The black Mercedes S600 quickly drove into the residential complex. Ma Dongchen immediately spotted the Audi 80 ahead. He leaned towards the driver’s seat, tapping the driver’s shoulder. The driver understood and honked repeatedly at the car in front.
The Audi 80 braked suddenly. Soon, Han Mei got out of the car, staring blankly at the Mercedes. Seeing his wife’s sallow face and swollen eyes from crying, his heart sank.
Ma Dongchen opened the door and got out, asking Han Mei, “How is it? Any news?”
“No. I’ve checked all the places you told me to.” Han Mei looked like she might collapse at any moment, her hoarse voice tinged with tears. “Dongchen, what should we do?”
“Go home first.” Ma Dongchen got back into the car. “I’ll keep looking.”
“Don’t you need to rest? You haven’t slept much these past few days.” Han Mei rushed to the car window. “If you break down, our family is finished.”
“No need.” Ma Dongchen’s face was cold as he instructed the driver to turn around. “If we can’t find the child, this family is finished anyway.”
With that, he left Han Mei crying by the roadside as the Mercedes drove out of the complex.
Back on the main road, the Mercedes weaved through traffic like a shark. Ma Dongchen still felt incredibly frustrated. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand his wife’s anxiety and grief; his physical exhaustion had nearly reached its limit. But he couldn’t eat or sleep. And facing a weeping Han Mei at home was worse than going out to search, which at least gave him hope and something to do.
The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and asked softly, “Mr. Ma, should we go back to the company first?”
“Hm?”
“Secretary Li called earlier. The client has been waiting all morning.”
“Tell him to get lost!” Ma Dongchen exploded. “At a time like this, I don’t give a damn about his business!”
The driver didn’t dare speak again and drove obediently. Ma Dongchen lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. A few minutes later, he lowered the window, tossed out the cigarette butt, and instructed the driver, “Go to Old Su’s place.”
The phone rang.
Gu Hao, who was eating, put down his chopsticks and walked to the TV cabinet to pick up the receiver.
The other end of the line remained silent. Gu Hao’s heart began to race as he tentatively asked, “Su Lin?”
“Hm?” Du Qian’s surprised voice came through. “What Su Lin?”
“Oh, nothing.” Gu Hao let out a long breath, unsure if he felt relieved or disappointed. “I thought you weren’t talking to me anymore.”
“Were you expecting a call?” Du Qian’s tone was wistful. “Doesn’t seem like you were waiting for me.”
“It’s a long story, I’ll explain later.” Gu Hao hesitated. “You… you were looking for me?”
“Yes, did Dawei stay at your place last night?”
“That’s right. He came to drink with me and slept here for the night.” Gu Hao chuckled. “He had breakfast and left in high spirits this morning.”
“That’s good.” Du Qian sighed. “I can’t ask about his work, he’s always out early and back late, I hardly see him.”
“That’s how police work is. Don’t worry, Dawei is a sensible kid.”
“Ah, both father and son are police officers. I’ve spent my life worrying about the older one, and now I’m starting to worry about the younger one.”
“Then hurry up and find him a wife, let your daughter-in-law worry, and you can relax.”
“You make it sound so easy.” Du Qian laughed softly. “Be honest, have you stopped going to the social dance class?”
“Yes.” Gu Hao felt a bit embarrassed. “I’ve been really busy lately.”
“I don’t know what you’ve been so busy with, you’re so tight-lipped with me.”
“Things are about to conclude, I’ll tell you then.” Gu Hao thought for a moment. “In the future, my life might change a bit.”
“What kind of change?”
“Maybe, a girl will be living with me.”
“A girl? Younger than you?”
“Don’t misunderstand.” Gu Hao hurriedly explained. “She’s only sixteen or seventeen, I’m old enough to be her grandfather.”
“You mean… you’ve adopted a girl?”
“Something like that.” Gu Hao suddenly remembered something. “That weekend, you and Mr. Wu…”
Du Qian was silent for a moment. “Yes, we went to Jingshui Lake Park together.”
“Oh.” Gu Hao paused for a long time. “How was it?”
“What do you mean, how was it?”
Gu Hao was at a loss for words. Finally, Du Qian spoke directly: “I know what you want to ask—he confessed to me.”
Gu Hao immediately tensed up. “How did you respond?”
“Of course, I couldn’t respond right away.” Du Qian seemed pleased with his reaction. “I said I’d think about it.”
“Then…” Gu Hao relaxed a little but still felt uneasy. “What did you think?”
“What do you think?”
Gu Hao stammered for a while. “I think, well, you should be cautious…”
“Do you like me?”
Du Qian’s sudden question caught Gu Hao off guard. He gripped the receiver tightly, feeling all the blood in his body rush to his head as if even his hair was burning hot.
“I…”
“Just say it!”
“I like you!”
The words burst out, and Gu Hao let out a sigh of relief—it wasn’t that hard after all.
Du Qian, however, let out a long sigh: “It’s so difficult to get an honest word out of you.”
For some reason, her mood seemed to drop: “Old Gu, we both know what’s in our hearts. But you keep making me, a woman, come to you time and time again. Sometimes, I feel like you’re not man enough, and I think about giving up. But once this old house catches fire, it can’t be put out, can’t be suppressed…”
“Du Qian, you were Zhiliang’s wife after all.” Gu Hao said softly. “I can’t be completely without reservations.”
“I understand everything you’re saying. When Old Tai was here, he was my world, and I was content being his wife. Now that he’s gone, life goes on, but my heart has no anchor. Dawei is hardly ever home, and I don’t even have anyone to talk to. That feeling, I believe you understand too, right?”
“I do. Du Qian, I’m sorry…”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore.” Du Qian’s voice brightened a bit. “The day after tomorrow, I’m inviting classmates from the dance class to my home. Mr. Wu will be there too.”
“Hm?” Gu Hao was surprised at first, then understood. “You want me to come too, right?”
“Yes, you must come.” Du Qian emphasized. “We need to clarify our relationship, so I don’t have to reject him face to face. Mr. Wu is a nice person, this way it won’t be too awkward for anyone, and we can all get along in the future.”
“No problem.” Gu Hao immediately agreed. “What time?”
“Ten in the morning.” Du Qian paused. “Old Gu, this time, if you stand me up again…”
“Then I’ll bring my head to see you.” Gu Hao quickly promised. “I’m not a fool, don’t worry.”
“You are a fool.” Du Qian laughed. “Saying such scary things—I’ll see you the day after tomorrow then.”
“See you then.”
After hanging up, Gu Hao paced around the room a couple of times, feeling his heart still pounding. He walked to the wardrobe, first picking out a few presentable clothes, trying one on, and examining himself in the mirror. He then started to fuss over his graying hair that hadn’t been cut in a while. As he was considering whether to get a haircut, he also wondered what gift he should bring.
Looking at his excited face in the mirror, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself. He knew very well that taking this step wasn’t just about lovers finally being together, but also about accepting the earnest entrustment of an old friend. No matter what, he would have to go to Tai Zhiliang’s grave and explain everything clearly. If his old buddy knew from the afterlife, he would surely understand and support his and Du Qian’s decision.
Thinking of his friend, Gu Hao’s excitement subsided a bit. However, he still couldn’t help but look forward to a life with Du Qian.
A family of three. Happy and harmonious. That kid Tai Wei would be close to him too.
If Su Lin were added to the mix, he believed Du Qian would wholeheartedly care for this poor child as well. He never imagined that in his old age, he could have such a complete and beautiful family.
Gu Hao was lost in his fantasies.
Old Su wiped his mouth and opened the door of Room 101. Seeing Ma Dongchen’s ashen face, he was startled: “Why are you here?”
Ma Dongchen pushed him aside and barged in without a word. Old Su’s wife and the little boy, who was eating around a small table, looked fearfully at this intruder. They watched as he scanned the living room, then headed straight for the bedroom. After checking both bedrooms, he returned to the living room and went directly to Old Su.
“Where’s your daughter?”
“What do you mean, where’s my daughter?” Old Su was confused at first, then became angry. “I should be asking you, what the hell are you doing? Coming to search my home?”
“I’m asking where your daughter is!” Ma Dongchen shouted. “She’s still alive! She went to school a few days ago and even snatched my daughter’s dress!”
“Su Lin? She went to school?” Old Su was dumbfounded. “Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?”
“Do you think an entire auditorium of people are blind?” Ma Dongchen’s eyes bulged frighteningly. “Old Su, don’t play dumb, tell your daughter to come out!”
“I don’t know where she is.” Old Su blinked, quickly adding, “Old Ma, we can’t go back on what we agreed before.”
Old Su’s wife rushed over, grabbing Ma Dongchen’s sleeve: “You say Linlin came back? Where? Who saw her?”
Ma Dongchen shook her off, pointing at Old Su: “Su, you better give me an explanation today!”
Old Su’s wife was still pleading: “Quick, tell us, was it Linlin?”
“You shut your mouth first!” Old Su scolded, then composed himself, licking his lips. “Look, Old Ma, I can refund you half the money, but my son’s household registration can’t be canceled, okay?”
Ma Dongchen stared at Old Su blankly, as if he couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.
Old Su gritted his teeth: “Fine, I’ll refund you two-thirds—you can’t expect me to give up all compensation, right?”
“I don’t give a damn about money or household registration!” Ma Dongchen finally lost control, screaming hysterically, “My daughter is missing! Ma Na is missing!”
Old Su stared at him for a few seconds, then spread his hands: “What does that have to do with me?”
“Your daughter came back, my daughter disappeared.” Ma Dongchen grabbed Old Su’s collar. “You dare say your daughter didn’t do it?”
“We haven’t even seen her. Besides, she’s just a child, how could she possibly…” Old Su suddenly sneered, “Come to think of it, Ma Na is also a child, and she dares to do anything!”
Ma Dongchen was momentarily speechless. After jabbing his finger at Old Su several times, he continued, “Stop wasting my time. I’m telling you, if I can’t find my daughter, this isn’t over!”
“There’s nothing I can do.” Old Su rudely pushed him away, straightening his crumpled collar. “You say Su Lin did it, fine, go ask her then. We haven’t seen her.”
Ma Dongchen stepped closer: “Su, I’ve seen plenty of people like you, don’t try to play dumb with me…”
“Retribution!”
Old Su’s wife exploded. She clenched her fists, stomping her feet, screaming frantically at Ma Dongchen: “Retribution! This is all your retribution!”
Ma Dongchen was stunned. He stared blankly at Old Su’s wife, her hair disheveled and looking like a mad woman, unable to say a word.
Indeed. This was retribution. Not long ago, they were in this very room, haggling over the disappearance of a girl. Now, it was again about a missing girl, but the roles had reversed.
At this moment, the little boy got down from his chair and quietly walked to Old Su’s wife’s side, tugging at her clothes, timidly asking, “Mom, where is my sister?”
The woman didn’t answer, just glaring at Ma Dongchen with tear-filled eyes.
Ma Dongchen suddenly felt all the strength leave his body. He opened his mouth but said nothing, just turned and slowly walked towards the door.
Behind him, Old Su was still shouting: “You say my daughter came back—I’m telling you, if you don’t bring her back, I won’t refund you a single cent!”
Using seconds as a unit of time measurement makes sense. Especially when you’re desperately hoping for something to happen while dreading another, you’ll find that each day’s 86,400 seconds can be excruciatingly long.
After that heart-stopping night, he hadn’t returned to work. Officially, he was recovering from a mild concussion, but in reality, he feared being handcuffed and escorted to a police car in front of everyone at school.
The sword of Damocles still hung over his head, clear and gleaming. Even while brushing his teeth, washing his face, eating, or attempting to sleep (though he could barely close his eyes), he could see that sword silently rotating above him. He could even discern its shape—a slender blade, a gleaming edge, and a cross-shaped guard and hilt.
He could almost hear its whistle as it plunged downward.
A shattering sound from the kitchen startled Jiang Ting, who was watching TV on the couch. She pressed the mute button and called out, “Mom, what happened?”
Jiang Yushu didn’t answer, instead hurrying from the kitchen to the bathroom. Jiang Ting thought for a moment, put down the remote, and walked towards the kitchen.
On the tiled floor lay a shattered plate, still covered in soap suds. Jiang Ting sighed, crouched down, and picked up a piece to throw in the trash.
Just then, she heard Jiang Yushu’s voice behind her: “Move aside, I’ll do it.”
Jiang Ting turned, reaching for the broom in her mother’s hand. “Let me handle it.”
But Jiang Yushu dodged her, impatiently waving her away. “Don’t bother, go change your clothes.”
Jiang Ting persisted, “I can sweep this up. You should rest, Mom.”
“Just do as I say!” Jiang Yushu suddenly shouted. “If you cut yourself, your father will find some way to blame me again!”
Jiang Ting flinched, frozen in place.
Jiang Yushu pushed her out of the kitchen and roughly swept the broken plate into the trash. She then hastily washed the remaining dishes and shoved them into the drying rack. Turning around, she saw Jiang Ting still standing in the doorway, looking apprehensive. Jiang Yushu’s anger flared again. “I told you to change your clothes. Why are you still standing there?”
“Aren’t we supposed to be at the court at ten? What time is it now?”
“Prepare early!” Jiang Yushu untied her apron. “Don’t be in a rush at the last minute.”
Jiang Ting pouted, muttering, “Getting all worked up first thing in the morning. It’s not like I did anything wrong.”
“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Jiang Yushu glared. “Meddling in others’ affairs, crawling into storm drains, helping that Su Lin escape… Do you know your principal is considering giving you a major demerit?”
“You said I did the right thing before,” Jiang Ting retorted defiantly. “It’s only been a few days, and now you’re going back on your word?”
“Do you understand what’s happening now?” Jiang Yushu threw her apron on the floor. “Your father is fighting me for custody! I told you to lay low and get through this period. But you? You treated my words like background noise!”
“You can’t just go back on your word!”
“How am I going back on my word?” Jiang Yushu grew agitated. “Which of these things didn’t you do? If you had listened to me, would I be in this predicament?”
“You praised me then, and now you’re pushing all the blame onto me,” Jiang Ting said stubbornly. “Mom, that’s what you call being fickle and two-faced!”
Jiang Yushu lost it. “Say that again!”
“Is this how you raise a child?” Jiang Ting was angry too. “Dad was right, you—”
SLAP!
After the sharp sound of the slap, both stood stunned. Jiang Yushu stared at the slowly reddening handprint on her daughter’s face, filled with regret but maintaining a tough exterior.
“Go to your room! Change your clothes now!”
Jiang Ting, covering her face, glared at Jiang Yushu with tear-filled eyes before storming off to her bedroom and slamming the door.
Jiang Yushu, breathing heavily, began to sway. She steadied herself against the dining table, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs.
He parked his car near the Cultural Square, retrieved a flashlight from the glove compartment, locked the car, and walked through the landscaped area towards the square.
A groundskeeper tending to the lawn shouted at him, “Hey! No trampling the grass!”
He ignored the warning and focused on reaching the manhole cover as quickly as possible.
This mysterious phone call demanded his attention. Though he didn’t know the caller’s intentions, one thing was certain: The woman had indeed witnessed everything in the stormwater tank last Sunday night. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known there were three people. Moreover, she was likely the one who had taken Ma Na away that night.
She knew him. She knew his name, his workplace, even his office phone number! Yet, she hadn’t reported him. Was it for money? Or something else?
He desperately tried to recall the voice but couldn’t connect it to any woman he knew. It was maddening. However, since she had asked him to come here, the answer lay just a few dozen meters below ground.
He was impatient. The issue that had tormented him for days was about to reach its conclusion.
The manhole cover was intact. After a glance around, he crouched down and moved it aside. The foul odor made him dizzy, but he didn’t hesitate. Turning on his flashlight, he climbed down the iron ladder.
Reaching the bottom, he gathered himself and hurried into the darkness.
The place wasn’t hard to find. He kept his eyes on the tunnel illuminated by his flashlight, walking briskly. It reminded him of his first time following the homeless man into the storm drain. Disgust, curiosity, and a hint of excitement. He never imagined such a place existed beneath the streets he walked every day.
Darkness. Dampness. Stench. Unknown to the world above.
This cursed place. This wonderful place—perfect for hiding the unspeakable secrets of the heart.
Here, no one would ever know what he had done.
He even began to envy that homeless man. No need for social graces. No need to rely on others’ goodwill. No need to face questioning and sighs over his inability to perform in bed. No need to pleasure himself while watching others play with photos and videos of women.
This was his kingdom!
Lost in these thoughts, he approached the circular iron door.
His steps became hesitant, especially upon seeing the half-open door. He stopped, turned off his flashlight, and listened. Gradually, in the silence, he discerned a faint moan coming from behind the iron door.
Other than that, there seemed to be no other sounds.
Gritting his teeth, he turned the flashlight back on and slowly approached the door.
The woman’s moans grew clearer.
Standing beside the door, he carefully pulled it open and peered inside. Apart from the beam of his flashlight, the stormwater tank was pitch black.
He stepped in with one foot, hesitated, then called out, “Hello?”
The moaning stopped abruptly, then suddenly intensified, accompanied by the sound of clothes rustling. The woman seemed to be struggling on the ground.
Was it Ma Na?
Steeling himself, he slowly walked along the pipe. The area illuminated by his flashlight grew larger. Finally, he emerged from the pipe mouth, with the granite steps just a few meters away. His gaze remained fixed on the struggling woman who had appeared in the light.
Despite her bound hands and feet and gagged mouth, it was indeed Ma Na.
You’re still alive!
His mind raced—how to deal with her? Bash her head in with the flashlight, or strangle her? Or drag her into the water tank and drown her?
The urge to silence her permanently filled his brain. He completely forgot about the other woman who had called.
Therefore, when he caught a glimpse of a figure emerging from the darkness beside him and heard the whoosh of air in his ear, it was already too late.
“Master, you called for me?”
“Where are you?”
“At my godfather’s place. What’s up?”
“Visiting relatives during work hours?” Wang Xianjiang’s tone was icy. “Get back here now, there’s a pile of work to do.”
“I’m helping my godfather with something. I’ll be back before noon.”
Wang Xianjiang was silent for a few seconds, his tone softening slightly. “Still giving me attitude?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Tai Wei gripped the receiver, smirking. “You’re my master, after all.”
“I’ve been thinking these past few days, and you might have a point, kid,” Wang Xianjiang sighed. “Let’s go over the case from start to finish again, and see if we missed anything.”
“Alright,” Tai Wei suddenly grew excited. “I’ll follow your lead, Master.”
“You smooth-talker,” Wang Xianjiang chuckled. “Just get back here when you’re done!”
“Yes, sir!”
Tai Wei hung up the phone and glanced at Gu Hao, who was standing in front of the mirror adjusting his tie. He couldn’t help but laugh.
These past few days, only one question occupied his mind: How long can a person survive without food and water?
Even if she found drinkable water in the storm drain system, she’d perish in about seven days.
That’s 604,800 seconds.
He developed a habit of checking his watch every few minutes. Whenever he snapped out of his daze, his first instinct was to look at his watch and silently calculate how long until that sword would disappear completely.
Four days had passed, and he was still safe at home. There were two possibilities: First, Ma Na was still trapped in the underground storm drain, possibly dead or unconscious in some dark corner. Second, Ma Na had escaped but didn’t know about his involvement in her abduction.
Regardless of the outcome, he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to find out, or the ticking countdown would drive him mad.
Early in the morning, he finished his grooming routine and prepared to leave. His wife wondered why he wasn’t resting longer, but he brushed her off with a simple “I’m going to check on things at school.”
On the way, he was distracted, constantly scanning the female students outside the car window—some in school uniforms, some carrying backpacks, some in groups, others alone.
After parking at the school entrance, he quickly walked into the office building, heading towards the Youth League Committee office. As he reached the second floor, he spotted the homeroom teacher of Class 4, Grade 2. The teacher, carrying lesson plans, was about to head to the classroom. Seeing him, the teacher raised a hand in greeting.
“Back at work?”
“Yeah, there’s a pile of things to do. Couldn’t sit still at home,” he replied, glancing around before leaning in. “I heard your student, Ma Na, is missing?”
“Don’t remind me. I might lose my position as homeroom teacher over this,” the teacher said, looking frustrated. “A whole person vanished into thin air.”
“Any leads?”
“Nothing yet. I heard the principal called yesterday to inquire and got into a heated argument with her parents.”
“I see,” he nodded, struggling to conceal his joy. “It’s quite troubling indeed.”
After a hasty goodbye to the Class 4 teacher, he entered the Youth League Committee office. Opening the door, he noticed a thin layer of dust on the desk. As he debated whether to clean up first or go to the principal’s office for information, the phone on the desk rang.
He picked up the receiver, his tone casual: “Hello?”
However, the caller remained silent. He could only hear faint, prolonged breathing.
Frowning, he repeated, “Hello? Who is this?”
“Zhou Xijie?”
The voice was deliberately lowered, but he could still tell it was female.
“Yes, that’s me,” he replied, growing confused. “Who’s calling?”
Silence fell again. A sense of foreboding crept over him, his throat suddenly dry.
“You—”
“That night, in the storm drain, there weren’t just three of you.”
The low voice spoke again. Though only two short sentences, they hit him like a thunderbolt.
For a moment, his mind went blank. He heard himself cry out, “Who are you?”
The caller didn’t respond. In those few seconds of silence, he quickly regained his composure. “What do you want?”
Still no sound from the receiver. They remained in a standoff. Finally, he couldn’t bear it anymore. “Tell me, what do you want?”
The only response was that long, drawn-out breathing.
“What are you—”
“She’s still alive, still in the old place.”
With that, the line went dead.
He stood there, frozen, still clutching the receiver. Then his legs gave way, and he began to tremble.
Above his head, that sword continued its slow rotation.
A shattering sound from the kitchen startled Jiang Ting, who was watching TV on the couch. She pressed the mute button and called out, “Mom, what happened?”
Jiang Yushu didn’t answer, instead hurrying from the kitchen to the bathroom. Jiang Ting thought for a moment, put down the remote, and walked towards the kitchen.
On the tiled floor lay a shattered plate, still covered in soap suds. Jiang Ting sighed, crouched down, and picked up a piece to throw in the trash.
Just then, she heard Jiang Yushu’s voice behind her: “Move aside, I’ll do it.”
Jiang Ting turned, reaching for the broom in her mother’s hand. “Let me handle it.”
But Jiang Yushu dodged her, impatiently waving her away. “Don’t bother, go change your clothes.”
Jiang Ting persisted, “I can sweep this up. You should rest, Mom.”
“Just do as I say!” Jiang Yushu suddenly shouted. “If you cut yourself, your father will find some way to blame me again!”
Jiang Ting flinched, frozen in place.
Jiang Yushu pushed her out of the kitchen and roughly swept the broken plate into the trash. She then hastily washed the remaining dishes and shoved them into the drying rack. Turning around, she saw Jiang Ting still standing in the doorway, looking apprehensive. Jiang Yushu’s anger flared again. “I told you to change your clothes. Why are you still standing there?”
“Aren’t we supposed to be at the court at ten? What time is it now?”
“Prepare early!” Jiang Yushu untied her apron. “Don’t be in a rush at the last minute.”
Jiang Ting pouted, muttering, “Getting all worked up first thing in the morning. It’s not like I did anything wrong.”
“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Jiang Yushu glared. “Meddling in others’ affairs, crawling into storm drains, helping that Su Lin escape… Do you know your principal is considering giving you a major demerit?”
“You said I did the right thing before,” Jiang Ting retorted defiantly. “It’s only been a few days, and now you’re going back on your word?”
“Do you understand what’s happening now?” Jiang Yushu threw her apron on the floor. “Your father is fighting me for custody! I told you to lay low and get through this period. But you? You treated my words like background noise!”
“You can’t just go back on your word!”
“How am I going back on my word?” Jiang Yushu grew agitated. “Which of these things didn’t you do? If you had listened to me, would I be in this predicament?”
“You praised me then, and now you’re pushing all the blame onto me,” Jiang Ting said stubbornly. “Mom, that’s what you call being fickle and two-faced!”
Jiang Yushu lost it. “Say that again!”
“Is this how you raise a child?” Jiang Ting was angry too. “Dad was right, you—”
SLAP!
After the sharp sound of the slap, both stood stunned. Jiang Yushu stared at the slowly reddening handprint on her daughter’s face, filled with regret but maintaining a tough exterior.
“Go to your room! Change your clothes now!”
Jiang Ting, covering her face, glared at Jiang Yushu with tear-filled eyes before storming off to her bedroom and slamming the door.
Jiang Yushu, breathing heavily, began to sway. She steadied herself against the dining table, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs.
He parked his car near the Cultural Square, retrieved a flashlight from the glove compartment, locked the car, and walked through the landscaped area towards the square.
A groundskeeper tending to the lawn shouted at him, “Hey! No trampling the grass!”
He ignored the warning and focused on reaching the manhole cover as quickly as possible.
This mysterious phone call demanded his attention. Though he didn’t know the caller’s intentions, one thing was certain: The woman had indeed witnessed everything in the stormwater tank last Sunday night. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known there were three people. Moreover, she was likely the one who had taken Ma Na away that night.
She knew him. She knew his name, his workplace, even his office phone number! Yet, she hadn’t reported him. Was it for money? Or something else?
He desperately tried to recall the voice but couldn’t connect it to any woman he knew. It was maddening. However, since she had asked him to come here, the answer lay just a few dozen meters below ground.
He was impatient. The issue that had tormented him for days was about to reach its conclusion.
The manhole cover was intact. After a glance around, he crouched down and moved it aside. The foul odor made him dizzy, but he didn’t hesitate. Turning on his flashlight, he climbed down the iron ladder.
Reaching the bottom, he gathered himself and hurried into the darkness.
The place wasn’t hard to find. He kept his eyes on the tunnel illuminated by his flashlight, walking briskly. It reminded him of his first time following the homeless man into the storm drain. Disgust, curiosity, and a hint of excitement. He never imagined such a place existed beneath the streets he walked every day.
Darkness. Dampness. Stench. Unknown to the world above.
This cursed place. This wonderful place—perfect for hiding the unspeakable secrets of the heart.
Here, no one would ever know what he had done.
He even began to envy that homeless man. No need for social graces. No need to rely on others’ goodwill. No need to face questioning and sighs over his inability to perform in bed. No need to pleasure himself while watching others play with photos and videos of women.
This was his kingdom!
Lost in these thoughts, he approached the circular iron door.
His steps became hesitant, especially upon seeing the half-open door. He stopped, turned off his flashlight, and listened. Gradually, in the silence, he discerned a faint moan coming from behind the iron door.
Other than that, there seemed to be no other sounds.
Gritting his teeth, he turned the flashlight back on and slowly approached the door.
The woman’s moans grew clearer.
Standing beside the door, he carefully pulled it open and peered inside. Apart from the beam of his flashlight, the stormwater tank was pitch black.
He stepped in with one foot, hesitated, then called out, “Hello?”
The moaning stopped abruptly, then suddenly intensified, accompanied by the sound of clothes rustling. The woman seemed to be struggling on the ground.
Was it Ma Na?
Steeling himself, he slowly walked along the pipe. The area illuminated by his flashlight grew larger. Finally, he emerged from the pipe mouth, with the granite steps just a few meters away. His gaze remained fixed on the struggling woman who had appeared in the light.
Despite her bound hands and feet and gagged mouth, it was indeed Ma Na.
You’re still alive!
His mind raced—how to deal with her? Bash her head in with the flashlight, or strangle her? Or drag her into the water tank and drown her?
The urge to silence her permanently filled his brain. He completely forgot about the other woman who had called.
Therefore, when he caught a glimpse of a figure emerging from the darkness beside him and heard the whoosh of air in his ear, it was already too late.
“Master, you called for me?”
“Where are you?”
“At my godfather’s place. What’s up?”
“Visiting relatives during work hours?” Wang Xianjiang’s tone was icy. “Get back here now, there’s a pile of work to do.”
“I’m helping my godfather with something. I’ll be back before noon.”
Wang Xianjiang was silent for a few seconds, his tone softening slightly. “Still giving me attitude?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Tai Wei gripped the receiver, smirking. “You’re my master, after all.”
“I’ve been thinking these past few days, and you might have a point, kid,” Wang Xianjiang sighed. “Let’s go over the case from start to finish again, and see if we missed anything.”
“Alright,” Tai Wei suddenly grew excited. “I’ll follow your lead, Master.”
“You smooth-talker,” Wang Xianjiang chuckled. “Just get back here when you’re done!”
“Yes, sir!”
Tai Wei hung up the phone and glanced at Gu Hao, who was standing in front of the mirror adjusting his tie. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Uncle Gu, you’re not going to be a groom. Is it necessary to dress up so handsomely?”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Gu Hao frowned, staring at the tie around his neck. “How on earth do you tie this thing?”
Tai Wei walked over to take a look, grinning even more. “Are you trying to tie a red scarf?”
Gu Hao glared at him. “Do you know how to tie a tie?”
Tai Wei shrugged. “I don’t either.”
“Then what are you gloating about!”
Gu Hao simply took off the tie and tossed it back into the wardrobe. “Forget it, I won’t wear it.”
In the mirror, he wore a black jacket, white shirt, and khaki casual pants. His freshly cut salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back.
“How do I look?” Gu Hao gazed at his somewhat unfamiliar reflection, still feeling uneasy. “I don’t look that old, right?”
“Not old at all,” Tai Wei continued to tease. “You look just like my older brother.”
Without a word, Gu Hao headed straight for the broom standing in the corner. Tai Wei quickly begged for mercy. “Uncle Gu, no, I was wrong, I was wrong.”
“You little rascal, showing no respect,” Gu Hao said sternly. “You think just because I’m with your mother… I can’t discipline you anymore?”
“If you ask me, there’s no need to be so nervous,” Tai Wei laughed. “Just go with confidence. Once you show up, even eight Teacher Wus won’t catch my mom’s eye.”
Gu Hao felt quite pleased hearing this. He waved his hand, “Let’s go, time to leave.”
Tai Wei blinked. “Isn’t it too early to go?”
“We can’t go empty-handed. I’ll buy some flowers or something,” Gu Hao pondered. “What kind of flowers does your mom like? Roses, peonies, or azaleas?”
“Buy whatever you think is best,” Tai Wei grinned mischievously. “Just don’t bring a potted cactus.”
In a good mood, Gu Hao ignored him and mused, “Roses are probably the safest choice—let’s go with roses.”
Tai Wei lazily stood up from the bed, twirling the car keys on his finger. “Then let’s go…”
Before he could finish, the phone rang.
Tai Wei winked at Gu Hao. “Quick, answer it. Maybe it’s the old lady rushing you.”
Gu Hao snorted, hurried over in a few steps, and picked up the receiver with a smile.
“Hello?”
There was no sound on the other end.
Gu Hao frowned, pulled the receiver away from his ear, looked at it, and then put it back.
“Hello?”
“Uncle Gu, it’s me.”
Gu Hao immediately stood up straight, gripping the receiver tightly, his voice changing pitch.
“Su Lin, where are you?”
Su Lin’s voice was weak as if lacking strength: “Can you pick me up on Litong Bridge?”
“No problem,” Gu Hao said quickly. “Wait for me on the bridge, don’t go anywhere. I’ll be there soon, okay?”
“Mm.” A strange sound came through the receiver as if Su Lin was holding back sobs. “Uncle Gu, thank you.”
“Child, why so formal?” Gu Hao smiled. “I’m leaving right now.”
The call ended.
Gu Hao couldn’t hide his excitement as he patted Tai Wei’s shoulder. “Don’t just stand there, let’s go.”
Tai Wei looked incredulous. “That child… has been found?”
“That’s right,” Gu Hao strode towards the door. “We’re going to bring her back now.”
“What about my mom… what should we do?”
Gu Hao thought for a moment. “We’ll go to Litong Bridge now. It should take about two hours round trip. If we arrive at your mom’s place a bit later, she shouldn’t blame me.” He paused. “Besides, I plan to adopt that child. It would be good to introduce her to your mom.”
Tai Wei’s eyes widened. “Uncle Gu, you’re going all out, aren’t you?”
“There’s no place for that child in her family any more,” Gu Hao said resolutely. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
“Alright,” Tai Wei pondered for a moment, a smile tugging at his lips. “I guess I’ll have a little sister then.”
They drove quickly. Along the way, Gu Hao remained in high spirits, constantly planning for the future.
From the phone call earlier, it seemed Su Lin wasn’t in good physical condition. It would be best to greet Du Qian’s family, and then find a room for her to eat something and rest. In a few days, he’d take her for a medical check-up.
The child had been wandering in the storm drain network for so long, it was unlikely she’d be clean and tidy. To avoid embarrassment, they should buy her some new clothes first. If Su Lin was uncomfortable meeting strangers, she could wait in the car while he explained the situation to Du Qian. He believed she would understand.
Moving to a new place was inevitable.
The child needed to rest for a while, at least half a year. He’d have Tai Wei figure out the household registration issues.
It would be fine if she wanted to keep her surname Su, but taking his surname Gu would be even better. Otherwise, a family of four with four different surnames might sound odd. But it didn’t matter; as long as she was safe and sound!
Seeing his excitement, Tai Wei couldn’t help but tease him again: “Old man, you’re acting like you’re going to pick up your daughter.”
Gu Hao thought for a moment and chuckled.
“Am I meddling too much?”
“Not at all,” Tai Wei shook his head, speaking seriously. “Uncle Gu, I know you’re a good person. Otherwise, as your son, my eagerness to set you up with my mom—wouldn’t that seem unfilial in others’ eyes?”
“You little rascal, you’re a decent good kid too,” Gu Hao patted his shoulder. “Now drive faster!”
In less than fifty minutes, the Jeep was already on Litong Bridge. Located in the far suburbs, there were few cars and people. As a result, the empty bridge was visible—the girl was not on the bridge.
Soon, the Jeep had driven from one end of the bridge to the other, but there was still no sign of Su Lin.
Gu Hao became puzzled. She had agreed to wait for him in place, so where had this child gone? Unwilling to give up, he had Tai Wei turn the Jeep around and drive back from the far end to the near end, but they still couldn’t find Su Lin.
Tai Wei parked the Jeep in the middle of the bridge. They both got out and looked around. However, on the vast bridge, there was no one else besides the two of them.
Gu Hao grew increasingly anxious. Had the child changed her mind again?
Tai Wei thought for a moment. “Uncle Gu, could she be under the bridge?”
“That’s possible,” Gu Hao nodded. “Let’s take a look.”
The two went to the edge of the bridge and leaned over the railing to look down. On this side, there was only flowing water and lush reeds on both banks. They crossed the bridge to the other side. As soon as they looked down, Tai Wei let out a cry of surprise.
“Uncle Gu!” He pointed towards the reeds by the Litong River bank. “Look quickly!”
Gu Hao looked in the direction he was pointing and barely made out an object lying face down in the reeds.
“Is that…”
Tai Wei had already started running down the stairs. “It’s a person!”
Tai Wei led the way, with Gu Hao following. The two ran breathlessly to the bottom of the bridge. Tai Wei rushed forward and dragged the person, who was half-submerged in the river, onto the bank.
Although she was covered in mud and water, her face too dirty to discern her features, from her tangled long hair and figure, it was clear this was a young woman.
Tai Wei lifted her upper body, immediately wrinkling his brow at the pungent smell emanating from her. The young woman was still in a semi-conscious state, her eyes slightly open, mumbling incoherently.
Tai Wei called out to her repeatedly, but she couldn’t utter a complete sentence.
Gu Hao crouched beside her, looking her up and down, his expression growing increasingly grim.
“Uncle Gu, is this the child you were looking for?”
Gu Hao remained silent, his gaze falling on her long, curly hair which, though filthy, was discernibly chestnut-colored. Tai Wei looked around, his eyes landing on the pipe outlet protruding from the riverbank. “She couldn’t have crawled out from there, could she?”
“That’s right,” Gu Hao stood up, his expression grave. “I know her. Her name is Ma Na, a student from No. 4 Middle School, Su Lin’s classmate.”
“What?” Tai Wei’s eyes widened as he looked back at the young woman in his arms. “She… she’s that missing student?”
Gu Hao’s body swayed, nearly losing his balance from the overwhelming sense of dread.
He recalled his conversation with Su Lin that night in the storm drain network.
She still had something to do.
This thing did not refer to the semi-conscious girl before them.
He stepped back, muttering, “No, no… I have to go back.”
Tai Wei was even more confused. “Go back? Where are you going?”
“That stormwater detention tank… where I found Su Lin…” Gu Hao was in complete disarray. “There’s no time… that child… must not do anything foolish…”
Tai Wei grew anxious. “Uncle Gu, what exactly are you talking about?”
Gu Hao held out his hand. “Car keys, quick!”
Tai Wei took out the car keys and tossed them to him. “Uncle Gu, you…”
“I’m going to find someone now. You take care of her,” Gu Hao had already turned to run back up to the bridge. “Meet me later at that stormwater detention tank.”
Sprinting back to the car, Gu Hao started the Jeep and sped toward the city. From Litong Bridge to Culture Square was at least an hour’s drive. The most urgent task now was to find a place to make a phone call, notify the police to go to that stormwater detention tank immediately, and hopefully prevent a tragedy from occurring.
However, although several people had been to that detention tank, apart from Tai Wei, he only remembered Wang Xianjiang and a police officer surnamed Du. Contacting them and then deploying manpower would waste even more time.
Gritting his teeth, Gu Hao floored the accelerator. At the same time, he kept looking towards the roadside. Finally, a public phone booth appeared not far ahead.
He drove over, slammed on the brakes, and jumped out of the car. As he picked up the receiver, he suddenly changed his mind.
Because he thought of someone who might be closer to that stormwater detention tank.
Jiang Yushu, dressed in a matching skirt set, sat motionless on the sofa, staring at the tightly closed bedroom door in front of her. There was no sound from Jiang Ting in the bedroom, and she didn’t know what her daughter was doing.
Jiang Yushu looked at her watch, hesitated for a moment, then got up and knocked on her daughter’s door.
“Tingting, have you changed your clothes?” She tried to keep her tone gentle and calm. “We should leave now.”
The door was yanked open abruptly. Jiang Ting, wearing her school uniform, strode out without even glancing at her mother.
Jiang Yushu frowned. “Why are you wearing that?”
Jiang Ting replied irritably, “I’m a student, aren’t I? What else should a student wear?”
“You don’t have school today. Go change into something else,” Jiang Yushu barely contained her anger. “We need to make a good impression on the judge.”
“You force me to wear this usually, and now you think it doesn’t look good—I don’t understand your standards…”
Grumbling, Jiang Ting still changed into jeans and a pullover sweatshirt.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ms. Tao, the company’s legal counsel, had arrived.
“Sister Jiang, are you ready?” Ms. Tao stood in the hallway. “We need to leave now, we can’t be late.”
“Xiao Tao, thank you for your help today,” Jiang Yushu said as she hurriedly put on her shoes, nudging Jiang Ting. “Say hello to Aunt Tao.”
Jiang Ting bowed politely. “Hello, Aunt Tao.”
“Hello, Tingting.” Ms. Tao turned to Jiang Yushu, reassuring her, “Don’t be nervous, just perform well in court later.”
“Alright, no problem.”
Jiang Yushu picked up her handbag, adjusted her hair in the mirror one last time, and took a deep breath.
“Then let’s…”
Suddenly, the phone rang. Jiang Yushu hesitated for a moment, inwardly cursing whoever was causing trouble, and quickly walked to the phone.
“Hello?”
“Thank heavens you’re home, Xiao Jiang,” Gu Hao’s urgent voice came through the receiver. “Do you remember that stormwater detention tank we visited?”
“I remember,” Jiang Yushu was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
“Go there right now. If you see Su Lin or anyone else, you must stop them from doing anything, especially Su Lin.”
Jiang Yushu was even more confused. “What’s going on? I don’t understand…”
“I don’t have time to explain now. You’re closest to that place, so I can only ask for your help,” Gu Hao spoke breathlessly. “The police and I will be there too. Before we arrive, you must prevent Su Lin from doing anything!”
“But…” Jiang Yushu looked at Ms. Tao and Jiang Ting waiting by the door. “I have to go to court now. My ex-husband is suing me for custody. So… I can’t…”
Gu Hao was silent for a few seconds, then his voice became low. “Never mind then, I’ll figure something else out. You… good luck.”
“Old Gu, I’m sorry, I truly…”
Before she could finish, the call was disconnected.
Jiang Yushu bit her lip, feeling incredibly conflicted as she slowly placed the receiver back on the phone.
Seeing her troubled expression, Ms. Tao tentatively asked, “Sister Jiang, did something happen?”
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Yushu forced a smile. “Let’s go.”
The three of them went downstairs and walked towards the community exit. Passing by the empty lot behind the building, Jiang Yushu kept staring at the manhole covered by the wall, her steps hesitant.
Reaching the roadside outside the community, Jiang Ting raised her hand to hail a taxi. Jiang Yushu, however, seemed lost in thought, staring at the ground beneath her feet.
Soon, a taxi turned on its indicator and slowly pulled up beside them. Ms. Tao opened the car door and called out to Jiang Yushu, “Sister Jiang, get in.”
Jiang Yushu responded with an “Oh,” opened the car door, and put one foot inside. Suddenly, she looked at Ms. Tao and said slowly, enunciating each word, “Xiao Tao, I’m not going today.”
“Hm?” Ms. Tao was greatly surprised. “You’re not going?”
“I have to deal with something else,” Jiang Yushu withdrew her foot and planted it firmly on the ground. “It’s an extremely urgent matter.”
“Is there anything more important than this court case for you right now?” Ms. Tao seemed to find her choice unbelievable. “Sister Jiang, you know the consequences if you’re absent.”
“If I lose, I lose. Tingting will always be my daughter,” Jiang Yushu smiled bitterly. “I… I don’t know how to explain this to you.”
She turned to Jiang Ting, gently patting her daughter’s head. “Mom needs to go help Su Lin. You go to court with Aunt Tao and follow her instructions, okay?”
“Mom…” Jiang Ting grew anxious. “You’re not coming with me?”
“Uncle Gu needs my help, and so does Su Lin.” Jiang Yushu’s heart ached. “I…”
She couldn’t continue. She pushed her daughter into the taxi, closed the door, and waved to Xiao Tao.
“You should go now. Please take care of her.”
With that, Jiang Yushu hailed another approaching taxi. She knew her daughter was watching her from the car window, but she didn’t dare look back. Otherwise, her resolve would crumble instantly.
Ma Dongchen sat in the back of the Mercedes, staring blankly out the window. Scattered around him were empty cigarette boxes, instant noodle cups, and opened packages of cakes and sausages.
Five days had passed, and his daughter was still missing.
The police had gently reminded him that if it were a kidnapping, he should have received a ransom call by now. In other words, the chances of Ma Na still being alive were slim. However, he refused to give up. The daughter he had raised couldn’t just disappear without a trace. He needed to see her, alive or dead.
More ironically, Old Su had said the same words to him not long ago. This made him believe that karma might truly exist in this world.
Fine. Even if he had to descend to the eighteenth level of hell, he would go. He only begged the cruel gods to return his daughter to him.
His mobile phone rang.
Ma Dongchen listlessly glanced at the screen, noticing an unfamiliar number from the same mobile network. He thought for a moment, then pressed the answer button.
“Hello?”
A young female voice came through: “Are you Ma Dongchen?”
“I am,” Ma Dongchen pulled out a cigarette and put it between his lips. “Who is this?”
“I’m Su Lin.”
Ma Dongchen’s eyes widened, and after a full few seconds of shock, he blurted out, “Where’s my daughter?”
“She’s with me.”
“Really? Let her talk to me.” Ma Dongchen sat up straight, pressing the phone tightly against his ear.
“Go alone to the intersection of Zaohua Street and North Second Road. There’s a Bluesky Pharmacy there. Don’t call the police. You have fifteen minutes. When you arrive, call this number.”
“What do you want?”
“Just do as I say.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You don’t have to.”
The call ended.
Ma Dongchen lowered his phone, staring straight ahead.
The driver, watching his gaunt, sallow face in the rearview mirror, cautiously asked, “Mr. Ma…”
“Stop the car!”
“Hm?”
Ma Dongchen shouted hysterically, “I said stop the car!”
The driver dared not ask further, slowed down, and gradually pulled over to the side of the road.
Before the car had fully stopped, Ma Dongchen jumped out, yanked open the driver’s door, and pulled the driver out.
“Mr. Ma, where are you going?” The driver was bewildered. “What should I tell your wife?”
Ma Dongchen ignored him, started the Mercedes, and sped away.
After running several red lights and driving the wrong way down a one-way street, Ma Dongchen finally reached the intersection of Zaohua Street and North Second Road. He spotted the Bluesky Pharmacy sign in the distance, drove over, and parked by the roadside.
He checked his watch; it had taken fourteen minutes. He immediately picked up his mobile phone and dialed the number from earlier.
The call was answered after one ring; the other party had been waiting for his call.
“Have you arrived?”
“I’m here. Bluesky Pharmacy,” Ma Dongchen said, looking around while listening intently. “Where’s my daughter?”
“There’s a manhole in the middle of the road. Take a flashlight and go down,” Su Lin didn’t answer his question. “Then follow the arrows.”
“What arrows?” Ma Dongchen grew anxious. “Where is my daughter?”
“You have ten minutes. After that, I’ll kill Ma Na.”
“If you dare touch a hair on my daughter’s head, I’ll kill your entire family!” Ma Dongchen roared. “Give Ma Na back to me!”
The call ended again. Ma Dongchen redialed, but the other phone was now turned off.
Enraged, he pounded the steering wheel repeatedly. After a few seconds, Ma Dongchen forced himself to calm down, panting heavily. He took a flashlight from the glove compartment and, under the puzzled gaze of passersby, walked towards the manhole.
Removing the cover, he faced the foul odor, first shining the flashlight around the bottom of the well, then slowly climbing down the iron ladder.
At the bottom, Ma Dongchen found himself at a junction of a pipeline, with darkness stretching endlessly on both sides. It was much more spacious than he had imagined. Without wasting time, he shone the flashlight around—sure enough, he found an arrow drawn in chalk on the pipe wall, pointing into the darkness.
He couldn’t delay any longer and ran swiftly in the direction the arrow indicated.
There was still some standing water in the pipeline, with slippery sludge underneath. Ma Dongchen stumbled along but didn’t dare slow down. The temperature was much lower than above ground. His sweat-soaked shirt clung to his back, chilling him to the bone. He had never traversed such an environment before. However, he felt neither fear nor disgust, focusing solely on the arrows drawn on the pipe walls.
Following their guidance, Ma Dongchen entered an even more spacious pipeline. The same arrows continued. He kept moving, following the arrows deep into the pipeline. After an unknown distance, the arrows suddenly disappeared. He thought for a moment, then backtracked, finding the last arrow drawn next to a circular iron door.
Ma Dongchen, panting, checked his watch; eight minutes had passed. He then examined the iron door—rusty and long in use—it must lead somewhere.
Could his daughter be behind this door?
He pressed his ear against the iron door, then tried knocking on it.
“Ma Na?”
Suddenly, a small gasp came from diagonally in front of him. Then, a trembling female voice echoed in the pipeline: “Who’s there?”
Ma Dongchen was startled, instinctively looking toward the sound. Soon, a faint light slowly moved towards him. As she approached, Ma Dongchen saw a woman in a cobweb and dust-covered dress, holding what looked like a glow stick toy, her face filled with fear.
The two stared at each other from a few meters apart. Ma Dongchen spoke first, “Who are you?”
The woman looked terrified and answered irrelevantly, “I… I’m here to find someone.”
“Who?”
“I…” The woman suddenly remembered something. “Were you… calling for Ma Na just now?”
“Yes,” Ma Dongchen said impatiently. “My daughter should be here.”
“You’re Ma Na’s father?” The woman’s eyes widened. “From No. 4 Middle School?”
“You know my daughter?” Ma Dongchen was surprised. “Who exactly are you?”
The woman didn’t answer, instead turning her gaze to the closed iron door. “Is she in there?”
“I don’t know,” Ma Dongchen shone his flashlight on what looked like a sealing valve on the iron door. “I need to go in and check.”
The woman froze, then suddenly screamed, “No! Don’t do anything!”
Ma Dongchen grew more confused. “Why not?”
“Listen to me, someone sent me here,” the woman rushed over, speaking incoherently. “He told me not to do anything, they’ll be here soon.”
“They? Who sent you?” Ma Dongchen was completely baffled. “How do you know about this place?”
“I can’t explain everything right now, but please wait patiently. They’ll be here soon.”
Just then, Ma Dongchen suddenly heard a faint moan from behind the iron door. His mind went blank.
It’s Ma Na! Ma Na is behind the door!
He dropped the flashlight, gripped the handle of the sealing valve with both hands and forcefully turned it.
The iron door emitted a harsh creaking sound. From the feeling in his hands, there was great resistance. Ma Dongchen gritted his teeth, held onto the handle tightly, and used all his strength to turn it.
More urgent moans came from behind the iron door.
The woman panicked, rushing over to grab Ma Dongchen’s hands. “Let go first! Wait a little longer, don’t do anything rash!”
Nearly frantic, Ma Dongchen shoved her away. “Get away from me! My daughter is about to die! Someone wants to kill her!”
The woman lunged at him again, shaking her head desperately. “Listen to me, just wait five more minutes, just five minutes…”
Ma Dongchen completely lost his reason. He kicked out hard, striking the woman in the abdomen. She fell backward onto the ground, curling up in pain and moaning.
Ma Dongchen gripped the handle of the sealing valve again, shouting, “Nana, don’t be afraid, daddy’s here.”
The sealing valve turned, one rotation, then another…
The resistance grew stronger. Ma Dongchen clenched his jaw, the muscles on his face twitching violently.
“Su Lin…” he squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, “don’t you dare touch my daughter…”
Hearing this name, the woman struggling on the ground flinched, reaching out to try and grab him again.
“Stop, stop now!”
Suddenly, the circular iron door opened a crack. But the moaning from inside had stopped.
Ma Dongchen didn’t have time to think about this. He forcefully pulled the iron door open—a heavy body was dragged out.
Ma Dongchen froze. It wasn’t Ma Na, but an adult male.
An adult male with his hands tied behind his back, feet bound, and mouth tightly gagged.
Around his neck was a thin wire, crossed at the back of his neck, with both ends wrapped around the handle of the sealing valve inside the iron door.
He hung motionless from the iron door in a strange posture, his head drooping, face purple, clearly dead.
The evening deepened. A police car sped along the road. The police lights flashed, eye-catching but silent.
Jiang Yushu sat woodenly on the bench seat, her body swaying slightly with the car’s bumps. She didn’t want to recall how that man had howled and screamed beside the corpse, then crouched in the corner, frantically pulling his hair and muttering his daughter’s name. Nor did she want to remember the busy police officers in the brightly lit main storm drain or the deeply remorseful expression on Gu Hao’s face.
Now, he sat across from her, his expression not much different from hers. A young police officer pulled out a hardcover notebook from his jacket and handed it to Gu Hao.
“Uncle Gu, this was found on Ma Na,” he paused. “I think you should take a look.”
Gu Hao nodded slowly, took the notebook, and placed it on his knee.
About fifteen minutes later, the police car arrived outside Jiang Yushu’s residential complex. The young police officer opened the door, jumped out first, and extended his hand to Jiang Yushu.
“Jiang dajie, we’ve arrived home,” the young police officer announced.
Jiang Yushu slowly rose and shuffled to the car door. With the officer’s assistance, she stepped down from the police vehicle.
“Jiang dajie, go rest now,” the young officer advised. “We’ll be in touch later.”
Jiang Yushu nodded and turned towards the residential complex entrance. Suddenly, Gu Hao, who had been as still as a statue, sprang into action. He got up and moved to the car door, calling out, “Xiao Jiang, today…” His lips trembled before he continued, “Thank you for today.”
Without turning or responding, Jiang Yushu stumbled away step by step.
The day had indeed been excruciatingly long.
Walking through the familiar corridor, Jiang Yushu laboriously climbed the stairs. Reaching her door, she struggled to unlock it before finally stepping inside.
The apartment was eerily quiet. She wanted to call out to her daughter but, despite opening her mouth, no sound emerged.
After Sun Weiming’s court victory, he wouldn’t let Jiang Ting stay here another day.
She couldn’t believe her foolishness—sacrificing her daughter for someone else’s child.
This would be her new reality. Returning home alone to a silent apartment, eating alone, watching TV alone, sleeping alone.
She might as well start getting used to it now.
Jiang Yushu tossed her handbag on the dining table, changed into slippers, and headed towards the living room.
Suddenly, she saw Jiang Ting sit up on the sofa, rubbing her eyes and mumbling, “Mom, why are you back so late?”
Jiang Yushu stared at her daughter, unable to discern if this was reality or a figment of her imagination.
Yawning, Jiang Ting walked towards the kitchen. “You haven’t eaten, right? I’ll make you some instant noodles—want an egg with that?”
Jiang Yushu’s gaze followed her daughter. After a long pause, she stammered, “Today…”
“The court hearing ended today,” Jiang Ting replied, placing a small pot of cold water on the stove. “Hehe, Dad was furious.”
“What?”
“It was quite simple,” Jiang Ting explained, turning on the gas and making a face. “The judge finally asked who I wanted to live with—as if that wasn’t obvious!”
Jiang Yushu’s legs weakened. “What did you say?”
“With you, of course,” Jiang Ting answered, carefully opening a packet of instant noodles from the cupboard. “You’re the gentlest, kindest, and bravest mom in the whole world.”
Jiang Yushu exhaled, a sob escaping with her breath.
“Is it over?”
“Yep,” Jiang Ting confirmed, approaching her mother and placing her hands on her shoulders. With a smile, she added, “You worry too much. Aunt Xiao Tao said my opinion matters most.”
“It’s over?”
“Oh, right, Dad said he’d appeal,” Jiang Ting pouted, then beamed. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll always want to be with you.”
Jiang Yushu stared at her daughter, speechless.
“So be nicer to me from now on, or else,” Jiang Ting teased, tilting her head. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Mom, tell me, what happened today?”
Jiang Yushu abruptly pulled her daughter into an embrace, feeling as though she hadn’t just won a court case, but the entire world.