Everyone knew exactly who the remark was aimed at.
Mrs. Zhao’s face turned pale and flushed in quick succession. Hearing the word illegal left her completely panicked.
She had wanted to cause trouble for Zhong Qing—but she hadn’t expected that the young woman would turn out to be Director Ye’s sister!
Ye Fang, however, no longer paid attention to Mrs. Zhao. She turned to Zhong Qing and offered a warm, sincere smile, tightly grasping her hand.
“Comrade Zhong Qing, I originally came to thank you. My sister is so careless and scatterbrained. From what Guxue told me about what happened on the train, if it weren’t for you, this child might have already been taken away and used for money!”
Guxue had recounted the events on the train in vivid detail as soon as they got home.
Especially when she mentioned the thief carrying a knife—Ye Fang had been truly horrified.
Ye Fang held Zhong Qing’s hands and solemnly told the police officers, “I cannot believe that someone who would bravely help a stranger on a moving train would turn around and sell her own child. It makes no sense, logically or morally.”
Zhong Qing? Saving people? That was completely out of left field!
For her, not causing harm to anyone was already a miracle.
And yet, these words came from Ye Fang.
The entire compound trusted Director Ye’s judgment. She wouldn’t casually lie to protect someone.
The women who had been hotheadedly worrying about the children hesitated for the first time.
Could it be… they had really misunderstood Zhong Qing?
Zhong Qing knew Ye Fang was helping her clear her name, and she silently noted the favor. She naturally picked up the conversation:
“Director Ye, you’re too kind. Everyone runs into difficulties sometimes when out and about. Helping each other is nothing big—just like now, you and Guxue are helping me too, aren’t you?”
The police quickly pieced together the events. The human-trafficking accusation had been resolved, Zhong Qing had behaved impeccably, and the children were safe. Naturally, the misunderstanding about selling the children was cleared up.
“Rest assured, we understand the situation now. We believe what Director Ye says,” the officer told the other helpful women. “Being enthusiastic is good, but always check the facts first, to avoid misunderstandings.”
The well-meaning women felt embarrassed.
Zhong Qing graciously offered them a way out: “I understand that you were just worried about the children’s safety.”
Zhong Qing was already beautiful, and speaking with such gentle and measured words made everyone feel reassured.
The previously embarrassed women now had no way to face her directly.
They had misunderstood her intentions, even involved the police, and yet Zhong Qing was still so kind to them.
The old Zhong Qing would have yelled and caused a scene—but now, she couldn’t have done that.
Could it be that she really had changed?
The women, blushing, apologized to Zhong Qing.
The tension eased, and they finally remembered the instigator.
“Hey? Where’s Mrs. Zhao?”
After all, it had been her idea to accuse Zhong Qing of selling the children and to involve the police.
Now that the truth was clear, she ought to apologize.
But looking around, Mrs. Zhao was nowhere to be found.
Ye Fang snorted coldly: “She probably saw an opening and slipped away. Well, it’s almost mealtime, the matter is resolved, everyone should disperse.”
Turning to Pei Yanshen, Ye Fang said, “Captain Pei, matters between you and your wife are private, but today, you indeed wronged Comrade Zhong Qing.”
Guxue was less reserved than Ye Fang.
Linking arms with Zhong Qing, she blurted out: “Thanks to Xiao Qing buying all these things and carrying them back alone, and what do you do? You still don’t trust her!”
Pei Yanshen’s expression was complicated, and he fell silent.
Guxue couldn’t stand it, so she made an excuse to take Zhong Qing out for a meal, leading her away.
Throughout it all, Zhong Qing didn’t glance at Pei Yanshen even once.
Back at home, Pei’s mother saw that Xiao An and Xiao Yu were safely returned, and Pei Yanshen and his father were present—but Zhong Qing was gone.
Their relief quickly turned to worry.
“Why didn’t Xiao Qing come back with you?”
Pei’s father snorted coldly, “That’s a question for your son!”
Pei Yanshen put down the large bundles and said, “She went with Director Ye’s sister to eat.”
“Eat?!” Pei’s father raised his voice, “She clearly ran off because you angered her! The kids are young and misbehaving, and you, as a father, just made things worse!”
Pei’s mother was even more confused. She pulled Pei’s father aside to hear the whole story.
Seeing Xiao An and Xiao Yu, still unsure what to do, and glancing at the silent Pei Yanshen, she scowled:
“Yanshen, this time you really overdid it.”
Pei’s father fumed even more: “Look, your wife specially bought clothes for the whole family—including us parents, without even getting anything for herself! Xiao Qing’s good intentions have been completely disregarded!”
Pei Yanshen could offer no defense.
Buying clothes like this was not typical of Zhong Qing’s usual style.
That explained why he had jumped to conclusions when he saw the police surrounding her and Xiao Yu.
Pei’s mother immediately recognized the quality of the clothes. With so many items, it must have cost a considerable amount.
She first sent Xiao Yu and Xiao An back to their room, then turned to Pei Yanshen and scolded him patiently:
“Xiao Qing spent both thought and money buying these things—all for you and the children, for the harmony of this family.
A mother is falsely accused of selling her own children. If you don’t speak up, and even let others treat her badly… how cold would that make her feel?”
Pei’s father, too angry to stay, went to his room.
Pei’s mother sighed and shook her head as she left.
For a moment, Pei Yanshen was left alone in the living room.
Looking at the clothes his parents refused to take, he fell into deep thought.
He couldn’t believe a person could change so much so quickly.
…
Worried that Zhong Qing might still be upset, Guxue, using the excuse that she was new and unfamiliar with the compound, took her shopping to distract her.
When they arrived at the state-run restaurant, Zhong Qing finally spoke:
“You don’t need to be so careful. I’m not that fragile.”
Guxue froze, curious and puzzled: “Everyone in the compound says you’re going to divorce… it can’t be true, can it?”