“A shooting?”
Chen Xuanqiu’s nerves were taut. She tried to find the most palatable explanation: “Could it have been an internal fight?”
“No. Although the police found several handguns at the scene, their magazines were full. So, the preliminary conclusion is that someone broke in to commit murder and silence witnesses.” Fang Jianbo explained.
Chen Xuanqiu’s worst fears were confirmed. Her eyes blurred with tears as she pressed, “Have you found out who the killer is?”
“It’s not that simple. We didn’t find a single survivor, and the scene was burned beyond recognition.” Fang Jianbo admitted, a hint of shame in his voice.
“Not a single survivor?”
Chen Xuanqiu murmured softly. Then, clinging to a sliver of hope, she probed, “How many bodies did the police find at the scene?”
“Fifteen in total.” Fang Jianbo answered, seeing Chen Xuanqiu on the verge of losing control again, so he held nothing back.
“I was truly too naive.”
Chen Xuanqiu laughed bitterly, her last shred of hope crumbling. Excluding her, there had been exactly fifteen people in the entire basement.
‘Grandpa Wei, Brother Wei, you’re all gone just like that. How can I ever repay this kindness?’ Chen Xuanqiu was a person who valued gratitude, and a wave of profound shame washed over her.
“I swear, I will dedicate my entire life to avenging you.” After a long period of contemplation, Chen Xuanqiu finally understood her purpose. Since those people had robbed her of the right to repay her benefactors, all that remained was revenge.
Yet, Chen Xuanqiu also knew that vengeance would require time. Therefore, the secret of the laboratory absolutely could not be revealed to outsiders.
“Brother Fang, do you know the identities of those people? What were they doing in there?” Chen Xuanqiu asked, circling the topic.
“The scene was completely incinerated, so it will take time to identify them. What they were doing inside remains unclear.” Fang Jianbo’s head drooped lower, unable to meet Chen Xuanqiu’s gaze.
Chen Xuanqiu breathed a small sigh of relief upon hearing this. For her, it might have been the only thing worth celebrating.
“However, that abandoned factory belongs to a private enterprise in our city. The CEO’s surname is Hai, and we should be able to find clues from him.” Fang Jianbo quickly added, as if afraid the girl would think he was useless.
‘Right, how could I forget CEO Hai? He bought me, and he sent me to the laboratory. If the police find him, won’t all my secrets be exposed?’ Chen Xuanqiu’s heart leaped into her throat again at the mention of this.
Yet, fate seemed to intervene. Barely half an hour later, Fang Jianbo received a notification from the police station: CEO Hai had gone missing. The case instantly became a cold case.
‘Why such a coincidence? It’s as if someone is deliberately erasing the evidence of my gender transition.’ Chen Xuanqiu felt a slight easing of tension, but her heart remained unsettled. As the saying went, ‘when there’s an anomaly, there’s mischief afoot.’ She couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over.
****
In Donghui City, at the Chen residence.
The family of three sat around the table, eating dinner. Since their hourly maid was occupied with other matters, their conversation naturally turned to family affairs.
“Xuanzhu, you should resume your identity and go back to school next week.” Chen Degao said, looking at his daughter, who was still disguised as his son.
“How can I resume it? Will you announce to the public that I’ve been found? What about Xiaoqiu? How will you explain a living person just disappearing without a trace?” Chen Xuanzhu asked, her pretty face furrowed with agitation.
“The contract has already been signed anyway. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the police and explain the true situation.” Chen Degao replied.
“Darling, it’s been two months. You can’t just stay home like this. Sooner or later, this matter has to be clarified.” Melissa added, explaining patiently.
“Do you think Xiaoqiu isn’t coming back?” Chen Xuanzhu asked, each word deliberate.
Chen Degao and his wife exchanged a glance, unsure how to answer their daughter’s question.
“Xuanzhu, you should understand what fate awaits a boy like your brother if he falls into the hands of those people, without me even having to say it, right?” Chen Degao hesitated before finally choosing to shatter his daughter’s fantasy.
“That’s right, darling. I know you’re hurting, and your father and I are hurting too. But no matter how painful it is, we have to face reality. It’s been two months; it’s time we faced the truth.” Melissa gently advised.
“What reality? The reality is that he *will* come back. We’re twins, we have a telepathic connection. I know he’s still alive.” Chen Xuanzhu, however, retorted stubbornly.
Chen Degao was about to say something more when his phone suddenly rang.
Chen Degao pulled it out to see it was Captain Wang from the police station. He answered the call with a mix of five parts anticipation and five parts dread, desperate for news of his son yet terrified of hearing something he couldn’t accept.
“What? You said my son was found? He’s alive?” After connecting the call, Chen Degao shot up from his chair, saliva ungracefully spraying from his mouth.
“What? Xiaoqiu’s been found? He’s now where?” Melissa rushed to her husband’s side, tears of excitement streaming down her face like broken pearls.
Chen Xuanzhu also hurried to her father, feigning composure, but her hands were visibly trembling.
–“Your son? Chen Xuanzhu isn’t your daughter? Your son went missing too?” Captain Wang’s voice on the phone was tinged with confusion.
–“No, no, no, I was just too excited. It’s my daughter! You said my daughter was found? Where is she now?” Chen Degao realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself.
–“She’s currently at Dengtai City Central Hospital. She sustained some minor injuries, so she’s on an IV drip. The doctor said she can be discharged tomorrow. We’re sending officers over there now.” Captain Wang explained the details.
“Can we go see her now?” Chen Degao asked eagerly, his wife and daughter crowding around him, practically pressing against his body.
–“Of course, you can. She’s not a criminal. She’ll just need to cooperate with our investigation later.” Captain Wang replied.
“Captain Wang, please tell my daughter not to go anywhere and to stay at the hospital. I’ll cover any medical expenses. We’re heading to Dengtai now.” Chen Degao hung up the phone, his eyes fixed on his wife and daughter, his mouth stretched into a wide smile. “Captain Wang said Xiaoqiu was found! He only has minor injuries and is at Dengtai City Central Hospital!”
“Thank God! My son is safe!” Melissa cried out, hugging her husband, overcome with emotion.
“So he was found. Is there any need to be so dramatic?” Chen Xuanzhu scoffed dismissively, yet the tears in the corners of her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
“It seems Xuanzhu was right. They really do have a telepathic connection. We were wrong.” Chen Degao praised.
“I told you all along, but you wouldn’t believe me. Before, when I used to get my period, he would also get stomach aches. What else could that be but a telepathic connection?” Chen Xuanzhu boasted, claiming credit.
“Alright, no need to brag about such strange things. We’re going to Dengtai to see your brother. Are you coming?” Chen Degao asked, amused.
“It wouldn’t be impossible to go. After all, he was kidnapped because of me.” Chen Xuanzhu said, subtly wiping away the tears from her face.
“Heh heh.” Chen Degao chuckled helplessly.
“Oh, and I need to add something: he’s not my brother. He’s just a younger brother.” Chen Xuanzhu clarified, then added very seriously.
****
Chen Xuanqiu waited patiently for her family at the hospital. Though they weren’t as warm as her parents in her previous life, they were now the only people she could rely on.
‘But now I’m a girl. How am I going to explain this to them?’ Chen Xuanqiu felt the heavy burden on her chest, her heart suddenly filled with dilemma. The fact that she had become a girl was something she shouldn’t tell anyone, yet these were her family. Living under the same roof every day, she would inevitably be found out, so she couldn’t keep it a secret for long.
‘Never mind, I’ll just let nature take its course. If they find out, I’ll honestly tell them.’ Chen Xuanqiu mused, believing her family was still trustworthy.
As evening approached, Chen Xuanqiu finally managed to contact her parents in this world using Fang Jianbo’s phone.
Over the phone, her parents showered her with warmth and concern, their profound care practically overflowing from the screen.
Chen Xuanqiu couldn’t go into detail, only giving a simple explanation, much like she had to the police. Fortunately, her parents didn’t press for specifics.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart settled a little. After all, they were still her parents, at least by blood.
Meanwhile, Chen Degao, having hung up the phone, fell into deep thought. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.
‘Strange, how has Xiaoqiu’s voice changed after two months apart? If Xuanzhu weren’t sitting right behind me, I would have thought she was the one talking to me.’ Chen Degao pondered for a moment before finally realizing what the problem was.