Chen Degao and his family of three were escorted in by the police. They looked travel-worn, clearly having rushed here day and night.
Chen Xuanqiu felt an intense conflict within her. Logically, she truly needed her family’s comfort at this moment. However, the problem was that she was no longer her original self, and if discovered, it would be incredibly difficult to explain.
“Zhu, we finally found you! Your mother was so worried, do you know that?”
Unable to contain herself, Melissa rushed over and embraced her “son,” sobbing as she spoke.
Chen Xuanqiu felt utterly awkward. Her chest was pressed against her “cheap mother’s,” and an indescribable tingling sensation spread throughout her body, causing her small face to flush crimson.
Melissa, however, showed no reaction. She had already learned from her daughter that her son had gone missing wearing a fake chest.
“Officers, thank you for your hard work. Allow me to introduce you. That’s my wife, Melissa, who is from Ceylon. And this is my son, Chen Xuanqiu.”
Chen Degao pulled out a pack of good cigarettes and offered them to the officers.
“You said this is your son? She’s a man?”
Fang Jianbo stared, dumbfounded, at Chen Xuanzhu, who was disguised as Chen Xuanqiu.
“Got a problem with that? Or perhaps we should both pull it out and compare?”
Chen Xuanzhu challenged, a smirk playing on their lips.
Fang Jianbo choked on his words, his face flushing a deep red.
‘It’s a good thing Fang Jianbo is a coward. If he really wanted to compare, what would you do then?’
Chen Xuanqiu secretly felt a surge of anxiety for her “cheap younger sister.”
“Xuanqiu, what are you saying?”
Chen Degao reprimanded her displeasedly. He certainly didn’t want his daughter to become a foul-mouthed little punk.
“How are you? Are you alright? Is there any part of your body that still feels uncomfortable?”
Melissa reluctantly released her “son” and inquired.
“I’m fine. I’ve completely recovered now.”
Chen Xuanqiu replied with a smile, a warmth spreading through her heart.
“Your voice, how did it…”
Melissa’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she instinctively questioned.
At that moment, Chen Degao and his daughter also heard Chen Xuanqiu’s voice, and they looked over with confusion.
“Voice?”
The officers exchanged glances, a hint of bewilderment in their eyes.
Knowing she couldn’t let anything slip, Melissa switched to another language and asked, “Qiu, why has your voice become like your sister’s?”
‘Just as I thought!’
Chen Xuanqiu understood her “cheap mother’s” foreign language, and a wave of pleasant surprise washed over her. It was precisely the language she had learned in her “dreams,” seemingly a memory carried by this very body.
“I don’t know. Perhaps the kidnappers injured my throat with something, and it’s been like this since I woke up.”
Chen Xuanqiu composed herself, then used the foreign language of Ceylon to deliver the excuse she had long prepared.
“My poor child.”
Melissa pulled Chen Xuanqiu close again, tenderly stroking her “son’s” beautiful hair.
“So that’s how it is.”
Chen Degao and his daughter exchanged glances, expressions of relief washing over their faces.
The police, however, remained perplexed. Given that Ceylon was a relatively small Western country, their lack of understanding was entirely reasonable.
****
“Mr. Chen, Mrs. Chen, could I have a word with you both in private?”
After the family had a moment of tender reunion, Captain Kong beckoned the two adults aside.
“Xuanqiu, stay here and keep your sister company.”
Chen Degao exchanged a look with his wife, then walked out with the officers.
“Alright, tell me, why are you impersonating me?”
Chen Xuanzhu sat casually on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs, and in Ceylonese, began to interrogate her.
“I just… I felt like I was the older brother, and I hoped I could help you shoulder some of the burden.”
Chen Xuanqiu stammered, her eyes refusing to meet her sister’s gaze.
“But the truth is, you didn’t just fail to help; you brought us a lot of trouble instead.”
Chen Xuanzhu said, gently swaying her long, slender legs.
“I’m sorry!”
Chen Xuanqiu lowered her head in shame. Recalling the recent events, she had to admit that she truly had been useless.
“It’s good that you know you were wrong. Don’t act on your own initiative again, or I won’t let you off the hook.”
Chen Xuanzhu threatened.
“I understand.”
Chen Xuanqiu replied verbally, yet in her heart, she felt no regret whatsoever. If time were to rewind, she would undoubtedly do the same thing again.
Chen Xuanzhu smiled contentedly, then thoroughly scrutinized her “older brother.” “How long has it been since you cut your hair?” she asked. “It’s almost as long as mine.”
“I haven’t cut it since I was kidnapped, because there hasn’t been an opportunity.”
Chen Xuanqiu explained.
“Heh heh, you know what? When I look at you now, it’s exactly like looking in a mirror. I’m actually a little worried about you. If you keep going like this, how will you ever find a girlfriend?”
Chen Xuanzhu taunted.
“A girlfriend?”
Chen Xuanqiu paused, stunned. It was only after her sister’s reminder that she realized her future seemed utterly hopeless. Finding a girlfriend would simply be harming someone, while finding a boyfriend would be purely disgusting.
‘Am I destined to be single my entire life?’
Chen Xuanqiu mused, a blank expression on her face.
“Little ones, what language are you speaking?”
The elderly man in the adjacent bed asked curiously.
“Grandpa, we’re speaking Ceylonese. My mother is from Ceylon.”
Chen Xuanzhu replied enthusiastically.
“Ceylon? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”
The old man asked with a puzzled frown.
“Ceylon is a small Western country, with a population of only twenty to thirty million. It’s not surprising you haven’t heard of it.”
Chen Xuanzhu explained.
“The West? No wonder you look like that. You don’t seem like pure Yongchang natives. Your father is truly capable, bringing honor to us men.”
The old man suddenly understood.
Thus, the old man and the young girl began to chat cheerfully.
Chen Xuanqiu was preoccupied with her thoughts, so she paid no attention to what the two were discussing.
****
“The process of your esteemed daughter’s kidnapping was roughly as follows.”
Outside the ward, Captain Kong first introduced the situation as he understood it.
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
Chen Degao thanked him politely.
“Please don’t say that. We haven’t actually done much. The main issue is that she was drugged during the kidnapping, so the clues she could provide were few. We still haven’t uncovered anything useful.”
Captain Kong responded with a hint of embarrassment.
“I understand!”
Chen Degao quickly affirmed.
“There’s one more thing I need to tell you. I hope you’re mentally prepared.”
Captain Kong offered a precautionary warning.
“What is it?”
The couple’s hearts, which had just settled, tightened once more.
“Although your esteemed daughter sustained no external injuries after the kidnapping, it seems her mental state has been affected.”
Captain Kong recounted the previous situation, then added, “Therefore, I suggest that once you return, you find a good psychologist for her.”
“Darling, what should we do?”
Melissa was utterly distraught, clutching her husband’s sleeve tightly with both hands.
“It’s alright. Once we get back, I’ll find the best psychologist for ‘him’.”
Chen Degao patted his wife’s hand reassuringly, though his own expression remained equally solemn.
“Can we take her home now?”
Chen Degao inquired immediately.
“Please wait a little longer. The Donghui City police will be arriving soon, and they might need your esteemed daughter to give a statement.”
Captain Kong explained.
“Officer Kong, do you know who from Donghui City police is coming? I recall Captain Wang was in charge of this case, wasn’t he?”
Melissa asked tentatively.
Chen Degao looked at his wife with confusion, not understanding why she was asking such a redundant question. What difference did it make who was in charge?
“That’s right, it’s Captain Wang. It would be even better if you know him.”
Captain Kong replied truthfully.
“Thank you, I understand.”
Melissa expressed her gratitude.
The couple re-entered the ward, and as they looked at their “son” again, their eyes were filled with sorrow. To think that such a good child had become mentally ill—the thought alone filled them with pity.
“Qiu, look how haggard you are. Mama will put some makeup on you.”
Melissa said in Ceylonese.
“Makeup?”
Chen Xuanqiu was caught somewhat off guard.
Chen Degao and his daughter also wore blank expressions, unsure what scheme Melissa was concocting.
“Captain Wang is coming. He’s seen Xiaozhu before, and he knows our daughter doesn’t have a mole on her face.”
Melissa explained in Ceylonese.
The father and two daughters immediately understood, secretly admiring Melissa’s meticulousness.
Melissa then took out her portable makeup bag and applied a simple touch-up to her “son,” primarily to conceal the mole at the corner of their eye.
Soon after, the Donghui City police arrived, led, as expected, by Captain Wang Liang, who had previously visited the Chen family home.
After hastily taking Chen Xuanqiu’s statement, Captain Wang and several officers escorted the family of four back to Donghui City.
“Xuanqiu, you won’t be going back to school for a while after we return.”
Chen Degao, who was driving, spoke abruptly.
“Why not?”
Chen Xuanqiu asked instinctively. Although she was now a second-generation rich kid, mentally, she was still the second-generation farmer from her previous life, and thus always felt a sense of guilt if she wasn’t attending school.
“Are you dense? You’ve been delayed for two whole months. How could you possibly catch up if you went back to school now?”
Chen Xuanzhu reminded her from the side.
“You’re right. So what should I do?”
Chen Xuanqiu asked, a headache beginning to form.
“Let’s have you take a leave of absence for now. You can restart the first year of senior high next year.”
Chen Degao made the decision. He was actually looking for an excuse to ensure his “son” would calmly undergo psychological treatment, as nothing was more important than health.
If Chen Xuanqiu had known her father’s thoughts, she would have been furious. To be perfectly fine and yet mistakenly considered a mental patient—it was infuriating.