Ji Zhao’s inner thoughts appeared as a picture. In it, he was a little skylark, trying hard to fly. Did this mean he also wanted to escape the empty, lonely snowfield?

He is a genius at recreating the images he sees perfectly, yet his inner world was black and white. Why couldn’t he add colors to his drawings?

When he drew the tree at her suggestion, Zhao Xiangwan began to form a theory. Could it be that Ji Zhao didn’t realize he was the master of his inner world?

His inner world changed with his emotions, but Ji Zhao, like an innocent child, passively accepted the world without realizing how to control it.

Zhao Xiangwan tried to speak: “Draw a bird’s nest on the tree, put feathers and hay inside, and cover it with thick leaves. It will block the wind and rain, keeping it comfortable and warm.”

[Good.]

Ji Zhao’s voice was filled with joy. For the first time, he felt the happiness of creating something. The invisible paintbrush appeared again, and a warm bird’s nest materialized between the branches and leaves.

“Go sleep in the bird’s nest.”

The skylark chirped joyfully, flapping its wings and hopping into the nest, pecking at the dry twigs around it as if playing with a new toy.

“It’s comfortable, isn’t it? No matter how noisy it gets outside, it’s just the wind shaking the branches.”

Ji Zhao obediently let his hands hang naturally and leaned against the billboard, smiling slightly with his eyes closed, as if asleep.

Zhao Xiangwan turned and winked at Xu Songling.

Xu Songling nodded, adjusted the emergency safety rope around his waist, supported himself on the windowsill with one hand, and jumped up.

He was a former special forces soldier, agile and powerful. He stepped over the steel frame and approached Ji Zhao swiftly.

As soon as Xu Songling stepped on the steel frame, it began to shake. The frame was welded to embedded parts of the wall and couldn’t bear the weight of two people. The billboard swayed dangerously.

Everyone held their breath, and the more timid ones covered their eyes, unable to watch.

Xu Songling slowly approached Ji Zhao, while Zhao Xiangwan’s heartbeat sped up. She focused on Ji Zhao’s face, extremely nervous.

The image in Ji Zhao’s mind remained unchanged. It was still the snowfield, the barren tree, and the skylark. The skylark curled up in its nest, lazily raised a wing to cover its head, and peacefully fell asleep.

The steel frame trembled.

The tree began to shake.

The skylark slept soundly in its nest.

After confirming Ji Zhao was calm and wouldn’t resist, Zhao Xiangwan raised her right hand and quickly gestured with determination: Go!

Since there were no fixed objects in the hotel corridor, they could only attach the other end of the safety rope to the waists of the two criminal policemen. They held firmly onto the window sill, using the wall’s vertical support to balance the rope’s tension. Seeing Zhao Xiangwan’s signal, they quickly squatted down, bracing for the impact of the fall.

We must catch Ji Zhao before the billboard collapses!

Xu Songling moved like flowing water. In just one second, he embraced Ji Zhao, secured the pre-tied safety rope around his waist, and lifted him off the steel frame.

“Crack!” The steel frame couldn’t withstand the force and broke at the wall contact point.

Xu Songling moved swiftly, holding Ji Zhao in one arm, reaching the window sill just before the steel frame fell completely. He Mingyu and Zhu Feipeng rushed forward, leaned out, and caught them securely.

Amid cheers, Xu Songling brought Ji Zhao back safely.

The extreme tension left Ji Jinmao weak and trembling. He tightly hugged Ji Zhao, crying and laughing: “I’m so glad you’re back, so glad you’re back.”

Xu Songling untied the rope around his waist. As he approached the window sill, the steel frame had fallen vertically, but thanks to the coordination of his teammates, no one was harmed.

Xu Songling turned to Zhao Xiangwan and nodded in approval.

If Zhao Xiangwan hadn’t calmed Ji Zhao, the rescue would have been much more difficult if he had resisted.

Zhao Xiangwan felt a sense of relief.

Honestly, Zhao Xiangwan had never felt such pressure before, especially after initiating communication with Ji Zhao, despite Captain Xu’s opposition.

Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and everyone was safe.

In Ji Zhao’s inner world, the lark in the nest opened its eyes and curiously peeked out, looking at everything outside.

Seeing this, Zhao Xiangwan smiled, turned around, and left with her team.

The group returned to Baorui Hall, where Zhou Qiaoxiu had been waiting. Seeing them return, she hurried forward to ask, “How is it? How is it? Did you find him?”

The force of the rope around his waist had caused Xu Songling’s waist and ribs to ache, probably with bruises. He took a deep breath and replied: “We found him. We can leave now.”

The Four Seasons Hotel had been sealed off urgently, causing panic among some guests. Firefighters, special police teams, and police dogs had all been deployed, and with the negligence of Feng Hongying, Duan Yong, and others, Ji Jinmao still had a lot of things to do.

For Xu Songling, saving Ji Zhao was simply his duty. He didn’t consider it anything special, and he retired with his team to settle their bill and leave.

Leaving the private room and walking on the Persian carpet with a red background and gold flowers, Zhu Feipeng excitedly told Zhou Qiaoxiu the story.

“Teacher Zhou, you don’t know, my junior sister is so brave. She figured out right away that Luo Yihui isn’t trustworthy, so she had me arrest him…”

Xu Songling remembered and asked, “Luo Yihui was trying to calm Ji Zhao. Why did you detain him?”

After everything that had happened, Zhao Xiangwan took a moment to organize her thoughts.

“Captain Xu, you asked me to study micro-expression behavior. When Luo Yihui saw Ji Zhao, his pupils shrank, meaning he actually despises Ji Zhao. When he mentioned having a stomachache and leaving, his eyes shifted to the upper right, which means he was lying.”

Zhu Feipeng was furious: “Damn it, I know that kid Luo Yihui. His parents divorced when he was six, and he has lived with the Ji family ever since. Mr. Ji paid for all his expenses and even sent him to study psychology abroad. Who knew he’d be so ungrateful?”

Zhou Qiaoxiu thought for a moment and said, “I think Mr. Ji wanted him to study psychology so he could help Ji Zhao. But greed is never satisfied, and I fear Mr. Ji is raising a tiger that will eventually cause trouble.”

Xu Songling raised his head to stop the discussion. “Ji Zhao went downstairs and climbed up the billboard on his own. The incident doesn’t constitute a criminal case and shouldn’t be handled by our serious crime team. We just happened to help Mr. Ji find him during our vacation. As for interrogations or solving the case, let it go. Even if Luo Yihui has issues, it’s a family matter for Mr. Ji, not for us to interfere.”

Zhu Feipeng snorted. “Captain Xu, what you’re saying is that we’re just doing what’s right this time?”

Xu Songling gave his shoulder a heavy pat. “Yes, exactly. The Serious Crime Unit has taken over the work of other teams. You should keep a low profile to avoid getting scolded.”

Zhu Feipeng was slightly displeased. Doing good deeds without recognition wasn’t his style. However, since Captain Xu, the so-called hero, had spoken, he could only follow orders.

As for Luo Yihui… Zhu Feipeng clenched his teeth. If it weren’t for this troublemaker, they could have just eaten, had a drink, and gone home to rest. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He decided to go home and have a good talk with his mother, kicking this ungrateful person out of Xing City.

With that thought, Zhu Feipeng leaned toward Zhao Xiangwan. “Tell me more about why you suspected Luo Yihui.”

Zhao Xiangwan patiently explained: “Since Luo Yihui studied psychology, he understands human nature and knows how to exploit weaknesses. Feng Ma was ill and vulnerable at that time. From her window, she could see Ji Zhao’s back. He chose that moment to leave, giving Feng Ma an opportunity.”

Zhou Qiaoxiu shook her head. “Ah!”

Zhao Xiangwan continued, “But the incident couldn’t have been planned by Luo Yihui in advance. If he managed to set up the sequence of events—Feng Ma’s provocation, Ji Zhao’s return to the studio, Duan Yong sneaking away, and Ji Zhao climbing the billboard—then he’d truly be a criminal genius.”

Zhu Feipeng scoffed. “A genius? Luo Yihui, who thinks he’s an elite from abroad, is arrogant and conceited. He doesn’t deserve to be a criminal genius!”

Xu Songling raised his hand and slapped the back of Zhu Feipeng’s head, producing a sharp “Pa!” sound.

“Don’t talk nonsense! Criminal geniuses aren’t good people. Who would want to meet one? They kill without leaving traces, no clues, nothing for us to find. Do you think that’s fun? Don’t associate with Luo Yihui anymore!”

At that moment, Zhao Xiangwan suddenly stopped.

After receiving the signal that they could leave, a large group of people walked out of the banquet hall. They were all impeccably dressed, polite, and elegant.

Among them was Wei Meihua, dressed in a royal blue suit.

Zhao Xiangwan immediately recognized her and locked eyes with two other people walking alongside her.

Wei Meihua was with a tall, middle-aged man with a full forehead, narrow eyes, deep eye sockets, and light-colored eyes. He resembled Zhao Xiangwan by about 70%—this must be Zhao Qingyun.

Behind Wei Meihua and Zhao Qingyun stood a young girl in a white dress. She was petite with a lovely oval face, big eyes, long lashes, and a cherry mouth. Her eyes and eyebrows resembled the image of the fourth girl from the countryside eight years ago.

Zhao Chenyang!

Zhao Xiangwan thought she would be angry when finally meeting Zhao Chenyang, the one who had stolen her life. However, after saving Ji Zhao from near death, she felt calm and satisfied, not emotional at all.

“Zhao Chenyang.” Zhao Xiangwan called her name.

Now that we’ve met, let’s move on.

When Zhao Chenyang heard her name called and saw Zhao Xiangwan’s face, she froze, standing still in shock.

Zhou Qiaoxiu and Xu Songling exchanged a look, paused, and followed Zhao Xiangwan’s gaze to the panicked figure in the crowd.

So, this is the Zhao Chenyang that Zhao Xiangwan had been searching for? She had grown up with Zhao Xiangwan in the countryside, only to disappear after finding her biological parents. And now, she was acting ungrateful!

Looking at Zhao Qingyun standing next to Zhao Chenyang, they began to wonder: Could it be that Zhao Chenyang’s father looks so much like Zhao Xiangwan? Could it be…?

A sudden realization struck Zhou Qiaoxiu, and she became furious.

Zhao Xiangwan was probably Zhao Qingyun’s biological daughter. He fathered her but didn’t raise her, leaving her in the countryside for ten years. Did he make a mistake when picking her up? What kind of fool was he?!