Guan Xia didn’t want to waste another minute. She knew that under the police’s thorough search, even if Ning Ping’an had been hidden away meticulously, they would eventually uncover clues and rescue her.
But the mere thought of that child—missing since the age of four—now hidden somewhere so close, enduring nearly 2,000 days and nights without sunlight, made Guan Xia’s heart burn with urgency. She imagined the girl would be frail, weak, her face pale, her spirit broken by fear. Perhaps she had been abused, likely bearing injuries. Guan Xia ached to appear before her, to stand by her side, right this instant.
Fortunately, Guan Xia’s temper wasn’t the worst, though it wasn’t the best either. She could barely restrain herself—otherwise, she might have lunged at that beast in human skin and beaten the truth out of him with her fists.
When Guan Xia uttered Ning Ping’an’s name, the illegitimate son visibly flinched. He clearly knew something. But before he could stammer out a word, his mother, Cheng Yiyan, stepped forward with a forced smile, her voice trembling. "W-what Ning Ping’an? Officer, what are you talking about? We don’t know anything. Are you sure you have the right people? We—"
Even with a search warrant in hand and so many officers present, Cheng Yiyan still clung to the delusion that she could deceive Guan Xia. Irritated, Guan Xia snapped, "Shut up!" Then she fixed her gaze on the illegitimate son. "If you talk now, it’ll count as cooperation. But if the police find her first, you’ll rot in prison. Do you know how many years you’ll get? With your poor health, do you think you’ll survive behind bars?"
This was the first time Guan Xia had delivered such a practiced threat, and Cheng Yiyan’s expression immediately twisted in panic. She tried to speak again, but Pang Le shoved her aside roughly. The illegitimate son looked to his mother for help, but seeing her—the elegant, seemingly invincible woman he idolized—reduced to such helplessness, his resolve crumbled. He broke down sobbing. "I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I don’t want to go to prison! She’s in the basement of this house!"
Finally forcing the truth out of him, Guan Xia and Pang Le exchanged triumphant glances. Meanwhile, Cheng Yiyan, who had fought so hard to keep this secret, collapsed to the floor in despair.
The officers nearby watched her coldly. She was still as beautiful and poised as ever—her looks had won her everything she desired, even saving her sickly child’s life. But this time, her charms were useless. No one would step forward to rescue her now.
Ignoring Cheng Yiyan’s frightened sobs, Guan Xia and Pang Le hauled the illegitimate son up from the couch and shoved him forward. "Where is she? Lead the way."
He tried to drag his feet, but despite his improved health—built on the suffering of others—he remained frail and weak. Under Pang Le’s rough handling, he stumbled several times, nearly falling.
Perhaps finally accepting reality, the illegitimate son glanced around, searching for a way to stall. Finding none, he reluctantly led them to a room on the first floor.
The room was locked even in broad daylight, its purpose unclear. Once opened, Guan Xia and Pang Le pushed him inside, revealing an immaculately arranged study. Books lined the shelves, and a plush carpet covered the floor, though the space showed little sign of use.
Trembling, the illegitimate son approached an ornate floor lamp. After a moment’s hesitation, he gripped its metal frame and twisted it forcefully. A mechanical clicking sound followed, rhythmic and deliberate.
Guan Xia’s pulse quickened as she turned toward the noise, expecting a hidden passage leading underground. Instead, she found only a small, cramped compartment—likely for storage. In one corner stood a safe, flanked by glass-fronted cabinets displaying rows of glittering jewelry.
For a second, Guan Xia thought she’d been tricked. Furious, she shoved the illegitimate son again. "Stop playing games. Where is she?"
Tears welling in his eyes, he staggered toward the compartment. "I’m not lying—she’s really down there."
Under Pang Le’s watchful glare—his fists clenched as if ready to strike—the illegitimate son obediently stopped at the entrance. He crouched, lifting the carpet that covered the compartment’s floor, and revealed a trapdoor with a handle.
This had to be the way down. Excitement flashed in Pang Le’s eyes as he grabbed the illegitimate son by the collar and yanked him aside, clearing the path. Rubbing his hands together, he reached for the handle.
Guan Xia seized the moment to call Ji An, who was searching another room, and informed her of their discovery.
In just a minute or two, the previously empty study was crowded with people. Not only had Ji An and Xu Nian arrived, but several detectives from the Anjiang Bureau had also rushed in, though they were slower and ended up squeezed at the outer edges.
By then, Pang Le had already lifted the small door, revealing a wooden staircase leading downward. With quick, heavy footsteps, she had already descended, her excited voice echoing up, "Guan Xia, Sister Ji, she’s down here! I see her—hurry!"
Guan Xia didn’t push forward, letting Ji An go down second before carefully following herself. At the bottom, they were met with a heavy iron door, firmly barring the way. Pang Le had squeezed into a corner, making room for Ji An, who was now peering through a deliberately cut-out opening, straining to see inside.
The sight of the iron door and the surrounding environment gave Guan Xia the surreal feeling of visiting a prison. It was clear how desperately Cheng Yiyan feared losing Ning Ping'an—the only hope to save her son. Even though Ning Ping'an was just a child, Cheng had taken extreme precautions, as if intending to lock her away forever.
Ji An, evidently seeing what she had hoped for, was now overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face. Guan Xia was about to call for Xu Nian to bring down the illegitimate son when she heard his voice from behind, "I'm here. I’ve already brought him down."
Compared to the others’ heightened emotions, Xu Nian remained composed. Perhaps anticipating the need for the young man below, he had brought him down without waiting for Guan Xia’s request.
Xu Nian’s foresight proved right—the iron door had a fingerprint lock. Pang Le, with her usual brusqueness, yanked the young man forward, nearly shoving him against the door as she barked, "Hurry up and open it. No stalling."
At this point, the young man had no choice but to comply. Though his face twisted with humiliation and resentment, he unlocked the door without protest.
The moment the lock clicked open, Ji An flung the door wide and rushed inside, Guan Xia close behind. As the door swung open, lights flickered on one by one, illuminating the space.
To Guan Xia’s shock, the basement was far larger than expected—at least a hundred or two hundred square meters. Most of the area was crammed with medical equipment, leaving only a small corner sectioned off by transparent glass. Inside this tiny enclosure was a narrow bed, a washbasin, a miniature toilet, and a wall-mounted TV.
The glass walls made everything inside fully visible, and Guan Xia felt a wave of disbelief and horror. Ning Ping'an was imprisoned here with even less dignity than she had imagined—treated like an inmate, an experiment, or a display. Stripped of all human rights and dignity, she was subjected to constant surveillance and control.
No wonder there had been a small, window-like opening in the iron door—likely for Cheng Yiyan and the occasional visits from the young man to check on her.
Even Xu Nian, usually unshakable, couldn’t contain his anger now. He shoved the young man forward again, growling, "Open it. Now."
Indeed, beyond the iron door’s fingerprint lock, the glass room holding Ning Ping'an had another one.
The young man stumbled forward once more and unlocked it. Ji An immediately burst inside, first frantically checking Ning Ping'an for injuries before pulling her into a tight embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Between tears, Ji An clutched the girl, murmuring in a broken voice, "Ping'an, Auntie Ji is here to take you home. I’ve finally found you. Don’t be scared—we’re leaving soon."
But in stark contrast to Ji An’s emotional outburst, Ning Ping'an remained numb and bewildered.
At first, Guan Xia hadn’t noticed it clearly while Ji An was holding her. But when Ji An pulled back slightly, Guan Xia saw it unmistakably—the child’s face was blank with confusion, fear, and helplessness.
Five years. Cheng Yiyan hadn’t just locked away Ning Ping'an’s body; she had stolen her growth, her memories. The girl seemed to have forgotten Ji An entirely, staring at her like a stranger. There was no joy at being reunited with family—only the panic of having her fragile routine shattered.
What pained Guan Xia most was that even though Ning Ping'an’s eyes and expression screamed fear, her body didn’t react. She sat stiffly, mechanically, letting Ji An hug and touch her without resistance—but also without any emotional response.
They held each other for several minutes. After Ji An’s initial wave of emotion subsided, she finally noticed something was wrong. She looked at Ning Ping’an, who stood as still as a mannequin, and panic crept into her voice as she searched the girl’s eyes. "Ping’an, it’s me—your Aunt Ji. Ji, like the season. Don’t you remember? When you were little, I bought you so many dresses—white, pink, yellow. Every time your mom and I took you out, we dressed you up like a little princess. Your favorite was that pink dress, paired with the white leather shoes your mom got you. Do you remember?"
For the first time, Guan Xia saw such raw fear and tension on Ji An’s face. She stared intently into Ning Ping’an’s eyes, desperate for even a flicker of recognition.
Fortunately, though Ning Ping’an had been missing for five years—taken by force when she was only four—the memories before those hellish years were too bright to fade entirely. Under the hopeful gazes of Ji An and Guan Xia, Ning Ping’an’s expression shifted slightly, as if grasping at something distant. Hesitantly, she stammered, "A-Aunt Ji…"
Even just those two words were enough to send Ji An overjoyed. "Yes, yes! I’m Ji An, your Aunt Ji. Do you remember now?"
Ning Ping’an still didn’t smile, but the fear in her eyes lessened. She nodded haltingly. "I… I think… I remember. You’re… Aunt Ji."
At this, Ji An froze. Heartache twisted her features as she gently stroked Ning Ping’an’s hair, her lips trembling. Fighting back tears, she forced a bright smile. "That’s right. I’m your Aunt Ji. Ping’an, I’ve finally found you. Let’s go home. We’re going home now."
With that, Ji An bent down and lifted Ning Ping’an into her arms. Though the girl was nine, her sharp jawline betrayed how thin and light she was. Ji An carried her effortlessly, cradling her like treasure—smiling through glistening eyes as she hurried outside.
Guan Xia and Pang Le didn’t follow immediately. Only after the figures disappeared beyond the iron gate did Pang Le lean in, voice low with worry. "Do you think Ping’an will ever recover? She’s stuttering now. From Geng Jing’s testimony, Ning Xin was stabbed right in front of her. If she remembers Ji An, she must remember her mother too. Will she… carry this trauma forever?"
Guan Xia exhaled heavily. "I don’t know. But the fact that she can still speak is a good sign. It means she hasn’t completely shut down. With therapy, even if the scars remain, time might help her live normally again."
Pang Le nodded, though his frown lingered. "You’re right. Just being able to talk is progress. She’s young. Once she’s back with family, given time, she’ll heal."
As if reassuring himself as much as Guan Xia, he repeated the words under his breath before leading her out of that hellish place.
With Ning Ping’an found, the evidence was undeniable. When they emerged, Ji An and the girl were already gone, but Cheng Yiyan was there—handcuffed, her earlier composure shattered. Sobs wracked her body as two officers held her up, her legs too weak to stand.
As Guan Xia and Pang Le reached the surface, officers from the Anjiang District Bureau rushed past them, heading back underground.
Xu Nian wasn’t far behind. After handing over the handcuffed suspect to the bureau, he took a call, then approached Guan Xia. "The task force just arrived. Xi Weihong and Gao Chengye have been arrested. The rest involved will be hunted down soon—the bureau’s cooperating for a full sweep."
Guan Xia scanned the doorway, but Ji An was nowhere in sight. Sighing, she turned back. "Given Ping’an’s condition, she’ll need a full medical exam and injury documentation. We’ll have to stay in Baofeng City for a couple more days. I’ll be sticking with Ji An, so I won’t be part of the investigation anymore. As for you all…"
Before Guan Xia could finish speaking, Xu Nian considerately said, "Now that Ning Ping'an has been found, this case is essentially solved. The rest are just minor details to wrap up. You don’t need to be involved in that—focus on your own work. We’ll coordinate with the colleagues from the Anjiang District Bureau as needed. We’ll wait for your updates; whenever your team decides to return to Shangshuang City, we’ll set off together."
Guan Xia let out a relieved sigh and nodded. Though Ning Ping'an's mental state was far from stable, the fact that she was alive and could speak normally was already a blessing. Guan Xia believed that with Ji An and the support of Ning Xin’s parents, she would eventually find her footing and begin a new chapter in life.
