Chapter 70 Mature Child.
This was a little girl, not yet of school age, skipping and hopping through the crowd, the hair clips on her doll matching the color of her own. Suddenly, she stopped in front of Lin Tingchao, who was about to commit a crime, and curiously looked up at him.
The gleaming blade reflected the distorted,狰狞 faces of Lin Weizong and Mai Shuxian, but also clearly showed the innocent curiosity in the little girl's eyes. At that moment, Lin Tingchao's hand holding the knife suddenly froze; it was that instant of hesitation that allowed the police officer to snatch the weapon from her hand.
Amid the crisp sound of the kitchen knife hitting the ground, Lin Tingchao was still in a daze, unaware that in that moment of lapse in judgment, she had saved herself.
The little girl blinked blankly until her grandmother, who was snapping up discounted eggs, pulled her into her arms.
The old man's rough hands frantically stroked his granddaughter's cheek: "Were you frightened?"
After confirming that the child was alright, the elderly woman breathed a sigh of relief. She even gave up the eggs she had just managed to grab and tightly held her granddaughter's little hand as she walked out of the supermarket.
Lin Tingchao stared blankly at this scene.
She had always been held in his arms, a memory deeply etched in her mind, not from childhood. Even until her bone marrow transplant, she believed herself to be the happiest girl. These days, Shen Jingyang's gentle words often echoed in her ears, but how could she easily let go of the pain of betrayal by her loved ones, the emptiness that needed to be filled with hatred?
The supermarket gradually returned to calm, with small groups of customers whispering behind the shelves, their inquisitive gazes constantly sweeping over Lin Weizong and his wife.
The middle-aged couple were deathly pale. They stood frozen in place, staring silently at Lin Tingchao, until they were taken away by the police.
The officers exchanged glances.
This case is finally coming to an end.
The subsequent interrogation will definitely be a huge undertaking.
Lin Tingchao was missing a toe on her right foot, and judging by the timeline, the injury was probably not fully healed, making it difficult for her to walk. It wasn't until she sat down in the interrogation room that her expression, which had been altered by suppressed pain, eased. She gently wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and remained silent.
As Shen Jingyang said, Lin Tingchao has experienced too much suffering over the years and has long since learned to silently endure everything.
This was the first time the police had seen the real Lin Tingchao.
In this case, she was originally a complete victim, but now she has to start with that severed toe and reveal her carefully planned revenge.
Just as the police suspected, Lin Tingchao refused to report the incident to the police. Even though the Lin family had hired a body double for plastic surgery, used a substitute, and imprisoned her for a long time... all of this sounded so absurd, but she stubbornly believed that the police could find out the truth.
Doesn't a "murder" that doesn't actually take her life still count as murder? She dictated the entire anonymous letter, intending to pressure the police as an observer, but she never expected the police's investigative capabilities to far exceed her expectations.
“Tissues cut before death will show a contraction response.” Zhu Qing gently pushed the forensic report across the table. “This is irrefutable evidence that cannot be forged.”
Lin Tingchao nodded quietly.
Mo Zhenbang twirled the pen in his hand, his voice unconsciously softening: "Tell me about those three years."
Lin Tingchao looked up, the pale light falling on her face.
Shen Jingyang said that she was a kind and fragile girl who was used to punishing herself for other people's mistakes. After suffering so much, her eyes had lost their light, but her gaze was still clear. Just like Kuang Xiaoyan mentioned during the interrogation, Lin Tingchao's eyes were the most difficult part to replicate in the entire conspiracy.
Lin Tingchao recounted those three years.
At first, she was in the basement, where she was frequently beaten. Having just undergone a bone marrow transplant, her body hadn't fully recovered, and she didn't even have the strength to resist; all she could do was cry for help. Kuang Xiaoyan said there was no need to cry for help; Lin Weizong and Mai Shuxian wouldn't come because they had already tacitly agreed that Kuang Xiaoyan was now the Lin family's true daughter. How could they let an "outsider" ruin their relationship with their daughter?
Her face was wrapped in white gauze, and her words were incredibly eerie. Lin Tingchao was terrified; she even cried out for Wu Ma to save her, but to her surprise, even Wu Ma, who had watched her grow up, had returned to her hometown. It turned out that this was a meticulously planned scheme.
That was a torment that lasted for half a year, from the initial cries for help to the slow fading of hope...
One afternoon, Kuang Xiaoyan was painting her nails in the basement with her legs up. She said that over the years she had imitated Lin Tingchao's every move, even his smallest preferences. She didn't even dare to wear nail polish because the real Lin Tingchao didn't like such exaggerated colors... Now, under the pretext of "recovering from illness" at home, she could finally do whatever she wanted.
Lin Tingchao still remembers that the basement was stuffy at the time, with a pungent chemical smell mixed with a musty smell.
It's suffocating.
Lin Tingchao took advantage of Kuang Xiaoyan's focused head down and used all his strength to shove her away.
She walked barefoot down the narrow, old steps of the basement, and when she finally breathed in fresh air, the sunlight stung her eyes and brought tears to her eyes—then her father dragged her back inside.
It was Lin Weizong who personally dragged her back to the basement.
"Her nail polish got splashed on her new dress." Lin Tingchao's narration suddenly became disjointed, his right hand unconsciously touching his right ankle. "She just did that, with her high heels..."
Kuang Xiaoyan stepped on her injured ankle, twisting it from side to side, crushing her already battered ankle.
That was an excruciating pain.
Even now, recalling it now, Lin Tingchao still shudders.
Later, she was moved to a different location. It was no longer a basement, and there was no musty smell; the only thing that remained the same was the lack of ventilation. They welded the windows shut, and when no one was around, she could move around freely, but she couldn't open the door—it was locked from the inside.
Lin Tingchao was imprisoned there. Every time Lin Weizong and Mai Shuxian came, they would smile, their smiles as gentle as those of a loving father and mother.
During those days, Lin Tingchao's most trusted parents said—
As long as she doesn't struggle, they will never hurt her again.
They certainly didn't lay a hand on her.
But the harm her parents inflicted on her was far more profound than what Kuang Xiaoyan had done.
It was during those years that she pieced together the truth, a truth that even Kuang Xiaoyan didn't know.
In the end, it was Mai Shuxian who revealed the truth. It turned out that she had always harbored a thorn in her heart—Feng Ningyun, who was superior to her in every way: a superior family background, outstanding beauty, amazing dancing talent… Feng Ningyun possessed everything she longed for but could never have. But Feng Ningyun went mad; her years of pent-up jealousy and inferiority had nowhere to go.
During Lin Tingchao's imprisonment, one could occasionally hear Mai Shuxian and Lin Weizong arguing fiercely.
She subtly probed, and finally learned from Mai Shuxian's outbursts that this woman who claimed to be her mother was not related to her by blood at all. In fact, this suspicion had taken root in Lin Tingchao's heart since the day he was locked in the basement, and it was eventually confirmed.
“She…” Lin Tingchao didn’t know how to address her, and after a moment of silence, “Mai Shuxian has known my biological mother for a long time and has always lived in her shadow.”
“There was no telephone, no gas, no knife, not even a needle. They were afraid I would commit suicide, afraid that things would be exposed.”
"The meals delivered are sometimes boxed lunches, sometimes Michelin-starred takeout, and sometimes bread and biscuits..."
“Kuang Xiaoyan never came, but I know she has achieved her wish and become the real me.”
It took Lin Tingchao a long time to calm down when he talked about the past.
Her clasped fingers were already white at the knuckles, and she asked softly, "Can we stop talking now?"
In fact, these testimonies closely match Shen Jingyang's statements.
Zhu Qing knew that Mo Zhenbang, as an experienced police officer, had a clear intention in insisting on getting more details. In the future courtroom, these tearful accusations might win sympathy for this poor girl.
There is legal leeway in handling cases involving amputated toes and anonymous letters.
Mo Zhenbang hopes that, beyond the cold legal provisions, the jury can retain a glimmer of compassion for the real victims.
"Excuse me..." Lin Tingchao suddenly asked, "How is Jingyang...?"
"I begged him to cut off my toe; I couldn't do it myself."
"His hands were shaking even more than mine when he held the knife."
“Jingyang is completely innocent in this matter.”
This was the most emotional moment for Lin Tingchao during the entire interrogation.
Her reddened eyes reminded Zhu Qing of Shen Jingyang's appearance when he came to take her statement.
He was willing to tell the truth, even at the risk of it, to repeatedly plead with the police—please find her and stop her from doing anything foolish.
Fortunately, even in this darkness, there is still sincerity.
The statement had already filled five pages when a knock on the door broke the silence.
Zhu Qing took the DNA report from the forensic department; the thin paper felt unusually heavy in her hands.
She exchanged a glance with Mo Zhenbang.
Ultimately, the DNA report was presented to Lin Tingchao.
Lin Tingchao neither shed tears nor broke down.
She just sat there stiffly, her gaze fixed on the few lines of cold, authoritative conclusions, as if trying to see through the paper.
Only when the police began collecting the files did she say softly, "Oh, I see."
"In that case, my life is like a joke."
...
Shen Jingyang sat silently in the interrogation room.
The glaring light cast varying shadows on his face, and he only reacted after hearing the news that Lin Tingchao had been found.
How's Tingchao?
"She's fine."
Shen Jingyang's tense shoulders slumped slightly, and his clasped hands finally loosened.
“When we found Lin Tingchao, she was holding a knife.” Zeng Yongshan couldn’t help but say a few more words. “Her biological mother has a history of mental illness, which is hereditary. She has always refused to accept you and has been doing so many things in secret... probably because she was afraid of implicating you.”
All the questions that had been lingering in her heart were answered. On the day they met again, she clearly cherished the moment just as much as he did... but she was still unwilling to accept him.
Shen Jingyang knew nothing about these things, but in fact he didn't care.
There was no need to say these words to the police in front of him; he wanted to tell Lin Tingchao in person.
The sound of paper rubbing together was particularly jarring when the last document was pushed in front of him.
“She is not the Lin family’s biological daughter,” Zeng Yongshan added.
A strange twist of fate, meaning that Lin Tingchao shouldn't have suffered like this.
Shen Jingyang suddenly looked up, his voice hoarse: "Does she know?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, he pleaded with the police: "Let me see her."
At that moment, all she needed was companionship and a comforting embrace.
Unfortunately, Zeng Yongshan could only shake her head, as this was against the rules.
Meanwhile, the police officers were discussing the case.
"If prosecuted according to procedure, both charges of intentional injury and obstruction of justice would qualify, but considering the special circumstances..."
“You can apply for bail,” Mo Zhenbang said.
Xu Jiale still had concerns: "What if we end up in court—"
“Shen Jingyang’s actions were not malicious. If they were to prevent more serious harm, it would be considered an act of self-defense and he may be exempt from liability.” Mo Zhenbang flipped through the case file. “As for Lin Tingchao, his three years of imprisonment caused PTSD, and the court will handle that at its discretion.”
"So the ideal outcome is..."
"Community service order? Both of you together."
Mo Zhenbang tossed the file onto the table, a rare smile appearing on his face: "You guys are really concerned."
When Zeng Yongshan pushed open the door and came in, there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Shen Jingyang... I guess I wasn't wrong about him this time?"
She recounted Lin Tingchao's ordeal, from being switched at birth to being imprisoned, each event seeming like a cruel joke of fate.
"But that transplant surgery back then, if it weren't for the Lin family's financial resources..."
Everyone remained silent for a long time.
Bone marrow matching, exorbitantly priced medications, sterile nursing care... any one of these could easily crush an ordinary family. At least for that period, Lin Tingchao didn't have to worry about medical expenses.
"Could it be considered... a stroke of luck amidst misfortune?"
Is this just wishful thinking?
"Try to be optimistic. What's done is done, so we have to think positively."
“Continuous interrogations are prone to errors, everyone go back.” Mo Zhenbang glanced at his watch and said wearily, “We’ll continue interrogating the Lin couple and Rong Zimei tomorrow.”
Zhu Qing looked up at the clock on the wall; it was exactly nine o'clock.
Going home at this time means I can be caught by my friend Fangfang and told a bedtime story.
...
Fangfang always says she is the most mature child in the whole kindergarten, but she reveals her true colors before bedtime.
Young masters will whine and beg to hear a story.
He's quite picky about bedtime stories—
Aunt Ping's stories were boring; I just loved listening to Qingzai read storybooks in that cold, detached tone.
Shengfang thought she wouldn't be able to hear Qingzai tell stories for at least a while, but unexpectedly, happiness came too suddenly.
Qingzai announces—
The case is solved!
Zhu Qing collapsed onto the bed, too weak to even move a finger. Her cell phone and car keys slipped out of her pocket, but she couldn't be bothered to pick them up. Luckily, a thoughtful little servant not only tidied everything up but also gave her a proper arm and back massage.
After lying down for a while, Zhu Qing finally managed to get up.
When I answered the phone in the afternoon, the sullen baby Shengfang didn't realize that his good day had arrived. At that moment, he was lying on his crib, his two short legs dangling. Half an hour had passed since Qingzai came out after his hot bath, and finally, it was story time, which he had been looking forward to the most.
Zhu Qing leaned against the crib, reading a storybook, but her thoughts lingered on the thrilling scene in the supermarket that afternoon.
If Lin Tingchao's knife had actually landed, the consequences would have been unimaginable. While Lin Weizong and his wife certainly deserved their fate, was it worth sacrificing the rest of their lives?
The girl finally escaped from her cage; it's time for her to live for herself.
Fangfang is a little flatterer; she snuggled up to Qingzai and praised her voice for being so nice.
As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted his little foot to help turn the page, but she slapped it away.
He withdrew his foot and said in a condescending tone, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Where did you learn that from?" Zhu Qing raised her eyebrows. "You watch too much TV."
Aunt Ping happened to come out of the kitchen and couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. At this rate, not only will the young master's mouse and game controller be confiscated by his niece sooner or later, but even the TV remote will be taken away.
"I didn't watch much!" Sheng Fang waved her hand.
"Then how come you know everything?"
"There are still many things I don't understand." Fangfang pressed her soft cheek against Qingzai's arm. "Tell me a story!"
Zhu Qing continued reading the storybook, while the baby's feigned questions occasionally reached her ears.
"What's the meaning?"
"Qingzai, I don't understand."
Could you please say it again?
Zhu Qing slammed the picture book shut and pointed at the cover: "You can't explain to me that it's a book suitable for a three-year-old?"
"Show your true colors! Don't pretend!"
The little one immediately burrowed into the blankets, leaving only his chubby little face showing.
He blinked, his expression innocent: "What do you mean by pretending? I really don't understand this time."
For Zhu Qing, there was now another child who needed to be taken care of.
For Fangfang, it's also about raising a child.
Sometimes it's really hard to tell who's worrying more.
Before going to bed, Fangfang, still half asleep, was nagging his niece.
"Qingzai hasn't been eating enough lately."
"Aunt Ping said we should eat something nutritious."
"No working late into the night..."
Zhu Qing pinched his chubby little face: "Annoying kid."
"Wow—you think your uncle is annoying?" Little Fangfang can even put her hands on her hips while lying down.
The little girl's voice kept babbling on and on, and Zhu Qing would always nod and say, "I know, I know..."
No one used to manage her like this.
I don't know how much time passed, but the little chatterbox was finally about to fall asleep, still giving me some final words of advice.
"Remember to take the car keys..."
"And there are mobile phones too."
Zhu Qing then realized that she had almost left her things there.
What a competent little housekeeper!
She gently tucked the blanket around the baby, saying, "Goodnight, Fangfang."
Back at her desk, Zhu Qing opened her medical books and began organizing the materials she had prepared.
Just then, the mobile phone beeped. Opening the text message page, I saw a string of meaningless letters sent by Cheng Xinglang.
She then realized that the cell phone had been left in the children's room, and Fangfang had been randomly typing on the keyboard and even clicking send.
Dr. Cheng can even respond to gibberish.
Zhu Qing dialed the phone as she walked towards the terrace.
"That little rascal," Cheng Xinglang laughed on the other end of the phone.
Looking down from the high-rise building, the night lights are dazzling, and the stars in the sky are faintly visible.
A cool breeze brushed against Zhu Qing's hair.
When do we depart?
"The booking confirmation and flight have been made. It will be in three days."
"By the way, about the surgery I mentioned to you last time... do you know anything about nerve stimulation?"
“I’ve checked the specific parameters.” Cheng Xinglang’s tone became serious. “The surgical intensity is lower than the conventional approach, and the risks are also lower.”
"Qingqing, you're not wearing a coat." Aunt Ping's concerned voice came from outside the door: "It's so cold outside, you'll catch a cold."
Zhu Qing: "And also—"
"Also, it's windy and I can't hear clearly."
"Let's go inside first."
Zhu Qing retreated back into the house and closed the balcony door behind her.
They're all very verbose.
...
In the early morning interrogation room, Mai Shuxian's carefully applied makeup was already faded and worn.
She kept tapping the table with her fingertips, completely different from the elegant and composed lady she had been before.
She and her husband clung to a sliver of hope, praying that the real Lin Tingchao would never reappear.
The lawyer said that as long as this crucial "evidence" does not appear, it will be difficult for them to be convicted.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
"It's all my fault that day; I didn't lock the door properly."
Mai Shuxian rubbed her temples; her well-maintained face was full of fatigue.
She began to defend herself, but her voice grew increasingly shrill.
“When I married into the Lin family, Tingchao was still a child. Weizong still couldn’t forget Feng Ningyun at that time, and I personally promised him that I would treat Tingchao as my own daughter. We… didn’t want our own child.”
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling herself standing outside the Feng family mansion—
The driver's daughter, trembling with fear, wanted to integrate into the glamorous world. At that time, she knew that Lin Weizong was like her.
He shouldn't be with Feng Ningyun.
“At least I did it before Tingchao received a bone marrow transplant.”
"More than twenty years. Even if it's acting, who can act for that long? Before that incident, she never had any doubts!"
"What happened afterward was all Weizong's idea."
"After Tingchao ran away, we searched for her for a long time and even suspected that Jingyang had hidden her. We even went to the Shen family... but we didn't see it. Jingyang is too good at hiding his thoughts."
Mai Shuxian confessed everything, but every detail seemed to be an attempt to exonerate herself.
Finally, she looked at the police and said, "I didn't hit her, I didn't hurt her, I just delivered food to Ting Chao. Officer, I just...delivered food, that's not a crime, is it?"
In another interrogation room, Lin Weizong was in a completely different state.
Yesterday morning, he returned to the office wearing a sharp, custom-made suit, but now, his eyes are bloodshot and his tie is loosely tied around his neck.
Is this report accurate?
Lin Weizong repeatedly checked the DNA comparison results, his fingers trembling involuntarily.
"I never thought of that possibility."
When he spoke of his hesitation seven years ago, every word he uttered was laced with hypocrisy.
“Tingchao is my daughter. I’ve cherished her since she was little. How could I not love her?”
That's why I haven't been able to make up my mind.
The decision to take action was made after learning that Lin Tingchao had health problems.
“Aplastic anemia can be fatal.” His tone suddenly became urgent. “If she really dies, what will happen to the foundation? Who will inherit it? Are we really going to let those ballet dancers benefit from it?”
Lin Weizong rattled off the costs of treating Lin Tingchao, the expensive medicines, the top-notch medical team... as if these tallied figures could excuse him.
"The bone marrow match was successful, and the transplant went smoothly," he said. "I can't allow any more accidents to happen."
Therefore, the initial plan was put on the agenda.
“During that time, Tingchao cried every day. I was afraid that she would be overly stimulated and, like her mother, suddenly—” Lin Weizong’s words stopped abruptly, “but I never expected that she was not our daughter.”
This truth clearly devastated him.
Lin Weizong looked up blankly: "Is she a nurse from Mary Hospital? Why would she do that?"
“Feng Ningyun said that her daughter would no longer suffer,” the officer said calmly. “We believe she was aware of the situation.”
“Ningyun’s choice?” Lin Weizong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh. “That makes sense.”
His gaze began to wander, as if he could see the past through the cold walls of the interrogation room.
“Ningyun started dancing when she was four years old.” Lin Weizong’s voice softened, and his brow relaxed. “Her teacher said that her physique is naturally suited for ballet.”
Feng Ningyun's life was a constant cycle of change.
She was an outstanding ballerina, carrying the hopes and glory of her entire family. When her mentally ill mother hanged herself before her eyes, and her father publicly stated only that she had died of illness, she twirled in the practice room, still wearing her ballet shoes. Whether her heart was filled with joy or sorrow, she continued to twirl on stage…
Everyone says that Feng Ningyun is incredibly talented, born for the stage. She dances for her father's expectations, for the judges' approval, for the audience's applause... but never for herself.
“She never dared to rebel since she was little. My father-in-law arranged the marriage. He said I was a reliable man,” Lin Weizong said. “Having children is what I look forward to… I want a daughter, a daughter like Ningyun.”
At the time, Lin Weizong was unaware that his mother-in-law, whom he had never met, suffered from schizophrenia.
He didn't know that Feng Ningyun was on the verge of collapse.
"I thought it would be later..."
"Looking back now, she was abnormal from the moment the babies were switched at the hospital."
Lin Weizong said that when he was young, he was not after the Feng family's wealth at all; he truly loved Feng Ningyun.
She was always dancing, from morning till night, her skirt billowing as she twirled... Mentioning these memories, a smile appeared in his eyes. It was the best time of his life; he married the beautiful girl he admired, his dreams came true, and everyone envied him.
“Tingchao dances very well too. She's been dancing since elementary school and is an excellent dancer. I've always felt that my daughter looks just like her when she dances. How could Tingchao not be our daughter…”
Why does Natingchao dance?
The two police officers exchanged a helpless look.
"Mr. Lin, according to your logic, are bankers' children born knowing how to count money?"
"But she dances so well! Every movement is just like her mother's..."
"Perhaps it's because you spent a lot of money to hire the best dance teacher? Just like you said, you started to train Lin Tingchao specifically when she was five years old."
Feng Ningyun finally grew tired of being controlled by her father and husband, and was even more unwilling to see her daughter repeat her mistakes, forever trapped in that dance studio filled with full-length mirrors.
So, in that hospital, she made the decision that would change the fate of the two babies.
But what was Feng Ningyun's mental state at the time? Even her husband, who claimed to be very considerate, stammered during the interrogation and could not give a definite answer.
“My father-in-law understands me. He knows I’m still young and will eventually remarry,” Lin Weizong continued to defend himself. “As long as the other woman treats Tingchao well, he won’t blame me. I’ve done even better over the years. No matter how much Shuxian makes a fuss, I’ve insisted on having only one child, Tingchao. I… have done everything I could.”
Lin Weizong repeatedly emphasized that he deeply loved Feng Ningyun, but it was all just talk.
After the old woman passed away, he never visited her again.
"The last time I saw her... Ningyun had gained weight, and her whole body was swollen."
"The way she looked at me was like she was looking at a stranger."
As the interrogation drew to a close, he expressed deep remorse.
What's chilling is that he didn't regret betraying Feng Ningyun or hurting Lin Tingchao.
"If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have gone through all that trouble."
"I'll get that money next month." A calculating glint flashed in his eyes. "If only I'd known she wouldn't inherit the mental illness..."
“If we do nothing,” he looked up, his expression twisted, “the truth will be buried forever.”
...
“The truth cannot be hidden.” Rong Zimei finally spoke.
She hadn't said a word since she was brought back yesterday morning, until she saw the DNA report and suddenly spoke up.
Uncle Li was furious. He had tried everything to get her to talk, but now a piece of paper was all it took to get her to agree.
Rong Zimei said that the truth will not be buried.
Because from the second time she called the police, she wanted to use the police to find out the truth.
To Rong Zimei's surprise, Lin Weizong never asked who his biological daughter was until the very end.
But she wouldn't care.
Anyway, she never had a father growing up.
Rong Zimei frowned, as if trying to piece together fragments of memory: "I don't know much either."
"Say only what you know."
Rong Zimei's voice was ethereal, as if she were telling someone else's story.
“My mom got divorced a long time ago. For the first few years, my dad paid some child support, but then he married a new wife and immigrated.”
“When I was in elementary school, my mother got sick and lost her job, and we were dirt poor.”
“I’m average-looking, I’m bad at studying, I’m not a smart kid, and I can’t even say pretty things… but she never looked down on me.”
“I thought it was because I’m her daughter… but it turns out it’s not like that at all.”
A high fever when I was ten years old revealed the first lie.
Chen Yulan is a nurse. When she saw the blood type report, she understood everything, but she chose to remain silent.
She said that a wealthy man used to stay in the next ward and always asked her about his situation.
"My mom guesses that maybe that person switched the child."
“She went to see…and secretly watched that girl.” Rong Zimei’s voice suddenly choked up. “Lin Tingchao was like a little princess, dancing in the garden, so beautiful. My mother said, let that child continue to live a good life.”
Chen Yulan couldn't understand why the rich lady wanted to switch children, and she was even more confused when she discovered that the Lin family had suddenly changed its mistress.
Watching the pampered Lin Tingchao playing in the garden, she even wondered if the hospital had made a mistake.
But the burdens of life were too much for her to bear; she had lost her job and was living a very difficult life... Out of selfishness, she decided to go with the flow.
Her daughter was doing well in the Lin family, so she would raise this child who had been exchanged well.
At the time, Rong Zimei was unaware of all this.
“I didn’t know anything when I first called the police.” Rong Zimei scratched her hair. “I just suddenly thought that I hadn’t been able to contact Xiaoyan for so long, so shouldn’t I call the police? Whether I can find her or not doesn’t matter, I just did what I should do.”
Rong Zimei's narration began to become chaotic, consisting of disjointed sentences.
She said that when she was working at a feng shui shop, she heard the words "changing fate". When she got home, she casually mentioned it to her mother, but saw that Chen Yulan panicked.
And she also revealed a shocking secret.
"That happened half a year ago. I was just eating and joking with my mom—Xiao Yan looks like that rich girl. Did she switch her life with her?"
“She asked me if I had ever said ‘exchanging lives’ to the police at Cheung Sha Wan Police Station.”
“My mother was afraid that the police would find Lin Tingchao, so she told me the truth. It turns out that I was the child switched at birth, and she even apologized to me.”
No wonder Chen Yulan, lying in her hospital bed, clung tightly to her daughter's clothes, sobbing incoherently.
She didn't want Rong Zimei to make a big deal out of Kuang Xiaoyan's matter, fearing it would ultimately implicate her own daughter.
Rong Zimei then went back to her childhood and talked about her upbringing.
The hardships Chen Yulan endured as a single mother, and her simple yet heartwarming daily life...
The police officers were taking notes of these fragmented memories.
Perhaps Feng Ningyun's choice back then wasn't accidental. That woman, imprisoned by dance her entire life, took a liking to the resilient Chen Yulan at first sight in the delivery room. She wove a beautiful dream: to keep her daughter away from ballet and let her grow up under the care of a doctor father and a strong mother. But who could have imagined that this seemingly perfect arrangement would end up like this?
The police interrupted Rong Zimei: "What is your purpose?"
Rong Zimei called the police for the second time, having already learned about her background.
This time, she deliberately mentioned "exchanging lives" when calling the police and said she was two years older than herself in order to distance herself from the situation.
She did have her own plans, but to say there was any elaborate scheme was an understatement.
Rong Zimei was simply thinking that if the police investigated the Lin family's illegal activities first, she could then inherit the family fortune as their biological daughter. She knew nothing about the trust fund left by her maternal grandfather, only that Lin Weizong must be a wealthy father.
Even if we concede that they didn't do anything illegal—
She wasn't lying; Kuang Xiaoyan had indeed disappeared, but it had nothing to do with the Lin family.
At this moment, Rong Zimei admitted that she had oversimplified things.
“I am their daughter, that much is certain,” Rong Zimei said awkwardly. “But actually, I don’t understand how money is inherited in wealthy families. I don’t know where to ask or where to look up those rules.”
"So you called the police for money?" Xu Jiale looked up. "To inherit the family fortune?"
She shook her head: "I need to get medical treatment for my mother."
Since Chen Yulan suffered a stroke, her medical expenses have been like a bottomless pit.
Rong Zimei said that she only wanted to save her mother.
Although they are not related by blood, the twenty-five years of nurturing they received are genuine.
Rong Zimei insisted that Chen Yulan was her mother, and she could not abandon her own mother.
Throughout the interrogation, Rong Zimei appeared uneasy.
This cousin's testimony is like the last piece of a puzzle, revealing the complete truth of the entire case.
"After my mom told me the truth, I finally understood why they look so alike."
"It turns out that Lin Tingchao and Kuang Xiaoyan are first cousins."
But who is who exactly?
The identities of Kuang Xiaoyan, Lin Tingchao, and Rong Zimei are now completely intertwined.
Finally, Rong Zimei muttered to herself, "It really is a life-swapping scheme, but whose life is being swapped?"
...
The case was still in its final stages when Lin Tingchao made a special request.
She wanted to see Kuang Xiaoyan.
During the time she was imprisoned in the basement, Kuang Xiaoyan would always come to "visit" her with bandages wrapped around her neck.
After Lin Tingchao was transferred to a different location, Lin Weizong and Mai Shuxian never allowed Kuang Xiaoyan to come again in order to avoid any further complications.
Lin Tingchao said she wanted to meet Kuang Xiaoyan.
Some things need to be clarified in person.
Mo Zhenbang did not immediately agree to the request, only saying that it needed to go through the approval process.
On the other side, Zhu Qing was finally able to leave work and go home on time.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw little Fangfang sitting on a small stool by the door, holding a colorful balloon in her hand.
"Welcome home, Qingzai!"
Shengfang is the warden of "Fangfang Prison," where many bad adults are imprisoned.
But today he announced a general amnesty.
Release them all, it's time for a holiday!
The little one tossed the balloons high into the air and then frantically caught them, running around the living room.
Every now and then, he would stop and look at Zhu Qing with expectant eyes, waiting for her to play together.
This is such a clingy little uncle.
Zhu Qing stayed with him from the time she got off work until after dinner. His little mouth was still greasy, and he tilted his head to continue pestering her.
"..." Zhu Qing declined, "I still need to write the case closure report."
"I'll go with you!" Fangfang politely declined.
Seeing the little boy's longing gaze, Zhu Qing finally softened and sat down at the coffee table in the living room, burying herself in writing a report.
There are so many things I want to say to my niece.
"Coconut Mom is going to change her dance studio."
"Jinbao said he wants to learn tennis with me, you can sign up now."
"You can only sign up for tennis lessons, nothing else. I've already had three lessons!"
"Oh, right, Qingzai—"
"Put it down." Zhu Qing suddenly put down her pen. "Do you know how many hairs a person has?"
"I don't know."
Why don't you count them yourself?
Aunt Ping couldn't help but chuckle as she watched from the side.
With just two short sentences, how did you shut the young master up?
From her perspective at this moment—
Zhu Qing sat cross-legged on the cushion writing the case report, while Fang Fang stood beside her, carefully counting her hairs.
One, two, three...
It's like in a zoo, where baby monkeys help adult monkeys pick off lice.
As Aunt Ping watched this heartwarming scene, her gaze unconsciously drifted to the calendar on the wall.
Qingqing had previously said she would take a long leave to accompany the young lady to have surgery. She thought the case wouldn't be over by then... but the timing was perfect, so she could leave Hong Kong for a while without worry.
Blooming: "One hundred and ninety-three, one hundred and ninety-four..."
"Let it go," Zhu Qing reminded her, "Count it in your head."
"That way I'll fall asleep counting!"
Zhu Qing blurted out, "That would be best."
As soon as he finished speaking, the uncle and nephew were both stunned.
Fang Fang tilted her head, her eyes filled with a clear question mark.
Zhu Qing coughed lightly, a guilty question mark hanging in her eyes.
“That would be best—” she quickly tried to salvage the situation.
Sheng Fang said in a childish voice, "Then it's best not to?"
"Um!"
"I knew it." Fangfang said confidently, continuing to count her hairs.
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