CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194 MISS XIAO’S EVERYTHING IS GONE

Su Junhui was shocked beyond measure.

"Atone? Atone for sins?"

Su Jiang nodded, his expression tense. "This secret, even your elder brother doesn’t know. Many years ago, the Su Family owed the Qin Family a great debt of gratitude. When the Qin Family came to us asking for a marriage alliance to save their faltering family, the Su Family refused, nearly severing the last bloodline of the Qin Family."

"This is also why there has always been underlying hostility between the Su and Qin families."

Su Jiang’s gaze passed through the shade of the trees in the courtyard as he looked into the distance. "I once thought that in our generation we could repay this debt, and afterwards, we and the Qin Family would go our separate ways, with no more entanglements."

"Who knew, your sister just had to go missing."

"If we don’t use the method of a marriage alliance, given the Qin Family’s unorthodox ways, if they were to seek retribution by exploiting their favor, our Su Family would be dragged down with them. I will never allow this to happen."

A rare trace of fierceness appeared on Su Jiang’s usually refined face.

But Su Junhui felt a deep sense of unease.

He muttered, "So my sister’s future was sealed from the moment she was born."

All five of them could freely choose their own paths for the future.

But their youngest sister had no choice from the moment she was born.

He suddenly felt his scalp tingle.

He couldn’t bear that his comfort and composure were built on the small body and tender shoulders of a child.

Su Junhui cut to the chase, "Are you so determined to find her because you want your daughter back, or do you want to find her to repay the Su Family’s debt?"

The once pampered Su Kexin had frequently been pushed by the family to choose between Qin Jinmo and Qin Jinhai.

Su Kexin’s mission was clear back then: to marry into the Qin Family.

With Su Kexin gone, someone had to repay that debt.

Only the true daughter of the Su Family held the value to repay it.

Su Jiang did not immediately answer.

Su Junhui had already understood his unspoken words.

Su Junhui said, "Since we’ve owed it for so many years, let’s continue owing. In the future, the Su and Qin families can form a marriage alliance with the Qin Family at an appropriate time."

"Our sister hasn’t received the slightest favor from the Su Family, yet just because of that thin blood connection, she’s to be used as a pawn. It’s too cruel."

Su Jiang’s shrewd eyes swept toward Su Junhui. "Your heart has softened."

"When dealing with my clients, I can still prioritize their interests and maintain sufficient calm and professionalism. You are my father, and we are talking about a sister who has been missing for many years. There’s no need for my heart to be hard."

Su Junhui quickly replayed the earlier conversation in his mind and asked, "Do you think my sister’s disappearance has something to do with the Qin Family?"

"Without the Qin Family’s involvement, it couldn’t have been done so cleanly," Su Jiang asserted.

That was exactly why he hadn’t made a big fuss about looking for her.

"Give me a photo of my sister. I’ll find a professional to create an age-progressed image of her."

"Are you sure you can find her this way?"

"This technology is already very mature. With a photo, we can narrow the search range. Your current search method is like looking for a needle in a haystack; the scope is too broad. It would be better to have a professional artist sketch what she might look like as an adult. Even if it isn’t a 100% match, it would still help filter out a large number of people."

"Let me think about it," Su Jiang hesitated.

Su Junhui didn’t spend much time with his father.

His personality was the type to get straight to the point, without beating around the bush.

"Or have you already had someone make a sketch?"

Su Jiang didn’t answer.

Su Jiang’s attitude made Su Junhui even more certain of his speculation.

"Show me the sketch."

"I have another meeting. Let’s talk about this later."

After speaking, Su Jiang quickly walked out.

Su Junhui followed him. "This doesn’t conflict with your meeting, unless you’re avoiding it."

Su Junxian just happened to come in from outside, catching a snippet of the conversation. He asked in confusion, "Avoiding what?"

Su Junhui wisely shut his mouth. "Nothing. Big Brother, why are you back at this time? Not working during prime hours? Don’t you think you should reflect on that?"

"Seeing you lazing around at home made me envious," Su Junxian laughed as he quickly went upstairs to get a document.

When Su Junxian came downstairs, he noticed that his dad’s car was still in the yard.

Su Jiang said, "Let’s go together."

Patting Su Junhui on the head, Su Junxian said, "It’s rare for you to come back to Jiangcheng. Don’t just hole up at home. You could also hang out with your third brother."

"Isn’t he filming in Jiangnan? Where could he possibly go?"

"You could go to Jiangnan to check up on him. You might even help him solve quite a few disputes."

"Then I should take Mom with me too, cultivate some mother-son bonding during the trip."

Su Jiang gave him a look. "Your mom’s health isn’t good, and it’s cold. She can’t be out in the wind."

"Alright, you guys go. I’ll just slum it at home for a while," Su Junhui responded.

Once Su Jiang and Su Junxian had left, Su Junhui immediately sneaked off to Han Liying’s yard.

Han Liying and Mei Xue were leaning by the window, enjoying the scenery.

Su Junhui complained, "And here you are, thoroughly enjoying such a meager view."

"Seems like someone’s bored at home and finds everything displeasing," Han Liying chuckled, patting the spot next to her. "Come sit by me."

Su Junhui asked, "Mom, do you have any photos of my sister?"

Han Liying turned to Mei Xue. "Do we have any?"

"The Master was afraid seeing them would stir up painful memories, so he had me put away all of the Little Miss’s photos. I’ll have to search carefully for them," Mei Xue replied.

Mei Xue then went off to the storeroom.

The Little Miss had been just over two years old when she went missing, still a chubby toddler who was unsteady on her feet.

The Su family dared not dwell on what might have befallen such a delicate young girl after her sudden disappearance—what horrors she might encounter. They feared that if she cried, there would be no one to comfort her; instead, she might face slaps and brutal beatings.

It was precisely because they were afraid to contemplate it that all belongings of the Little Miss were locked away in the storeroom.

Over the years, the storeroom was managed by her and the Old Mistress of the Su family.

Mei Xue looked very carefully in the storeroom.

She checked every nook and cranny and found that not only were the Little Miss’s photos missing, but the neatly stored little clothes, little shoes, and little toys were gone too.

After several thorough searches, Mei Xue found nothing.

She was sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.

Mei Xue came back with a grim expression and whispered a few words in Han Liying’s ear.

Han Liying’s expression changed too.

Su Junhui already had a premonition.

"So, nothing of my sister’s was found?"

Han Liying, sensing something was off, asked sharply, "Why did you suddenly bring her up?"

"I was just discussing with Dad about getting my sister’s photo. I suggested having a professional portrait artist create an age-progressed image of her to narrow down the search and find her faster, but Dad was clearly reluctant."

"Why wouldn’t he want that?"

"That’s what puzzles me."

Seeing their troubled expressions, Mei Xue said, "This is related to Su Kexin."

Han Liying and Su Junhui both looked at her simultaneously.

"What does this have to do with Su Kexin?"

"There was something strange about the Master’s adoption of Su Kexin years ago. He suddenly decided to visit an orphanage, and then claimed that Su Kexin’s horoscope was an exact match with the Little Miss’s, so he proceeded with the adoption."

The memory of that time still left Mei Xue feeling there were many unanswered questions.

"Back then, the Mistress had just fallen ill, and I hadn’t yet found my footing in the Su family, so I couldn’t be involved in many things. The Old Mistress would know more about this than I do."