While Xu Xiao was meticulously preparing evidence, somewhere far away in Tiandu...

At the deepest part of the compound is a secluded, antique-style three-courtyard house. Many people patrol and observe the courtyard, yet it is so quiet that not even the sound of their footsteps can be heard.

Only in the master bedroom of the third courtyard could faint creaking sounds be heard, accompanied by the groaning of a wooden chair, sweeping away the loneliness and chill of the night.

At this moment, a tall, slender figure wearing a heavy black coat walked in from the courtyard gate, crossed the path lined with orchids on both sides, and walked all the way to the master bedroom door, where he pushed open the door and went inside.

Inside, an elderly man dressed in a traditional Chinese suit was fiddling with his old-fashioned radio. Hearing the sound, he turned around and glanced at it, but immediately looked away, only letting out a soft hum: "What brings you here today?"

Xuan Yuanjing, with his sharply defined face and iron-blooded aura, paused upon hearing this.

Xuanyuan Zhenhua looked on with great curiosity: "You have moments of hesitation too? Tell me, what is it?"

Xuan Yuanjing pondered for a moment, then took out a stack of documents from the inside pocket of his coat and handed them to the old man: "It's about Sheng Sheng."

The old man paused, his outstretched hand still, and snorted even more forcefully: "What does her business have to do with me? Why are you looking for me?"

Although he said that, his hand had already steadily taken the documents, with a hint of urgency in his expression.

Xuanyuan Jing watched quietly, but a faint smile couldn't help but flash across his eyes.

At first, the old man read slowly and carefully, but then he read faster and faster, flipping through the pages more and more quickly. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he slammed the documents in his hand onto the low couch next to him.

"This is outrageous!"

His chest heaved, clearly indicating he was quite angry.

However, it only took a few seconds for Xuanyuan Zhenhua to calm down and look up at the man who was still standing there like a wooden stake.

He instantly became furious again: "You have time to send me all this junk, but why don't you solve this problem first? You just watch people online criticize her like that, is that how you act as a brother?!"

A smile flashed across Xuan Yuanjing's eyes, but his face remained cold and ruthless: "You said you don't have a daughter like that, that a son obeys his father, then I don't have a sister like that either."

Xuanyuan Zhenhua's expression froze.

Unable to hold back any longer, she grabbed her cane and punched him: "You've gotten bolder and bolder since I last came here, you even dare to insult your own father!"

Xuan Yuanjing's expression finally softened. He reached out and tidied up the stack of documents that had been scattered on the low couch, then turned to look at the old man: "Aren't you angry with her anymore?"

Xuanyuan Zhenhua snorted coldly: "Angry? Of course I'm angry."

That brat left a note saying she was going out for a while and ran off, keeping her whereabouts a closely guarded secret. He even used the Xuanyuan Guards, which hadn't been used for hundreds of years, but couldn't find a trace of her.

Not to mention that she was gone for more than two years without making a single phone call back.

If A-Jing hadn't called her several times and answered, he would have worried that something had happened to the girl.

But even on those few successful calls, the other end would just say "hello" and hang up.

Xuanyuan Zhenhua gets furious whenever he thinks about these things.

Despite his anger, he knew that Xuan Yuan Zhenhua's goddaughter should not be bullied by outsiders!

The old man's nonchalant air vanished at that moment, replaced by the imposing presence of someone who had long held a high position.

He slammed his dragon-headed cane on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Find out the truth of this matter, and don't let anyone behind it get away with it!"

Xuanyuan Jing also straightened his expression: "I know."

Xuanyuan Zhenhua nodded: "Go ahead."

Xuanyuan Jing turned and left.

But he was called back after taking only two steps.

Xuanyuan Jing looked at his father with a puzzled expression.

But Xuan Yuan Zhenhua's gaze was fixed on the dragon-headed cane in his hand, and the coldness in his eyes had disappeared without him noticing.

He ran his fingers over the obvious scratches on his cane, his gaze softening: "We've found out the truth. Get the official Chinese website to clarify."

Xuanyuan Jing's body trembled slightly.

It has been more than six years since my father stepped down from that position, and all these years he has quietly stayed in his small courtyard.

A few years ago, when Sheng Sheng still lived here, he couldn't stand the little girl staying in her room all day and not going out, so he would occasionally take her out for a walk.

In the past two years, he has rarely even left this courtyard.

Not to mention interfering in China's affairs or using official resources.

This is the first time.

Xuanyuan Jing had always known that his father valued Sheng Sheng, but he never expected that his father would go to such lengths for her, and his expression became slightly complicated.

But only for a moment, and he composed himself: "I understand."

*

Qin Sheng was unaware that her small matter had already alarmed the Chinese authorities. At that moment, she had just finished washing up and came out of the bathroom.

The phone screen was lit up, and she went over to take a look.

Goodness.

More than twenty missed calls.

Without intending to return the call, she walked towards the bed while drying her hair, but after only a couple of steps, her phone vibrated again.

Qin Sheng: "..."

That's really persistent.

She rubbed her temples, but eventually went back to answer the phone.

"Aaaaaah! I've finally redeemed myself!"

"Aaaaaah! Sheng Sheng, I'm finally alive!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

Excited screams kept coming through the phone's receiver. Qin Sheng rubbed her ears, which were ringing from the noise, and said expressionlessly, "If you call me again, I'll hang up."

The voice on the other end stopped abruptly, but the excitement was unstoppable.

"Hahaha, Sheng Sheng, let me read you the latest round of comments!"

Before Qin Sheng could refuse, Yan Xi started reading aloud.

[My God, I'm really afraid to blindly follow gossip anymore. How can someone be so shameless?]

[She has the nerve to say Qin Sheng hit someone too hard, yet she slaps him herself. That's the perfect illustration of what a spoiled young lady is!]

[She's not a big star, but she has a huge temper. Judging by the way that bitch Li slapped someone, I would have thought she was some kind of international superstar. Pshaw, even international superstars aren't this arrogant.]

[To be honest, Qin Sheng only slapped Tang Si back, which was too lenient. Tang Si threw a cup of coffee at her, and her fans retaliated by throwing a hundred cups back. By the same token, shouldn't Qin Sheng slap a hundred times to justify avenging her benefactor?]

Come on, Sheng fans, let's get active again and go and tear Li Shanshan and her stupid fans apart!

[...]

Yan Xi's enthusiastic voice continued to come through, but Qin Sheng glanced at her phone and interrupted her, "I have a call coming in, I'll hang up now."

The call was disconnected, but no one answered it immediately.

She looked at her phone screen, her eyes darkening slightly.