When the dance ended, Aunt Qin and Xiaomi clapped vigorously.

Xiaomi jumped to her and praised with a smile, “Auntie, you’re amazing! Your dance is beautiful!”

Aunt Qin also admired her, saying, “Miss Zhuang is really talented. I think you dance better than those stars on TV.”

Zhuang Zi, panting and sweaty, with wet bangs, used her hand to smooth her hair and said while catching her breath, “I’m an amateur; I just do it for exercise.”

“If you dance this well as an amateur, you could be a star.”

She tied her long hair into a low ponytail with a headband and turned to grab the water on the coffee table, only to meet Si Hang’s straight gaze.

He stood leaning casually against the wall in the hallway, hands in his pockets. It was unclear how long he had been there.

Another dance song started on the TV, with flashing lights and joyful notes.

They looked at each other for just a second before both looked away simultaneously.

One turned and walked toward his bedroom, the other casually picked up the water cup and took a sip.

…

Sweaty, Zhuang Zi took the opportunity to shower while Aunt Qin was cooking, to avoid catching a cold.

When she came out, Si Hang had also changed his clothes and was sitting on the living room sofa, holding a stack of documents and talking on the phone.

She cut a plate of fruit in the kitchen and came out as Si Hang finished his call.

She sat down with the fruit and directly asked, “Xiaomi asked me to ask you if her family has been contacted and when her father will come to pick her up?”

Si Hang, focused on the documents and not looking at her, replied unhurriedly, “He disappeared without a trace, obviously not wanting to take responsibility.”

Zhuang Zi paused in her action of skewering the fruit.

Si Hang explained in a low voice, “Don’t let her know yet. She was initially assigned to her father, but now that he’s missing, her relatives on both sides are still arguing.”

Zhuang Zi bluntly stated, “They’re worried about bearing the living expenses?”

“Yes,” Si Hang said. “I’ve been busy lately. If no one claims her in a few days, I’ll have to sue in court.”

Zhuang Zi coldly remarked, “To have a child and not raise them is worse than being an animal!”

“…” Si Hang frowned and looked at her.

Zhuang Zi’s expression was slightly cold as she returned his gaze.

Thinking briefly, Si Hang understood.

He remembered her record stated she was fostered at her uncle’s house and lived with her grandmother since childhood.

It seemed she empathized with Xiaomi, feeling the same anger and sympathy.

…

After dinner, Si Hang took the documents back to his bedroom.

This afternoon, the team had met with Jiang Tianchen and brought back his record.

Since he had been busy at the police station, he brought it home and finally had time to review it.

Jiang Tianchen’s statement seemed fine, similar to what Zhuang Zi had described.

Due to the downfall of Zhuang’s Group and Zhuang Hong’s imprisonment for crimes, the marriage, initially a mutually beneficial bridge between the two families, naturally dissolved for self-protection once one side got into trouble.

According to Jiang Tianchen, he still felt somewhat guilty towards Zhuang Zi.

The incident was mainly due to the reality of his family’s actions. Zhuang Zi was magnanimous enough not to blame them for ruining her reputation, so he had no intention of harming her further.

After all, they had known each other, and he hoped she would find happiness in the future.

So far, He Yue was still the prime suspect.

To conclude if this assumption was reasonable or not would have to wait until he returned from Luo City and discussed it in a meeting.

After finishing the stack of documents, he looked up and realized it was already past eleven at night.

Since he had to drive to Luo City early tomorrow, Si Hang planned to rest early tonight.

Just as he was about to close his laptop and go shower, he paused, remembering something.

The sky outside was dark, and the desk lamp illuminated the area around his desk.

He lit a cigarette and typed a line of English letters on his computer.

Although he didn’t understand Korean, he vaguely remembered a keyword from the song— “eXcUSe me.”

The room was quiet, only the sound of music from the computer echoing in the bedroom.

Si Hang leaned back in his chair, holding the cigarette casually.

His eyes were fixed on the screen, watching the Korean girl group dance to the music, but for some reason, the lively figure in the living room earlier appeared in his mind.

Her movements were equally light, her body and looks more memorable than the women on the screen, with an added touch of allure.

Lost in thought, he envisioned her white top and black skirt, long legs, and slim waist…

Suddenly, his hand jerked, bringing him back to reality.

…Damn, the cigarette burned his hand!