The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

Tang Qu's scheme was undeniably ruthless.

Unfortunately, Qi Weiwei was prepared.

She pulled Wang Dong a few steps further away, making sure no one could hear, before lowering her voice to say:

"Company Commander Wang, the guarantee I gave you was a copy."

Wang Dong was stunned, his eyes widening: "Huh? Why?"

"I expected that they might want the guarantee just to destroy it." Qi Weiwei's voice was soft but clear. "So I was careful and hid the original. What I gave you was a copy."

Wang Dong's expression changed, his expression complex: "Then... why didn't you tell me?"

"I can't be sure," Qi Weiwei shook her head. "I only have a suspicion. But now, I can tell you for sure—the 'loss' of this guarantee was probably the result of Tang Qu putting pressure on the troops. He wanted to protect Tang Aijun."

Wang Dong fell silent.

He stared at Qi Weiwei for a few seconds, his eyes filled with shock, admiration, and a hint of indescribable bitterness.

This 26-year-old woman was smarter, more ruthless, and...resilient than he had imagined.

"If that's the case..." Wang Dong took a deep breath, his voice even lower, "I think I know what they're up to!"

He stomped his foot hard, as if to expel all the anger in his heart.

"Comrade Qi, you don't know yet, do you? Tang Tiantian has been released on medical parole!"

Qi Weiwei's pupils contracted.

Medical parole?

Tang Tiantian was sentenced to eleven years, and only a few days later she was released on medical parole?

"When did this happen?" she asked.

"Yesterday," Wang Dong gritted his teeth, "they said the prison hospital diagnosed her with a serious heart condition, making her unsuitable for prison service, and approved her for medical parole. She's already been released!"

Qi Weiwei's mind raced.

Severe heart disease?

Tang Tiantian is only twenty-four years old, and I had never heard of her having any heart disease before.

This is clearly Tang Qu's doing again.

They used money to pull strings, got a fake diagnosis, and got Tang Tiantian released.

Why?

Sacrificing his niece to protect his son is in line with Tang Qu's character.

But now that Tang Tiantian has taken all the blame and Tang Aijun has been released, why would Tang Qu go to such great lengths to get Tang Tiantian out?

unless……

Qi Weiwei felt a chill in her heart.

Unless Tang Tiantian has some leverage over Tang Qu.

Or, Tang Qu might need Tang Tiantian to do something else.

"Where is she now?" Qi Weiwei asked.

"I don't know." Wang Dong shook his head. "I went to look for them as soon as I heard about it, but they were already gone. The prison said they were picked up by family members, but they wouldn't say who it was."

Family members?

Zhou Lingbin is in prison, and Su Cuilan has also been arrested. Who else can she have as a family member?

It can only be Tangqu.

Qi Weiwei clenched her fist.

Her fingernails dug into her palm, causing a stinging pain that kept her awake.

It seems this battle is not over yet.

"Company Commander Wang," Qi Weiwei looked at Wang Dong, "thank you for telling me all this. I will keep the original of that guarantee safe. If... the appropriate time comes in the future, I will take it out."

Wang Dong nodded: "Okay. Comrade Qi, be careful. The Tang family... won't let this go."

"I know." Qi Weiwei forced a smile, but it was devoid of warmth. "They won't give up, and neither will I."

Wang Dong glanced at Liang Bing and the others in the distance, then lowered his voice: "Political Commissar Liang knows about this, he'll help. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."

"Thanks."

Wang Dong didn't say anything more, turned around and left in a hurry.

Qi Weiwei stood there, watching his figure disappear at the end of the park path.

The sunshine was still so warm, the lake water was still so still, and the children's laughter still lingered in my ears.

But her heart sank little by little.

Ling Heping walked over and stood beside her. He didn't say anything, but simply patted her shoulder gently.

Qi Weiwei turned to look at him.

Ling Heping's eyes showed worry, but even more so, determination.

"It's alright." Qi Weiwei took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Let's go back and spend time with the children. Today, we need to make sure they have a good time."

She turned and walked toward the picnic area.

His steps were very steady.

It was as if nothing had happened.

She basked in the winter afternoon sun as she rebraided Dandan's hair.

Perhaps Tang Tiantian didn't have any leverage over Tang Qu, or perhaps she was overthinking it.

Tang Qu only wanted Tang Tiantian and Tang Aijun to be completely unharmed.

Having experienced the cutthroat world of business in her past life, she knew all too well what it meant to be granted medical parole—it could mean staying in the hospital for years as a patient, or even more likely…

Her heart skipped a beat.

Dandan felt her mother's hand stop and gently shook her: "Mom, what's wrong?"

I was daydreaming.

Qi Weiwei smiled gently, chasing away her chaotic thoughts, and focused on braiding the two still somewhat withered and yellowed braids.

On the lake not far away, several wild ducks flew back, creating long ripples on the water.

Qi Yang told a joke that made Qianqian giggle.

When will she finally be able to truly relax and enjoy the sunshine, the lake, and the laughter with her family?

.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, there was a knock on the door of Liang Bing's courtyard.

The knocking was urgent, three loud knocks that were especially clear in the quiet morning.

Chen Hongli put on her cotton-padded coat and went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Ling Heping, covered in dust, with bloodshot eyes, stubble on his chin, and a lingering smell of alcohol and cold.

"Xiao Ling?" Chen Hongli was taken aback. "What's this...?"

"Sister-in-law, I'm sorry to bother you so early." Ling Heping's voice was hoarse, but his eyes were clear. "Is the political commissar awake?"

"You're awake, come in quickly." Chen Hongli stepped aside.

Ling Heping entered the courtyard and closed the door behind him.

His steps were a little unsteady, but he walked quickly, heading straight for the main room.

Liang Bing had already gotten up and was sitting at the octagonal table, drinking tea and reading the newspaper.

Seeing Ling Heping enter, he put down his newspaper and frowned:

"Did you see that old bastard Zhang Qingshan?"

Ling Heping sat down opposite him, nodded, and said wearily, "He dragged me drinking all night, I don't even know when I fell asleep! These guys can drink even more than back in the army!"

As he spoke, he rubbed his temples, which were throbbing with pain.

On the way home last night, Ling Heping had already briefly mentioned Zhang Qingshan to Qi Weiwei.

Zhang Qingshan was a former comrade-in-arms of Liang Bing and Ling Heping. After leaving the military, he joined the public security system and is now a mid-to-high-level figure in the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

This person had a grudge against Liang Bing, but he didn't say what the grudge was. Anyway, the two of them basically didn't speak to each other when they met.

Strangely enough, both of them had a very good relationship with Ling Heping.

Therefore, Ling Heping was the most suitable person to ask Zhang Qingshan for information.