I am a dragon

That night I called my second aunt and told her about Lin Fang's disappearance. I had already been very tactful, but my second aunt was still extremely panicked and came here by train today.

To be honest, I didn't want them to come. If they did, Jiang Ruxue's situation would probably be in trouble.

11:00 AM.

The train station square was crowded with people, and the temperature was very high. I stood alone at the exit waiting for my second aunt.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, I saw my second aunt and uncle in the crowd.

"Second Aunt, Second Uncle, over here!"

I waved to them, and my second aunt came up to me, anxiously asking, "Xiaofeng, what happened to your brother? Why is he missing?"

"It's a long story, let's go back first."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Auntie looked around and said with dissatisfaction, "Where's Jiang Ruxue? Why isn't she here?"

I explained, "My sister-in-law has class today, so she can't come to pick you up."

My aunt got even angrier when she heard that: "They can't even find a man, and they still have the mind to go to class? I didn't approve of their marriage from the start. What's the use of being good-looking? They're jinxes!"

My second aunt harbored deep resentment towards Jiang Ruxue, which gave me an even bigger headache...

On the way, my aunt held my hand, and before she could say a word, tears started streaming down her face.

"Xiaofeng, your cousin is your best friend, what happened to him? You can't lie to me."

Seeing my aunt's tearful face, I felt terrible and said, "Aunt, I've already called the police. I believe they'll be able to find out soon."

My aunt was still very emotional, tears streaming down her face. My uncle tried to comfort her, but was met with her accusations.

"I told him from the beginning that we should let our son stay in the county town. What's wrong with the county town? It just means the wages are lower. But you insisted on supporting him to start a company in Miancheng. Now look what happened, he's gone."

I've known since I was little that my second aunt was quite domineering and kept my uncle completely under her thumb, and she became even more so as she got older.

Sure enough, her second aunt's husband nodded and agreed with her, comforting her.

But my second aunt didn't appreciate it and kept complaining about her husband.

Given my aunt's personality, I really don't know how my uncle managed to put up with it.

I originally planned to let them go back and rest first, but my second aunt insisted on going to the police station first.

I couldn't persuade them otherwise, so I went to the police station. There was no new progress at the police station. Officer Meng offered a few words of reassurance, and the rest of us had no choice but to go back.

Just as he was about to leave the police station, Jiang Ruxue rushed over.

"Mom, Dad."

After calling out twice, Auntie stood up and yelled at Jiang Ruxue with a displeased expression, "How did you take care of my son? You lost him! You...you have to compensate me for my son!"

I explained on Jiang Ruxue's behalf, "Second Aunt, that's not how it is..."

"Why are you speaking up for her? What kind of spell has this woman cast on you?"

As my aunt's words became increasingly absurd, I quickly said, "Lin Fang is my cousin, of course I hope he gets better. Aunt, this is the police station, let's talk about it when we get back."

My aunt wiped away her tears and shut up angrily.

Jiang Ruxue felt wronged, but she couldn't show it, so she silently followed us back to the neighborhood.

Ning Meng wasn't home in the rented apartment; only Tao Xiaotao was sitting on the sofa trimming her toenails.

I breathed a sigh of relief. If Ning Meng were here, I wouldn't know how to introduce her.

Tao Xiaotao stood up when she saw us come in.

Tao Xiaotao was wearing a baseball cap; she looked both pretty and quirky. My second aunt's husband asked me, "And who is this?"

"She is the landlady."

"Where is my son's room?" My second aunt looked at me, but her eyes were fixed on Jiang Ruxue out of the corner of her eye.

Jiang Ruxue swallowed her anger and said, "The house has been seized by the court, and the car is gone too. Xiaofeng is still renting this house now."

Upon hearing this, Auntie's lips immediately fell, and she spoke bluntly: "Your husband lost his house, and you're making your cousin pay for your rent. I don't know how you manage to be so extravagant."

My aunt's husband nudged her from behind, implying that it was enough.

My second aunt shoved her husband away and said irritably, "My son is lost, can't I even say a few words?"

Knowing my second aunt's temper, I could only comfort Jiang Ruxue with my eyes.

Tao Xiaotao looked at me questioningly, and I whispered to her, "Excuse me, these two are my cousin's parents. They just arrived in Miancheng. I'll go find a hotel for them later."

I'm short on money, and I would never go to a hotel if I had somewhere else to sleep.

"Don't worry about how people will stay in a hotel, I'll find you a place to stay."

I was about to say that we didn't have money for a hotel, but Tao Xiaotao seemed to read my mind and added, "You don't need to pay."

I felt bad: "Isn't this inappropriate?"

Tao Xiaotao winked at me: "Now you know who's good to you, right?"

I didn't respond, and quickly turned to my second aunt and said, "Second aunt, why didn't you give us a heads-up beforehand?"

My second aunt said curtly, "What, are you afraid I'll come?"

When I heard that she was blaming me too, I said with a frustrated look, "No, it's just that the time was too short and many things were not prepared."

It was already lunchtime, and Jiang Ruxue said, "Mom and Dad, please sit down for a while. I'll go cook."

Her second aunt turned her head away and didn't look at her.

I wanted to say a few good words for Jiang Ruxue, but I swallowed the words back.

After lunch, Tao Xiaotao took my second aunt and me to a hotel. Jiang Ruxue secretly slipped me a few thousand yuan, but I knew she didn't have much money and refused.

Jiang Ruxue whispered, "This money was withdrawn earlier. You can take it first. My in-laws have some issues with me, so you can keep them company for now. I'll come find you after I get off work."

That's the only way.

Tao Xiaotao took us to a nearby five-star hotel, where I estimated that one night would drain my entire bank account.

"Should we try another one?" I asked, looking troubled.

Tao Xiaotao rolled her eyes at me and told me to wait for him in the lobby.

My aunt watched Tao Xiaotao's retreating figure and asked me, "Xiaofeng, what's your relationship with this landlady?"

"friend."

"She doesn't look like it. Could she be your girlfriend?"

"No, Auntie, don't make wild guesses."

I was terrified that my aunt would tell my mom when she got home, and my mom would definitely call me three times a day to ask.

As we were talking, Tao Xiaotao came back and handed me a room key: "The room number is on it, so you can stay as long as you like without any problem."

My second aunt knew that Tao Xiaotao did all this because of me, and she held Tao Xiaotao's hand and said, "We are relieved that Xiaofeng has a friend like you."

Tao Xiaotao glanced at me: "Some people just don't understand, they're so dense."

I pretended not to hear it.

Tao Xiaotao arranged a suite for me, and when I learned the price, my eyelids twitched.

"My aunt won't be staying for more than a few days, this... isn't it too luxurious?"

"It's not like you have to pay anything, why are you worrying about it?" Tao Xiaotao rolled her eyes.

I owe her another favor.

Tao Xiaotao and her second aunt had nothing to talk about and were bored, so she made an excuse to leave.

As soon as she left, her second aunt started nagging Jiang Ruxue.

"I really don't know how she can be a woman. She can't even keep her own husband. I had her fortune told. She has a tough fate and is a jinx to her husbands. I should never have let my son marry her."

My aunt kept nagging and repeating the same few sentences over and over, which annoyed me. Just then, I received a text message from Tao Xiaotao.

"A discovery has been made."