Chapter 50: Xiao Jin Goes Missing

The news about Shen Yunshuang’s relationship made Jiang Huaijin suddenly snap out of his thoughts. That refined man was a domestic abuser—polite on the surface but violent behind closed doors. After beating a woman, he would kneel and cry, begging for forgiveness. Auntie thought he genuinely realized his mistake and forgave him, but just a few days later, he reverted to his old ways.

No, he had to stop his aunt from marrying this scumbag. He raised his head and spoke to Shen Yunhe.

“Dad, I want to meet Aunt and her boyfriend. Can I?”

“Of course!” Shen Yunhe was happy that his son wanted to spend time with his aunt. He was more than happy about it.

“I want to see Aunt too!” Jiang Huairou quickly added, and Jiang Huaiyu also expressed his desire to go.

Shen Yunhe smiled.

“Tomorrow, I’ll invite your aunt to a restaurant for dinner. You can all come.”

“Yay!” Jiang Huairou and Jiang Huaiyu cheered excitedly. Shen Yunhe turned his gaze to Jiang Banyue, who had been quietly eating her meal.

“You should come too, okay?” Shen Yunhe wanted her to spend more time with the family.

“I’ll stay at the shop to supervise the renovations. You take the three of them.”

Shen Yunhe was a bit disappointed but smiled brightly.

“Okay, don’t tire yourself out too much.”

The next afternoon, Shen Yunhe took the three kids to the restaurant. He had arranged the dinner with Shen Yunshuang the previous day and had also invited Shen Yunlin to join them.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Shen Yunhe led the three kids into the private room. Shen Yunshuang and her boyfriend were already there, and so was Shen Yunlin.

“Aunt! Uncle!” The three kids greeted them one by one.

Shen Yunshuang pointed to her boyfriend and introduced him.

“Big brother, this is Lin Yiming, my boyfriend.”

Shen Yunhe scrutinized the man with sharp eyes. He was skinny, pale, and his eyes flickered—Shen Yunhe didn’t think much of him. Lin Yiming felt uncomfortable under his gaze and nervously called out, “Big brother.” Shen Yunhe gave him a brief nod.

Shen Yunshuang pulled Lin Yiming to sit down and said, “My older brother doesn’t talk much, don’t mind him.”

“It’s fine.” Lin Yiming pulled at the corner of his mouth, picking up a white square cloth to carefully wipe the chopsticks and bowls repeatedly, moving slowly and meticulously. Afterward, he arranged the tableware neatly.

Shen Yunhe frowned, staring at him. Lin Yiming looked up and smiled.

“Sorry, big brother, I studied medicine, so I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession.”

Shen Yunhe couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was strange. He didn’t press the issue any further.

As soon as Jiang Huaijin entered the room, he fixed his gaze on Lin Yiming. This man came from a rural background, was cowardly, and had a strong sense of self-esteem. He used to beat women to satisfy his twisted needs. A scumbag like him deserved to die a hundred times.

The adults chatted while eating. Shen Yunlin asked, “Lin Yiming, where are you from?”

“Kaoshan Village.”

Lin Yiming came from a remote mountain village that was poor and tough, which made him feel very inferior. He desperately wanted to change his situation. Although Shen Yunshuang was also from the countryside, her family was well-off. Her father drove a large truck, her older brother was a soldier, and her second brother was a university student. With money and power, she hoped the Shen family would help him.

“How did you two meet?” Shen Yunhe looked at Lin Yiming.

Lin Yiming glanced at Shen Yunshuang.

“She was carrying books, walking ahead, and accidentally bumped into me. I helped her carry the books, and that’s how we met.”

“Hmm.” Shen Yunhe placed food on the kids’ plates, thinking about how to break them up. He really didn’t think much of this man. Lin Yiming’s gaze was unsettling.

Lin Yiming suddenly stood up. “I’m going to the restroom!” He hurriedly walked out.

Jiang Huaijin quickly jumped out of his chair. “Dad, I need to go to the restroom too.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Shen Yunhe said, putting down his chopsticks, ready to accompany his son. Jiang Huaijin quickly stopped him.

“I’m not a little kid, I can go by myself!”

If his dad came along, how could he deal with that scumbag?

“Are you sure you can go alone?” Shen Yunhe still wasn’t at ease and tried to follow.

Jiang Huaijin put on a serious expression. “Dad, I want to go by myself!”

“Alright then!” Shen Yunhe patted his son’s head. “Hurry up and come back.”

Jiang Huaijin turned and left the private room, heading to the restroom. Lin Yiming was washing his hands at the sink. Jiang Huaijin walked up to him, lifted his head, and angrily said, “Stay away from my aunt. Our family won’t accept you!”

“You little brat! Your dad doesn’t think much of me, so now you’re threatening me? You think I’m easy to bully? Let’s see who’s going to die today!” Lin Yiming glared at the pale, delicate boy in front of him, his chest burning with anger. He remembered how Shen Yunhe had looked down on him, and now he wanted to take his frustration out on the kid.

With a twisted expression, Lin Yiming covered Jiang Huaijin’s mouth and nose with his hand. The boy lost consciousness. Lin Yiming quickly took off his jacket, threw it over him, and hurriedly carried him out of the restaurant.

Shen Yunhe waited in the private room for a while, but his son hadn’t returned. Growing impatient, he stood up and walked towards the restroom. Shen Yunshuang, noticing his concern, asked, “What’s going on? Lin Yiming hasn’t come back either.”

In the restroom, Shen Yunhe looked around but couldn’t find anyone. His mind raced, his heart pounding with fear. He ran out of the restroom, grabbing a male staff member.

“Did you see a seven-year-old boy in the restroom?”

“No, I didn’t,” the staff member replied.

Shen Yunhe frantically searched the entire restaurant but still didn’t find him. Sweat poured down his face, and his vision blurred. He turned around, but there was no sign of his child.

He had lost his child!

The staff realized something was wrong and immediately called the manager. The manager, understanding the gravity of the situation, quickly gathered everyone to search for the boy. Shen Yunshuang rushed out, her face full of panic, and asked, “Big brother, what’s going on?”

“Jin is missing!” Shen Yunhe’s heart sank, and he forced himself to stay calm. Shen Yunshuang looked around and realized that Lin Yiming was also gone.

“Big brother, Lin Yiming is missing too!”

Shen Yunhe’s eyes reddened as he grabbed her arm tightly. “Where’s Lin Yiming? Take me to find him. He must have taken Jin! Hurry, I’m afraid he’ll hurt my son!”

“Ah! Alright, he’s in the alley to the east. I’ll take you there right now!”

Shen Yunhe rushed back to the private room and told Shen Yunlin, “Yunlin, take the two kids back to the cake shop and watch them. See if Jin is there.”

“Alright! Big brother, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on them.”

The two kids could sense the tension in the air. They obediently sat down. Jiang Huaijin’s voice trembled as he said, “Dad, is my brother lost?”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Daddy will bring your brother back. Be good and go with uncle.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you at home!”

Shen Yunlin took the two children and headed back to the cake shop.