Chapter 76: Yu Huannian Disappears
At Jiang Li’s house, Jiang Li held Yu Shuzhen’s hand, fighting back tears. "Aunt Yu, I’ll miss you."
"Alright... hearing you say that is enough." Yu Shuzhen managed a weak smile, then looked at Yu Huannian beside her. His eyes were red-rimmed as he fought back tears.
"Xiao Nian, stay with your sister. If you find your birth parents..."
Yu Huannian gripped her hand, shaking his head with red-rimmed eyes. "Mom," he choked out, "you’re my mom. You’re the only mom I have."
’Ever since she found him and raised him, she’s been his mom in his heart. As for his birth parents, he couldn’t care less.’
A tear trickled from the corner of Yu Shuzhen’s wrinkled eye. She looked to her side at Miao Anji, who wore an equally sorrowful expression.
"Child... thank you, as well."
With that said, Yu Shuzhen smiled at Jiang Li and Yu Huannian, and then closed her eyes for the last time.
Jiang Li could no longer hold back her tears. "Aunt Yu!"
Yu Huannian buried his face, his body trembling as he let out choked sobs.
Miao Anji watched the scene unfold, his hands clenched into fists. ’Seeing Sister cry makes me so sad, too.’
With red-rimmed eyes, Miao Anji stepped outside to make a video call to his grandmother.
Miao Jiangling saw it was that rascal calling again and sighed in resignation, but answered anyway. When she saw Miao Anji’s red-rimmed eyes on the screen, she couldn’t help but ask with concern.
"Xiao Ji, what’s wrong?"
"Grandma, Sister’s aunt passed away." Miao Anji lowered his head, his eyes darting back and forth. ’Does everyone die? What if one day Grandma leaves me too...?’
"Silly child, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all a natural part of life. You’re not a little kid anymore, so don’t always act like one. People will take advantage of you out in the world if you do."
Miao Jiangling looked at Miao Anji, her heart aching. ’If there hadn’t been trouble back in the village, how could I have ever let him go?’
"Mm, Grandma, I know."
Miao Jiangling’s expression suddenly changed. "Xiao Ji, something’s come up here. I have to go."
Staring at the disconnected call, Miao Anji sat on a bench in a daze.
Jiang Li made arrangements with the funeral home, then went with them to the crematorium. In the end, she walked out carrying an urn.
Looking at the box in her arms, Jiang Li felt her eyes sting. ’Aunt Yu, may you be reborn into a good family in your next life. May you live in peace.’
The group walked back with heavy hearts when suddenly, chaos erupted ahead of them, filled with countless screams and blaring car horns.
"Murder! He’s killing people! Run!"
A crowd of people came running in their direction. Being tall, Yu Huannian got a clear view of the scene not far off. He immediately grabbed the other two. "Don’t go up there! There’s a killer!"
The area near the train station was packed with people pushing and shoving. Amid the chaos, someone fell, and a masked man raised a large machete and brought it down with a sickening SQUELCH.
Yu Huannian pulled the other two back protectively. Soon, local police officers arrived on the scene.
"Aah! Why? Why!"
The man swung the knife around wildly, his eyes bloodshot. He didn’t look sane.
The next second, a loud BANG echoed. The man was shot dead on the spot. Arriving paramedics transported the injured to the hospital while the cries of their families filled the air.
Watching the scene unfold, Jiang Li felt numb.
"Let’s head back."
She turned and led the others home. As they reached the entrance to her building, Jiang Li frowned, glancing back every few moments.
’Why do I feel like someone’s following me?’
"What’s wrong?" Yu Huannian glanced behind her, but saw nothing.
Jiang Li shook her head and continued upstairs. Once they were back, she placed Aunt Yu’s urn on the table, then lay down on the sofa, not wanting to say a word.
After resting for a bit, Yu Huannian grabbed his keys. "I’m going out to buy groceries." He took the trash with him on his way out.
The door clicked shut, and Jiang Li glanced over her shoulder.
Miao Anji sat in an armchair, watching her quietly. He knew she was in a bad mood, so he didn’t dare disturb her.
"Sister, if you’re sad, do you want Little Qing to keep you company?"
Miao Anji crouched by the sofa, holding a vibrant green snake in his pale hands.
Jiang Li opened her eyes, took one look, and turned away. "No."
Miao Anji sighed in resignation. He took out his various bottles and jars from his back basket, opened them, and began to feed their occupants.
Downstairs, Yu Huannian paused mid-motion as he was throwing away the trash. He glanced back over his shoulder, then headed toward the nearby supermarket.
The feeling of being followed was still there. He rounded a corner into an alley, and a sudden rush of air came from behind. He dodged sideways on instinct, then sent his attacker flying with a kick before lunging forward and seizing the man’s throat.
The man clawed at Yu Huannian’s hand in agony, digging bloody scratches into his skin, but the pressure on his throat didn’t lessen in the slightest.
Yu Huannian suddenly remembered something Jiang Li had said and was about to loosen his grip. In that brief moment of distraction, a sharp pain exploded at the back of his head.
He clutched the throbbing spot on his head and turned to face several new attackers. He was about to fight back when another blow from behind landed, and he blacked out completely.
Back at the apartment, Jiang Li sat up on the sofa. ’It’s only a ten-minute trip to the supermarket. Huan Nian always just buys pork belly, potatoes, and cabbage. He should be back in less than half an hour.’
But now, an hour had passed...
Jiang Li threw off the blanket and headed for the door.
"Sister, what’s wrong?"
"Xiao Nian isn’t back. I’m going to look for him."
"I’ll go with you." Miao Anji hurriedly slung his basket over his shoulder and followed Jiang Li out the door.
Once downstairs, Jiang Li asked the cashier at the supermarket.
"Hi, sorry to bother you. Did you see a tall young man come in to buy groceries?"
"I haven’t seen anyone like that, sorry."
Jiang Li led Miao Anji out of the store. ’This place is completely new to them; it’s impossible that he has any enemies here.’
Jiang Li decided to take Miao Anji to the police station. Along the way, she clearly heard someone following them.
Jiang Li deliberately slowed her pace, letting the person get closer. The next second, she executed a shoulder throw, slamming him hard onto the ground and pinning him down.
"Who sent you!"