◎Resemblance◎
When this topic was brought up, Lin Shengxi straightened his posture and spoke seriously: "There really aren’t many people who frequent that place, and only one person’s presence overlaps with Yan-ge’s. But the surveillance footage can’t be checked—just that the person was wearing a mask."
Jiang Suizhi glanced at him coolly. "So the lead is dead?"
"Not exactly." Lin Shengxi scratched his head, still unsure how to phrase it. He could only ask vaguely, "Suizhi-ge, do you read novels?"
"?"
"You know, the kind where wealthy parents throw money around and say, ‘Leave my son alone.’"
It was obvious Jiang Suizhi didn’t read such novels. He was usually too busy to even scroll through his phone, and no one had ever said those words to him—a lifelong bachelor. On the contrary, people only ever offered him more money, begging for his attention.
But that didn’t mean he was stupid.
Lin Shengxi’s hint made it click for him. Jiang Yan’s status meant he was never short of women around him, but he had high standards and valued emotional connection more.
From the fragments Jiang Yan had mentioned, the woman must have been outstanding, confident, and bold—someone who wouldn’t just disappear without a trace.
Jiang Yan had even been planning to marry her. She was pregnant. If nothing extraordinary had happened, why would she leave?
Jiang Suizhi’s gaze turned even colder. "You’re saying someone made her leave."
Lin Shengxi rubbed his nose. "Originally, I wasn’t sure if the masked person was her. After all, no one saw her interacting with Yan-ge. But the last time she appeared, Uncle Jiang was there. Someone saw them leaving the same private room."
Unlike Jiang Yan’s cautious nature, Jiang Suizhi knew his father all too well—arrogant and self-assured to the core.
But he doubted money alone would have been enough to make her leave.
Unless there was another bargaining chip.
Like Jiang Yan himself.
"There’s one more thing." Lin Shengxi lowered his voice. "Suizhi-ge, think about it—how was Yan-ge’s relationship with her? If it was good, then after Yan-ge’s accident, did she show up?"
She probably hadn’t. Otherwise, Jiang Suizhi wouldn’t have had to search for her himself.
"If she didn’t, it’s either because their relationship wasn’t that deep… or because there was something else she couldn’t speak about." He hesitated. "Ge, if someone from your family was involved, I’ll need more clues to dig further."
"Understood."
That evening, Jiang Suizhi made a rare visit to the old family estate.
Years ago, Jiang Hechang had brought him back but never demanded they live together, so he had stayed in Jiang Yan’s house. Aside from obligatory appearances during holidays, he had never set foot here.
The servants were stunned to see the young master return, scrambling to prepare. "Master, Young Master is back."
Soon, a figure emerged from the wine cellar, glancing at Jiang Suizhi before looking away. "What brings you here?"
The two only met twice a year—far from familiar.
In Jiang Suizhi’s imagination, Jiang Hechang had always been a ruthless man who cared only for profit and the family name. Their few interactions had only confirmed his arrogance and indifference.
Nothing more.
Jiang Hechang never interfered in his personal life, even if he never came home.
But Jiang Suizhi wasn’t one to crave familial bonds either. He had never expected such things.
He cut straight to the point. "What did you use to make her leave?"
Jiang Hechang paused while pouring his wine, frowning. "What tone is that?"
"Should I put on a father-son act before asking?" Jiang Suizhi sat at a measured distance, unflinching. "I don’t recall that being a Jiang family rule."
This time, Jiang Hechang didn’t respond.
Jiang Suizhi waited in silence. Neither of them was the type to throw tantrums. If the other heard, it was up to them whether to answer.
After a long moment, Jiang Hechang took a sip of wine. "What do you want?"
"Nothing." Jiang Suizhi removed his glasses. "I just wanted to know how far you’d go to make Jiang Yan obey. Helps me prepare."
"Are you mocking me?"
"So you’re not denying it."
The standoff lasted several seconds before Jiang Hechang scoffed. "I forced him? Without me, he’d be nothing. He’s a Jiang—this is what he owes the family. That woman would’ve brought him no advantage. In this house, your petty romances mean nothing."
Jiang Suizhi adjusted his glasses, his voice eerily calm. "So you didn’t even let her attend Jiang Yan’s funeral."
"What are you accusing me of?" Jiang Hechang slammed his glass onto the table. "He’s dead. They never married. What difference would it make if she came? Did you see that funeral? Do you call that a funeral?"
Even Jiang Suizhi had never seen anything so bare—fewer than ten people, some just assistants.
For someone like Jiang Hechang, who always demanded the best, it made no sense.
"You didn’t interfere?" he asked.
"I gave her money." Jiang Hechang’s tone was mocking. "Did your brother think this was some grand love story? A few million, and she never showed her face again."
Jiang Suizhi almost asked if he knew about the pregnancy.
But what was the point? Even if she had been pregnant, Jiang Hechang would’ve seen the child as a burden—just like he once had with Jiang Suizhi.
"What was her name?"
"What do you plan to do?" Jiang Hechang’s neck flushed red with anger. "Your brother and that woman are in the past! You can’t afford to get involved with anyone! Do you want to end up like him?"
Silence engulfed the room.
Then, a soft laugh broke the stillness.
Jiang Hechang looked up, his gaze freezing.
His estranged son slowly rose from his seat, stepping closer. Over the years, he’d thought the boy had shed his rebellious edge. But now he realized some things were carved into one’s bones.
Unchangeable. Unerasable.
Those eyes held a disdainful superiority, looking down on him with contempt.
"You think I’m like you?" Jiang Suizhi said lightly.
"What did you say?"
"What was her name?" Jiang Suizhi repeated, ignoring the question.
Jiang Hechang was furious, bristling under that gaze. "How would I know? Le something—Le Qing, maybe?"
Having gotten his answer, Jiang Suizhi saw no reason to waste more time.
As he turned, Jiang Suizhi caught sight of Jiang Yan’s memorial photo still displayed on the first floor. He reached out and flipped the frame facedown. "Weak and useless. Who does leaving this photo here put at ease?"
Behind him, the sound of a shattered liquor bottle hitting the floor didn’t make him look back. Only after he got into his car outside the estate did his hands grip the steering wheel tightly, a stifled, ragged breath escaping his throat.
The world wasn’t full of coincidences, nor were there so many perfectly timed car accidents.
He had always known why Jiang Yan had gone to such lengths to protect that person when he hadn’t yet secured real power. Where money and influence were involved, schemes were inevitable.
And the reason he had chosen to return to the Jiang family—to claim that money and power—was to fulfill the promise he’d once made to Jiang Yan.
After all, Jiang Yan was, in some way, his only remaining family.
So he wouldn’t leave that person out there unprotected.
Pulling out his phone, he sent Lin Shengxi the name he’d just recalled. Just as he started the car, a knock came at the window. He glanced over before lowering it.
"Thought I recognized this car," said the old man outside, leaning on his cane with a smile. "Suizhi, you’re back. Dinner hasn’t been served yet—why not stay and eat?"
Jiang Suizhi replied flatly, "No need. Seeing me would ruin his appetite."
"Your father’s temper is just like that. There are no lasting grudges between father and son," the old man said patiently. "Stop antagonizing him. Visit more often—if not for him, then for me."
This was Grandpa Jiang, related by blood but not particularly close. Unlike Jiang Hechang, who would snap within three sentences, Grandpa Jiang never lost his temper. He was the only one in the Jiang family who could exchange more than a few words with Jiang Suizhi.
"Next time," Jiang Suizhi said, though he wasn’t close to him either. "I’m leaving now."
As his car drove off, Grandpa Jiang shook his head with a sigh.
Jiang Suizhi hadn’t lied about having business to attend to. Due to his past connection with Lin Jian, he’d been unable to visit the other man’s photography exhibition despite the invitation.
Today, since he was passing by, he decided to stop by—even if he didn’t understand art, it was a gesture of respect for the invitation.
Few people visited photography exhibitions these days, and the initial buzz had long faded. The gallery was nearly empty.
Jiang Suizhi had never considered himself artistically inclined, so his steps were absentminded, his thoughts still preoccupied with that person.
Until his gaze landed on a photograph, and his footsteps halted abruptly.
It showed two children he’d never seen before, holding a large bag together as they turned to face the camera. Snowflakes drifted around them, but the children were dressed thinly, their small faces flushed from the cold.
Jiang Suizhi’s pupils trembled. He took an involuntary step forward.
The two children looked about the same age, but their resemblance was slight—except for the little girl, who bore an uncanny likeness to Jiang Yan.
Three years old… How big should a three-year-old be?
He had no frame of reference, but the thought in his mind refused to be suppressed. His hands, only just steadied, began to shake again. It took him a long moment to remember what he should do next.
Ask Lin Jian where this photo had been taken.
But when he pulled out his phone, he found it flooded with messages.
Jiang Suizhi kept his personal and professional lives separate, using two different phones. The matter he’d asked Lin Shengxi to look into was personal, so he’d used his private device—one that usually had no notifications. Today, however, it showed an unusual double-digit number of alerts.
Opening it, he was met with a barrage of exclamation points.
Though their age difference wasn’t large, Jiang Suizhi often felt Lin Shengxi had boundless energy.
Lin Shengxi: No typo, right?
Lin Shengxi: Le Qing? This "Le," this "Qing"?
Lin Shengxi: I know her! Saw her recently—those two kids are hers!
Jiang Suizhi ignored the chaotic excitement and focused on the key detail—children.
He called immediately. "What do the person and the children look like?"
"Easy! Hold on." Lin Shengxi forwarded the video he’d seen that day—since he had no other photos of Le Qing. "Here, the kids getting IVs are the ones!"
The video had sparked outrage, with most viewers only watching the first half. Aside from Lin Shengxi’s heated commentary, the top comments were a mix of condemnation.
Jiang Suizhi’s expression darkened as he skimmed them.
"You said you know her?"
Lin Shengxi hesitated. "Not exactly. It’s just… she’s been acting strange lately."
A pause, then realization dawned. "Wait… you’re not saying Le Qing was… Yan-ge’s ex, right?"
Jiang Suizhi didn’t know for sure, but he was 80% certain those children were Jiang Yan’s.
"No way," Lin Shengxi denied instantly, though he added quietly, "But… they do look like him."
Irritation flared. "And you didn’t notice?"
Lin Shengxi was indignant. "How was I supposed to know Le Qing had anything to do with Yan-ge? She used to be so… Yan-ge would never have liked her! And both times I tried to show you my phone—first time I even said you two might have a connection! You shut me down twice. Said the office wasn’t for playing with phones."
"…"
Really, Mr. Pride.
