spring bite mark

Chapter 189 Midnight, That Man

The bodyguards Yan Changye employs are all internationally renowned security teams with top-notch professional skills.

In a short while, the bodyguard brought the message that Jiang Manman needed:

"Madam, Miss Lan Sisi is five years older than Young Master Huo. When Young Master Huo was twenty, she became his sugar daddy girlfriend for a mere ten thousand yuan a month."

Jiang Manman: "...Is this still the relationship?"

"No, it should have been more than half a year since the breakup. It was Huo Shao who felt that they were not a good match and did not want to delay her, so he took the initiative to break up with her," the bodyguard said. "But Lan Sisi still couldn't forget Huo Shao, and Huo Shao was somewhat reluctant to accept it. After the breakup, they would get together from time to time."

Jiang Manman recalled her first impression of Lan Sisi, who was a smart and opinionated woman.

“Keep an eye on Huo Yungui’s side lately, that Young Master Chen…” Jiang Manman said meaningfully, ““isn’t exactly upright.”

"Don't worry, Madam, we will assign two bodyguards to secretly follow Young Master Huo around the clock."

Jiang Manman nodded, no longer paying attention to what was happening here: "Let's go to Jiaheng Residential Area."

This time, she did not visit in person.

Jiang Manman discreetly booked a tea room on the first floor of the residential complex. She and a group of bodyguards crammed the tea room full of people, with four people per table.

She gave a generous amount, and the owner personally served tea, very enthusiastically: "Little sister, wanna play mahjong? There are over ten of you, it's such a waste to just drink tea and occupy the mahjong table, let's play some mahjong!"

"No need, we don't know how to play Chongqing Mahjong," Jiang Manman said softly. "How long has the boss been doing business in this neighborhood?"

"This isn't really business, it's just for fun. The elderly people in the neighborhood come here to drink tea and play mahjong when they're bored, that's what makes their lives interesting." The owner chuckled. "To be honest, I've been running this business for thirty years, and I lose a few dozen yuan every month, but I'm truly happy!"

Jiang Manman hummed in agreement and slowly picked up her teacup: "Paying for tea?"

"Tea doesn't cost much. When people come, they're all regulars from the neighborhood, so they'll order some roast meat and peanuts to tide them over while playing cards, right?"

Jiang Manman pondered, "Since the boss has been operating here for thirty years, then... is he familiar with the residents on the sixth floor of Unit 1 in this building?"

"Sixth floor?" The boss said, "You mean Wang Ying? Of course I know her! She lives upstairs and downstairs, and she even calls me 'Uncle' when we meet! Why are you asking about her?"

Jiang Manman lowered her eyelids and calmly said, "I heard she lost her daughter. I thought if I could find out more about the situation, I might be able to help."

"Sigh, that incident caused quite a stir in the neighborhood back then." The shop owner said with deep feeling, "It was also her and that young Huo's fault. They were both young people in their early twenties and had no experience taking care of children. Young Huo took the twins out for a stroll and encountered a flyer handing out flyers at a traffic light intersection not far away. The flyer was huge and completely blocked his view. The person held it up in front of him and asked how to get to the supermarket where they were having a promotion. He enthusiastically explained for a long time, and then when he turned around, he found that his daughter was gone from the stroller."

Jiang Manman remained silent, lost in thought.

The shopkeeper shook his head: "Yun Gui was being a nuisance. She was pulling her sister's hair in the car. At the time, Xiao Huo was holding Yun Gui in his arms, otherwise both kids might have been taken away. The police came several times afterward. There were few surveillance cameras back then, so they never found her. Because of that incident, even now, neighbors avoid the flyers when they see them if they have kids out."

Jiang Manman sipped her tea, her feelings a bit complicated: "So, they divorced because of this?"

"You mean Wang Ying and Xiao Huo?" The boss nodded. "Wang Ying cried every day because of this, and Xiao Huo was also suffering. He went to the police station every day. They searched for months, and even after the police were withdrawn, they still hadn't found any information. Wang Ying kept blaming Xiao Huo, and eventually she couldn't take it anymore and got a divorce. We all felt quite sorry for him. Xiao Huo was known for doting on his wife. Who knew such a terrible thing would happen?"

"Then..." Jiang Manman paused, "What kind of man is Wang Ying married now? Is he good to her?"

"What are you saying, little sister!" The boss glared at her suspiciously. "Wang Ying has never remarried. Don't talk nonsense about damaging someone's reputation."

Jiang Manman was stunned.

After the boss left, Jiang Manman casually put the tea aside, looking somewhat absent-minded.

"Madam, since you're not married yet, are you still waiting?" the bodyguard asked.

Jiang Manman nodded: "Wait, why not wait?" Shen Zongqian, the neighbor across the street, and the boss all gave different accounts. Some things still need to be verified by oneself.

They waited from afternoon until evening.

The bodyguard went out and packed some food from a nearby restaurant to bring over. After the group finished eating, they continued to wait.

It's 12:30 in the morning.

A white BMW X7 came into view as it drove through the old, tree-lined path of the residential area.

In her ear, the bodyguard's voice was hushed: "Madam, this is Mr. Huo Mingcai's car."

Jiang Manman was taken aback for a moment, then gestured to her bodyguard to close the door halfway. Then, she quietly looked through the half-open door at the BMW.

The BMW was parked under a large tree in front of the tea shop.

Then, Huo Mingcai, looking exhausted, stepped out of the car. He was even more handsome than in Shen Zongqian's photo, with a cool, fair complexion and a touch of refinement. However, there was a clear sense of dejection on his delicate face.

He leaned against the car door, dialed a number, and sounded quite dejected:
"Honey, I can't walk anymore, come down and keep me company."

young married woman?
Jiang Manman felt as if there was a fog before her eyes, and she was completely lost.

A few minutes later, Wang Ying appeared in Jiang Manman's sight. She was wearing pajamas and slippers, her hair loosely tied up, and she looked a little impatient. As soon as she came down, she asked:

"So, did you find it? Is it the one in Guangxi?"

Huo Mingcai didn't answer, but silently lit a cigarette.

Wang Ying glanced at his empty back, then glanced again at the car interior, her anxious expression vanishing, as if she had caught Huo Mingcai's dejected air:

"Oh, it's not..."

The disappointment in his tone was obvious.

"Have a drink with me." Huo Mingcai took two puffs of his cigarette, then irritably stubbed it out and threw it away. He took two cans of beer from the car and sat down on a large rock under a tree.

Wang Ying walked over, silently took a can of beer, and tilted her head back to take a sip.

Huo Mingcai began to chat with her:
“The one from Guangxi does have a birthmark on her waist, but the location and shape are not quite the same. But I think, well, it’s normal for a birthmark to shift or change shape as the child grows up. She does look a bit like she did when she was little. Honey, this is the closest I’ve ever felt to our youngest child.”

Wang Ying gave a soft "oh".

Huo Mingcai's eyes were a little red: "You don't know, when I saw that little girl, I was numb. She was covered in bruises from abuse, and one of her legs was broken. Behind her were five emaciated little children, the oldest was five years old, and the youngest was only a few days old. I thought to myself, if this really is my youngest child, I will definitely take a knife and chop the trafficker who kidnapped her!"

He gulped down his drink: "Later, they did a DNA test, and it wasn't her. Honey, at that moment, I wished she were, at least she'd still be alive..."

At this point, he couldn't hold back any longer and hugged Wang Ying tightly, burying his head in her shoulder and sobbing softly.

Wang Ying slowly put down the beer in her hand and gently patted his back a few times:
"Don't cry. If you cry your heart out, how will you find your youngest child? Let's go back and rest first. Finding your youngest child isn't something that can be done overnight. Adjust your mindset first."

After saying that, she took him upstairs.

One of the bodyguards silently followed.

A few minutes later, the bodyguard returned and said to Jiang Manman:
"Madam, Mr. Huo has returned to Room 601."

(End of this chapter)