An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

When Yu Wen returned home, she immediately closed the curtains and turned off all the lights.

She knew she was being watched.

The Zhang family was truly relentless. Just a few minutes ago, Lin Yuxu had sent her a message reminding her to be careful.

At this moment, Zhong Li had changed into casual clothes and was quietly lurking in the building.

His duty was to protect Yu Wen, even if it cost him his life.

Of course, Yu Wen wasn’t stupid.

She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in her bedroom. The curtains were half-closed, and the room was dark.

Her cold gaze penetrated the glass, landing on a few suspicious figures in the building across the street.

How childish. She wouldn’t have bothered with such clumsy tricks even when she was eleven or twelve.

Did the Zhang family really think she would fall for it? They were treating her like a fool. She hid behind the curtains and opened her phone.

WeChat:

Wen: Uncle Lin, any other moves from the Zhang family?

Lin: Ms. Yu, they probably saw the trending search and suspect you’re involved, so they sent people to City A to confirm your identity. Be careful of the building across the street.

Wen: I know.

Lin: Zhong Li is also watching from the building across the street. You must be careful yourself.

Wen: Tell him to be careful, too.

Lin: Okay. I’ll continue to lie low within the Zhang family. I’ll let you know as soon as I have any news.

Wen: Okay, be careful. If there’s any danger, protect yourself first.

Lin: Understood, I’ll be busy. Talk to you later.

Wen: Mm.

Just as the conversation ended, the screen of her other phone lit up—Li Qian was calling.

That’s strange.

Li Qian never took the initiative to call. This sudden “concern” was fishy.

She walked over and answered.

“Hello, Mother. Is something wrong?”

“What? Can’t I call to check up on you?”

This “concern” is probably a death warrant.

“Of course you can. How have you been feeling lately, Mother?”

“I’m fine. When are you coming back? The whole family misses you. It’s time to come back for a meal, isn’t it?”

“Oh? Is that so? Okay, I’ll find time to go back, but I have to check my school schedule. City A is not close to City H.”

“Of course.”

“Anything else, Mother?”

“Your sister is back.”

“I know.”

“Have you met?”

“Yes, she came to see me.”

“Good. Remember to come back and see us. Our family loves you.”

… Yu Wen had heard this phrase so many times that her ears were practically calloused.

“Okay, I understand.”

“Then I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. I won’t bother you anymore.”

“Okay, Mother.”

The call ended. The screen went dark, and Yu Wen’s face was hidden in the profound darkness of the room.

She seemed to be in deep thought, but a cold, mocking smile formed on her lips in the shadows.

Everything was strange. Li Qian, who never took the initiative, and the Zhang family’s sudden surveillance… they were just trying to trick her into going back, into a cage. She wasn’t an idiot.

The Zhang family was using such a clumsy excuse. Did they really think she was a three-year-old?

Lin Yuxu was a mole in the Zhang family, and Zhong Li was her personal bodyguard.

She had to stall. She absolutely could not go back. If she went back, not only would she be trapped, but the dormant power of the Yu family would be exposed, and the entire plan would be ruined. She wanted to watch her opponents suffocate in despair. Her grandmother had a heart condition and couldn’t be stimulated. If the main road didn’t work, she would take the back road.

Even in the darkness, she could see clearly. She wasn’t afraid. They should be.

Yu Wen looked at Wei Qingwen’s WeChat profile picture on her phone screen. The chat box was still blank.

She wanted to ask about her mother and test Wei Qingwen’s limits. Her finger hovered over the keyboard, hesitating.

The phone suddenly vibrated.

WWQ: Hi~ What’s up, kiddo?]

… This style really didn’t suit her age.

Wen: Hello, Auntie.

WWQ: Little Yu added me as a friend, so something must be up, right?

Wen: How did you know, Auntie?

WWQ: Just a guess. So, what is it? Is it about your mother? Or something else?

Wen: Yes. Could you tell me about the past? I want to know.

Then, a few voice messages came one after another:

WWQ: Voice: Your mother and I met through work. You probably know that we’re the Wei family in City A. Our family went to negotiate a contract, and it went very smoothly. You and Huang Xiaozhi were there, and we took a group photo. Later, your mother and I became good friends.

WWQ: Voice: I remember you two used to play together when you were kids. Later, your family was in a car accident… I know that must have been a huge blow to you. Auntie rushed to the scene as soon as I heard. I only saw your father’s covered body… it was confirmed to be Yu Hunshu. We immediately started searching for you, but we couldn’t find you… I knew it was a man-made accident.

WWQ: Voice: The Wei family also sent people to investigate. They looked into the people at the scene, the people who had contact with the car, and the car’s issues… They only found that the brakes had failed, which was clearly done by someone. The surveillance was probably tampered with. I was running between places, and I was exhausted. Finally, someone said that you and your mother were no longer with us…

WWQ: Voice: After that, there was no follow-up, but I’ve always been secretly looking for you. When you told me your name, I guessed it might be you.

WWQ: Voice: The Zhang family didn’t treat you well, did they? The Wei family has also been on their radar for all these years. We usually don’t interfere with each other, but if they dare to cross the line in our territory, we won’t be polite. Do you hate the Zhang family?

Wen: Can I trust you, Auntie Wei?

WWQ: You should already have the answer in your heart.

Wen: Yes, I do. The man-made accident was their doing. The beatings I endured there, the humiliation, my father’s death, my mother’s disappearance… I hate them. I know their dirty tricks better than anyone.

WWQ: Their methods are indeed ruthless, and there might be an expert behind them. You need to be extra careful. You’re the one who started that trending search, right? You’re definitely being watched now.

Wen: You’re very sharp, Auntie Wei.

WWQ: Haha, not bad.

Wen: I might need the Wei family’s help later. I hope you can help me, Auntie.

WWQ: Yes, you can ask me anytime you need help.

Wen: Okay, thank you, Auntie. I’ll remember this favor.

WWQ: You’re welcome. I’m also investigating. But for now, don’t let Little One know too much.

Wen: I understand.

WWQ: Yu Wen.

Wen: Yes, Auntie.

WWQ: Yu Wen.

Wen: Yes.

WWQ: It’s a pleasure working with you, Yu Wen.

Wen: It’s a pleasure working with you, Auntie Wei.

She wasn’t surprised. Wei Qingwen knew her real name. It couldn’t have been Huang Xiaozhi who told her. It was normal for a friend her mother had met a long time ago to know her real name. The friends her mother chose should have good character and were worthy of initial trust.

But in the end, she could only rely on herself.

She believed Wei Qingwen was a good person, but the key to the truth and the rudder of revenge had to be in her own hands.

Now, she might need help, and she hoped Wei Qingwen would be that help.

She stood in the cold darkness, looking at the brightly lit world outside the window. And Huang Xiaozhi was standing in that warm light.

…

Wei Qingwen leaned against the headboard. The blanket was pulled up to her ankles, and her eyes were a little empty.

Yu Wen… is she really Yu Wen? Without concrete evidence, she couldn’t be 100% sure. She wanted to know the truth of what happened back then and whether Yun Chengdie was still alive.

Thinking about this, her chest felt a little tight.

But to help Yu Wen, she decided to use her connections.

She clicked on her phone’s contact list and her eyes landed on a name: Zhou Yinyun.

Her right-hand woman, a top hacker and information expert in City A.

They hadn’t been in touch for a long time. But now, she was the only one she could turn to.

“Beep—”

The call connected.

“Wei Qingwen.”

“Mm, it’s me.”

“Oh, what’s so important that you’re calling me? Did the sun rise from the west today?”

“Help me investigate all the details of the car accident of the Yu family in City H eleven years ago.”

“Thinking of her again?”

“Don’t ask too many questions. Investigate it. Let me know as soon as you have any progress.”

“Did someone commission you?”

“Are you looking for a beating? Just do your job.”

“Oh—are you going to send someone to assassinate me?”

“Do I look that bored? I’m a translator who flies all over the world. I’m practically falling apart from exhaustion.”

“Oh, you’re tired?”

“I am. I’m so tired there’s nothing left but bones.” Wei Qingwen’s tone was self-deprecating.

“Then it’s perfect for making soup,” the other person teased.

“Go eat some sh*t.” Wei Qingwen said angrily.

“Okay, I’ll stop teasing you. Yun Chengdie… there’s some news.”

Wei Qingwen’s heart skipped a beat. She tightened her grip on her phone. “What news?”

“Someone saw her.”

“Where?”

“Country M.”

“Country M? Why would she go so far? Alone?”

“For now, it seems she’s alone. But now is not the time for them to reunite. She’s alive, and she has a daughter. She will definitely come back. Maybe she also knows it’s not safe to show herself now.”

“I understand. Is the source reliable?”

“I suspect it’s a trap.”

“Because the Yu family is secretly investigating whether she’s alive or dead, and our Wei family is also investigating… they’re waiting for us to take the bait?”

“That’s highly possible.”

“I see.”

“Be careful with your work. Safety first. Don’t mess up.”

“What are you saying? I do my job professionally!”

“I’m going to sleep. Good night.”

“Tsk, good night.”

The call ended. Wei Qingwen turned off the bedside lamp, and the room was plunged into darkness.

She sat on the bed, processing the shocking news. Yun Chengdie was alive! But her intuition told her that this was more like a bait.

She absolutely couldn’t tell Yu Wen now. This news had to be kept a secret.

Wei Qingwen was only one year away from forty. In front of her family, she was always the cheerful, young-at-heart Wei Qingwen.

But at this moment, she was another person—calm, composed, and meticulous.

Since the Zhang family was watching Yu Wen, her and her daughter would also be on their target list.

They had to strengthen their defenses.

At this moment, Huang Xiaozhi was in her room, wearing headphones and immersed in the world of music. She was lightly moving her body to the beat.

She thought her taste was excellent. As she listened, she remembered the peacock dance she had learned—ah, I’ve almost forgotten it.

I’ll practice it.

I’ll remember it after I practice.

Before she started dancing, she cautiously closed the curtains.

Lately, she had been seeing people “hanging clothes” on the other side of the building, and they always “casually” looked over here, making her feel uneasy. It was better to be safe than sorry.

In one building, everyone seemed to have a secret they understood without saying.

In the other building, the “actors” were even more hardworking, playing their daily roles while also keeping an eye on the other side.

Inside the room, Huang Xiaozhi danced gracefully under the light, imitating the movements of a peacock.

It had been a long time since she had danced with such focus.

At this moment, she seemed to have transformed into a real peacock, elegant and confident.

Since she was a child, Wei Qingwen had supported her in learning anything she wanted, but the condition was that she had to see it through to the end. So, she learned many things: peacock dance, folk dance, Chinese dance, pipa, violin, cello, piano… and painting, which she had stuck with the longest.

Looking back, she felt that she was truly amazing.

The “little peacock” under the light seemed to be glowing. As she danced, she exuded an unparalleled aura of confidence.

…

In her dream, countless cold hands reached out to Huang Xiaozhi from the darkness.

She was trapped in the center. There was only a pale light above her.

Surrounded by boundless darkness, roars, and twisted hands.

In the distance, a few figures with their backs to her stood under a few beams of light. Every one of them was a stranger. Those hands blocked her, not letting her get close to any of the figures.

Why was she in the center?

Why were there these backs?

The scene was difficult to understand, and people’s hearts were unpredictable. She had made herself a bait and was now trapped.

…

On the last day of the vacation, Huang Xiaozhi started “rushing” her homework—mainly by copying. For her, it wasn’t a difficult task.

Yu Wen didn’t bother her today, allowing her to catch up on her homework. Yu Wen had her own important matters—she was going to meet someone.

Zhang Yunzhen.

…

Late last night, a call from Lin Yuxu woke her up.

“Ms. Yu Wen, I apologize for bothering you late at night, but there’s an urgent matter.”

Yu Wen groggily picked up her phone. “Speak.”

“Do you know about a person named Zhang Yunzhen?”

“Zhang Yunzhen? Does she really exist?” Yu Wen became a little more alert.

“She found you through me. She’s in City A and hopes to meet you tomorrow.”

“Why? Why is she looking for me?”

“She said she has something important to tell you. Someone will be there to protect you, so you don’t have to worry about your safety.”

“Got it. Zhang Yunzhen and Zhang Yulin…”

“Are you asking about that, Miss? I know some inside information from my years in the Zhang family. They’re twins. Zhang Yunzhen is the older sister, and Zhang Yulin is the younger one.”

“I see. Okay, I understand.”

“Then I won’t disturb your rest anymore. Goodbye.”

“Okay, you should rest too.”

“Understood, Miss.”

The call ended, and the mystery deepened.

Why would Zhang Yunzhen, who had been missing for so many years, suddenly show up? Did some people get antsy after seeing the information leaked?

This might not be a bad thing. She might be able to get some information out of Zhang Yunzhen.

But it was also not a good thing. Her appearance would definitely alert the Zhang family. She had to be fully prepared.

They want to muddy the waters of City H and City A to make me confused?

Heh. The Zhang family’s self-proclaimed “cleverness” was laughable.

Is it really that hard for them to admit defeat?

…

In the early morning, Yu Wen got up. The curtains were still tightly closed. She turned on the light, quickly changed into a black hoodie, put on a mask and a hat, and wrapped herself up completely.

She chose to go through the basement—walking on the first floor was too noticeable. Zhong Li’s car was already waiting there.

In the shadows of the underground garage, people were also hiding in some cars.

But Yu Wen wasn’t flustered.

A decoy had already left ahead of time to attract attention. Even if they were discovered, getting rid of these tails wasn’t impossible.

Zhong Li was dressed like a regular driver, making no attempt to hide.

The black car drove out of the underground garage and merged into the morning light.

The people outside were obviously getting restless. A car quietly followed.

Zhong Li immediately noticed the tail and nonchalantly began to take a different route.

Yu Wen leaned against the car window, watching the street view flash by.

Under the brim of her hat, her eyes were exceptionally bright and sharp.

She must have met Zhang Yunzhen before, right? If she wasn’t mistaken, Zhang Yunzhen had appeared as a substitute for Zhang Yulin for a while.

So, where has she been all these years? What was she doing? Was she being controlled? Questions tangled around her like vines, while the Zhang family’s actions were full of flaws.

The sky was gray, shrouded in smog, as if a heavy rain was brewing.

Yu Wen was looking forward to this heavy rain that would completely wash away the filth of City A.

…

Huang Xiaozhi woke up early. After breakfast, she went into her room to “make” her homework. As long as she kept working, she could finish it in one morning.

When she came across an interesting and difficult problem, she would still stop and think about it.

She would copy the easy ones and write the difficult ones herself, and then check the answers—that was her “homework strategy.”

She was bent over, writing furiously, her expression focused, and she had a Bluetooth headset in her ears.

Wei Qingwen pushed the door open with a glass of water—she usually knocked, but her hands were full.

She believed her daughter wouldn’t mind.

Hearing the door open, Huang Xiaozhi didn’t even look up. “Mom, is something wrong?”

Wei Qingwen put the glass of water on the desk and pulled a chair over to sit down.

“Be careful when you go out lately,” she said calmly but seriously. “There are people watching from across the street.” Although she didn’t want her daughter to worry, safety was no small matter.

Huang Xiaozhi’s pen paused. She turned her head and looked at her mother. Her eyebrows furrowed—her suspicion had been confirmed.

“Is it the Zhang family?”

Wei Qingwen nodded. Her eyes were a little complicated, but she still tried to maintain her usual cheerful demeanor in front of her daughter, though her worry was undeniable.

“Yes.”

Huang Xiaozhi nodded silently and picked up her pen to continue writing. “You be careful, too.”

“Okay. You should get back to your homework. I won’t bother you anymore.”

“Mm.”

The door closed with a “click.”

The room returned to silence, with only Huang Xiaozhi left.

The pen scratched on the paper, but a thought uncontrollably popped into her mind: What about Yu Wen? Does she know? Is she… in danger?

Once this question appeared, it entangled her like a vine and wouldn’t let go.