Spoiled Sparrow

"Mr. He, the matter has been resolved, and it was handled very cleanly."

At the boundary between moonlight and shadow, He Xunnan faced the boundless black sea, raised his hand to pour a glass of strong liquor, and let it flow into the vast ocean.

"I understand. How are the other two doing?"

The man dressed in black knew who he was referring to and reported truthfully: "Your parents—the people over there are dealing with the bodies."

He Xunan turned around, his eyes, which were faintly visible in the light and shadow, made it impossible to see his expression, but his tone was extremely cold.

"Yes, it's clean."

Ruan Qing, who was hiding in the shadows, heard the conversation between the two and her legs went weak. She gripped the phone that was recording the conversation tightly, slid down against the hard object behind her, and immediately came to her senses.

The long-standing question in her mind was finally answered, and she couldn't believe it, but she had no choice but to accept it.

She gritted her teeth, huddled in a corner, and forced a handkerchief into her mouth to stifle the sobs that lingered in her throat.

It turns out that all of this was fake. Was He Xunnan's kindness towards her all an act?

The parents that person mentioned... disposed of the body...

Ruan Qing dared not think any further. She gritted her teeth to stop her tears and went to a crowded place as soon as the two left.

Inside the brightly lit ship, numerous voices mingled together. The boulder that had been weighing on her heart was finally removed, and an unprecedented pain enveloped her entire body.

I want to cry but can't.

After a long while, I felt a warm touch behind me.

The moment their skin touched, all the blood in their bodies seemed to freeze instantly.

She instinctively shivered and didn't even dare to turn around.

When a familiar voice sounded behind her, her pent-up emotions burst forth, and she turned around and bumped into the person's arms.

"A little fox?"

Ruan Qing hugged him, unable to utter a single word.

Fu Chen gently patted her back, and where she couldn't see, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

His voice was incredibly gentle, almost unlike his usual self.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Ruan Qing straightened up and released her grip: "Aren't you going to ask me why I'm crying?"

Fu Chen gently wiped away the tears on her face: "If you want to tell me, you will."

She noticed the fleeting, ambiguous look in his eyes and tentatively asked, "Did you already know about He Xunnan?"

Fu Chen tightened his grip on her arm slightly: "Mmm."

The conversation between those two just now was actually real...

She took out her phone and, with trembling hands, dialed the local emergency number.

Just as he was about to make the call, Fu Chen stopped him: "Don't alert them."

"But my parents are still in his hands, and—"

She stopped abruptly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Disposing of the bodies... they have...

Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Fu Chen pulled her tightly into his arms and whispered in her ear, "I'm here, they'll be fine. Don't cry, baby."

"But--"

Fu Chen raised his hand and sealed her lips with his: "Trust me."

Ruan Qing was stunned for a moment. Looking at Fu Chen's calm demeanor, she forcefully suppressed her emotions, which were on the verge of collapse.

She choked back tears, saying, "He killed someone... What should I do?"

Fu Chen brushed the hair that was sticking to her face behind her ear, and gently lifted her chin with his hot fingers: "Go to the private room with Chen Yan, get some rest, and don't think about anything."

Before leaving, Ruan Qing glanced at Fu Chen, who was sitting in a wheelchair, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.

She left with Chen Yan, followed by a group of bodyguards.

She stopped in her tracks. "Assistant Chen, where are you taking me?"

Chen Yan replied, "Miss Ruan, you'll see when you get there."

Ruan Qing and Chen Yan had known each other for almost five years, but walking down this deserted corridor, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

She stopped and looked at Chen Yan with distrust in her eyes: "I'm not leaving until you tell me."

Chen Yan couldn't do anything about her; President Fu had originally wanted to give her a surprise.

He bent down and got closer, but Ruan Qing took a half step back, realizing that he wanted to talk to her alone, so she stood back up.

Chen Yan said in a low voice, "..."

"Really?" Ruan Qing's eyes lit up instantly, and she raised her voice, "Take me there quickly."

......

After Ruan Qing left, Fu Chen sat alone in his wheelchair and went into a room.

The man in the room had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Fu Chen enter, he immediately stood up and said, "President Fu."

Fu Chen moved his finger, and the man immediately walked to the door. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he speak with peace of mind.

"Mr. Fu, what can I do for you?"

Fu Chen looked at his lowered head, his voice icy: "He's already made his move. You can push me out now."

"Mr. Fu, are you sure?"

Fu Chen looked up, his voice extremely low: "What? You don't want to?"

"No." Han Feng immediately denied it, bending down: "You saved my life, and even if you asked me to die now, I would be willing."

Han Feng lowered his head, the words He Xunnan had said to him when he was sober resurfaced in his mind.

If one day I am no longer myself, please kill me.

He closed his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and tried to suppress the image of He Xunnan that kept appearing in his mind.

Fu Chen saw Han Feng's resolute expression in the reflection of the wall. His tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, replaced by a look of utter bewilderment.

He Xunnan had already killed him once, yet he didn't hate him at all. Being too kind is just stupid.

"Let's go see your CEO, Mr. He."

*

Pushing open the door, Ruan Qing walked in cautiously, glancing at Chen Yan behind her every now and then.

The sound of hurried footsteps gradually approached from the bedroom. Ruan Qing peeked out with a mixture of anticipation and fear, and two familiar figures walked out of the room.

Ruan Qing rushed forward, grabbing one child in each arm, and sobbed, "Mommy... Daddy..."

She reached out and cupped Pei Yu's face in her hands: "Mom, are you alright..."

Pei Yu felt a pang of heartache seeing Ruan Qing's hands trembling with worry.

"It's okay, Mom, it's okay. Look, I'm right in front of you now."

As she spoke these words, recalling the robbery and murder she had experienced yesterday, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

He wanted to tell Ruan Qing the truth, but Fu Chen warned him that he couldn't tell her anything.

Pei Yu could only swallow his tears and comfort Ruan Qing, "Don't cry, it's bad for your health."

Ruan Qing held onto her hand tightly, just like when she leaned on her adoptive mother's shoulder as a child. She leaned against Pei Yu, saying nothing, craving her mother's warmth.

After a long while, Chen Yan stood aside, and Fu Chen called.

"They can come out now."