CHAPTER 169: 163 CASE DISCLOSED (3092 CHARACTERS)

As September approached, the liveliness of the Xu Family was gradually coming to an end. Xu Yiyuan and Yao Fangfang were packing up to return to the city, leaving only Shui Lian and Xu’s mother as close company in the town.

Little Xu Xixi was very unhappy, dragging her head listlessly and sulking all day, unwilling to move a muscle.

"Qianqian." At noon, after finishing the records in the study, Xu Yiyuan saw Xu Xixi sitting in the room, picked up the little girl in his arms and asked, "What’s wrong, Qianqian? Is there something upsetting you? Tell Daddy about it."

"Daddy..." Xu Xixi pouted her rosy lips and asked, "Will I never see Auntie Sangsang again? Are she and Yanyan leaving?"

"They’re going to live in the city. If Qianqian wants to go, you can come to school with Daddy in the city too." Xu Yiyuan thought of Tian Sangsang today. She was so thin, painfully thin — it made his heart ache just to see her. Why had she suddenly lost so much weight? He knew that Sangsang falling into the water was not her fault. But he could no longer tolerate even the slightest accident.

Xu Xixi shook her head and blinked her almond-shaped eyes. "Is it because of me that Auntie Sangsang and Yanyan have to leave?"

"Qianqian is a considerate child," Xu Yiyuan said. "It’s not because of you."

Xu Xixi’s eyes suddenly turned red, glistening with tears. "I’m sorry, Daddy." She could feel her father’s unhappiness these past days.

Xu Yiyuan wasn’t facing such a scene for the first time. His daughter cried so miserably that he was at a loss, clumsily wiping her tears while asking, "Why do you feel sorry for Daddy?"

"I’m not a considerate child. I lied," Xu Xixi’s tears streamed down like a rainstorm. "I didn’t tell the truth. Will wolves come and eat me?"

"No, they won’t."

Xu Xixi lifted her chubby hand to wipe her tears and sobbed, "It was Auntie Shui who pushed me into the river. Auntie Shui said if I jumped into the river, Auntie Sangsang wouldn’t become my stepmom. I didn’t want to jump, but Auntie Shui pushed me. But now I want to play with Auntie Sangsang. It must be because I lied that Auntie Sangsang wants to leave. I’m sorry, Daddy... I’m so sorry."

The little girl cried uncontrollably, burying her face in Xu Yiyuan’s arms, sobbing and trembling. Children can’t hide things, especially matters as big as this. Summoning the courage to spill out her days-long fears and terror, Xu Xixi could only cry, and then cry again.

Xu Yiyuan was suddenly stunned, his face frozen. "Qianqian, who did you say pushed you into the river?"

"Auntie Shui."

The sound of shattering glass came abruptly from the doorway, and Xu’s mother and Yao Fangfang stood there, staring blankly inside.

"Qianqian, what did you say? Did you say your Auntie Shui pushed you into the river? Speak the truth to Grandma!" Xu’s mother’s face turned slightly hysterical. At the time, they had all assumed that Tian Sangsang hadn’t watched over the child properly, which resulted in Xixi falling into the river. To avoid another accident, they’d forbidden Xu Xixi from interacting with Tian Sangsang. Xu’s mother had disliked Tian Sangsang anyway, using this as an excuse to force her son away from her. Who would’ve thought—turns out it was Shui Lian all along? How ironic! Such a kind, gentle girl... Xu’s mother recalled these past few years when Xu Yiyuan was often away, and Shui Lian had been there to keep her and Xixi company.

"How could this be? Little Lian is so wonderful! She clearly likes my cousin and treats Xixi well too." Yao Fangfang shook her head in disbelief, staring blankly as she asked, "Qianqian, did someone make you say this? Tian Sangsang?"

"No," Xu Xixi said, her eyes filled with fear. "It was Auntie Shui."

"Fangfang, what nonsense are you saying? Qianqian is only a child; would she lie to us?" Xu’s mother let out a deep sigh and took Xixi from Xu Yiyuan’s arms, gently comforting her. "Grandma’s Xixi, there’s nothing to be afraid of anymore. In the future, if anything happens, tell Grandma about it right away. Don’t keep it bottled up."

It was a relief she finally spoke up; they had uncovered such a harmful presence in their midst. If she hadn’t said, their fear would’ve festered, more terrifying than Tian Sangsang ever was.

Yao Fangfang reconsidered; indeed, Qianqian had been raised before her eyes all this time — she couldn’t possibly lie. But... Shui Lian couldn’t have either...

She dashed out of the house, heading straight for Shui Lian’s home.

"Little Lian!" Her mind now a murky mess.

Shui Lian stepped out of her house, still speaking calmly and sweetly. "Fangfang, what’s the hurry? Come sit..."

"No sitting. Just tell me straight—is it true you pushed Xixi into the river? You said you pulled her out of it!" Yao Fangfang demanded in an almost hysterical breakdown. All she wanted now was clarity. This was her best friend. At this moment, as long as Shui Lian said "no," she wouldn’t believe Xixi’s claim.

But Shui Lian merely furrowed her brows faintly. "Who told you that?"

"Xixi."

Shui Lian’s perfectly composed expression cracked slightly. "Fangfang, you have to believe me... I treat Xixi like my own child; how could I push her into the river..."

"Then why did Qianqian say so? Explain it clearly!" Yao Fangfang glared at her.

"Fangfang." Shui Lian lowered her head and thought for a moment, then tenderly grasped her hand and said, "Now that it’s come to this, I won’t hide it from you anymore. Yes, I was in the wrong, but isn’t Xixi fine now? You know me well—I love Yiyuan. I did it for his sake; it was a moment of foolishness... I won’t do it again, truly."

Yao Fangfang looked at her in utter shock. How could she say such a thing? Xixi was just five — to push her into the river, how cruel was that? How could someone like her be a stepmother to Xixi? She felt Shui Lian was suddenly so foreign. She was still flawless, but her perfection was now like a veiled curtain, impenetrable.

"Fangfang, you understand me, don’t you? Last time, didn’t you try to drive out Tian Tian with the same intentions?" Shui Lian gazed into her eyes.

"But..." That was indeed her own petty thought. Yao Fangfang hesitated. Accusing Shui Lian while knowing she herself had tried plotting harm.

"No more arguing." Xu Yiyuan entered from the door, glanced at Yao Fangfang indifferently. "You go first; I’ll handle this."

Yao Fangfang opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing, silently retreating outside the door.

"I wasn’t expecting you to be this vile," Xu Yiyuan said as he looked at her.

Shui Lian hadn’t anticipated his appearance at the door. Her face turned as white as a sheet, as if life had drained from her body. Nothing was scarier than having your worst deeds exposed to someone you loved.

"No, I-I wasn’t, Yiyuan..."

"Leave," Xu Yiyuan said coldly. "Even if you don’t leave, I have ways to make you. From now on, I don’t want to see you or Xixi in the same town." Though he spoke calmly, the dark pain in his eyes, capable of destroying everything, said exactly how he felt. His daughter was his Achilles’ heel; he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.

"I wasn’t wrong!" Shui Lian suddenly yelled at his retreating back. She wasn’t wrong—the child was fine, wasn’t she? She only did it for him.

Xu Yiyuan paused for a moment but kept walking. To him, Shui Lian was no longer the kind-hearted girl of the past.

It was over—everything was over. The Xu Family would expel her, leaving her no chance. She had no place left in this town. Shui Lian sat breathlessly on the sofa, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, her eyes landed on a note by the table.

Perhaps she wasn’t entirely cornered after all. Maybe she wasn’t completely without options. Joining the military wasn’t just a path—it was the best path.

The cool morning light bathed the small town.

Tian Sangsang locked her door, taking Meng Shuyan’s hand as they left.

There weren’t many buses from the town to the city, and they ran early—she had to hurry to catch one. She had already decided to go to the city; scouting for a place to stay was her first priority. Without a place, she’d be like a homeless wanderer, drifting about without a sense of belonging.

After walking a few steps, someone called her name from behind.

She turned around and saw two familiar faces.

Xu Yiyuan was carrying Xu Xixi, his eyes, like polished black jade, unusually bright and restless this morning.

"Mr. Xu, are you..." heading to the city as well?

"Are you leaving?" Before she could finish, Xu Yiyuan asked.

"Yes." Tian Sangsang nodded, unsure what to say, and only replied, "Going to the city to find a suitable place first—we’ll leave in a few days."

"Xixi, she wants to..." Xu Yiyuan didn’t finish his sentence before Xu Xixi suddenly wailed, throwing herself into Tian Sangsang’s arms. "Auntie, I’m sorry, I didn’t tell the truth—I lied to you."

With the child crying so bitterly, Tian Sangsang felt deeply troubled. She looked to Xu Yiyuan, puzzled about what "not telling the truth" meant. But Xu Xixi sobbed even louder, "It was Auntie Shui who pushed me in—it wasn’t Auntie Sangsang’s fault."

Tian Sangsang froze.

Xu Xixi raised her tear-drenched eyes from her arms, timidly asking, "Auntie Sangsang, can you please not leave? I don’t want you to go. Can you be my mommy?"

Perhaps this request was what she had once dreamed of. If she had heard such words earlier, she might have been excited. But after enduring the pain, her thoughts had changed.

Tian Sangsang quietly glanced at Xu Yiyuan, always the genteel man. She suddenly felt inferior. She wanted to become stronger—not necessarily for Xu Yiyuan, but in a way that wasn’t tied to him. She couldn’t accept how he seemed to gaze through her, seeing something else.

"Xixi, don’t cry," Tian Sangsang said, her tone both tender and resolute as she stroked the child’s shiny black hair. "Auntie will always be Auntie. Even if I go to the city, I’ll come back to see you—we’re not separating forever. Auntie will bring you little bunnies in the future—all sorts of cute little bunnies."

Xu Xixi’s eyes swelled red, her words coming out nasal, "Auntie Sangsang, Auntie Sangsang..." The child could feel that she was truly leaving, and she became even sadder.

Xu Yiyuan held Xu Xixi back in his arms, trying to conceal the bitterness in his heart as he smiled faintly. "When your business expands, don’t forget to inform me. I’d still like to remain an old customer."

"Haha," Tian Sangsang laughed. "With the new business, Mr. Xu might not become an old customer."

"?"

"Thinking of learning a bit about beauty," Tian Sangsang said, pointing to her face.

Xu Yiyuan understood, his expression finally relaxing.