Chapter 93: Because She’s Love-Struck, It Doesn’t Matter If Her Boyfriend Is Twisted (25)

"It's alright," the boy said softly, his gaze locked onto her face. "I'll be your boyfriend."

Bai Yao laughed aloud, "You should wait until you grow up before saying things like that."

He leaned against her shoulder, falling silent, but secretly hoping she wouldn't leave, wishing he could indeed be her boyfriend.

Bai Yao's intentions were simple: since he was eager to see his mother, she would take him to her first, then explain the situation with that deranged doctor and urge his mother to call the police immediately.

The doctor was dead, but Bai Yao and the boy had acted in self-defense. Surely, there would be no trouble.

Even with Bai Yao grabbing an umbrella at the door, the rain was so heavy that, in just a few dozen meters, they were soaked by the time they reached the house opposite.

Bai Yao wasted no time and knocked urgently.

The rain and thunder drowned out her knocking, so it was a while before someone inside heard. The lights in the living room flickered on, and soon after, the door opened from within.

A frail woman stood behind the door, her long black hair loose, her face weary and drawn. She looked at them with caution. "Who are you?"

The boy called out, "Mom!"

The woman's expression froze.

The boy's pale face was tinged with cautious hope, his dark eyes filled with longing for family. That longing was so intense it made him afraid. "Mom... don't you remember me?"

He dreaded hearing the word "forgotten." All these years, locked in that tiny basement, the only hope that kept him alive was the thought of his mother.

Before meeting Bai Yao, the only warmth in his mind was his life with his mother before the age of three.

He remembered her scent, her voice, even the fairy tales she read to him each night.

His memory was indeed remarkable—nothing he experienced was ever forgotten.

Bai Yao studied the woman for a moment before saying, "He says he was taken when he was three. Maybe his appearance has changed since then. Do you not recognize him?"

"No..." The woman snapped back to herself, tears streaming down her face. She reached out and pulled the boy into her arms, sobbing, "I thought you were... I never expected... I never imagined..."

Overwhelmed by joy and grief, she could barely speak.

The boy buried his face in her embrace, sniffling quietly. No matter how mature or composed he had seemed before, he was still just a child. With his mother, he finally looked like an ordinary boy.

Bai Yao didn't interrupt their reunion. Fortunately, the woman hadn't forgotten her and managed to calm herself, inviting Bai Yao inside.

Soaked by rain, Bai Yao was given a hot cup of tea and a dry towel to wipe herself down, while the woman took the boy into the bathroom.

Bai Yao guessed they had much to say and wasn't in a hurry, instead surveying her surroundings. The lighting was warm, the house clean and orderly, with flowers and plants adorning corners—a sign that the mistress of the house took life seriously.

As she set down her tea, Bai Yao accidentally knocked something off the coffee table. She bent to pick it up—a box of medicine.

The label indicated folic acid, typically taken by women preparing for pregnancy or already expecting.

The bathroom door opened, and Bai Yao set the box aside.

The woman came out, her weary face softened by a smile. "He says he's a big boy now and won't let me help him bathe."

Bai Yao smiled.

Her eyes were still red from crying, and perhaps thinking of her lost-and-found child, she grew tearful again, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

She steadied herself and said, "He told me that all these years, Doctor Song kept him locked in a basement. I searched for him for so long, imagined so many possibilities, but I never thought... he was right here, so close to me."

Mentioning Doctor Song, her tone changed, and she gripped the tissue tightly. "I've already called the police. The weather's bad, so it will take them some time to arrive. Miss..."

"My name is Bai Yao."

"Miss Bai," the woman said gratefully, "thank you for saving my child. If it weren't for you, perhaps I would never have seen him again."

Bai Yao quickly replied, "You're too kind. Do you live alone? Where is his father?"

The woman's gaze dropped in disappointment. "His father went away, hasn't returned in a long time, not since our family faced trouble..."

She tried to smile, embarrassed, "Forgive me. If he knew the child was back, he'd be delighted."

There were men's shoes on the rack, an ashtray on the coffee table—evidence that a man lived here.

Bai Yao studied the woman's face and asked a question she'd long wanted to pose. "Excuse me, are you Chen Yan?"

The woman paused slightly. "You know me?"

Now Bai Yao was certain—she had arrived twenty years in the past.

Chen Shuo had said his sister, Chen Yan, lived in Yuhua Society twenty years ago, and that Chen Yan disappeared around that time. Yet Chen Shuo had never mentioned Chen Yan having a child; perhaps he himself didn't know.

Bai Yao lied, "I'm classmates with your brother. He told me you lived here."

Chen Yan's expression grew distant. "He's always known where I am, just never came to see me."

She fixed her gaze on Bai Yao. "Are you close with my brother?"

Bai Yao shook her head, "I've only met him a few times, we're not close."

At that moment, the boy ran out from the bathroom, interrupting their conversation.

He was now dressed in clean clothes—a little T-shirt, loose black shorts, slippers on his feet. Perhaps due to malnutrition, he was painfully thin and the clothes hung loosely on him.

He fiddled nervously with his hem, glancing cautiously at Bai Yao.

Bai Yao exaggerated, "Oh my, where did this handsome young man come from?"

He pressed his lips together, a flush rising behind his ears—a clear sign of happiness, though he tried to hide his shyness, clutching the pendant around his neck. He said to Chen Yan, "Mom, this was given to me by big sister."

"And this," he held up a toy, "big sister gave me this too."

Chen Yan went over, gently stroking his head. "Did you thank your sister?"

He hesitated, then looked shyly at Bai Yao, "Thank you."

Bai Yao beamed, "You're welcome."

Chen Yan smiled as well, taking the boy to his room and settling him in. She then returned downstairs to lead Bai Yao to the guest room.

The rain outside had eased, and through the window Bai Yao could see the battered flowers and plants swaying in the storm.

She remarked, "Miss Chen, you have so many flowers blooming beautifully. It would be a shame if they're ruined by the rain."

Chen Yan smiled, "It's alright. I've put a lot of effort into caring for them. They're not as fragile as plants out in the wild."

Suddenly, Bai Yao asked, "Do you know someone named Lu Sheng?"

Chen Yan looked puzzled, "No, I've never heard that name."

Bai Yao pondered this, climbing the stairs. Her legs suddenly weakened, but she managed to grab the handrail.

Ahead, Chen Yan turned back, concerned, "Miss Bai, are you alright?"

Bai Yao didn't answer. In truth, her head was spinning. Pressing her hand to her temple, she looked up at the woman above, her vision blurring, "That cup of tea..."

Chen Yan smiled faintly, "I had intended to spare you, but you just had to call my name. Miss Bai, you shouldn't have saved that useless waste, nor mentioned Chen Shuo."

She simply reached out and gave Bai Yao a gentle push, sending her powerless body tumbling down the stairs.

The sound of her fall echoed through the empty living room, harsh and piercing.