CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: SONG KAI?

The drizzle had just ended which left the hospital’s courtyard damp. The sky was cloudy as twilight settled in.

Huo Feng escorted the two women out with Ah Si walking behind them.

Yue Ning was supported by Huo Feng and Huo Yan on both sides since she was still injured.

The drive back to the villa was quiet. Huo Yan sat beside her while tightly gripping her. Yue Ning’s eyelids fluttered, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. But whenever she shifted, Huo Yan’s grip on her tightened as if fearing that she’d disappear.

By the time the cars rolled into the villa gates, the sky had darkened completely. Light spilled from the entrance and the tall doors were thrown open to welcome them. The servants rushed out as soon as they saw Huo Yan step down, several of them gasping in relief.

"Young Miss!" one cried, her voice trembling. Another servant dropped the tray he was carrying, the porcelain shattering to the ground, but she could care less.

Huo Yan’s eyes misted at the sight while forcing a smile on her face. "I’m home."

Huo Yan led Yue Ning to her room so she could freshen up.

"Sister-in-law, I thought I’d never see you again," Huo Yan sighed as she helped her to the bed.

"You shouldn’t have such thoughts, especially when you have a brother like Huo Feng. He would never let anything happen to you." Yue Ning countered.

Huo Yan shook her head. "I know that you were the reason they found me so quickly. Sister-in-law, I have to thank you." She cupped her fists, assuming a grateful stance.

"Why are you thanking me? If you thank me again, I’ll assume you don’t treat me as your sister-in-law." Yue Ning glared playfully at her.

Huo Yan stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Alright, go freshen up. You’ve had a long day." Yue Ning said to her.

Huo Yan had a doubtful look as shs stared at Yue Ning.

Knowing what was in her mind, Yue Ning smiled. "Go, I can take care of myself."

Seeing that Yue Ning didn’t seem to be joking, she left her room.

Meanwhile, Huo Feng was in his study when Ah Si stepped in.

"Boss," Ah Si called out respectfully, and Huo Feng turned to look at him.

"Hmm."

"Here is the list you asked for. They contain all your enemies and who would wish to hurt you. I have numbered them according to how they hate you." Ah Si informed, placing a file on the table.

Huo Feng picked the file up and went through them. Suddenly, his eyes stopped at a particular name.

"Song Kai?" Huo Feng murmured, his eyes darkening as he read the name again. Memories flickered—sharp like shards of glass. A face from the past, a betrayal he had never forgiven.

"He is number one," Ah Si stated, his voice steady but his gaze flicking nervously at his boss’s expression.

Huo Feng’s jaw clenched Of course it would be him. Song Kai had always lurked in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. But to lay his hands on Huo Yan... Huo Feng’s fingers curled against the desk. That was unforgivable.

Huo Feng didn’t say anything as he focused on the name. After a while, he spoke up. "Investigate all of them carefully, and bring your findings to me."

"Yes boss." Ah Si answered, and was about to leave.

"Wait," Huo Feng called him.

Ah Si turned back to him. "Is there anything else?"

"How is the investigation on Yue Ning’s identity going?" Huo Feng asked.

"There haven’t been any results. Also, the Lus are also investigating Madam’s identity."

Huo Feng’s brows knitted together. Why would the Lus be investigating? Do they think that she could be their daughter?

Huo Feng didn’t understand. He would just wait for the results to be out.

"You may leave, or would you like to stay for dinner?" Huo Feng offered.

Ah Si rubbed his head bashfully. "I would have loved to stay, but I have a date with my girlfriend."

Huo Feng raised his brows before dismissing him.

_______________

Yue Ning stretched out on the bed, sinking into the soft sheets. For the first time in days, the room was quiet. No rushing footsteps, no anxious voices, just the faint hum of the night settling outside.

She let out a long breath. The silence was plain, ordinary even, but it eased the tightness in her chest. After everything, this little moment of calm felt like a luxury.

Just as her eyes began to drift shut—

Ding!

The familiar chime rang in her head.

Her lips twitched. "Really?" she muttered to herself.

’Host,’ the System’s voice came, calm but serious. ’You have a notification, and I advise you to check it now.’

Yue Ning groaned and pulled the blanket over her head like a child. "Can’t it wait until morning?"

’No.’ Its clipped reply came.

Her bad feeling grew. With a reluctant sigh, she opened the notification.

[Reminder: You have less than two weeks to complete your mission.]

"..." She was speechless. Yue Ning clutched her chest dramatically. "I knew I shouldn’t have checked."

"System, what happens if I fail?" she muttered while staring at the ceiling.

’Nothing drastic. Your points will be deducted.’

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How many points are we talking about?"

The System cleared its throat. ’That depends entirely on my discretion. So, Host, I strongly suggest you dismiss any thoughts of failing. The consequences may not be in your favor.’

Yue Ning puffed her cheeks. "I wasn’t planning to fail! I was just asking." She rolled onto her side, glaring at the white holographic panel. "You sound like a loan shark sometimes, you know that?"

The System ignored her complaint, its tone smug. ’Then you’d better work hard, Host. Time is ticking.’

Yue Ning groaned and buried her face into the pillow. "Why does this feel more stressful than the kidnappers?"

’This is the easiest mission. You don’t have to do much. You have help from Huo Feng,’ the System teased.

Yue Ning rolled her eyes. She had always felt that the time interval given for the mission was little. But she couldn’t do anything. She was fully in the System’s control.

’Still,’ she thought to herself. ’I must keep moving forward, or I might just lose everything.’

Meanwhile, in the Lu family estate, Lu Jiang sat in his study. The room was dim except for the lamp at his desk, casting long shadows over the documents scattered before him.

His gaze lingered on one name. ’Yue Ning.’

The more he looked, the heavier his chest felt. He had gone through the Yue family’s records, and every report was consistent.

She was the forgotten daughter, overlooked, unloved, abandoned to fate. Forced to marry Huo Feng at the behest of the younger daughter.

Lu Jiang’s hand tightened around the paper. His eyes, usually calm and unreadable, flickered with emotion.

"Yue Ning..." he whispered.

His voice broke. "Could it really be you... my child?"