Chapter 138

After nearly half a month, they finally obtained information about the miners who had died and evidence of the company's deliberate concealment and mishandling.

A company that can hide the deaths of 11 miners is no simple entity. They witnessed firsthand a group of robust men, each fighting viciously.

"I got separated from my colleagues and ran for who knows how long. I really thought I was doomed, lost in the mountains with no one to collect my body if I died.

"As dusk was approaching, I found a cave. I went in to hide and discovered someone inside... She nearly scared me to death when I saw her."

How to describe it? She looked like a blood-soaked figure, covered in fresh blood.

Long hair, a small face, clearly a young woman. Her clothes were muddy and bloody, as was her face. Dirty and bloodstained, only her eyes were visible.

Those eyes were filled with extreme fear and desperation.

That image was deeply ingrained in his mind.

As a reporter, he had seen many people in dire situations, but he had never seen anyone as terrified as she was.

He had no idea what she had been through.

"She was huddled in the corner. When she saw me, she reacted as if I were a monstrous flood. I didn't know who she was, but seeing her in such a state, I knew she was also fleeing for her life."

"When she saw me, she tried to run. I didn't know if the thugs chasing me were still nearby, so I stopped her, covering her mouth to prevent her from calling out and attracting attention.

"She bit me like a frightened rabbit, and she bit hard—almost tearing off a piece of my flesh."

"Later, she realized I was also escaping for my life and shared half of her dry, hard bun with me. I still don't know how I managed to eat it."

"We stayed in the cave all night, neither of us daring to sleep. As dawn broke and the outside was quiet, she gave me a crumpled map with the route out of the mountains marked on it."

"Her sense of direction wasn't great, and she walked slowly even with the map. So I took her with me, following the path along the river until we finally saw the main road."

"I flagged down a car and sent her off first. I asked for the map back from her because I had to return—my colleagues and my lover were still there."

He found his colleagues, and the police arrived just in time to rescue them. However, they didn't find his girlfriend until the next day at the bottom of a cliff, her body exposed.

How could he find closure? They had just started their relationship, and that year, their love was at its peak—etched deeply in his heart.

In his study, Sun Yimiao covered his eyes with his hand, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing, "I remembered the license plate number of the car she took. After escaping, I asked a friend to investigate and learned she ended up at a police station, which reassured me. I didn't follow up after that.

"At that time, I was engulfed in the pain of losing my lover. I then joined the TV station, and many things piled up. I lived in a haze for two years before I started to recover."

"Your wife's reaction to seeing me is understandable. I didn't see her face back then, but she saw mine. I still have the bite mark on my hand, so she must have recognized me.

"I reminded her of a bad memory, and her reaction showed that. When I realized she was the girl from back then through her fearful eyes and reaction, I was shocked too, recalling those awful memories."

"Give her some time. Even I, a grown man, still dread that period."

After recounting the past, Sun Yimiao's tone grew serious.

"I didn't think much when I first heard your wife was Lily, the youngest daughter of Brooks from L&S Group. But when I got home and lit my first cigarette, a few things suddenly connected.

"I don't follow your circle much but heard a bit. Your wife had an incident in her senior year of high school, didn't she?"

Edmond was silent for a long time before answering hoarsely, "Yes."

Sun Yimiao continued, "That matches up. Your wife was sold into the mountains and escaped around that time."

They talked for two hours. As they were about to hang up, Sun Yimiao added, "I asked around in a group... A colleague from my old newspaper investigated Lily's case back then. He tried to uncover how she escaped but found something else instead.

"He discovered that Lily's incident might be connected to her foster sister."

...

At L&S Group, Zoya walked in as Leopold was reviewing documents. He looked up, surprised to see her.

"When did you get back?"

Zoya had returned from a business trip and then flew to another city for a friend's wedding. Leopold thought she wouldn't be back until after the weekend.

"I just got off the plane and came to see you."

Zoya pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, taking his cup to drink.

"You're having dinner with the Wang family on Saturday. You'll have a new sister-in-law soon. I came back to congratulate you."

Leopold stared at the cup in her hand, recalling his father's serious words on their way back from Jingxiu.

"Leopold, Edmond said something troubling. He said you treat Zoya not as a sister but as a wife. If he sees it that way, what about others? You're getting married soon. You should keep your distance from Zoya."

Leopold took the cup from her hand and fetched a disposable cup from the tea table, pouring her some warm water.

Zoya refused to take it, pouting, "I can't even drink a sip of your water now that you're getting a new sister-in-law?"

Leopold placed the cup in front of her.

Having endured a lot of frustration in Jingxiu and being busy upon his return, seeing her made his thoughts more chaotic.

"Yes."

He responded perfunctorily, focusing on the documents.

"Your former sister-in-law minded these things. Wang Niannian is in poor health, so we need to be careful."

Zoya didn't touch the cup and, unwilling to listen to this, changed the topic.

"I heard you and Dad went to Jingxiu to see Edmond today. How did it go? Is the Shenghui matter resolved?"

Leopold didn't look up. "Yes, Edmond will help."

Zoya pressed, "That's no small matter. Did he ask for conditions?"

Edmond did set conditions, but Leopold didn't know the specifics.

Edmond had berated him, claiming he was getting back at him for making Lily cry. Feeling humiliated, he went to the restroom for a smoke. When he returned, his father and Edmond had finished talking.

On their way back, he asked his father what had been discussed. His father said Edmond agreed to help, but at a high cost, without specifying the details.

"I'm not sure. Dad talked to him."

Leopold responded indifferently.

Zoya sensed his intentional coldness, feeling uncomfortable. The thought of him marrying Wang Niannian added to her discomfort.

"Brother, do you really want to marry Wang Niannian?"

Leopold still didn't look up. "Yes."

Zoya stared at him for a while, then leaned in and grabbed his pen, "Brother, I'm hungry."

"I have an engagement tonight..."

"I want your fried sauce noodles. Can I come to your place tonight for them, brother?"

Since meeting Sun Yimiao, Lily had been out of sorts. Even Aunt Fang noticed her frequent daydreaming and asked if she had trouble sleeping, making her calming pork heart soup.

Edmond was constantly attentive, feeding her soup with a spoon, but never mentioning Sun Yimiao. Lily felt uneasy and couldn't even taste the soup.

She tentatively asked, "Did Sun Yimiao know me before? He looked at me strangely that day, as if he recognized me."

Edmond spooned more soup for her, asking, "Did you know him before?"

Lily lowered her head, "I've seen him on TV."

Edmond understood. She wasn't ready to discuss the past.

He fed her another spoonful of soup. "He saw your photo and said you look even better in person."

Sun Yimiao, being a journalist, could remain composed even in shocking situations, never revealing his emotions and understanding people's thoughts without causing discomfort. Recognizing Lily, he noticed her avoidance and knew she didn't want to acknowledge him or recall that past. So, he maintained a calm demeanor.

Lily also thought Sun Yimiao wouldn't recognize her. After all, even her parents hadn't recognized her in her disheveled state back then, and Sun Yimiao had never seen her face, with years having passed.

Feeling somewhat reassured by Edmond's words, she relaxed a bit.