Seeing Crime Scenes in My Sleep

Just as they got off the plane and were leaving the terminal, they saw a crowd gathered nearby. Ji Qinghe was standing in the middle of it, on the phone.

Jiang Li’s eyes lit up. She walked over and asked, "Officer Ji, what are you doing here?"

Ji Qinghe, who was on the phone with the paramedics, glanced back at Jiang Li. She finished giving their location and then hung up.

"I was originally here to pick you up, but something seems to be wrong with this woman."

After speaking, Ji Qinghe stepped forward to check on the woman, whose face was white with pain.

"Ma’am, the ambulance will be here right away..."

Ji Qinghe hadn’t even finished her sentence when the woman suddenly shoved her aside as if she’d gone mad. Ji Qinghe nearly stumbled. By the time she looked up again, the woman was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Li rushed forward to steady Ji Qinghe. "Officer Ji, are you all right?"

"I’m fine." Ji Qinghe shook her head, then took out her phone to call the ambulance service again.

After the call, Ji Qinghe led Jiang Li and the others to her car.

"Oh, by the way, Jiang Li—after Kong Zhen’s parents found out, they had a huge fight with He Zhong’s family. Kong Zhen divorced He Ming, and He Zhong, his wife, and Qin Hao were all arrested."

"How is Kong Zhen’s health, then?" Jiang Li asked, looking at Ji Qinghe driving in the front seat.

"She’s okay. There might be some minor lingering health issues, but being alive is what’s most important."

Hearing this, Jiang Li understood. Kong Zhen’s health had never been good to begin with; it was a miracle she had managed to survive this ordeal.

Back at the police station, Jiang Li casually found a seat. Seeing how reserved Hu Ping’an had been the entire trip, she found some crackers and a small yogurt drink for him.

Ji Qinghe looked at Hu Ping’an. She had a general idea of what Jiang Li and the others had been through.

"Does the boy need any help?"

Ji Qinghe watched Hu Ping’an. He was only four years old, so thin and small. He hadn’t made a single peep the entire time, quiet as a ghost. It was heartbreaking to see.

"Hmm, I had Wu Ming make a post online. We’ll see what happens. There’s no rush."

Jiang Li watched Hu Ping’an. His head was bowed, and his eyes darted around nervously.

"All right." Ji Qinghe stood up to get back to work.

After sitting for a while, Jiang Li took Hu Ping’an home.

"This is your room," Jiang Li said. "If you’re scared of being alone, you can sleep with Brother Yu."

Jiang Li showed Hu Ping’an the room. It had a bed and a cabinet, and the lighting was good. They could add more things for him gradually.

"Thank you, Aunt Jiang." Hu Ping’an bowed to Jiang Li. ’He hadn’t expected her house to be so big.’

"Of course. If you need anything, just let me know. Don’t be shy."

Jiang Li handed him the Stitch doll she was holding. "Here, this is a welcome gift for you."

As she spoke, Jiang Li glanced at a happy Little Li nearby.

"Thank you, Aunt Jiang." Hu Ping’an took the doll. It was plush and soft, very comfortable to hug.

"You’re welcome. Go on, get settled in."

After saying this, Jiang Li turned and left. A little while later, she had Yu Huannian come in to help the boy with a bath. She also ordered some clothes and had them delivered by a courier.

Jiang Li sat on the sofa, scrolling through messages on her phone. Her thoughts drifted to Huang Nianci. The Huang Family sponsored many orphanages, but she wasn’t sure about the specifics.

’It wasn’t safe for Hu Ping’an to be with her. Xiao Nian and the others could protect themselves, but if the boy got dragged into her troubles...’

Jiang Li sighed.

DING DONG, DING DONG...

The doorbell rang. Wu Ming, a snack hanging from his mouth, ran to get it, thinking their food delivery had arrived. He opened the door and froze.

In the doorway stood Huang Nianci, dressed in a yellow cheongsam with a white shawl draped over her shoulders. A jade hairpin held her black hair in place. Behind her stood Huang Zhongyu.

"Hello, I’m looking for Miss Jiang," Huang Nianci said with a graceful smile.

Wu Ming was struck speechless by her beauty. He quickly recovered and said, "Please, come in, come in."

Jiang Li was jotting down the locations of the orphanages, planning to visit them, when she heard Wu Ming’s voice. She looked up and saw Huang Nianci.

She quickly stood up. "Miss Huang, what brings you here?"

Huang Nianci sat down next to her and smiled. "I feel a sense of fate with that child. I would like to adopt him."

Jiang Li’s mouth fell open in surprise. ’Huang Nianci is around thirty and rumored to be unmarried. If later on...’

Sensing her hesitation, Huang Nianci smiled and said, "Don’t worry. We cannot marry or have children. The Huang Family’s time is almost up, and I happen to need an heir.

"He... will do nicely."

"I have no objection, Miss Huang, but I’ll have to ask Ping’an. It’s ultimately his decision."

Huang Nianci nodded. Jiang Li stood up to check on Hu Ping’an and his bath.

Jiang Li pushed open the door. Hu Ping’an, wrapped in a blanket, sat on the bed and looked at her with wide, moist eyes. From the attached bathroom, she could hear the sound of Yu Huannian squeegeeing the floor.

"Ping’an, Aunt Jiang has a friend who likes you very much. She wants to take you in."

"I just want you to meet her. The choice is mutual. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to force yourself, all right?"

Hu Ping’an listened to Jiang Li, his little face dazed and confused. He nodded obediently. "Okay."

Hu Ping’an got dressed by himself and followed Jiang Li out of the room.

Huang Nianci looked their way. Seeing Hu Ping’an, she beckoned to him. "Child, come here."

Hu Ping’an walked over and stood politely in front of Huang Nianci. "Hello, Auntie."

Huang Nianci smiled and nodded. "Are you willing to come with me?"

Hu Ping’an glanced back at Jiang Li, then turned to Huang Nianci. "Does that mean you’ll be my new mom?"

Huang Nianci paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. "You can just call me Aunt Huang, if you’d like. I will see that you are raised properly and given the best educational resources. Of course, there is one condition."

Huang Nianci removed a decorative pendant from her cheongsam. "I only need you to place a single drop of blood on this, and to promise that you and all your descendants will perform good deeds and accumulate virtue in the name of my Huang Family, never committing any wicked acts."

Jiang Li blinked. ’Sounds like it’s all upsides and no downsides.’

Hu Ping’an looked at Huang Nianci and listened to her last words. ’This auntie is saying the same thing my dad used to say.’

’That means she’s a good person.’

Hu Ping’an nodded. "Okay, I’ll go with you. But... will I still be able to see Aunt Jiang in the future?"

Huang Nianci smiled. "Anytime you want."

Jiang Li scratched her head as she watched Hu Ping’an being led away.

"Oh my god, the entire Huang family fortune... and that kid just fell into it? What incredible luck!" Wu Ming exclaimed, his eyes wide as he watched the luxury car drive away from the curb.

Fate truly moves in mysterious ways.

After Hu Ping’an left, Jiang Li sent a message to Luo Binglin. He called her back almost immediately.

"Miss Jiang, did I hear that right? The Huang Family? As in, the philanthropists?"

Luo Binglin hadn’t expected things to be resolved so quickly, let alone that the boy would be adopted by the Huang Family. With them, he had absolutely no worries.

"Yes, that’s right."

"Whew, that’s great. He suffered for a few years, but to get a lifetime of security in return... that’s a good trade."

Now, Luo Binglin could finally be at ease.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Li stayed in the living room for a little while before going back to her room to rest.

Just as she drifted off to sleep, a sharp pain flared in her abdomen.

Jiang Li’s eyes flew open, the breath catching in her throat. She looked down and saw it—a knife in her own hand, which she had used to slice open her stomach...