The old man squinted, recalled for a long time, and slowly said, "Back then, the Lin family did have a little girl, about the same age as this young man, and the two often played together. Later, a great fire raged, and the Lin family fell into ruin, and the little girl disappeared without a trace." Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing exchanged a glance, seeing a glimmer of hope in each other's eyes.
Then the old man said, "I remember the Lin family had an old steward who should know the most about the Lin family. After the fire, I heard he went to a small town in the south of the city. If you can find him, you might be able to find out more."
After saying goodbye to the old man, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing hurried to the small town in the south of the city. Along the way, Lin Wanqing's feelings became increasingly complicated, with both anticipation for the revelation of the truth about her origins and trepidation about the unknown outcome.
Upon arriving in the town, they began inquiring about the old butler's whereabouts, going door to door. The town wasn't large; a single cobblestone path ran through it, lined with old houses, and the occasional bark of a dog could be heard. However, most people shook their heads, indicating they knew nothing about the old butler.
Just when they were feeling somewhat desperate, at the town's market, an old woman selling vegetables heard their questions and said, "Is the old steward you're talking about surnamed Chen? If so, he seems to live in that dilapidated temple at the west end of town."
Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing were overjoyed and immediately headed towards the dilapidated temple at the west end of the town. The temple looked extremely run-down; the paint on the temple door had peeled off, revealing the rotten wood inside. Stepping inside, in the dim light, they saw an elderly man with gray hair sitting on a prayer mat, resting with his eyes closed.
Ah Yu stepped forward and asked softly, "Excuse me, are you Butler Chen?" The old man slowly opened his eyes, looked at the two people in front of him, and a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes. "Who are you? What do you want with me?"
Ah Yu explained her and Lin Wanqing's identities and their purpose to the old man in detail. After listening, Butler Chen's face showed a complicated expression. "So many years have passed, I never thought someone would still come to ask about what happened back then." He stood up, walked to a corner of the temple, and rummaged through a pile of miscellaneous items to find an old box.
The box was opened, revealing some yellowed letters and several photographs. Butler Chen handed the box to Ah Yu, saying, "These are some things from the Lin family back then; perhaps they can be of some help to you." Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing eagerly began to examine them.
One of the photos was a family portrait of the Lin family, and the little girl in the photo bore a resemblance to Lin Wanqing in her features. The letters were mostly correspondence between the Lin family and their business partners, but one letter in particular caught their attention.
This letter, written by the head of the Lin family to a business friend, mentions several disputes within the family business, seemingly implying that the fire years ago was not accidental but related to internal family conflicts and business rivals. The letter also mentions a mysterious organization that appears to be manipulating events behind the scenes, plunging the Lin family into crisis.
After reading the letter, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing were filled with shock and confusion. "What exactly is this mysterious organization? Why are they targeting the Lin family?" Lin Wanqing asked, frowning. Ah Yu pondered for a moment, "It seems the truth we're looking for is far more complex than we imagined. But this letter at least gives us a direction; we must continue investigating along this lead."
Butler Chen watched them from the side and sighed, "After that fire, the Lin family completely declined. I've been wandering around all these years, trying to find out about the Lin family's descendants. I never expected to meet you today. I hope you can find out the truth of what happened back then and give the Lin family an explanation."
Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing thanked Steward Chen and left the dilapidated temple with the letter and photos. Back at the inn in the town, the two carefully examined the letter and photos again, trying to find more clues. They discovered addresses and names written on the back of the photos. Although the handwriting was somewhat blurred, careful examination still revealed some clues. One of the addresses seemed to be the location of a property owned by the Lin family in the past, and the names likely belonged to someone closely related to the Lin family.
Looking at the clues, Lin Wanqing was filled with mixed emotions. She had never imagined that her background was shrouded in such a complex mystery. And Ah Yu, this person who suddenly appeared in her life, might truly be related to her by blood.
“Whatever the truth is, we’ll face it together,” Ah Yu said firmly, holding Lin Wanqing’s hand. Lin Wanqing nodded slightly, her eyes shining with determination. They knew the road ahead was full of unknowns and challenges, but to uncover the truth about their origins and to find that long-lost family bond, they were willing to forge ahead bravely, unafraid of any difficulties or obstacles.
In the days to come, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing will continue their investigation based on these clues. They don't know what awaits them, but they believe that as long as they persevere, they will one day unravel all the mysteries and reveal the truth to the world. Lin Wanqing's suspicion that she is Ah Yu's long-lost neighbor will also be confirmed or refuted in the subsequent investigation. Regardless of the outcome, this journey to discover their origins will become an unforgettable experience in their lives.
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