Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He Zhichu snickered out loud as he put his hands in his trouser pockets and walked a few unperturbed steps under the shadow of the tree. Looking up at the night sky, he said, “So that’s the case. You only figured out it now?”
“You gave us the clue, so we escorted Gu Xiangwen back under your suggestion. He Zhichu, what are you trying to do? Is it fun to manipulate people?”
“Right, I have nothing better to do than manipulate you! What am I trying to do? Mr. Huo, didn’t I help you out?” He Zhichu continued to sneer. “Didn’t you want Nianzhi to have an identity to successfully pass the background check with? I let her go, even though it broke my heart, all because I wanted to let her be with the person she liked. And what about you? What did you do?! You broke her heart! If I had known before that this would happen after letting her stay by your side, I would’ve taken her back right away and not given you any opportunity to hurt her.” He Zhichu also toughened up. “You’ll never have this chance again. I suggest you stay far from Nianzhi. Otherwise, I’m not going to be polite about asking!”
Huo Shaoheng stiffened. He stood still under the tree’s shadow, the leaves above sparse and filtering the silvery glow of moonlight onto the ground. The trembling speckles of light shined on Huo Shaoheng in patches of light and darkness. His expression, one of a controlled silence, was hidden in the dark. The thoughts tossed in his head, but he didn’t know what to start with. After a long time, Huo Shaoheng said, “Then you admit to deliberately fabricating Nianzhi’s identity?”
“Fabricating her identity?” He Zhichu frowned. “It’s her real identity! Nianzhi is Gu Xiangwen’s daughter, and I’ll say that no matter where I go.”
“But this Gu Xiangwen’s DNA doesn’t match Nianzhi’s. How do you explain that?” Huo Shaoheng crossed his arms, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s as he focused intently on He Zhichu from under the dark shadows under the trees, not missing a single expression or movement.
He Zhichu shook his head indifferently, a faint smile appearing on his face. “Major General Huo, I know the DNA doesn’t match. That’s why I had you find Nianzhi’s dental records and blood samples from when she was a child.”
Huo Shaoheng was speechless.
“Since it was possible to prove Nianzhi’s identity with an indirect method, why don’t you use an indirect method to prove Gu Xiangwen’s identity?” He Zhichu raised a long eyebrow, a happy look in his shimmering, sultry eyes.
Huo Shaoheng slowly began to understand that He Zhichu’s words had proven two points. Firstly, there was something wrong with this Gu Xiangwen. Secondly, they had to get indirect records in order to prove this Gu Xiangwen’s identity. For example, they could use Gu Xiangwen’s dental records and blood samples from before he had the accident, but where would they find them? In the past, they took six months to investigate Gu Xiangwen but didn’t find anything at all. Afterwards, they were given a clue by Xie Deshao to investigate Kevin Ku and were finally able to find his academic records. However, they realized that this person had hidden himself very well, so they weren’t able to find any other clues aside from his academic records. Huo Shaoheng looked at He Zhichu and asked, “Why does it have to be indirectly? Why not directly?”
“Because it can’t be directly, so you can only do it indirectly.” He Zhichu might as well not have spoken.
Huo Shaoheng didn’t want to play with his riddles anymore, so he changed the topic. “Then do you know where to find the indirect evidence?”
He Zhichu shrugged. “Sorry, I don’t know. I really don’t know anything about that.” His movement was incredibly similar to Gu Nianzhi’s mannerisms.
Huo Shaoheng found it a sore sight, so he asked, “Then how did you know there was something wrong with this Gu Xiangwen?”
“Very simple, it’s because of Gu Yanran.” He Zhichu looked at Huo Shaoheng like he was almost an idiot. “She’s a living person right here, and you actually can’t even see it? Major General Huo, don’t you know a clumsy excuse exposes the lie?”
“Professor He, please don’t use yourself to measure others.” Huo Shaoheng snapped out of his confusion and resumed his typical confident demeanor. “So you mean that there’s also something wrong with Gu Yanran?”
“I never said that. Gu Yanran is also a real daughter from the Gu family.” He Zhichu spread his palms. “But I’ll remind you to never rely on women to use rational thinking. If they are backed into a corner, they will become a total mess when they go crazy.”
Huo Shaoheng replied, “Professor He sure has ample experience. You’ve taught me a lot today.”
He Zhichu didn’t bother arguing with him and snorted before going back inside. Huo Shaoheng stood under the tree for some time before texting Zhao Liangze. “Help me arrange a meeting with Xie Dezhao. I have something to speak to him about.”
Xie Dezhao’s current wife was Speaker Long’s cousin. Last year, Speaker Long had previously attempted to match Huo Shaoheng with Xie Qingying, but it didn’t work out. Huo Shaoheng learned about Gu Xiangwen’s international reputation and status from Xie Dezhao, and Xie Dezhao’s first wife, who passed away, was named Gu Tian. This person should be Gu Xiangwen’s younger sister. According to Xie Dezhao, Gu Tian was Gu Xiangwen’s real sister.
Huo Shaoheng remembered that comparing the DNA of Gu Tian’s daughter, Xie Qingying, and Gu Nianzhi showed that they were related. This proved Gu Tian should also be related to Gu Nianzhi. It would be ideal to get Gu Tian’s DNA. Huo Shaoheng still remembered what Xie Dezhao said about Gu Tian and Gu Xiangwen last year.
“So what if he’s esteemed? He went back on his word and left his own sister to die. I wouldn’t want anything to do with him, no matter how great he is! The truth is, I haven’t contacted him since my wife died. I beat him up 26 years ago at my wife’s funeral and kicked him out. I never allowed him into our house again! It didn’t matter if he tried to come, since I never allowed him in. He tried to visit the first few years my wife passed away but was always kicked out by me and eventually stopped coming. He then started sending Qingying gifts every birthday. But ever since six years ago, he never sent gifts to Qingying again.”
The “six years ago” Xie Dezhao mentioned happened to be the year Gu Xiangwen’s plane crashed.
As for Gu Xiangwen’s wife? Huo Shaoheng suddenly realized that neither He Zhichu nor Xie Dezhao seemed to mention Gu Xiangwen’s wife, not even once. But Gu Yanran mentioned her before, and Huo Shaoheng had found the name Grace Ku on the passenger list of the ill-fated flight MH210. This should the English name of Gu Xiangwen’s wife. Huo Shaoheng lost himself in his thoughts. After thinking about it for a while, he decided to first figure out Gu Xiangwen’s identity and then find Gu Xiangwen’s wife, who was also Gu Nianzhi’s mother. It was time for Xie Dezhao to identify this “Gu Xiangwen.”
…
After sending the text, Huo Shaoheng went back to the dining room to see that Gu Nianzhi wasn’t in her seat anymore. Before he could ask, Yin Shixiong already understood the look in his eyes and laughed. “Nianzhi went to the bathroom.”
She must’ve gone to throw up… Huo Shaoheng didn’t say anything as he quietly heated a glass of water and set it by Gu Nianzhi’s spot. He Zhichu had already left the dining table and was checking his phone by the window.
Ma Qiqi and Yin Shixiong were chatting with her parents, so the four of them were getting along very well. After a while, Gu Nianzhi came out of the bathroom. Her tiny face was a bit pale, so she must’ve suffered in there a lot. Huo Shaoheng watched her come over and sit down, then pick up the glass of warm water he had prepared. She downed the whole thing. Gu Nianzhi had almost puked her guts out in the bathroom earlier. The taste of onion and squid heaved in her chest, so she wanted nothing more than to soak her entire body in water to wash away the smell.
“Finished eating? Here, let’s have some crabs.” Ma Qiqi’s dad saw everyone was about done with eating, so he went to the kitchen to take out the steamed crabs. The giant crabs were a full pound each and were tied up with straw rope. The shells were bright red from steaming, and when they cut away the string and opened the shell, they instantly saw the bright yellow roe.
“This is is butter-filled crab. Nianzhi, you have great taste!” Ma Qiqi winked at her and reached out to grab one for her plate.
He Zhichu came back to sit down and took a plump crab for his plate. He began to use the crab cracker to open the shell. Huo Shaoheng didn’t need to use tools at all because his hands were more useful than any tool. He could use only his hands to break the crab shells, so they were no challenge for him at all. Soon after, the plate in front of him was piled with a small mountain of freshly unshelled crab meat. With a bit of vinegar and ginger, the flavor was so fresh it could erase all the worries in the world.
Gu Nianzhi focused on finishing eating one crab and was about to take another when she realized someone had taken her plate away. Instead, there were two plates of freshly unshelled crab meat on each side of her. She looked up from the plates and first saw Huo Shaoheng’s handsome and solemn face, then turned to notice He Zhichu’s elegant and warm smile.
