face. When can we get rid of her?”
“Not yet. Keep her distracted and lead her astray. Once he loses interest and the Jiang family will not take her back she will have nowhere to go. She will be begging us on her knees.”
“Why did she not die along with her mother?”
Xu Jiu clenched her fist and stepped back as Xu Zhen came out. A housekeeper stood by the stairs staring at her in shock lips parted. Xu Jiu placed a finger to her lips smiled and walked quietly back to her room. Moments later Xu Zhen entered with a forced smile and handed over a thick stack of cash. Xu Jiu waited for the day when they would be the ones begging and weeping on their knees.