THEIR WORTH...

Min opened the bag containing her new scarf, unwrapping it as she finished getting ready. She absentmindedly chewed gum while a popular song played from her phone, which was lying on the bed.

From where she stood in their room, she could hear Ma Jing bustling with her children and the clatter of dishes as her younger sister, Yue, washed them in the courtyard.

Just then, Mama stepped out of her room, holding two bowls, and walked toward Yue, who was still washing dishes. One look at the pile of dishes made Mama pity the girl—she had been at it for a long time, yet she hadn't even finished half. If Zhan were here, they would have been done by now, and another task would already be underway.

Before she could say anything, a woman entered the house, greeting them as she stepped inside.

"Oh, Zhuzhi, you're at our house today?" Mama asked with a small smile.

"Yes, I am," Zhuzhi replied. "Every day, I tell myself I should come and check on you, but by the time I finish with everything, it's already too late. Today, I was passing by Nanjun's shop and thought I should drop by."

"That's kind of you," Mama said with a sigh. "Life is difficult these days."

"It truly is. I still can't believe what happened… May fate bring him back safely."

"Thank you, Zhuzhi."

"I just hope Zhan wasn't taken by bad people."

"Huh. That's our prayer every day."

As they spoke, Zhuzhi's eyes wandered to where Ma Jing was frying millet snacks, surrounded by eager children waiting to buy them.

"Since I'm already here, I might as well buy some. I was wondering what to have for breakfast anyway." She walked over.

Mama watched her go with a knowing expression before clicking her tongue. She had expected this—Zhuzhi had only come under the pretense of offering sympathy, but in reality, she had another reason for visiting. Mama knew that most of the people who came to her house weren't truly concerned about Zhan; they were just nosy.

At this point, she no longer felt sorrow over Zhan's disappearance. Ever since a friend had pointed out that children like him never really belonged, she had begun to see things differently. Since Zhan's birth mother had abandoned him...just like her he abandoned them too. That's why he ran away when he see He Jun's dead now.

Mama had always had doubts about Zhan, and those words had only confirmed her suspicions. She had even stopped Hao from continuing the search for him. The police had started demanding money to investigate, and she saw no reason to waste resources. She firmly believed that Zhan had left on his own and that, when life taught him a lesson, he would return. He had no one else to go to.

Then there was Fen, who had visited just the day before. She had dramatically knelt before Mama, offering words of sympathy before revealing that, on the day Zhan disappeared, she had noticed something strange—he had finished his chores early and had seemed eager to leave. She had even insisted that he stay for breakfast before he left.

That was all Mama needed to hear. She had immediately called Hao and put Fen on the phone so she could tell him everything. After all, Hao was the one most determined to keep searching for Zhan. Fen had repeated her story, and though Hao listened, he didn't believe her. Still, to avoid an argument with Mama, he simply said he understood.

Before leaving, Fen had left ten thousand yuan with Mama, saying it should be used for charity, praying that Zhan would return safely. Mama had been overjoyed—especially since, during the mourning period, she had spent quite a bit feeding visitors.

Min had seen everything unfold and had been watching Fen closely, puzzled by her words. And just before Fen left, she had pulled Min aside for a private conversation. Whatever she had told her had completely changed Min's mind, erasing any doubts she had about her.

"Where's Min?" Mama asked Yue after Zhuzhi had left, her irritation already growing.

"She's in the room getting ready. She said she's going out."

"She's going out this early? With all this work left to do?" Mama set down the bowls and walked toward the room. She pulled back the curtain with a scowl.

"Where do you think you're going this early? Look at Yue—she's been working alone!"

Min turned to face her. To Mama's surprise, she smiled and said, "Mama, you're awake? I've been waiting for you. I need to talk to you about something. I'm not going anywhere without telling you."

Mama frowned. "What is it?"

"Come inside, please. I don't want anyone else to hear."

Without hesitation, Mama stepped inside. Min reached for her handbag, which was resting on the bed, unzipped it, and pulled out a thick bundle of cash. She handed it to Mama, who took it without hesitation, her eyes widening in shock.

"Min, what am I seeing? Is this a stack of money? Where did you get it?"

With a smile on her face, Min watched as Mama's hands trembled slightly while holding the money.

"It's thirty thousand, Mama. It was a gift, and not just that—I even used some to buy clothes and fabric for sewing."

"A gift? What kind of gift is this? And who gives such an amount?"

"Mama, I won't hide it from you. I broke up with Chang, and I've met someone else—an incredibly wealthy businessman. There's no kind of business he isn't involved in. He even came to the house on the third day after Baba's passing, but you were busy with guests, so I didn't get the chance to tell you. He's the one who gave me this money."

In an instant, Mama accepted every word, nodding her head repeatedly.

"That's wonderful news, Min! Something this important—you should have sat me down and told me properly. Is he serious about marrying you?"

Min swallowed hard. This was exactly what Fen had advised her—to use some of the money to keep her family quiet. That way, no one would question her too much or pressure her. Fen was already making arrangements to introduce her to even wealthier men, some from overseas, who would take her on luxurious trips.

On top of that, Fen had sternly warned her: if she ever mentioned her name in connection to Zhan's disappearance, she wouldn't let it slide. Fen was more than capable of framing her for something serious—something that could get her locked up. So Min was better off keeping quiet, enjoying her new life, and simply praying for Zhan's safe return, wherever he was.

With that thought in mind, Min forced a bright smile onto her face.

"He assured me he's serious, Mama. You know me—I wouldn't entertain someone who isn't serious about marriage. And I know he won't waste time."

Mama nodded again.

"That's good. But tell him to wait until after your father's forty-day mourning period—or even a few months. That way, we can celebrate properly, without any worries."

Min's heart swelled with relief at Mama's words. She nodded eagerly.

"Don't worry, Mama. We'll do everything the way you want. He's a patient man."

Mama clutched the stack of money tightly, her heart soaring. The fear that He Jun's death would bring them trouble was beginning to fade. Right now, neither Hao nor Wen had any significant money. He Jun's illness had drained most of their resources, and the funeral expenses—especially for the large crowd of guests Mama had personally invited—had taken a toll. The money Fen had given her had already gone to settling debts, as creditors had been sending their children to remind her constantly.

Even this morning, she had been racking her brain, wondering what they could possibly do to scrape by. Hao had only left her with five hundred before leaving, apologizing that he couldn't spare more. Kai had promised to help when he returned, but Mama knew better than to rely on him. Wen was no better—she had watched as Ning handed him two hundred for his transport fare, claiming he had no change. Meanwhile, right in front of her, Ma Jing carried on with her life as usual, casually collecting money from customers and stuffing it into her purse.

So, Min showed up with a bundle of cash—thirty thousand in total—claiming that her suitor had given it to her. How could Mama not welcome such a thing with open arms?

"May this bring us good fortune, Min. I hope this man truly becomes your husband."

Before Min could respond, Ning pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the room.

"Mama, some visitors are here to offer their condolences."

"Come in, Ning! Come see the blessing that has come our way," Mama said instead of answering her.

Ning entered, her eyes immediately landing on the stack of money in Mama's hands. Even before she could ask, Mama began explaining in detail how they had been struggling and how Min had suddenly found fortune.

Ning rolled her eyes and turned to Min, who wasted no time opening her purse and pulling out another ten thousand. She handed it to Ning with a smile.

"This is for you—I set it aside. You can even buy yourself a new dress."

Ning couldn't help but smile as she accepted the money.

"Wow, Min Jie. So this is real? But where exactly did you meet this man?"

"At my friend Zo Ling's house. He's a friend of her father. At first, I didn't trust him because he's much older than me."

Mama immediately cut in.

"Listen to me, my dear. So what if he's older? Isn't he still a man? That's all that matters. Look at Chang—he was young, yet what did he ever do for you? Let me tell you, Min, even if this man is old and frail, if he has wealth, you should stay by his side and take care of him until the time comes for your wedding."

Min laughed while Ning said thoughtfully, "Well, I can't blame you. If someone can provide a comfortable life, who wouldn't want that?"

She kept turning the money over in her hands, still struggling to fully accept how it had come about.

Mama, however, was already lost in her own thoughts. "You know, Ning, if only fate would replace that Nei of yours with a rich and respectable older man like this, you could be taking me on vacation to Europe by the end of the year. Your father promised me a trip before he passed, remember?"

Ning's expression darkened immediately.

"Mama, Nei does his best for me. You know how much he provides for this household."

Mama clicked her tongue.

"Yet he still hasn't said anything about marriage."

Ning frowned. "That's only because Baba's passing put everything on hold. Didn't he say they'd come this week..."

She didn't even get to finish before the visitors at the door knocked again, louder this time.

:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

For the third time, Xu Liang let out a frustrated sigh as he stared at his phone. His wife, Wu Jing, turned to look at him while carefully pouring porridge into their youngest daughter's bowl at the breakfast table.

"What's wrong?" she asked, watching him closely.

"A message from the police station—again. They want me to come in today. I honestly don't know what to tell them anymore."

Wu Jing didn't respond right away. This was the third time Xu Liang had been summoned since the terrible news broke—Yibo was being investigated for murder. She had also been questioned at the station and even at their home. The officers had searched Yibo's room thoroughly, but aside from the furniture, they hadn't found a single personal belonging—not even a needle.

That was what unsettled them the most. Neither Wu Jing nor Xu Liang had any idea when Yibo had taken all his things. And for Xu Liang, that only made the accusations against him seem more plausible.

But Wu Jing? She refused to believe a single word of it.

The only thing she was certain of was that from the very first moment she met that woman, Qian—the supposed wife of the man Yibo had worked for—something about her had felt off. Wu Jing had never trusted her, especially with the way she and her daughters had attached themselves to Yibo, acting as if they had known him for years.

In reality, Yibo had barely spent any time with them at all.

Although she had only known Yibo for a short time, she was aware of his background. He had only moved to Beijing permanently after securing a job with them, at which point he began staying at their house—officially as Xu Liang's relative. But in reality, there was no blood connection between them. The only link was that Xu Liang's older brother, a doctor, had taken Yibo in and raised him since childhood. Similarly, Xu Liang himself had lived in his brother's house before getting married, so when Yibo called to say he had found work in Beijing, it didn't seem like a big deal to offer him a place to stay.

Wu Jing absentmindedly stirred her daughter's porridge, lost in thought. She kept wondering how she could find Yibo on her own. Not for anyone else's sake—just for herself. Because with every passing morning, she felt Xu Liang slipping further from her heart, while, on the other hand, her mind became more and more consumed with thoughts of Yibo.

She had tried countless ways to reach him, but none had worked. However, things were different now. Now, she had something that guaranteed he would eventually fall into her hands. The only problem was that opportunities like this never seemed to come at the right time—this one had only appeared now that the police were actively searching for Yibo.

"Minjie told me that Guang must know where he is," Xu Liang muttered, exhaling sharply in frustration. "He just won't say anything."

Minjie was Guang's younger brother, which meant he understood the bond between Guang and Yibo. No matter what happened, Guang would always look for Yibo and find him, no matter where he was.

"I'll call Guang and tell him I'll report his name to the police if he doesn't start talking. I've already tried every tactic I know as a lawyer, and he still won't tell me what he knows," Xu Liang said, taking a sip of his tea.

Wu Jing remained silent, only glancing at him from the corner of her eye before letting out a small, unimpressed sigh. He always prided himself on his professional skills, acting as if he had mastery over every aspect of life. Yet, in the one area where a man should take pride, he had never proven himself. She looked at their children, who were busy arguing over a game, and a wave of satisfaction washed over her. If she hadn't taken matters into her own hands, would these children even be here today?

They were right in front of her, safe and sound. The thought brought a smile to her lips before she even realized it.

Why had she ever doubted that she could win against Yibo?

Hadn't she fought for and completely claimed Xu Liang? If she had managed that, how could she possibly fail after only a few months of trying with Yibo?

Guang.

She etched the name into her mind, carving it deep with ink that would never fade.

If she was still the same Wu Jing she had always known herself to be, then one thing was certain—she would find Yibo. And Guang would be the key.

:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

Qian looked at her friend, A-Dan, who was sitting with her in her spacious bedroom. She shook her head, trying to wipe her nose again.

"I'm telling you, there's something he's hiding from me, A-Dan. I know it—I know Shi Lei like the back of my hand. Even before our marriage, I waited ten years for him to finish his studies, and now we've been married for almost thirty years. What could he possibly be hiding from me now?"

A-Dan let out a deep sigh.

"I understand, Qian, but what I don't get is—if it was the police officer who called him while you were together, what exactly did he say to make him so unsettled?"

Qian shook her head.

"That's what I don't know either, because he didn't tell me, and I know he never will. But one thing I can tell you for sure—this boy, Yibo, the one they're blaming for the murder—I'm certain he didn't kill Peng. Yibo could never do something like that, I know it. There's something else going on, something he's keeping from me. And i still haven't spoken to Peng friend, Zang."

"Has he been released?"

Qian nodded.

"They said he was released, along with the others who were arrested in the house. Only the security guard is still in custody. But honestly, A-Dan, none of that is my main concern right now. I've already accepted that Peng is gone. I know he's never coming back, and I've come to terms with that. Whatever Shi Lei is hiding or plotting—I don't care anymore. Right now, I need to start clearing my own conscience. And I don't care what it takes or if it exposes everything we've kept secret all these years. I'd rather start seeking forgiveness now before fate punishes me with something even worse."

A-Dan nodded. She was the only person in the world who knew Qian's deepest secrets. Over the years, as things became more complicated between Qian and Shi Lei, she had finally opened up to her and shared her burdens. Now, A-Dan didn't need her to explain further—she understood exactly what she meant.

"Are you going to look for Zhao Min?" A-Dan asked directly, watching as Qian tossed the used tissue into the small trash bin beside her.

Qian nodded slowly.

"Zhao Min is the first person I need to find, no matter what it takes."

"Do you know where she is?"

A-Dan shook her head.

"The last time I heard from her was when she called to tell me she was getting remarried. She mentioned moving to Shenzhen, but I don't know if she's still there..."

What Qian didn't realize was that the moment she set her mind on finding Zhao Min, every obstacle imaginable would start getting in her way.

Because Shi Lei had already anticipated her every move.

Author

For the first time in history....a whole chapter without the main characters. I didn't realized it until now. 🤣🤣🤣

Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛