Zhou Xiaohong watched Lin Xiaoxiao thoughtfully. She hadn't expected someone so young to be so skilled at winning people over.

After the meal, Li Yunlan urged Zhou Xiaohong to leave again. "Go find a place to rest. Isn't there a guesthouse nearby? Go check in there."

Zhou Xiaohong didn't want to go. She remembered what Zhou Xiaoming had said before leaving. "Mom, I can just sleep with you."

But Li Yunlan refused. "I don't need that. Go to the guesthouse."

Zhou Xiaohong lied, "I lost my introduction letter. I can't stay at a guesthouse without it."

Li Yunlan could be incredibly stubborn when she chose. "Then I'll report you to the police as a vagrant and have you arrested."

Lin Xiaoxiao was taken aback. Li Yunlan's temper was indeed volatile and obstinate.

She also knew that without an introduction letter, not only could you not buy train tickets, but most hotels and guesthouses would turn you away. In some cities, you could even be detained as a vagrant.

Left with no choice, Zhou Xiaohong went to a nearby guesthouse to get a room.

After all, she was still her daughter. After Zhou Xiaohong left, Li Yunlan explained to Zhou Huai'an, "Xiaohong is actually a good girl. She's always been the most obedient child in the family. I don't know what's gotten into her this time."

Zhou Huai'an remained silent. He chose not to comment on Zhou Xiaohong's behavior.

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't understand Zhou Xiaohong either. She wondered if it was because Zhou Xiaohong was very close to Zhou Xiaoming that she refused to accept reality. Or perhaps Zhou Xiaoming had manipulated her so thoroughly that he had psychological control over her.

Two days passed with no sign of Zhou Xiaoming. Since this was a private investigation, Zhou Huai'an and Lin Zihao had limited resources and hadn't been able to track his whereabouts.

All they could do now was wait for Zhou Xiaoming to show himself in Longbei.

Zhou Xiaohong spent the next two days accompanying Li Yunlan, going grocery shopping and helping with meals. She didn't mention Zhou Xiaoming, so Li Yunlan's attitude toward her softened slightly.

While out shopping one morning, Zhou Xiaohong remarked casually, "I heard there's a place by the river where they sell fish. It's cheaper than the morning market, and really fresh. I thought it might be nice to make some fish soup for Big Brother."

Li Yunlan thought that was a good idea. "Let's go take a look. He must be tired of pigeon soup by now."

Zhou Xiaohong couldn't help feeling that Li Yunlan doted on Zhou Huai'an excessively. "Mom, does Big Brother want to go back to Beijing?"

Li Yunlan found the question strange. "Why should he go back to Beijing? His career is here. It's fine here."

Zhou Xiaohong hesitated. "Will you stay here too, then?"

Li Yunlan thought staying wouldn't be bad. "Yes. And when your sister-in-law has a child, I'll help them take care of it."

They walked along the river but saw no fish vendors—only fishponds that weren't selling to the public.

Li Yunlan felt they'd wasted their time. "There's no fish here. We should've just bought some at the market. Let's go back."

Zhou Xiaohong glanced at the house numbers along the road. "Mom, let's go a little further."

Arm in arm, they walked a short distance until Zhou Xiaohong spotted a specific address and tried to steer Li Yunlan toward it.

Before Li Yunlan realized what was happening, Zhou Xiaohong had guided her to a gate. "What are we doing here?"

Zhou Xiaohong nudged her forward. "Mom, I didn't mean to trick you. I just wanted you to see Big Brother."

Pushed into the courtyard, Li Yunlan saw Zhou Xiaoming standing there, frowning. "If you wanted to see me, why use such a method?"

Zhou Xiaohong closed the courtyard gate and held onto a fuming Li Yunlan. "Mom, don't be angry. Just hear him out. We'll go back soon."

But Li Yunlan was furious. "Zhou Xiaohong! You lied to me! You deceived me!"

Zhou Xiaoming rushed over and knelt before Li Yunlan with a thud. "Mom, don't blame Xiaohong. I asked her to bring you here. I was afraid you wouldn't agree to see me."

Li Yunlan found it very strange. "Why wouldn't I see you if you came openly? Unless you've done something wrong and are afraid to face me?"

She might have been muddle-headed at times, but she wasn't stupid. Whatever conflicted feelings she'd had for Zhou Xiaoming were now replaced by pure anger.

She turned to leave, but Zhou Xiaoming grabbed her. "Mom, please, don't be angry yet. There's something I need to say. It's been weighing on me."

Li Yunlan looked back at him. "Then say what you need to say."

Then she frowned. "Get up. I don't like talking like this."

Zhou Xiaoming quickly stood. "Mom, I promise after I say this, I'll disappear. I won't cause you any more trouble. But if you ever need me, I'll be there."

His voice choked up. "I went back to Zhou Village. I met my biological parents. I feel so guilty for what they did—how much suffering they caused Zhou Huai'an. I'm so sorry."

Li Yunlan frowned impatiently. "If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Zhou Xiaoming wiped his tears. "Mom, I've been looking into some things lately. I know you might not believe me, but I hope you won't be deceived."

Seeing Li Yunlan's growing impatience, he hurried on. "When Xiaocheng died, Zhou Huai'an was in the same battalion. They had met. And there were... suspicious circumstances around Xiaocheng's death."

Li Yunlan instantly flared up, staring at Zhou Xiaoming. "What are you implying? That Huai'an had something to do with Xiaocheng's death?"

Zhou Xiaoming feigned helplessness. "Mom, please don't be angry. Remember how Xiaocheng wrote in his letters that he'd discovered a secret and would tell us after confirming it? I think it must be about this. And he had met Zhou Huai'an."

Zhou Xiaohong, not thinking critically, added, "You mean Zhou Huai'an knew about his origins three years ago?"

Li Yunlan fixed a sharp, piercing gaze on Zhou Xiaoming. "Zhou Xiaoming! What is your goal in telling me this? Do you think Huai'an killed Xiaocheng? Then tell me—why would he? What would be his motive?!"

Zhou Xiaoming paused, surprised that Li Yunlan could still be so rational hearing about Zhou Xiaocheng. Didn't she used to become emotionally unstable at the mere mention of his name?

"I don't know. But it's all too coincidental. I'm just sharing my suspicions. Like how I've been working in Beijing all along, but when I came to Longbei on business recently, he accused me of trying to kill him. Murder is illegal—why would I ever do that?"

He sounded increasingly urgent. "Mom, I never wanted to harm him. I'm only happy for you and Dad. Your family is finally together again."

Clap, clap, clap.

A crisp round of applause came from over the courtyard wall.

Lin Xiaoxiao leaned halfway over, smiling down at Zhou Xiaoming. "Well, well, keep going! This is quite a performance!"

Zhou Xiaoming's face paled. He hadn't expected Lin Xiaoxiao to be here. A flash of viciousness crossed his eyes.