"Mr. Qin!"
An unexpected thrill crashed into her heart, and Song Xinya's eyes lit up like stars had fallen into them.
"You're back!"
Qin Yuhe withdrew his hand, and the moment he looked at Song Xinya, the icy coldness in his eyes completely melted away, his dark pupils covered with a gentle light.
"I'm back. Are you happy?"
Song Xinya: "Happy? I'm feeling like a phone that's just been fully charged—at max capacity!"
She ran toward him, stepping over the unconscious body on the floor, her willow-like delicate fingers grasping his warm palm, turning it over and over to check.
"Are your hands hurt?"
Qin Yuhe: "I'm not a crispy crepe in a savory pancake. I'm not that fragile."
Song Xinya: "You're like a piece of stainless steel—tempered a thousand times, forever strong."
Qin Yuhe: "First time I've heard someone compare their own husband to stainless steel."
Comparing Mr. Qin to stainless steel seemed beneath his status.
Song Xinya changed her words: "You're like a diamond—even after enduring the harshest storms, you always shine."
Qin Yuhe's gaze landed on her lips. Their shape was full and smooth, the color a vivid and even vermilion, bright and glossy, with naturally upturned corners forming a soft curve.
His gaze was tracing her lips.
From one corner, it slowly moved to the center, then slid to the other corner.
Song Xinya noticed him staring at her lips and pinched his palm hard with her fingers.
His gaze still didn't retreat.
Song Xinya turned around, looking at the man on the ground: "How is he?"
Qin Yuhe: "He won't die. For now, he's just passed out—won't wake up for a while."
His steady voice continued: "My legal team will prosecute him for attempted murder and seek the harshest penalty within the bounds of the law."
Grandma panicked, not out of sympathy for her gambling-addict son, but out of a greater concern: "If he's convicted of attempted murder, then our Yiyi will be the child of a murderer. She'll be pointed at and gossiped about her whole life. She'll never be able to hold her head up—she'll be discriminated against!"
Who would be friends with a murderer's daughter?
Which company would hire a murderer's daughter?
Forget about civil service or public-sector jobs.
Right now, Jian Yiyi and Jian Shuibing were on the same household registry, with him as her father.
Song Xinya looked at Jian Yiyi, catching the terror on the young girl's fair face.
She walked over to Jian Yiyi, took her hands, and found them ice-cold.
For a seventeen-year-old, even a bad exam grade could feel like a heavy burden—let alone having a father who was a murderer.
Having a murderer for a father—anyone would be terrified.
Song Xinya understood Jian Yiyi and gently comforted her: "Yiyi, don't worry. I would never do anything to hurt you."
She placed the money she had just taken from Jian Shuibing's pocket into Jian Yiyi's hands: "This is your tuition. Keep it safe, and don't let that man find it again."
Jian Yiyi looked down at the stack of bills, then pushed it back into Song Xinya's hands: "Teacher Song, no matter where I hide this money in this house, he'll find it. Could you hold onto it for me for a while?"
This was all the money she had—her entire savings. She was entrusting it to Song Xinya.
Even though she hadn't known Song Xinya long and they hadn't met many times, she still trusted her.
"Alright," Song Xinya naturally couldn't refuse. "I'll keep it safe for you."
Song Xinya pulled Jian Yiyi into her arms, patting her back to soothe her.
Her fingers ran through Jian Yiyi's hair, and with a seemingly casual tug, she pulled out a few strands with intact follicles.
She clutched those biological samples tightly in her palm.
"Yiyi, Jian Shuibing won't wake up anytime soon. You don't need to be afraid today. But I still have some things to do, so I need to leave first."
Jian Yiyi let go of Song Xinya's arms: "Okay, Teacher Song. Go ahead and take care of your business."
Song Xinya's hand had never clenched so tightly. Those strands of hair were light, but they felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
She walked out of the Jian family's main gate and immediately pulled a small plastic sealable bag from her purse. She placed the strands of hair with follicles inside, sealed it, and stored it.
"What are you doing?" Qin Yuhe stood across from her, watching her actions.
Song Xinya: "I want to do a paternity test."
She had looked it up—siblings could undergo DNA tests too, to determine if they were biologically related.
Qin Yuhe: "You suspect Jian Yiyi is your missing little sister, Song Tingyou?"
Song Xinya: "Yes. That's exactly what I'm suspecting."
She spoke eagerly and full of hope: "Tomorrow, I'll find a facility that does paternity tests and get it done."
She wasn't doing it today because it was already after hours.
Qin Yuhe: "I'll handle arranging the paternity test. We'll do it today."
Song Xinya was stunned: "Today?"
Qin Yuhe pulled out his phone and started contacting a genetic testing agency: "I promised you I'd help find your sister. At a critical moment like this, I'll definitely help."
One phone call from Qin Yuhe, and what would have had to wait until tomorrow was taken care of. Half an hour later, two people in white lab coats arrived, bowed respectfully, and took Song Xinya's sample with both hands.
Song Xinya fully appreciated the charm of an older man—his strong ability to solve problems.
Inside the Rolls-Royce, she leaned toward him, her fair cheek resting against his chest, her arms wrapped around his lean waist.
"Thank you, Mr. Qin."
Qin Yuhe pressed his cheek against the top of her head, his arm circling her slender waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.
"You're welcome, Mrs. Qin."
Song Xinya lay in his arms, feeling the warmth of his body against her cheek, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, breathing in his crisp, robust masculine scent.
"So, Mr. Qin, why did you suddenly come back from Magic City?"
Qin Yuhe: "I came back from Magic City today for one purpose only..."
One purpose only...
That purpose must be very important.
Probably worth tens of billions.
Song Xinya lifted herself from his arms, looked at him, her face serious, attentive and ready to listen.
Qin Yuhe looked into her eyes as he spoke, his words burning hot: "I came back from Magic City today just to... help you take care of your physical needs."
