Before boarding the plane to leave Meicheng, Fu Lin called the director of the rescue station.
“I just spoke with the child, and I suspect that the parents may be involved in human trafficking. Please make sure to find out the little girl’s background.”
"The five million sponsorship will arrive tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of the child during this time."
Since leaving the shelter, Fu Jianzhi hasn't said a single word to Fu Lin.
Fu Lin had no choice but to promise him that he would be able to meet Sister Ruan Chen in a while. Fu Jianzhi's sullen face looked a little better, and he graciously accepted the milk from Fu Lin's hand.
So Fu Lin gave the rescue station a subtle hint, hoping that the little girl named Ruan Chen would be lucky enough to return to the Ruan family.
If Ruan Chen knew what Fu Lin was thinking, she would definitely have the same long face as Fu Jianzhi and ask him if he wanted such good fortune.
With the support of five million, the relief station was very efficient, and three days later, at dawn, people from the Ruan family arrived.
Ruan Zhengde did not come; instead, the Ruan family's steward did.
The butler had served three generations of the Ruan family, and he had done his homework on Ruan Chen before coming to pick her up.
Despite his humble attitude, bowing and addressing her as "Miss," a hint of sympathy and pity still lingered in his eyes when he looked at this little girl who had grown up in the slums.
The butler, whose hair was somewhat gray, looked at Ruan Chen, who was about the same age as his granddaughter, and half-squatted in front of her, saying, "The master has been unaware of your existence all these years, otherwise he wouldn't have sent me to pick you up now."
Ruan Chen's beautiful eyes were filled with only indifference. "Why didn't he come in person?"
"Master has been very busy lately."
Ruan Chen gave a faint "oh" and continued to read intently, saying, "Grandpa, please tell my father that I've waited twelve years, so I don't mind waiting a month or two more."
The butler smiled politely, “Miss, my name is Ruan Wenlou, you can just call me by my name. Our family has served the Ruan family for generations. My coming to pick you up also represents the master’s high regard for you. The master also wanted to come in person, but he was too busy. The family has prepared a welcome banquet and a room for you. The plane is waiting at the airport. We will set off now, and you will be able to reunite with the master tonight.”
Ruan Wenlou did not expect that this little girl would be so difficult to deal with.
Ruan Chen looked up from her book and asked the butler, "Grandpa Wenlou, in what year did my father return to Jingzhou from Meicheng?"
"Twelve years ago."
Ruan Chen gave a slight snort through her pretty nose—although she had only studied for two years, she had been eagerly absorbing all the knowledge she could access in her past life.
She would read reports from the scrap metal yard, watch bizarre and fantastical stories on television, and often walk long distances under the pretext of collecting garbage to supplement her family's income, sneaking off to the city library.
She looked directly at the butler and asked softly, "Grandpa Wenlou, is it permissible for a butler to lie to his master?"
"...Ten years ago."
Ruan Chen smiled sarcastically, "I'm twelve years old this year."
She didn't say anything more. Ruan Wenlou was silent for a moment, then said, "If Miss needs the Master to come and pick you up personally, I will make the arrangements."
He finally realized that Ruan Chen was not an ignorant child who dropped out of school in the second grade. Compared with the two spoiled children in the family, she had experienced the darkest and cruelest side of society at a very young age.
He glanced at the book that Ruan Chen was engrossed in reading.
It is a somewhat worn-out junior high school physics textbook.
He politely took his leave, indicating that he would remain outside the room and that Ruan Chen could contact him at any time if needed.
Ruan Chen closed the book and stood up very politely. "By the way, Grandpa Wenlou, please don't tell Father what I said today."
Ruan Wenlou hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Ruan Chen looked up, revealing a naive and shy smile that was completely different from before, "Let's pinky swear."
Ruan Wenlou silently extended his little finger, thinking to himself: This little thing is quite the actor.
-------------------------------------
The next morning, Ruan Zhengde came in person.
He also brought two doctors in white coats with him.
Three hours later, the paternity test results came back, confirming that Ruan Zhengde was indeed Ruan Chen's biological father.
Looking at the face she had seen countless times on television news, Ruan Chen was surprisingly calm. She steadily maintained her acting skills, asking in a pitiful tone, "Are you really my father?"
Although they hadn't seen each other for ten years, Ruan Zhengde recalled how he used to hold Ruan Chen in his arms when she was little, and his heart softened instantly. He bent down and picked her up.
Ruan Chen felt disgusted by this overly intimate contact, but she knew that pleasing Ruan Zhengde would bring her more resources than offending him.
So she very sensibly wrapped her arms around Ruan Zhengde's neck, listening to the man's insincere apology and lies.
"I didn't know your mother was pregnant, and she hasn't contacted me in all these years..."
When Ruan Zhengde hugged her tightly, Ruan Chen deliberately made a sound of pain.
"What's wrong?"
With tears welling up in her eyes, Ruan Chen said pitifully, "Daddy, it hurts so much..."
Where does it hurt?
"I feel pain in many parts of my body."
Ruan Zhengde quickly called the doctor who had come to do the paternity test to see what was wrong with his daughter.
The doctor was completely shocked when he took off Ruan Chen's clothes.
Its small body was covered with scars and bruises, showing that it had been abused for years. Due to years of malnutrition, its ribs protruded high and it was thin and bony.
Although Ruan Zhengde outwardly avoided the topic and stood outside without coming in, Ruan Chen knew that he was listening right outside the door.
So she said timidly, "Doctor, could you please not tell my dad? I'm afraid he'll look down on me... I finally have a dad again, and I don't want to become an orphan."
Ruan Zhengde listened from outside, his heart aching.
He had completely believed the lies he had fabricated, forgetting that it was his own heartless act of taking away all of Cong Rao's property that had led his daughter to this state.
He even forgot that he had clearly married the Ye family's daughter and had children with her, and had lied to Cong Rao that he was single and had given birth to Ruan Chen.
The doctor's eyes were also red. He gently dressed Ruan Chen and came out to say to Ruan Zhengde, "Mr. Ruan, your daughter has been abused for a long time and is malnourished. Her physical development is far behind that of her peers. She must rest well after returning home."
Ruan Zhengde walked into the room and looked at his daughter, whose eyes were still filled with tears.
Although Ruan Chen is only twelve years old, she already has some of the stunning beauty that Rao possessed when she was young. She has a supple waist, a slender neck above her rounded collarbone, a pointed chin, a delicate nose, and watery eyes with long, curled eyelashes that flutter like a pair of butterfly wings.
Ruan Zhengde bent down and gently picked her up. "Come on, Mom, your brother, and your sister are all waiting for you at home. You'll definitely like them."
Ruan Chen nestled obediently on his shoulder, a slight smile playing on her lips.
elder brother?
Today is another day I hate Ruan Zhengde even more.
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