Volume One, Chapter Five: Unrelated People—Miss, There’s No Need to Mind Them

“Xiao Jing’er, did you have fun at kindergarten today?”

“Yes.”

The little girl beside her was obedient and clever, her voice sweeter than honey.

Dressed in a beautiful pink princess dress, her naturally curly hair draped over her shoulders, a diamond hairpin sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight.

Yu Jin stared at the figure ahead, completely stunned. Suddenly, she opened the car door and, ignoring Awei’s protest, got out and ran over.

“Cousin.”

She stood behind Yu Zhu.

Yu Zhu stopped in her tracks, gripping the little girl’s hand tightly, then slowly turned around, her face devoid of any smile.

“What are you doing here?”

She shielded the child with both hands and gave a glance to the nanny beside her, signaling her to take the child away first.

Yu Jin opened her mouth, looked at Xiao Jing’er, her eyes reddening, but no words came out. She could only watch helplessly as the nanny took the child away.

Xiao Jing’er looked back at her repeatedly, her grape-sized eyes filled with unfamiliarity.

“Auntie, who is that person?”

The nanny tugged her along hastily, saying as they walked, “Someone unrelated. Miss, you don’t need to mind her.”

Yu Jin choked on her sobs, scalding tears falling from her sharp chin. She cast a pleading look at Yu Zhu.

“Please, let me say something to Xiao Jing’er.”

Last time she was driven away by the housekeeper. This time she no longer hoped her cousin would return her daughter, only begging to be allowed to speak to her.

Yu Zhu’s attitude was resolute. Without looking at her, her tone was cold and indifferent:

“Stop daydreaming. Xiao Jing’er is a pampered young lady who has never known she has a mother who went to prison.”

A bitter ache welled up in Yu Jin’s heart, her eyes frighteningly red.

When Yu Zhu took Xiao Jing’er away, she hadn’t said that. She only said she was helping to raise the child and would return her once she was released from prison.

Now she had gone back on her word.

“I didn’t do those things... I was used by someone.”

Yu Jin’s long eyelashes trembled constantly. Pea-sized tears fell heavily onto the ground, her pale face flushed from shortness of breath.

“Blame yourself for being stupid, not others. Everyone knows you’re a fraud who served four years in prison. What use is it for me to believe you? If Xiao Jing’er accepts you, you’ll only bring her suffering. Do you want your daughter to be discriminated against all her life?”

“No matter what I say, I won’t return Xiao Jing’er to you.”

Yu Jin closed her eyes in despair, her voice flat:

“Then we’ll see each other in court. I won’t give up.”

Yu Zhu scoffed, “Overestimating yourself.”

She turned and walked away, leaving Yu Jin standing alone on the crosswalk, surrounded by the urgent honking of cars.

Yu Jin seemed deaf to it all. She looked up at the sky, feeling dizzy. Her legs weakened, and without warning, she fainted on the street.

Inside the Bentley, Yu Zhu rested with her eyes closed against the seat, looking somewhat agitated.

Xiao Jing’er sat beside her, her skin fair and rosy like a strawberry-filled glutinous rice dumpling—well-behaved, understanding, neither crying nor throwing tantrums.

Suddenly, the little hand tugged at the hem of her clothes, her voice soft and sweet:

“Mommy, who is that auntie?”

Yu Zhu’s eyes snapped open, her emotions stirred. She shouted:

“She’s nobody. Don’t ask anymore.”

Her hands gripped the little girl’s arm tightly. The child winced and tried to pull away.

“It hurts... Xiao Jing’er hurts.”

Yu Zhu quickly loosened her grip and hugged her, apologizing:

“Mommy’s sorry, I hurt you.”

Xiao Jing’er allowed herself to be held, shaking her head like a little adult, speaking seriously:

“It’s not Mommy’s fault.”

A smile appeared on her face, surrounded by a radiant glow of motherly love.

“The dress you liked at the Paris fashion show last week? Mommy bought the whole collection. It’s already been sent home.”

“When we visit Grandpa and Grandma tomorrow, Xiao Jing’er must wear it. Grandma was a designer for this brand when she was young. Seeing you wear this dress, she’ll surely like you even more.”

Xiao Jing’er nodded obediently, lowering her head in silence.

Though only four years old, she could sense that no one at home besides Mommy liked her. Yet Mommy always made her please the adults.

She thought again of the beautiful lady she had met on the street earlier, feeling a strange sadness in her heart.

—

Jingjiang Law Firm.

Located in the busiest area of Jingjiang City, surrounded by well-known listed companies.

The firm occupied an entire skyscraper in this prime location. To be precise, this building belonged to Zhou Jincheng and his partner Pu Zhuqing. At the entrance, the law firm’s English abbreviation and exclusive logo were displayed.

The top floor, the fifty-seventh, was where he worked year-round.

Pu Zhuqing returned to the firm after a court recess and came to discuss a case with him. Pushing open the door to his office, he nearly fainted from the heat.

“You’re steaming yourself alone in here?”

His tone was familiar and teasing.

—

The summer heat of August still lingered. Zhou Jincheng had lit the marble fireplace in his office alone.

Strange.

Pu Zhuqing leaned over to look and instantly lost the smile at the corner of his mouth.

The fireplace crackled with flames, a thick stack of photos burning to ash among the firewood.

“Isn’t this...”

He pointed to the half-burned photos, then turned to look at the man sitting upright at the desk.

He and Zhou Jincheng were university roommates and naturally knew Chu Tingchun, Director Chu.

“Yeah,” Zhou Jincheng replied lightly.

Pu Zhuqing poured himself a cup of coffee and walked over, casually asking:

“You aren’t thinking of reopening an old case, are you?”

“No,” Zhou Jincheng answered decisively, focusing on the documents on his computer.

Pu Zhuqing nodded in agreement, took a sip of coffee, and continued:

“Exactly. It’s been so long. Who still cares?”

“1,462 days.”

Zhou Jincheng’s hand paused above the keyboard, his slender fingers curling slightly, fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

Pu Zhuqing’s hand shook, nearly spilling his coffee.

He looked at Zhou Jincheng in shock, carefully placing the cup on the desk. Swallowing hard, he asked softly:

“You’re not still hung up on Chu Nanqing, are you? She’s in jail…”

Zhou Jincheng closed his laptop, folded his hands naturally on the desk, lifted his eyelids to look at him, his tone calm:

“You misunderstand. I just recently met a woman who looks very much like her—my client.”

Pu Zhuqing frowned, hesitated, then said:

“I just remembered something I heard at court today. Are you interested?”

Zhou Jincheng thought he was changing the subject and had no interest in gossip. He picked up the suit jacket draped over his chair and prepared to leave.

“I’m busy.”

“It’s related to Chu Nanqing,” Pu Zhuqing quickly added.

Zhou Jincheng stood at the door, gripping the doorknob tightly until his knuckles whitened.

He released his hand, stopped walking, and slowly turned around, the neatly folded suit jacket resting on his elbow.

He looked at Pu Zhuqing silently, saying nothing.