Chapter 50 Sincerity

Under the cold white desk lamp, Ruan Yi's fingertips slid back and forth on the touchpad, the dense information data on the screen distorted and somewhat blurry.

Ruan Yi rubbed her sore eyes. The electronic document contained the words 'Imported Food Purchase Order' and 'Purified Water Delivery Record'.

There was also information on the maids in charge of purchasing; every name on the list made her eyes ache and her temples throb.

The phone vibrated on the table, and Ruan Yi picked it up to check the lock screen.

When the word "Dad" lit up on the screen, her knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone, the hard edges digging painfully into her palm.

She received a message from this number, an unknown number without a contact name. Her father was asking her for money because of debts.

After taking a few deep breaths, Ruan Yi still clicked on the chat box.

Two short lines appeared on the screen: “Xiaoyi, are you free today? Dad would like to have a meal with you.”

Ruan Yi stared at the warm words in the message box, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.

The last time I ate with my dad was a long, long time ago. Back then, he would even serve her food.

Why do you suddenly want to meet?

"I told you last time that I wouldn't send you any more money."

Her slender fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the send button.

After a long time, a long voice message finally appeared in the dialog box.

My father's long-lost voice came through the background noise.

“Dad is getting old, and the last physical exam showed that he has many health problems… Actually, over the years, I have regretted hurting you and your mother every day.”

As he choked up, a suppressed cough followed.

"Dad doesn't want money. I still have the money you gave me last time. I just want to see you again, Xiaoyi."

Ruan Yi bit her lower lip hard, only realizing she had used too much force when she tasted a slightly metallic sweetness.

There are still unfinished data surveys on the computer screen.

Ruan Yi finally closed her notebook, her eyes swirling with complex emotions. She would go to the dinner.

But she will no longer be that ATM bound by family ties; she wants to see for herself.

Is the father's sudden resurgence of tenderness a genuine expression of remorse, or... has he gambled it all away again?

"Okay, but I won't prepare any money, Dad. I hope you mean it."

"Of course, of course it's true."

The room was illuminated by instant noodle boxes and beer cans scattered all over the floor.

The humid air was filled with the smells of smoke, sweat, and sewers.

"Uncle-in-law, if this call had come any later, I would have arrived in the US!"

“This needs to be done immediately. The people who came to investigate all believe that I have already escaped. This is the best opportunity.”

A twisted smile played on the man's face.

You're going to be a grandfather soon!

Cheng Huaiyuan's rough palms rubbed against his dark stubble, dark red tobacco stains still embedded in his fingernails, before he patted the shoulder of the person next to him.

"Haha, you better win on your first try. We've got a deal, from now on, we'll split the money 50/50."

"Of course! From uncle to father, we're even closer now, would I lie to you!"

Secretly, the man was plotting a completely different plan.

Seeing this old bastard reminds me of that bitch Ruan Ying. Once this is done, he'll be the first person I kill!

Ruan Yi changed her clothes and prepared to keep her appointment with Cheng Huaiyuan.

She has to drive herself there; her mother's condition isn't fully stable yet, and if she finds out that seeing her father might upset her, it would backfire.

As soon as I sat in the driver's seat, my phone vibrated again, and an app notification popped up on the lock screen: "Vita Nexus Healthcare: Blood test report generated."

Ruan Yi's fingers trembled slightly as she opened the program.

Among the densely packed numbers, multiple abnormal intakes of psychotropic drugs were highlighted in red boxes. The data struck her like two heavy hammer blows, revealing the fact that her mother had been victimized.

Recalling her mother's heart-wrenching pain when she fell ill, and comparing it to the data on the report now, felt like a sharp stab piercing Ruan Yi's heart.

Sure enough, it must have been around this time in my past life that my mother's condition was already extremely serious.

What was she doing at that time... how could she not have noticed?

She couldn't remember, because her chaotic memories became even more confused whenever she tried to recall them.

Ruan Yi opened her chat window with Pei Lian.

The last sentence in the chat box was her promise to contact the other party as soon as the test results were available.

"Dr. Pei, the report results are in. But something came up today, can we schedule a time to discuss it in detail another time?"

When Ruan Yi pressed the send button, she was still a little afraid of troubling him, after all, it was unreasonable to ask someone for help and then arbitrarily change the time.

The notification sounded almost instantly.

"Okay, I have two surgeries today. Miss Ruan can decide on the follow-up schedule."

Relieved to receive a response, Ruan Yi watched the scenery receding outside the car window as the neon signs gradually faded from giant LED screens to faded plastic light boxes.

High-end office buildings disappeared from the rearview mirror, replaced by old residential buildings and hole-in-the-wall restaurants with simple signs.

Although the old town was dilapidated, it was still quite lively, and the bustling environment made Ruan Yi feel more relaxed.

Ruan Yi parked her car at the alley entrance. After getting out of the car, she felt a chill on the back of her neck; it was that feeling again.

It's a kind of itchy feeling of being watched, and it's always there, even at home. Whenever I leave the roof, I feel uncomfortable.

Ruan Yi looked down at her clothes, realizing that they were probably out of place in the old town and had attracted attention.

As she turned the corner, a familiar figure caught her breath.

Cheng Huaiyuan was wearing a somewhat worn jacket, with a few strands of gray hair peeking out from his temples, and mud still clinging to the edges of his leather shoes.

When he met Ruan Yi's gaze, he immediately flashed a fawning smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes forming deep furrows.

Ruan Yi's eyes suddenly burned, and anger welled up in her chest. Her father could have lived a better life, but he chose to cheat and gamble, turning himself into what he is today.

But when she saw Cheng Huaiyuan's ingratiating expression and his cracked hands, the dull pain brought by blood ties still pierced her heart.

"Xiaoyi, don't cry." Cheng Huaiyuan's hoarse voice trembled, and his hand hovered in mid-air before awkwardly withdrawing.

The moment he lowered his eyes, a venomous glint flashed in them.

"Let's find a restaurant nearby."

Ruan Yi turned her face away and took out a tissue to dab her eyes.

Cheng Huaiyuan suddenly grabbed her wrist, his palm burning hot.

"Dad made braised pork at home, just waiting for you to come back and taste it to see if your cooking skills have gotten worse..."

His voice choked with emotion as he pointed to a residential building at the end of the alley, its exterior walls stained with rust.

"I've been marinating your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs for a while now, Xiaoyi..."

"I swear, it really is just a meal. Cough, cough, Xiao Yi doesn't even want to have a meal with her dad?"

Her father coughed lightly, looking wounded, and lifted her high on the shelf called blood ties.

Hesitation churned in her chest, but she finally nodded and followed her father into the alley.

Outside the narrow alleyways of the city, a very soft "crack" was heard.

The first surgery was successfully completed, and the nurses made a crisp clinking sound as they packed away the metal instruments.

The man's high, straight nose pushed the mask out of place, creating an exaggerated arc, as he removed it.

Pale fingers swiped across the phone screen, receiving the latest photos.

In the scene, an incredibly alluring yet unaware young girl stands at the entrance of a mottled alley, while a greedy glint lurks beneath the lowered eyelids of the man beside her.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and the scalpel in his hand trembled slightly with each breath.

"Dirty maggots."

He murmured softly to the silent locker room, his fingertips rubbing heavily over the head of the man in the photo.

"How dare they covet his artwork?"

A nurse's voice came from outside the corridor, indicating that they were preparing for the next surgery, but the man's eyes were filled with bloodshot.

The man clicked on a familiar note in the list.

"I'll give you a chance to be a hero and save the damsel in distress."