Kuang Ye’s spirit was invigorated as he hurriedly dug further around the source of the sound. Mu Wan was assisting him nearby and immediately waved to her father and brother when she spotted the metal sheet.

“Over here! Over here!”

The two men rushed over, carrying their tools. Before long, several small dirt mounds formed around the vegetable patch, and a massive iron box was revealed.

Mu Jianhua tried to pry it open with his hoe, but the tool broke without success. They had no choice but to call for someone to bring specialized cutting equipment.

After a flurry of sparks, the iron box’s true contents were finally exposed.

The golden glow, dazzling under the lights, was almost blinding.

Mu Jianhua threw down the broken hoe, dusted off his hands, and smirked.
“Perfect. By the looks of it, this weighs at least two tons. Converted to cash, that’s over a million yuan—enough to ensure he stays behind bars for the rest of his life.”

The estate’s security guards, who had been asleep, woke up to the sound of the cutting equipment. They wondered, Does it really take this much noise to harvest cabbages? When they arrived at the scene and saw the mountain of police cars and the ‘yellow fish’ unearthed from the garden, their jaws nearly hit the ground.

A fortune had been buried right under their noses? No wonder the old master cherished this vegetable patch, personally overseeing the weeding and fertilizing every day, and banning metal tools. It wasn’t the cabbages he was guarding; it was the gold!

—

With both the culprit and evidence secured, Kuang Hongxuan was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with his political rights revoked for life. He received a five-year reduction due to past contributions, but given his age and health, it made little difference. He would never walk free again.

After hearing the verdict, the group left the courthouse and looked up at the clear blue sky. The heavy weight in Mu Wan’s heart was finally lifted. She would no longer live in the shadows of her past life.

A hand suddenly slid around her arm. Kuang Ye leaned his head on Mu Wan’s shoulder and sighed.
“The bad guy’s finally caught. Lately, it feels like our story’s been all over the place—mercenaries, dirty money… Our lives are supposed to be about sweet romance!”

Mu Wan chuckled.
“From now on, it’ll just be sweet romance. The doctor said your hand is ready for basic training again. When are you going back to the base?”

“Tomorrow. If I stay away any longer, those mischievous rookies will drive Manager Zhang and Coach Yang completely bald.”

Mu Wan smiled, thinking about the care and concern her friends had shown over the past few days. Her heart felt warm, though there was a lingering concern about Xingran. Despite everything that had happened, she had stayed out of sight.

The ordeal had nothing to do with Xingran directly, yet she had become an unfortunate bystander. Worried she might be caught in Kuang family’s mess, Mu Wan had tried calling her, but the calls went unanswered.

“Ah Ye, have you been in touch with Xingran recently?” she asked.

Kuang Ye nodded, a trace of worry in his expression.
“She went abroad.”

Mu Wan was shocked.
“When? She never told me!”

Kuang Ye squeezed Mu Wan’s hand, also concerned for his younger sister’s future.
“She studied fashion design and received an offer from an international design company for further training and development.”

Unlike Kuang Ye, Kuang Xingran had grown up in the Kuang family. Although she often bickered with her family, they had raised her. Now, she was caught between loyalty to her friends and her family, an impossible position that only deepened her pain.

Mu Yanci, who was speaking with their lawyer about follow-up matters, glanced in their direction. His eyes flickered but eventually settled into calm indifference.

—

Elsewhere, in a foreign country, the incessant ringing of a phone broke the silence of a room.

Kuang Xingran, once willing to endure winter’s chill for fashion, now sat on the floor wearing a plain white hoodie and jeans. Her eyes were rimmed with dark circles as she focused on sketching.

If Mu Wan were present, she would have been utterly shocked. The Kuang Xingran she knew had always been bold, passionate, and unstoppable. The quiet figure before her was a stark contrast.

Drip.

A tear fell onto the electronic drawing tablet, adding a shimmering texture to the gown she was designing.

Messages from her family kept playing in her mind:
– “Xingran, you and Wanwan are so close. Can’t you ask her to help? Tell her to let your grandfather go.”
– “If Grandpa really goes to jail, the announcement alone will tank Kuang Corp’s stock price. The family will go bankrupt. Do you think you’ll still have this cushy life then?”
– “Kuang Xingran, your brother grew up outside the family, so it’s no surprise he’s a traitor. But now that the family is in crisis, you’re thinking about going abroad to study? Do you even have a conscience?”

The tears came faster, spilling onto her tablet. Kuang Xingran finally broke down, clutching her face and sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.

Why didn’t they understand?

Her grandfather’s crimes had implicated the innocent Mu family. Wan wan had nearly been kidnapped. Zhao Yao had wanted to destroy her family, and the intended target should have been her.

Wan wan had suffered in her place. This time, everything turned out okay. But what if it hadn’t? How could she ever repay that debt?

What face did she have left to see Wan wan again? What right did she have to ask for her forgiveness?

The Kuang family owed the Mu family an apology on their knees.