CHAPTER 218: 197: BECAUSE BROTHER FAN IS ONE OF A KIND

"A sculpted bear display." Xu Fan’s eyes darkened as he glanced at the boy, his heart growing increasingly uneasy.

The reason was simple—the price of that violent bear was nine digits—it carried the sentiment he wanted to convey.

Unfortunately...

Shi Wei caught the gloom in his eyes and turned his gaze toward the boy, who wore an expression of pure innocence. He sighed silently.

"Zhizhi, let’s go over there." He pinched the young girl’s hand lightly and led her toward a row of combat arcade machines.

It was a fitting way to ease the tense atmosphere and, at the same time, give the two some private space.

The arcade was filled with light, casual sound effects, blue neon reflecting off the boy’s face, casting shadows along the length of his thick lashes.

"Yunzhi, do you like that person?" Xu Fan lowered his gaze, staring intently at the pair of grape-like eyes glimmering as if rippling with light.

"Who?"

"The... Little Zhi’s friend." He couldn’t bring himself to utter such an intimate title; it made him feel uneasy.

"Yes, I do." Jin Yunzhi squeezed the stuffed toy in his arms, utterly oblivious to the hurt in those eyes. "He doesn’t talk much, but his character is good."

"Then, compared to me? Who do you like more?"

At the end of his words, Xu Fan’s hands hung loosely by his sides, but he couldn’t help clenching them tightly into fists. Every second he waited for the boy to speak was pure torment.

Jin Yunzhi tilted his head. Though puzzled, he still chose to answer the question first: "Of course, you. Isn’t that obvious?"

"Why?"

"Because Brother Fan is one of a kind."

In that moment, Xu Fan felt as though time had stopped, the surroundings turning unreal. Apart from the boy before him, it was as if he could see nothing else.

Whether driven by impulse or unable to suppress the restlessness in his heart, he suddenly pulled the boy into his arms and held him tightly.

As his messy hair brushed against the boy’s neck, the stuffed bear toy fell messily to the ground.

The resounding heartbeat, like drums echoing in his ears, caused Jin Yunzhi’s ears to inexplicably redden.

He dared not move recklessly or speak; his mind had turned into utter chaos, even forgetting to push away the embrace.

"Yunzhi, you can’t like anyone else." Xu Fan’s voice was hoarse, blending undeniable emotion for anyone who listened carefully.

"W-What do you mean?"

"You can’t like anyone else; it would hurt me deeply."

From the very beginning, when Xu Fan realized the feelings he harbored for the boy, he chose silence and to silently protect him.

But—first there was the movie star, then came the so-called ’brother.’ An endless string of torment left him unable to remain calm.

Such shocking words made Jin Yunzhi’s eyes widen instantly. As his mind stumbled upon a certain possibility, his cheeks reddened so fiercely it was almost unbelievable.

He pushed the man away forcefully and, amidst the overflowing love in Xu Fan’s gaze, turned his head in panic and ran off unsteadily.

Only the happy, grinning pile of bears scattered on the ground bore witness to his earlier visit.

**

The police station entrance.

Standing beside some greenery and trees, a woman grasped the straps of her handbag tightly, her brows slightly furrowed as she fixed her gaze on the bustling lobby.

A chilly wind swept in from all directions, slightly brushing against her skirt, the printed flowers on it rising ever so lightly with the breeze.

Her bangs swayed slightly above her forehead. When she lifted her hand, the cold air slipped in through her sleeve, forcing her to shudder.

After waiting for about ten minutes, a familiar silhouette appeared in her line of sight, prompting her to finally move, quickly approaching that person.

"Han Han, are you alright?" Bai Shirui naturally latched onto her arm, her face filled with concern.

Having been detained for several days, Meng Han carried hints of fatigue, her eyes shadowed by purple circles, clearly from lack of sleep.

She glanced at Bai Shirui, her somewhat haggard face momentarily flashing surprise. "You were the one who got me out?"

When the police informed her that she could leave, Meng Han had initially thought her family had discovered her disappearance and searched everywhere until they found her.

She never expected it to be the person standing before her.

"Yes, I pulled some strings through my family and haven’t told Uncle and the others," Bai Shirui admitted sheepishly. "But it took longer than I hoped; you’re not upset with me, right?"

The cautious tone instantly moved Meng Han deeply. She leaned on Bai Shirui’s shoulder. "How could I? I should thank you instead."

A sour sensation permeated her nose as Bai Shirui lowered her gaze. When she noticed the oily strands of hair, she quietly stepped back.

Letting go of Meng Han’s arm, Bai Shirui tucked some wind-blown hair behind her ear, flashing a gentle smile. "Han Han, shall I accompany you home first to get some rest?"

"Okay, that’s what I was thinking too." Meng Han lowered her head, glancing at the clothes she’d been wearing for several days now.

Being confined for so long left her feeling as though mold had grown on her entire being; every inch of her body seemed unbearably uncomfortable.

"Then let’s go." Bai Shirui pointed to a white car parked by the roadside and took the lead, walking away before Meng Han could lean on her again.

After graduating from college, Meng Han moved out of the Meng Family’s main residence, living in a two-story villa with two maids and a butler.

It was precisely for this reason that Meng Zheng remained unaware of her sudden disappearance. If Bai Shirui hadn’t shown up today, she might have been stuck inside for even longer.

"Shirui, just wait a moment." Meng Han ordered the maid to bring some snacks upstairs before grabbing a fresh set of clothes and heading into the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water mingled with occasional humming filled the air, steam from the shower gradually creeping through the door cracks.

Bai Shirui stirred the coffee in her hand, staring intently toward the misty bathroom, letting out a low chuckle with unclear emotions.

When her lips brushed the rim of the mug, the warmth in her expression was fleeting, soon swallowed by shadows.

Only when the coffee had gone cold did Meng Han, freshly washed and free of grime, leisurely take a seat by the sofa, drying her still-dripping hair.

"Han Han, did you see her?" Bai Shirui’s expression stayed neutral as she casually brought her up.

Yet the mention triggered the dark, bitter resentment Meng Han had buried in her heart, causing rage like magma to erupt uncontrollably.

Meng Han tightly clenched the towel in her hands, her eyes red with fury. "If it weren’t for that shameless woman accusing me of harming her child, I wouldn’t have been locked up!"

Just thinking back to that scene—the condemning stares—it made her loathe that vile woman so much she wished she could strangle her.

"What child?"

"She claimed she was carrying Brother Wei’s child!"

"Crash—"

With a sudden gesture, Meng Han grabbed the coffee cup and smashed it to the ground, the pristine porcelain shards scattering like flowers.

Still feeling it wasn’t enough to vent her frustration, she kicked at the coffee table multiple times, her face twisted in fury, resembling someone on the verge of madness.