"Who do you think that is?"
Guan Xia was snapped out of her thoughts by Pang Le's voice. She looked up and followed the direction Pang Le was pointing, only to see a crowd of pedestrians walking along the roadside. With so many people, she couldn’t immediately tell who Pang Le meant.
It wasn’t until Xu Nian stopped at a red light amid the flow of traffic that Pang Le spoke again. "That figure looks familiar."
As they got closer, Guan Xia focused her gaze and finally noticed a girl pacing back and forth while talking on the phone. She, too, found the girl vaguely familiar. It wasn’t until the girl turned unconsciously that Guan Xia’s eyes widened in surprise. She never expected to run into the girlfriend—no, ex-girlfriend—of Zhou Yiyang, the perpetrator of the 814 case.
Wang Yu also recognized her and sounded shocked. "Why is she here? Zhou Yiyang confessed last night, and with all the evidence against him, I thought Captain Tan had talked to her parents and the whole family left Daqu County overnight."
Due to the private nature of the conversation, Guan Xia didn’t know the details. But as they left the Daqu County police station, she had overheard faint arguing and guessed the discussion hadn’t gone well. When she heard a sharp, unmistakably not-the-girl’s-mother voice, she thought to herself that after holding it in for so long, the girl had finally exploded. Too bad she hadn’t witnessed the scene.
Not that she was nosy—she just genuinely wanted to see the expressions on the faces of those parents, who had forced their daughter into an arranged marriage with a monster. She wondered if there’d be any remorse or guilt.
Pang Le, clearly recalling last night, said with schadenfreude, "Probably had a fight with her parents. I remember Quiming City’s airport is nearby. Those parents deserve it. They have a daughter, yet they act like they’re raising someone else’s daughter-in-law. I’ve never seen people treat their own child like dirt while worshipping the ground their son-in-law walks on. I honestly hope that girl just cuts them off. A pair of fools with eyes but blind as bats."
Wang Yu glanced at the navigation out of habit. "The airport’s about five and a half kilometers east. She’s alone, no luggage, just a bag—probably really did have a falling-out with her parents."
They were just casually observing until Guan Xia noticed the girl suddenly crouch on the roadside mid-call, burying her face in her arms, shoulders shaking as if crying.
Guan Xia hesitated. "She looks like she’s crying… Do you think something’s wrong?"
Just as she spoke, the light turned green. Xu Nian drove forward with the traffic, forcing them to crane their necks and peer back at the girl through the window.
After several glances, Pang Le confirmed, "Definitely crying. Probably overwhelmed by everything that’s happened these past few days."
Guan Xia remembered the girl’s numb, lifeless expression the evening before. Though eager to return to Yongquan City, she couldn’t shake her concern. She was about to speak when she felt the car gradually slow down.
She looked at Xu Nian, who flicked on the right turn signal, took a moment to pull over, then checked both sides before saying, "Go ahead. Hurry—no traffic cops now, but we can’t park long."
Guan Xia silently marveled at Xu Nian’s thoughtfulness, quickly thanked him, then grabbed Pang Le and jumped out of the car.
They sprinted to the girl, stopping to catch their breath, only to realize Wang Yu hadn’t followed—either used to such scenes or figuring Guan Xia and Pang Le could handle it.
Hearing footsteps, the girl lifted her head, blinking in confusion at them.
Before Guan Xia could greet her, the girl wiped her eyes vigorously and exclaimed, "It’s you! The police from Daqu County! I recognize you!"
Guan Xia was surprised. She’d only observed the girl from a distance before and hadn’t interacted. She didn’t know when the girl had noticed them, but it didn’t matter now.
Seeing the girl still crouched, seemingly forgetting to stand, Guan Xia crouched too, smiling gently. "What are you doing here? I saw you on the phone earlier. Are you…?"
She searched for the right words, wanting to comfort her, but the girl’s eyes sparkled as she said, "I haven’t thanked you yet. Thank you—really. If it weren’t for you, I’d have no idea what kind of hell my life would’ve become. Who’d have thought someone who seemed so honest was actually a murderer? Thank goodness you caught him. It set me free."
"Set me free." Guan Xia repeated the phrase and suddenly felt any words of comfort were unnecessary. The girl’s bright eyes and grateful expression made it clear—even if she’d been crying, they were tears of relief. Whatever had upset her wasn’t a setback but a breakthrough. She’d broken some inner chain to say those words.
Guan Xia grinned widely. "Then congratulations! Truly—congratulations on your freedom."
The girl’s eyes curved into crescents as she nodded emphatically, smiling back. "I was just talking to my friend. I thought about it all night and finally realized—I’m leaving Linshan City. My parents aren’t always right. What they call ‘for your own good’ might not be. People should live by their own choices."
Perhaps the sudden clarity had her exhilarated. She kept talking excitedly for several minutes until her phone rang again. With a final smile, she bid Guan Xia goodbye.
Though they’d never meet again, Guan Xia solemnly returned the farewell.
By the time they returned to Yongquan City, it was already the next afternoon. After over 24 hours of travel, Guan Xia’s body ached. She forced herself to rest at home for two full days, disinfecting the wound on her knee (as Pang Le and Xu Nian kept reminding her) until she was sure it had healed without reopening or infection. Only then did she muster the energy to contact Ji An and Meng Lan.
Ji An, as usual, didn’t reply. Guan Xia worried but resisted the urge to ask around, choosing to wait. Meng Lan, however, broke her silence instantly, even telling Guan Xia she’d booked a flight for the next morning. If Guan Xia was willing, they could have lunch.
Of course Guan Xia was willing. To make time pass faster, she busied herself nonstop—tidying the study, suddenly deciding the desk was dirty, rushing to reorganize the bookshelf before wiping the desk halfway, then realizing her skin looked rough from late nights and stopping to apply a face mask.
Guan Xia had practically given her home and herself a thorough cleaning, finally making it to noon the next day. Originally, she had wanted to go pick Meng Lan up at the airport, but Meng Lan refused, so she waited instead at a restaurant near her alma mater that the two had agreed upon.
After another half hour of restless anticipation, the door to the private room was finally pushed open. Guan Xia looked up at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face before her. Overwhelmed with excitement, she also felt a sense of disorientation—it had been far too long since she’d last seen this once-closest friend of hers.
Years had passed since their last meeting, and Meng Lan seemed much more mature now. Her face was unmistakably the same, yet somehow, her entire demeanor carried a sharper edge. She used to always smile around Guan Xia, her eyes crinkling warmly with a gentle glow. But now, though she still smiled at Guan Xia, that light was gone. Her eyes seemed veiled, making it hard to discern her true emotions.
Guan Xia sat frozen for a few seconds, forgetting even to greet her, until Meng Lan closed the door and spoke with familiar ease, snapping her out of her daze.
Meng Lan casually set her bag down on the seat beside her and grinned. "What? Don’t recognize me after all these years? It’s not like I got plastic surgery—just some cosmetic treatments. So? Do I look much prettier now?"
The affectionate teasing instantly dissolved the unfamiliarity Guan Xia had felt moments ago. She couldn’t help but stare at Meng Lan’s face for a few seconds before laughing. "You really do look prettier—your skin’s fairer and smoother, and your face looks slimmer too."
"Ah, the wonders of money," Meng Lan sighed, pulling out a chair to sit beside Guan Xia. She studied Guan Xia closely as well. "You’ve gotten prettier too. No more dark circles, and that constant irritation you couldn’t shake before is gone. You look radiant—seems like life’s been treating you well. That’s really good."
Suddenly, Meng Lan leaned over, pressing her face against Guan Xia’s shoulder and nuzzling lightly. "This is exactly how I imagined our reunion. Maybe we’re not wildly successful, but at least neither of us is struggling with money anymore. Guan Xia, you have no idea how happy that makes me."
Guan Xia was happy too, but then she remembered the things Meng Lan had said before, and her mood immediately grew complicated. Unsure how to respond, she simply patted Meng Lan’s back gently.
As if no time had passed at all, Meng Lan acted without a trace of awkwardness. After a few casual remarks, she naturally called over the waiter and, without even glancing at the menu, ordered a spread of dishes they both loved.
Guan Xia didn’t dampen the mood by pointing out how much she’d ordered. She just sat quietly, watching her bustle about, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like they’d gone back in time.
As she poured hot water to rinse their cups, Meng Lan asked without looking up, "I remember your comic wrapped up about two years ago, right? Have you started planning a new one? With me gone these past years, has your life gotten more interesting? Made any new friends? You’re so likable—I bet you’ve found someone even closer than me."
Somehow, though Meng Lan’s tone was perfectly normal, Guan Xia detected a hint of sourness in her words.
Thinking of Pang Le, who had practically become her shadow over the past two years, Guan Xia instinctively touched her nose guiltily—but then straightened up. Why should she feel guilty when Meng Lan was the one who’d gone silent first?
Accepting the cup of tea Meng Lan pushed toward her, Guan Xia turned it in her hands and said, "I do have plans for a new comic, but I’m still lacking inspiration. So lately, I’ve just been reading novels, binge-watching shows, and traveling occasionally. As for friends… yeah, I did meet one."
At the thought of Pang Le, Guan Xia couldn’t help but smile before continuing, "Life’s not exactly thrilling, but it’s not boring either. What about you? You mentioned your biological sister treats you really well after you reunited with your birth parents. What’s she like? How does she treat you?"
Meng Lan’s face had fallen slightly when Guan Xia mentioned her new friend, but at the mention of her sister, her lips curled back up. She lifted her arm and extended it toward Guan Xia, a note of pride in her voice. "Check out this watch. Nice, right? A limited edition from a luxury brand—less than a hundred in the country. My sister bought it for me. Cost over three hundred grand."
Guan Xia was stunned by the price. She examined the watch carefully—it was undeniably beautiful, but compared to the cost, it didn’t quite seem worth it. Still, seeing how happy Meng Lan was, she smiled and praised, "It really is gorgeous. No wonder you said your sister treats you well."
"Yeah, I couldn’t believe it when I first got it either," Meng Lan murmured, running her fingers lightly over the watch face before lowering her arm. "That’s when I really started believing my sister actually likes me. Oh, I have a photo of her—want to see?"
Guan Xia nodded eagerly.
Meng Lan quickly pulled out her phone, swiped through a few images, and handed it to Guan Xia. "Look, this is her."
Guan Xia leaned in for a closer look. Compared to Meng Lan, the woman in the photo appeared more mature, with a sleek, short haircut. The picture seemed candid—the woman had turned toward the camera with a faint smile, but her sharp, aloof aura was unmistakable. She looked like someone who wasn’t easy to get along with. Still, her features bore a clear resemblance to Meng Lan’s, though hers were more striking.
"She really does look like you," Guan Xia said sincerely.
Meng Lan grinned smugly. "Of course—we’re sisters. There’s more—keep looking."
She swiped through more photos, most of them showing her and her sister together—selfies, group outings where her sister chatted animatedly with others, and formal events where she held a glass of wine, smiling gracefully while engaging in conversation. But even as she smiled, Guan Xia sensed an undercurrent of steel beneath it, like invisible blades clashing.
Just from these images, it was obvious that Meng Lan’s sister was a high-powered success story, the very embodiment of the domineering female CEOs Guan Xia had read about in novels.
As she scrolled, Guan Xia even felt a spark of inspiration—until the next photo appeared, and it vanished instantly.
Staring at the face in the photo—one that bore a sixty or seventy percent resemblance to her own but clearly belonged to someone much younger—Guan Xia was momentarily speechless.
It wasn’t until Meng Lan hastily withdrew her phone, flustered, that Guan Xia snapped out of it. "I’m sorry, Guan Xia—so sorry. These are just some old photos from… back then. I forgot to delete them and didn’t mean for you to see. Please believe me, I really didn’t intend to show you."
Guan Xia’s mind spun briefly before she steadied herself and shook her head. "It’s fine. Just a photo—it doesn’t affect me. But you were right—she really does look a lot like me."
Guan Xia recalled the face she had just seen—the person was slightly plumper than her, so their face was rounder, with bigger, rounder eyes that made them look innocent, clearly someone who had grown up drenched in love. Guan Xia couldn’t help but wonder: if she had been raised in the same environment, perhaps the two of them would have looked even more alike.
Shaking her head to dismiss these wandering thoughts, before Meng Lan could speak, Guan Xia added, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I haven’t finished looking at your sister’s photos—are there more? Honestly, seeing them actually gave me some inspiration.”
Meng Lan pressed her lips together, hesitating for a few seconds before ultimately deciding not to show her any more. “Let’s not keep talking about my sister. How about something else? By the way, you still haven’t told me why you suddenly went back to the orphanage the other day. I did tell my assistant to keep an eye out, but I never expected she’d actually run into you there. Did you go back because you heard about the changes at the orphanage? If so, did you see Chairman Wu Yang’s portrait? Let me tell you, you only saw a painting, but the last time I went back, I met him in person!”
Guan Xia was surprised. “When did you go back? And you actually met him? What was he like? Did he look like his portrait?”
Meng Lan grew animated, nodding emphatically. “Yes, but he had even more presence in person. It’s hard to describe—you’ll understand once you meet him yourself. He saw your portrait too and even asked about you. After I told him about your life all these years, he sighed and said how impressive you were, that not everyone can so easily come to terms with their past. It took him many years to make peace with his own origins too. He mentioned that if the opportunity arises, maybe the two of you could meet.”
“Meet me?” Guan Xia was puzzled. “With a company that big to run, he was probably just being polite.”
But Meng Lan had a different take, blinking mysteriously. “Not necessarily. Don’t forget what kind of company he runs.”
Guan Xia thought for a moment before remembering—this senior from the orphanage was the founder of a gaming company, one that had also produced several animated works. Could he have meant some kind of professional collaboration?
Originally calm, Guan Xia suddenly felt a spark of excitement at the possibility. If that was the case, then she really had something to look forward to.
