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Chapter 30: Abduction
~Can you show me this envelope?~
Zhao Chenyang saw Zhao Xiangwan’s smile—bright and dazzling, almost blinding. Gritting his teeth, he hesitantly asked, “Well… can I compensate you with two hundred?”
[I left Zhaojiagou when I was ten and lived with the Xu family for two years as their daughter. After Xu Qingxi returned, I went back to my parents. Though they provided clothes and food, they never gave me much money. This time, my father said he’d send me back to my hometown. Just in case, I took out two thousand and brought it with me. I’ll give you two hundred—you should be satisfied!]
Zhao Xiangwan glanced at him. “Two thousand.”
“You!”
Zhao Chenyang’s head snapped up, staring at her in disbelief.
[Damn it! How did she know I only brought two thousand? She wants to take everything I have with just a few words?]
Zhao Qingyun, a man who cared deeply about his reputation, felt ashamed to argue over money in public. Lowering his voice, he ordered, “Give it to her!”
Not daring to disobey, Zhao Chenyang clenched his jaw, pulled out a brown paper envelope from his bag, and handed it to Zhao Xiangwan with trembling hands. “Two thousand… here.”
His hard-saved money was gone in an instant. Zhao Chenyang’s heart ached, but he didn’t dare say a word.
Zhao Xiangwan took the money and looked up at Zhao Qingyun.
Her clear eyes reflected the ugliness in people’s hearts. Zhao Qingyun lowered his head, unable to speak under her gaze.
Zhao Dacui stepped forward. Though polite, her words carried clear dissatisfaction. “You’re a big leader from the provincial capital, and I’m just a country woman. Logically, I shouldn’t speak up. But I still want to ask—why did you abandon Zhao Xiangwan back then?”
Why had he given away his less-than-a-month-old daughter? This was Zhao Qingyun’s deepest shame.
As a poor country boy with no connections, even after having a child with Wei Meihua, her parents despised him. They forced him to give the child away and forbade them from being together.
Zhao Qingyun’s face paled. Fists clenched, he turned away in silence.
His official demeanor carried an oppressive air. Zhao Dacui grew nervous and glanced at Zhao Xiangwan for support.
Zhao Xiangwan stepped forward, standing directly before Zhao Qingyun.
Their figures and features were 70% alike. Her slender frame, yellowish hair, and frostbitten ears told of the hardships she’d endured.
Shared childhood struggles stirred Zhao Qingyun’s heart. Eyes slightly wet, he pulled out a bank card. “Here’s 10,000 yuan. The password is six eights. I owe you 18 years—this is my compensation.”
Their identical phoenix eyes met. After a pause, Zhao Xiangwan took the card.
Tinglan’s suicide had taught her one thing—never expect too much from selfish parents.
No expectations meant no disappointment.
No disappointment meant no resentment.
If he called this “compensation,” she’d accept it. From now on, they owed each other nothing. If they met again, they’d be strangers.
When she took the card, Zhao Qingyun felt the tension between them fade—but so did their bond. Panic rising, he asked softly, “Xiang Wan… will you come home with me for New Year’s?”
Zhao Xiangwan shook her head, calm.
He pressed on. “Will you… acknowledge me as your father?”
For a moment, complex emotions flickered in her eyes. She’d once dreamed of finding her birth parents, of receiving their love, of having them stand up for her. But after repeated disappointments, she expected nothing.
Seeing her hesitation, hope sparked in Zhao Qingyun.
[After years in office, my connections in Xing City could boost her career. Even with top investigative skills, a Public Security University grad stays a small-time cop without resources. My daughter’s smart—she must know recognizing me helps her future.]
Zhao Xiangwan heard his thoughts and shook her head again. “No.”
From the day she’d put on her uniform, she’d felt its weight. She’d rise high without his help.
Zhao Qingyun staggered back, bracing against a brick pillar.
Though they’d met only a few times, their blood tie made him feel he knew her. Her “no” meant she’d never claim him as her father—or let him use her.
Some wounds never healed. Ten thousand yuan couldn’t buy her affection.
Zhao Qingyun turned to Zhao Chenyang.
Noticing his gaze, hope surged in Zhao Chenyang.
“Dad, let me go home with you. Chengzu’s still young—I’ll help him study. Mom’s lonely—I’ll keep her company. I’m studying in Xing City now, and I’ll stay after graduation. Once I marry Xu Qingxi, I’ll join Xu Group’s finance team and expand your business!”
Zhao Qingyun stayed silent, weighing his options.
[Zhao Xiangwan’s strong-willed. Though promising, she’s hard to control. Spending 10,000 yuan on her was a loss. Chenyang’s dim but close to Zhou Jingrong and engaged to Xu Qingxi—that’s useful for my future.]
Fearful of losing her lifeline, Zhao Chenyang pressed, “Dad, you raised me for eight years. Will you really leave me here? The villagers dislike me, and I hate this place!”
Qian Shufen’s heart ached so badly she could barely breathe. Trembling, she grabbed her daughter’s arm and stammered, “Fourth Sister, you… you…” She didn’t know how to put her feelings into words or what to even ask.
Zhao Bowen scolded loudly, “Zhao Chenyang, your parents switched you and Third Sister to give you a better life. Now they’re bearing the consequences and facing the village’s punishment. Don’t you feel any guilt? Are you really willing to abandon your birth parents and cut all ties with this family?”
Zhao Zhongwu, known for his short temper, pulled his reluctant mother aside and glared fiercely at Zhao Chenyang. “If you hate it here so much, then get out!”
Zhao Qingyun watched coldly, his gaze lingering on Zhao Xiangwan as he weighed his options. Zhao Xiangwan heard his thoughts clearly but remained silent, her expression icy.
Hurt by her indifference, Zhao Qingyun turned to Zhao Chenyang. “Let’s go.” With that, he strode toward the village parking lot.
Zhao Chenyang’s face lit up with triumph. She shot Zhao Xiangwan a smug look, ignored Qian Shufen and Zhao Erfu—who had sacrificed so much for her—and hurried after Zhao Qingyun.
“Fourth Sister… my child…” Qian Shufen sobbed until her voice cracked, collapsing into Zhao Bowen’s arms.
Zhao Erfu, pale with anger, stomped his foot. “Heartless beast! From now on, we’ll act like we never had this child!”
Zhao Changxing shook his head and sighed. “You mistook weeds for rice and raised someone with no conscience. Serves you right!”
He waved off the gossiping villagers. “Go home, all of you. It’s Little New Year. Let’s enjoy the festivities.”
The crowd dispersed, still buzzing with opinions.
“People should have some conscience. Stealing a child and raising someone this heartless—what’s the point?”
“Aunt Qian hoped Zhao Chenyang would live well and repay her someday, but look how that turned out. The moment she left, she forgot her roots.”
“Zhao Xiangwan’s the kind one. She still cares for Zhaojiagou and doesn’t hold grudges. A good soul.”
“Good deeds deserve rewards. When the village builds her a new house, we should all help.”
Zhao Xiangwan listened to the murmurs and looked up at the sky—pale blue streaked with gray, the weak winter sun casting soft light over the countryside.
“Changxing! Changxing! A letter from Sister Yao! She finally wrote—!” A man sprinted into the village, waving an envelope.
In his rush, he bumped into Zhao Chenyang, nearly knocking her over. Furious, she glared, ready to curse—until she recognized him.
Zhao Changgeng.
The man who’d lost his mind after his daughter, Zhao Qingyao, was kidnapped and taken north.
Recognition dawned on Zhao Chenyang. Of course—it was early 1992. Zhao Qingyao, who always sneered at her, had just been tricked into hiding in a cave, forced to write letters home under duress.
In the letter, Zhao Qingyao claimed she was caring for a child at a professor’s home in Mi’an City, Beidi, and had gone abroad with the family for two years. Deluded, Zhao Changgeng boasted to the whole village, thrilled his daughter was “seeing the world.”
Two years later, with no news, Zhao Changgeng went to Mi’an City, only to find no trace of the professor. Desperate, he reported her missing.
Half a year later, the police found Zhao Qingyao—locked in a cellar by a northern villager who couldn’t marry. She’d suffered three miscarriages, her body broken. Within a year, she withered away and took her own life. Zhao Changgeng, consumed by guilt, went mad, haunting the village entrance with a tattered envelope, screaming, “Sister Yao sent a letter!”
Zhao Chenyang swallowed her curses and smirked inwardly.
[Why the rush? You’ll cry soon enough!]
[That annoying Zhao Qingyao was skin and bones when she died—less than 50 kilos. Even the pallbearers said the coffin was too light. Tsk. But I won’t waste time on fools. I’m reborn—I’ve got bigger things to do.]
The villagers crowded around Zhao Changgeng, drawn by the letter. But Zhao Xiangwan froze, stunned by what she’d just heard.
Zhao Chenyang… was a reborn person.
Every previous encounter had been too crowded for Zhao Chenyang’s secret thoughts to slip out. But now, with Zhao Qingyun choosing her over Zhao Xiangwan, her pride had loosened her guard. Meeting Zhao Changgeng had exposed everything.
Suddenly, Zhao Xiangwan understood.
Why had Zhao Erfu waited at the village entrance that day ten years ago, as if expecting Zhao Qingyun? Back then, with no advance notice, how had he known?
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Vyl[Translator]
~Thank you soo much for the support! Love yaa~ ⋆.❤︎