Chapter 278: Unexpected Incident

Ma Miao complained, “Of course I didn’t walk through walls myself—Sister He opened the door for me. If it weren’t for that man who claimed to be your uncle, the one Meatball also calls Uncle Cheng, I would have gone to fetch the school doctor. Your Uncle Cheng said he could treat you, and Meatball swore that his medical skills were quite good. Plus, I know Meatball has a special bond with you and wouldn’t lie about this, so I let your Uncle Cheng examine you.”

“Get to the point,” Lin Fang felt Ma Miao was being unusually long-winded today.

“Your Uncle Cheng said you’re just exhausted from stress. As long as you sleep until you wake up naturally, you’ll be fine,” Ma Miao rambled on.

“I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?” Lin Fang didn’t have the energy to banter with Ma Miao and cut straight to the chase.

“Your Uncle Cheng said you shouldn’t eat too much or anything hard right after waking up. Thin rice porridge is best. I’ll call the shop to have it delivered—it’s been ready this whole time.”

Lin Fang waking up had Ma Miao excited, and he was chattier than usual. Lin Fang’s room was just behind the shop’s kitchen, so it wouldn’t have taken more than a few steps to fetch the food, but Ma Miao insisted on making a phone call.

After the call, Ma Miao filled Lin Fang in on what had happened at school over the past few days. The gist was that Lin Fang had missed too many classes and lost credits, rendering all her efforts to catch up this semester futile.

Lin Fang wasn’t too upset. Given how many classes she’d skipped, avoiding disciplinary action was already a win. Losing credits was something she could make up later.

Sister He was the one who brought the food—just half a bowl of thin rice porridge, as promised.

After finishing the porridge, Lin Fang felt a bit stronger and wanted to step outside for some air. Slowly making her way to the shop, she was surprised to see Sun Siyuan there. Sister He told her that Sun Siyuan had been guarding outside her room for the three days she was asleep, only letting Sister He take over when he was too exhausted.

Lin Fang thanked Sun Siyuan, but he expressionlessly informed her that Lin Guicheng knew she was awake and had instructed him to take her to him—Lin Guicheng had something to discuss. Lin Fang didn’t ask what it was. Having known Sun Siyuan for over three years, she understood him well. Aside from Lin Guicheng, few people or things mattered to him. If he was willing to speak, or if Lin Guicheng had told him to, he would do so without prompting.

Sister He insisted on coming along, and Sun Siyuan didn’t object. So, Sister He joined Lin Fang in the back seat of the car.

When they arrived at Guo Hongping’s building, Sister He got out first. Just as Lin Fang was about to open the door, Sun Siyuan suddenly spoke: “I’m leaving.”

“You’re leaving? Where to?” Lin Fang was startled.

“Don’t know,” came the typically brief reply. Sun Siyuan got out first, hurried around to Lin Fang’s side, opened the door for her, and waited silently for her to step out.

The statement was baffling, but Sun Siyuan clearly had no intention of elaborating. Lin Fang didn’t press further—she could ask Lin Guicheng later. She headed upstairs first. Sun Siyuan motioned for Sister He to stay downstairs while he followed Lin Fang. At the door, he unlocked it for her but didn’t enter himself.

Inside, the living room was empty. Lin Fang called out, “Uncle Cheng, I’m here! You’re so cruel—only giving me half a bowl of porridge. After that bumpy ride, I’m starving. Do you have anything more substantial?”

“Sixth Sister!” Pi Xinhong darted out of the bedroom, grabbing Lin Fang’s arm and swinging it playfully. The weak Lin Fang grew dizzy from the motion; if Pi Xinhong hadn’t been taller and steadied her, she would have fallen.

“Yuan’er, help your sixth sister to the couch,” Lin Guicheng emerged from the bedroom, stopping his daughter’s childish antics.

Once seated and catching her breath, Lin Fang asked, “Uncle Cheng, what did you want to talk about? And why did Brother Sun say he’s leaving? Where’s he going?”

“We’ll discuss that later. After Sister He called to say you were awake, I prepared medicinal porridge. It’s ready now—eat first, then we’ll talk.”

Lin Guicheng went into the kitchen and soon returned with a clay pot. Pi Xinhong obediently fetched a bamboo mat from under the coffee table, and Lin Guicheng set the pot on it, praising her: “Yuan’er is so clever.”

Beaming at the compliment, Pi Xinhong cheerfully offered to fetch bowls and spoons from the kitchen. Lin Guicheng praised her again, his tone the same one he’d use to coax a little child.

Watching Pi Xinhong head to the kitchen, Lin Fang asked, “What happened to Seventh Sister? Why is she acting like a kid?”

Lin Guicheng smiled. “Don’t rush. After you eat, I’ll explain everything.”

Lin Fang was indeed ravenous. Once Pi Xinhong brought the utensils, Lin Guicheng ladled out the porridge. It was too hot to eat right away, so Lin Fang blew on it, focusing solely on filling her stomach.

After two small bowls, she broke into a sweat. Though not full, she didn’t dare eat more, worried her empty stomach couldn’t handle it.

Leaning back comfortably on the couch, Lin Fang asked, “Uncle Cheng, now will you tell me? Why is Seventh Sister like this, and why is Brother Sun leaving?”

“Yuan’er, didn’t you say you wanted to treat your sixth sister to candied hawthorns? Go find your brother to take you to buy some.”

Instead of answering, Lin Guicheng sent Pi Xinhong away—Sun Siyuan was downstairs.

“Uncle Cheng, what’s really going on?” Lin Fang pressed, puzzled by his secrecy after Pi Xinhong left.

Lin Guicheng sighed. “It’s not that Wood [Sun Siyuan] is leaving—it’s me and Yuan’er. We’re going somewhere no one knows us. Wood won’t leave my side.”

“Why are you leaving?” Lin Fang was surprised.

“With Yuan’er like this now, staying where people know Pi Xinhong would be harmful. I want a fresh start for her.” Lin Guicheng’s gaze lingered on the door, as if seeing his daughter there.

“But how did Yuan’er end up like this?” Lin Fang saw the logic but still wanted answers.

After a pause, Lin Guicheng shook his head. “You’ll learn why later. Fang’er, from now on, be more cautious. Don’t trust others easily—even those close to you.” He still didn’t mention Dong Panyu.

“Uncle Cheng, what’s with you today? You’re being cryptic.” Lin Fang sensed something off.

Lin Guicheng countered, “Do you know where Officer Qin went this morning?”

“How would I know police business?” Thinking of Qin Yi, Lin Fang couldn’t define her own feelings.

“He went to arrest Hongping,” Lin Guicheng said grimly.

“Arrest Hongping? What did she do?” This was the last thing Lin Fang expected.

“She’s the reason Fu Hongxia infiltrated the Lin Group so easily.” Lin Guicheng’s tone was heavy; he understood Guo Hongping’s motives.

“You mean Hongping was a spy? Why?” Lin Fang grasped the implication but couldn’t reconcile it with Guo Hongping’s usual meekness and lack of conflict with her.

“Only the interrogation will reveal that.” Lin Guicheng didn’t know either.

“Wait—how do you know so much about police work? It’s supposed to be confidential.” Lin Fang grew suspicious.

Lin Guicheng smiled bitterly. “In this world’s terms, Officer Qin and I are from the same hometown—the same world.”

“You mean you’ve recognized each other?” Lin Fang hadn’t expected it so soon.

“Yes. I used my real name, and though Yuan’er went by Pi Xinhong, her condition gave her away. General Qi is sharp—he suspected us immediately. The rest is self-explanatory. Before his mission today, he came here, told me to fetch you, and said to stay put until he returns. The area’s under surveillance by our people and plainclothes officers. The details about Hongping came from the head nurse.”

Lin Guicheng’s heart ached. He’d searched for Qi Biao for years, hoping he and Lin Fang could save his wife and daughter, yet Qi Biao only appeared after Dong Panyu’s death.

Worse, though Qi Biao lacked his otherworldly advantages here, his authority remained. When Lin Guicheng confessed the truth, the stern man coldly ordered him to stay away from Lin Fang after the case.

Well, leaving might be for the best. A fresh start would help Yuan’er adapt to this world’s rules. He could only hope to teach her enough to survive before his time ran out.

“Fang’er, be careful. Last night, Fu Hongxia’s men tried to kidnap Yuan’er near here. They clashed with police—two killed, one caught, two escaped. Fu Hongxia’s vanished. She’s in the shadows; you’re in the light.” Lin Guicheng warned.

“Were our people hurt?” Lin Fang asked.

The clash had been a setup, so their side must have been involved.

Lin Guicheng shook his head. “Only Wood and I were exposed. Our men assisted the police covertly—no casualties.”

Lin Fang suddenly realized, “Uncle Cheng, call home! Qin Yi’s sister Qin Ran is at our school. If Fu Hongxia had spies in the Lin Group, and now that she and Qin Yi are in open conflict, Qin Ran’s in danger.”

“What? Qin Ran is General Qi’s sister in this life? I’ll call now—have them bring her to my apartment. It’s secure.” Lin Guicheng immediately phoned his men.

Hanging up, his face darkened. Lin Fang’s expression mirrored his.