"She... why did she leave all of a sudden?"
Jiang Lu watched the black motorcade gradually disappear into the distance, her face full of confusion. "Just a moment ago, everything was fine. Could it be that I came across as too eager and annoyed her?"
Lin Dong frowned deeply and comforted her. "Don't overthink it. Maybe they really had some urgent business to attend to."
Though he said this, he couldn't shake a nagging feeling that something was off. That girl's reaction was far too strange. One second she was chatting and laughing with them all amicably, and the next, her attitude took a sharp turn, becoming distant and cold.
This suggested that the girl most likely knew Tongtong—might even be close to her. Otherwise, there was no way to explain such a sudden shift in demeanor. Also, he kept feeling that she looked vaguely familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn't recall where he had seen her before.
Lin Feng watched his stepmother's disappointed expression and couldn't help but say, "Auntie, how about I have someone look into her? She seems pretty well-known in Bright Pearl City. It shouldn't be too hard to find information."
Jiang Lu immediately shook her head. "No need. That would be too intrusive."
Even as she said this, she couldn't shake a vague sense of unease. Based on their conversation on the plane last time, that girl didn't seem like the type to be so fickle.
It was just too strange.
Seeing this, Lin Dong said, "Don't dwell on it. Let's head back to the hotel first. Tomorrow we'll go straight to Finance University to find the person, and then everything will become clear."
"Alright," Jiang Lu sighed, a trace of regret in her voice.
---------
In the back seat of the Maybach.
Liu Yutong leaned against her seat, her eyes closed, trying to mask the turmoil within her.
Gao Min, sitting beside her, keenly sensed her sister's unease and asked, "What's wrong? Who were those people just now?"
"No one important. Just strangers I met once," Liu Yutong said, opening her eyes.
Gao Min looked at her suspiciously. "Really just strangers? The way you were chatting with them earlier didn't seem like you were dealing with strangers. Is there something you're hiding from me?"
A brief silence fell over the car.
Liu Yutong turned her head to look at the rapidly retreating street scenes outside the window. After a long pause, she finally spoke slowly. "Sister, what if I told you that woman just now... is our biological mother? Would you believe me?"
Gao Min's body jolted violently. She stared at her sister in disbelief. "What did you say? Her... she's our mom?"
Liu Yutong continued, "The name matches, the age fits, and she said she was looking for her long-lost daughter... I should have realized it long ago."
In truth, she already had a feeling back on the plane, but she just hadn't let her mind go there. Mainly because in her previous life, her mother had never come looking for her. So she thought that in this life, the same would likely hold true, and she didn't dwell on it.
Gao Min took a deep breath, trying to process this sudden revelation.
That woman, with her gentle and refined aura who looked barely over thirty, was their birth mother?
"Are you... are you sure?"
"I'm sure. But so what?"
Liu Yutong turned to look at her. "She chose to leave when we needed her most. What point is there in coming back now?"
Gao Min looked at her sister's somewhat cold profile, a storm of conflicting emotions churning inside her.
She could understand her sister's feelings—the pain of abandonment, the hardship of growing up alone. None of this could be mended by a simple "I'm sorry."
But deep down, she still held a faint, unspoken hope for the mother she had never known, the one who had only existed in her imagination.
"Maybe... she really had no choice back then? And she's come looking for us now, hasn't she?"
Liu Yutong let out a cold laugh. "Even if she had her reasons, that's her business. There hasn't been a place for a mother in my life for a long time."
She paused, then added, "Besides, she already has a new family now, a new life. Look at the man by her side—he's got a distinguished air, probably from some powerful family in the capital. And that young man, he must be her son."
"They're a happy little family of three. If we barge in out of nowhere, what would that make us?"
Gao Min fell silent.
True. If her mother already had a new family, their sudden appearance might not be a good thing either.
"Then we just pretend we don't know?" Gao Min's voice carried a hint of bitterness.
Liu Yutong was silent again for a moment before she said, "Let's deal with Jiang Yuan's matter first. As for the rest... let things take their course. What's meant to come won't be avoided. But whether we accept it or not, that's up to us."
Gao Min nodded.
In her heart, she actually yearned more than Liu Yutong did to sit down calmly with their mother and ask what really happened back then.
Perhaps this was because of their different upbringings. She had grown up surrounded by love and care, and her father was a police officer—a profession she had always been proud of.
But her sister Liu Yutong's experience had been the complete opposite. Her foster father was a gambler who was also prone to domestic violence—he even once tried to sell her off.
It was only natural that her sister didn't want to acknowledge their mother.
But if she had to choose between her mother and her sister, she would choose her sister without a second thought.
"Don't worry. I told you—your decision is my decision. I'll always support you."
"Thank you, Sister."
-----------------
A sleepless night passed.
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Jiang Lu was already out of bed.
She stood in front of the dressing mirror in her hotel suite, having already changed into her fifth outfit—a light purple suit that looked dignified and proper. But after staring at herself from left to right, she still wasn't satisfied.
"How does this one look?"
"Too formal. Makes you look like you're going to a business meeting," Lin Dong commented, leaning against the doorframe.
Jiang Lu frowned, her expression anxious. "I want to come across as warm and approachable. I want to look like an ordinary mother, not some strong-willed career woman."
At this, Lin Dong walked into the room and picked out a light blue knee-length dress with lace trimming the hem. "Try this one? I remember you look especially good in blue. It makes you appear more gentle, too."
Jiang Lu took the dress, hesitated for a moment, and then put it on.
The woman in the mirror was gentle and graceful. The blue made her skin look even fairer, softening the tension on her face.
"I'll go with this one," she finally nodded.
Lin Feng knocked and came in. Seeing Jiang Lu's outfit, he deliberately teased her. "Auntie Jiang, if you go out looking like that, people are going to think you're my older sister."
Though it was a joke, it eased some of the tension in Jiang Lu's heart.
"Breakfast is ready. We'll head out after we eat. I've already had someone check—Finance University has no classes this morning. Most students should be in the dorms or the library. It'll be easier to find her."
"Mm."
The three of them went downstairs to have breakfast.
Jiang Lu had little appetite and only managed to drink half a glass of milk.
Seeing this, Lin Feng encouraged her. "Auntie Jiang, take it easy. The worst that can happen is she's not ready to acknowledge the relationship right now. In that case, we'll take it slow. Today, we'll just see her and leave a good first impression. We can set up another meeting another day. As they say, 'If you chip away with enough patience and sincerity, even metal and stone can be opened.' One day, she'll accept it."
Lin Dong also nodded in agreement. "Xiaofeng is right, Lulu. We have plenty of time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Jiang Lu nodded, forcing a faint smile, but the sweat in her palms betrayed her inner turmoil.
She really couldn’t help being nervous.
After breakfast, they got into the Bentley and headed toward Mingzhu City University of Finance and Economics.
On the way, Jiang Lu kept looking out the window, repeatedly rehearsing the words she would say when they met.
“Tongtong, I’m your mother…”
No, that was too direct.
“Hello, I’m Jiang Lu. You might not know me, but I’m your mother.”
That wouldn’t work either—too stiff.
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time…”
Would that sound too insincere?
The more she thought, the more flustered she became. Finally, she decided to stop overthinking and just go with the flow.
When the moment came, the right words would naturally follow.
About a dozen minutes later, the car arrived at the entrance of the university.
After registering, they followed the information they had gathered earlier and found the female dormitory building where Liu Yutong lived.
“Excuse me, is Tongtong… I mean, is Liu Yutong here?” Jiang Lu stopped a girl who was about to enter the building and asked politely.
The girl paused and looked them up and down. “You’re looking for Liu Yutong?”
“Yes, we’re her…”
Jiang Lu hesitated. “We’re her relatives, visiting from out of town, and we’d like to see her.”
The girl’s expression turned a bit strange. “Are you really her family?”
Lin Dong stepped forward and nodded. “Yes, we came all the way from the capital. This is my wife, and we have something very important to discuss with Liu Yutong.”
“From the capital, huh? That explains it, but you probably won’t find her on campus,” the girl said.
“Why? Did she go out?” Jiang Lu’s heart tightened.
“Not exactly,” the girl shook her head. “She rarely comes to school. If you want to find her, you’ll have to go to the Wanlonghui Group headquarters.”
Jiang Lu was taken aback. “Wanlonghui Group headquarters?”
The girl nodded. “That’s right. Liu Yutong is the big boss of Wanlonghui Group—she’s very busy, so she hardly ever shows up here.”
“If you’re really her relatives, you’d already know that, wouldn’t you?”
Boom!
That sentence struck the three of them like a thunderbolt!
Tongtong… was the big boss of Wanlonghui Group?
The same company that those students last night described as the all-powerful, self-made business empire of Mingzhu City?
Lin Dong suddenly recalled the black-clad girl with an imposing presence he had seen at Yuyuefang last night. A wild thought crossed his mind.
Could it be her?
“Excuse me, are you sure? Liu Yutong, about twenty years old, majoring in business administration at the university, a sophomore?” Lin Dong’s voice unconsciously grew tense.
The girl nodded firmly. “Of course I’m sure! Everyone on campus knows Liu Yutong. She’s a legend here, a role model for countless students. She founded Wanlonghui Group from scratch, and her net worth is said to be over ten billion.”
“See that bulletin board over there? Her full profile is on it—you can check it out yourselves.”
Jiang Lu felt her heart skip a beat.
Ten billion? Self-made?
Was this really her daughter?
“Can you tell us where the Wanlonghui Group headquarters is?” Lin Dong quickly asked.
The girl shot them another suspicious glance. “Are you really Liu Yutong’s relatives? You seem to know nothing—you’re not scammers, are you?”
“Of course we’re not scammers. It’s just our first time here, and we’re unfamiliar with the place.”
The girl nodded and gave them the address.
On Mingzhu City’s turf, anyone foolish enough to try to con Liu Yutong probably hadn’t been born yet.
Lin Dong thanked her and prepared to take his wife and son to that address.
As they passed the bulletin board, Lin Feng suddenly pointed at it and exclaimed, “Dad, Aunt Jiang! Look!”
Jiang Lu and Lin Dong followed his gaze. There, at the center of the board—a prominent display right in front of the dorm building—stood a personal profile taking up nearly half the space.
The profile was astonishing, with a long list of honors that seemed to stretch endlessly.
Recipient of the Dragon Nation Youth May Fourth Medal
National Annual College Student Figure
National College Student Model of Virtue
Mingzhu City Youth Outstanding Contribution Award
Mingzhu City College Student Entrepreneurial Leader
Mingzhu City Safety Exemplary
University Annual Figure
President’s Special Honorary Medal
Student Union Honorary Chair
University Outstanding Student Representative
Founder of the Wanlonghui Scholarship
…
The endless list of honors was followed by a commentary from the university president:
“She redefines the boundaries of what it means to be an ‘outstanding student.’ Her classroom is the world. Her exam is the age. Her answer is legend.”
—In solemn tribute from the University of Finance and Economics
This ridiculously overwhelming résumé left Lin Dong, Jiang Lu, and Lin Feng completely stunned. Even the first few awards alone were heavyweight honors.
For example, the Dragon Nation Youth May Fourth Medal was one of the highest honors the country bestowed on modern youth, given only to those who had made extraordinary contributions in fields like technology, culture, or national defense.
In fact, she had only recently received that award, thanks to Uncle Li’s strong recommendation and an assessment of the Dragon Core Project by the higher-ups.
The National Annual College Student Figure meant she had topped the ranks among tens of millions of college students nationwide.
The Mingzhu City Youth Outstanding Contribution Award was the highest local recognition possible.
The President’s Special Honorary Medal indicated she had been inscribed into the school’s history as a current student—meaning she was no longer merely a standout among students but had become part of the school’s legacy, even a symbol of an era.
Any single one of these honors would make anyone immensely proud, yet here they were listed together as just a small part of this student’s glory.
Lin Feng scanned all the way to the bottom and couldn’t help cursing.
“Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!”
“Is this really a college student? That’s insane!”
“Dad, Aunt Jiang, look at that last line from the president: ‘Her answer is legend!’”
“So badass! So damn badass!”
Passing students noticed their stunned expressions and smiled with pride.
Clearly, every outsider who saw Liu Yutong’s profile for the first time had pretty much the same reaction.
After all, this résumé surpassed excellence—it was practically mythological!
Jiang Lu’s breathing grew faster and faster.
From each of these honors, she could almost see the path her daughter had walked over the past twenty years.
Starting from scratch, building a ten-billion-dollar fortune, earning the highest national youth honor, receiving a moral model commendation… every single accomplishment sounded like something out of a fictional script, yet there it was, carved into her daughter’s real life.
Her emotions grew even more complicated.
There was pride… and heartache. How much hardship had her daughter endured? How many dangers had she faced to become this extraordinary?
And besides that, she also felt a deep, overwhelming sense of fear.
Her daughter seemed to have grown, in the years of her absence, into someone entirely beyond her imagination—someone who had even ascended to heights she could never hope to reach.
“Wanlong Association, Wanlong Association…”
Lin Dong muttered the name over and over, the scenes from the restaurant the previous night replaying in his mind.
The students’ reverent and fearful attitude toward the Wanlong Association, the dragon emblem on the head waiter’s chest, and the imposing black-clad girl from the night before—all of it rushed back to him.
A terrifying thought exploded in his mind.
His gaze jerked away from the text, frantically scanning the bulletin board.
Usually, a profile like this would be accompanied by a photo.
And there it was!
Above the list of honors, beneath the title 【Liu Yutong | School of Business Administration | Class of ‘07】, a small but striking half-length portrait was displayed.
The girl in the photo wore an ordinary student uniform, photogenic and pretty, with a touch of youthful innocence—an innocence that came purely from her age.
This image merged seamlessly with the girl who, the night before, had offered a warm smile and birthday wishes to a younger schoolgirl at the restaurant, only to turn cold and distant toward them.
“It’s her! It really is her!” Even Lin Dong, the nearly fifty-year-old head of the Lin family, found his voice trembling.
The daughter they had been searching for so desperately had slipped right past them!
Jiang Lu followed her husband’s gaze to the photo.
In that moment, time stood still.
The young, beautiful face in the image—the “little sister” who had made her feel such a fond connection on the plane, and the imposing, awe-inspiring young girl from Yufang Restaurant—finally became one and the same.
So this was her youngest daughter—Liu Yutong.
...........
