He was worried that Zeng Min might harm her again, which is why he did this. His thoughtfulness made her feel guilty; for a moment, she wanted to hug him and ask him to stay, but her rationality suppressed her impulse as he walked out, looking back with each step.
After calming herself and looking at Zeng Min, who had collapsed on the ground, she said, “Speak.”
Zeng Min slowly raised her head, asking, “You… you’re not going to drive me away?”
Ou Xueman responded flatly, “You’re not inherently bad, just momentarily blinded by jealousy.”
Zeng Min, excited, crawled to Ou Xueman’s window, saying, “Senior, all of this was my doing; it has nothing to do with my parents. If you’re going to arrest someone, arrest me.”
“What happened to your parents?” Ou Xueman asked, stunned. Had Di Xihuang taken action against Zeng Min’s family? Zeng Min’s father was a powerful triad boss in Macau.
“My entire family is in the hands of the Macau police. Senior, please help me,” Zeng Min pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
“How can I help you? I don’t know anyone in Macau,” Ou Xueman replied, surprised by her request.
“No, senior, please ask Xihuang to spare them. He will listen to you,” Zeng Min begged, grabbing Ou Xueman’s hand.
“Di Xihuang?” Ou Xueman was shocked, “How can he help you?”
“This operation is a collaboration between Macau and Hong Kong police. The Hong Kong police have obtained evidence to prosecute my father and want to extradite him for trial,” Zeng Min said in one breath.
Li Minji wondered if Di Xihuang was secretly manipulating this. But she knew she shouldn’t get involved. Just as she considered how to refuse Zeng Min, a commotion outside startled her as Chen Zhensheng rushed in, revealing Tong Yifeng glaring at Di Xihuang.
Anxious about the impending fight, Ou Xueman pulled Chen Zhensheng and asked, “Why did my brother come?”
“Yifeng called you all day without answer, so he called me. I told him you were in Hong Kong collaborating with the Di Group, and he rushed over. We learned you were kidnapped when we arrived,” Chen Zhensheng said, his voice filled with fear.
“How could you tell him these things? Now we’re in big trouble,” Ou Xueman replied regretfully.
Chen Zhensheng sensed the tension between Tong Yifeng and Di Xihuang. “What’s going on between Yifeng and the CEO?”
Ou Xueman looked at him quietly and said, “First, bring my brother in.”
Chen Zhensheng followed her instructions, bringing in Tong Yifeng. He appeared scholarly and elegant, but his sharp eyes held anger. “What is going on between you two?” His voice was filled with concern.
Ou Xueman understood his anger stemmed from her hidden collaboration with the Di Group. Her priority was to comfort him, and she reached out, asking for a hug.
Tong Yifeng, unable to resist her vulnerability, approached and embraced her. “Do you know what you’re doing?” Although reproachful, his tone was gentle.
With her face pressed against his chest, she whispered, “Brother, he still knows nothing and treats me like a stranger.” The last phrase carried an unrecognized bitterness.
Tong Yifeng tightened his embrace, comforting her worries. He firmly decided, “No matter what, I can’t let you stay by his side anymore. Now, brother can protect you.”
Ou Xueman was stunned. “No, brother, I can’t stay by your side.”
“It will bring you danger.”
Tong Yifeng frowned, “You know?”
“Brother, you’ve known for a long time too; otherwise, you wouldn’t have avoided coming to find me in SZ city,” Ou Xueman replied.
Tong Yifeng sighed deeply, “Now I’m not afraid. Brother can protect you.”
“No, brother. The Yamaguchi-gumi are desperate people. I can’t take this risk,” Ou Xueman firmly refused.
“Yamaguchi-gumi?” Although Tong Yifeng had suspected surveillance over the past eight years, this still surprised him. “Then I can’t leave you behind even more.”
Ou Xueman buried her face in his embrace. “Brother, eight years ago, you only knew a partial truth. Even today, I’ve just begun to understand the deep darkness behind it. As long as my identity remains unexposed, there will be a day of peace.”
Tong Yifeng wanted to say more, but she stopped him. Sitting up, she said, “Please trust me. You know I’m not the same person I was eight years ago.”
As she sat up, she met his injured black eyes, a trace of sorrow within them, like the dim light of a darkened crystal. She wondered about their closeness, built on a deep bond over time, questioning what kind of relationship they had formed.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t jealous, but he was unwilling to accept it. He thought about how she had feelings for him yet always kept him at arm’s length, constantly hurting him. Was this because of Tong Yifeng’s existence? What was her relationship with Tong Yifeng?
“Xue Man,” Di Xihuang called softly, unable to hide his sorrow.
Although he called her name and said nothing more, she knew what he wanted to ask but couldn’t answer him, cruelly averting her gaze.
Tong Yifeng ignored him, holding her and preparing to leave.
“Excuse me, Mr. Tong, where are you taking our witness?” Li Minji interrupted, smiling roguishly. “Before the police have conclusive evidence about the mastermind of the kidnapping, Miss Ou is better off under police protection.” He glanced at Zeng Min and raised an eyebrow at Di Xihuang.
“Protection? I’d call it disguised detention,” Tong Yifeng scoffed, noticing Li Minji’s bias towards Di Xihuang. “We reserve the right to sue the police.”
Li Minji’s smile became even more mischievous. “But before that, I have something to say about Miss Ou.”
“His usual smile disappeared as he spoke seriously, ‘Her records show: parents unknown, spent time in an orphanage, adopted at six years old, lived in Hong Kong for fourteen years, returned to mainland China eight years ago, and restored her Chinese citizenship.’
‘You investigated me?’ Ou Xueman asked angrily.
Li Minji waved his finger, ‘Just routine, but I unexpectedly discovered something interesting.’
Unease filled Ou Xueman’s heart, and she instinctively looked at Di Xihuang, a gesture noted by Li Minji.
‘Actually, Miss Ou’s records seem unremarkable, but her fourteen years in Hong Kong match exactly with the person my old classmate is looking for, with only the name being different.’
Li Minji’s words shocked everyone, particularly Ou Xueman, who felt increasingly uneasy.
‘From school records, welfare records, entry and exit records, to marriage registration—which coincidentally happened on the same day as my old classmate’s—’ Li Minji paused, aware of Ou Xueman’s discomfort. ‘And the day she restored her Chinese citizenship is suspiciously the same as when my old classmate was searching. What makes me even more suspicious is you, Tong Yifeng, your appearance…’
‘Enough.'”
” Tong Yifeng shouted loudly, stopping him from continuing.
Li Minji remained unfazed by Tong Yifeng’s rebuke, his roguish smile returning as he walked towards Di Xihuang.
“Old classmate, I’ve found your wife for you. What happens next is up to you,” Li Minji said, patting his shoulder. Di Xihuang understood the support implied in those words.
The hospital room fell into an oppressive silence, with only Li Minji speaking, as everyone else was lost in thought, focusing on the person with lowered head.
Li Minji glanced around, knowing he had done all he could. He shrugged, “The rest is your personal matter, I can’t get involved.” He approached Zeng Min, who was sitting collapsed to one side. “Miss Zeng, come have a coffee in my office. Let’s discuss this kidnapping case.”
