The next morning.
“Ah!”
A piercing scream came from Shen Qingran’s room.
Shen Tang and Zheng Xiuyu, living nearby, arrived quickly.
As Shen Tang opened the door, a strong smell of blood hit him.
Shen Wei and Shen Ci, following behind, were blocked by Shen Tang at the doorway.
Zheng Xiuyu saw the scene inside and was shocked.
Shen Wei and Shen Ci glimpsed through the gap and saw the gruesome state.
Zheng Lin lay twisted on the floor, his groin in a horrifying state.
Shen Yulian’s face was battered and bloody; it was unclear if her face was still recognizable.
Zheng Xiuyu screamed and, ignoring Shen Tang, rushed inside and threw herself onto Shen Yulian.
“Lian’er, Lian’er, wake up!”
Zheng Xiuyu cried loudly.
Shen Qingran pretended to be frightened, sitting up in her covers.
“How… how did they get into my room?”
“What did they do?”
She wiped away a couple of tears and curled up until the police arrived.
The officers were the same young men from yesterday.
How many people had the Shen family offended this time?
Surveying the scene, the police immediately called a forensic examiner.
They initially thought the victims were dead—but they were still alive!
Zheng Xiuyu was finally pulled aside for comfort.
Zhang, the officer in charge, assigned a female officer to accompany Shen Qingran for the statement.
The room smelled strongly of blood; Shen Wei and Shen Ci were terrified.
Although they were used to reckless behavior, seeing such a bloody scene was shocking.
Both trembled, sitting on the sofa downstairs, fists clenched.
Shen Qingran, wrapped in a towel, went downstairs with the female officer to make her statement.
Zheng Xiuyu calmed down slightly after learning Shen Yulian survived, though her heart ached thinking of that disfigured face.
How would she marry in the future?
They had planned to move to Meili State, but the theft disrupted everything.
Her daughter’s appearance was ruined—truly misfortune after misfortune.
Zheng Xiuyu wondered if she had recently angered some evil force.
Both victims were quickly sent to the hospital.
Shen Qingran feigned shock and described last night’s events roughly, saying she had slept deeply and awoke to find things in this state.
As the statement continued, gossiping neighbors began to gather outside.
“Does the Shen family have bad luck in their Feng Shui?”
“Yeah, they must have angered some evil spirit!”
“Two incidents in a row!”
“Maybe it’s the family themselves who are at fault!”
They whispered among themselves.
Shen Tang sat with a grim face, secretly furious.
His family kept encountering trouble. Last night, Shen Qingran had visited the Wan family, but this morning, there was only a box—nothing else.
Shen Tang was unwilling to let this go.
He planned to visit the Wan family later.
As relatives by marriage, if the Wan family ignored the Shen family’s misfortune, he would demand justice for this marriage.
Otherwise, he would refuse the marriage.
Before Shen Tang could act, the police finished the statement.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
Zhang, seeing Bai Han approaching, nodded and immediately withdrew the team.
Under Bai Han’s command, those inside were handcuffed.
Shen Tang immediately protested: “You have no reason—why are you arresting us?”
Bai Han ignored him, walking toward Zheng Xiuyu.
Zheng Xiuyu was confused.
Bai Han displayed his badge.
Seeing the words “State Security,” Zheng Xiuyu immediately fell silent.
Shen Wei and Shen Ci, still in shock, were put into the vehicle.
“What about Shen Qingran? Why isn’t she arrested?” they shouted.
Bai Han replied: “This girl has a severance letter in her hand.
“She has nothing to do with your Shen family.
“We don’t arrest people arbitrarily. We won’t wrong an innocent, but we won’t let a guilty person go.”
His words carried weight.
Shen Tang and Zheng Xiuyu were taken away in shame.
Just as the car doors were about to close, Shen Tang looked at Shen Qingran with a cold, unfamiliar gaze.
It was as if she had never been his daughter.
He rubbed his eyes, thinking he must be mistaken.
Shen Qingran had turned her head, her profile reminiscent of her mother.
Shen Tang’s heart stirred. She looked just like the former Shen Yuxi.
After the doors closed, the convoy departed.
Bai Han approached Shen Qingran with long strides: “Are you alright?”
She looked pale, yet pitifully endearing.
Shen Qingran shook her head: “I’m fine. It’s good you’re here; things are progressing.”
Bai Han nodded, increasingly impressed by her intelligence, as if she could see through people’s hearts.
Talking with a clever person made everything easier.
Then Bai Han said slowly:
“Our investigation shows this necklace belongs to Nan Zaoyunzi.
“Whether Zheng Xiuyu is truly Nan Zaoyunzi needs thorough questioning.
“Strictly speaking, her age doesn’t match Nan Zaoyunzi’s.”
Shen Qingran nodded; Bai Han was stating the facts.
Yet she was certain: “It’s her! Start with those children—they might be the breakthrough!”
Bai Han acknowledged her determination.
Shen Qingran could not reveal how she knew, nor could she confirm the clue’s truth to Bai Han.
A lone girl facing a family, especially a stepmother—an old saying is true: where there’s a stepmother, there’s a stepfather.
From the moment she presented the severance letter decisively, Bai Han knew her life had been far from smooth.
He reminded her to take care of herself before leaving.
Shen Qingran looked around the empty room, full of memories.
But it was only temporary; for now, things had paused, and she had preparations to make.