Chapter 59.2

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She took a breath. “About your childhood—do you still refuse to forgive me? I never meant to abandon you. Back then, my career was taking off; I wanted to wait until I was on steadier ground before bringing you home. Who could’ve predicted the fire?”

Chi Yin latched onto the critical detail. “What do you mean, your health? What happened?”

Chi Qilan fell silent for a moment before speaking in a measured tone. “Maybe I overdid it with social engagements these past couple of years. My stomach got injured. A while back, I went to the hospital for a checkup and found a tumor. The pathology results weren’t great. Don’t tell Jiang Shu about it.”

A dull ache bloomed in Chi Yin’s chest the moment she heard this news, as though their blood connection made her feel her mother’s pain. She took a deep breath and tried to push the discomfort down.

“Jiang Shu has every right to know.”

Chi Qilan sniffled, her eyes brimming with warmth. “Tell me about that girl,” she said softly. “I’d like to hear.”

A faint light stirred in Chi Yin’s otherwise lifeless eyes. A gentle smile tugged at her lips. “I like her a lot. Really, a lot.”

She paused, recalling the memories.

“The first time I met her was on the day you sent me to Grandma’s. She was in the middle of a heated argument with her mom about whether or not to add sugar to stir-fried tomato and eggs. Her dad just stood there, watching them bicker with an amused grin.”

Chi Yin gave a slight laugh, though pain lingered in her gaze. “That was the kind of childhood I always wished for. The second time I saw her was one afternoon after school. She was sitting quietly by the window, sketching the vibrant spring scene outside.”

She drew in a shaky breath. “That was the future I wanted—full of life, color, and possibility. The third time was during the fire. She risked everything to drag me out of that hopeless blaze.”

Chi Yin’s voice caught in her throat. “She gave me a new life.”

“That’s how the Chi Yin you see now came to be—filled with hope.”

“Yin Yin, what did you just say?” Chi Qilan asked, her voice trembling with excitement. “Are you telling me Qiao Ziman is that neighbor who saved your life?”

Chi Yin didn’t respond to the question. Instead, she went on, “So, I can’t break up with her. Not even as a trick to buy time. It would break her heart, and I… I’d die.”

Chi Qilan’s heart lurched. “Yin Yin, don’t say things like that. Dying, really? We may be at a disadvantage, but we’re not without options.”

She paused, then frowned. “Wait—do you smell something burning?”

Her gaze swept around the room. She caught sight of the slim cigarette Elvis had left in the ashtray, now somehow blown to the floor, rolling near the curtains. The lower hem of the curtain was singed black, tiny sparks threatening to climb upward.

“Yin Yin!” Chi Qilan shouted. “Quick, we have to move—don’t let it catch fire!”

Chi Yin and Chi Qilan struggled to their feet together, inching toward the curtains. A gust of wind blew through the window, causing the flames to flicker and leap higher.

***

Meanwhile, on the way back from Qiao Ziman’s hometown, the sky had turned dark and overcast, thunder rumbling in the distance. Qiao Ziman’s mood felt inexplicably heavy and restless.

Coming to yet another intersection, she hit the brakes for the red light. During the brief pause, she glanced down at her phone again. Yin Yin still hasn’t replied?

From the back seat, He Cuizhen and Jiang Shu were chatting up a storm, bursts of laughter spilling into the car. The more they laughed, the more agitated and uneasy Qiao Ziman became.

“Could you two keep it down a bit?” she finally muttered.

He Cuizhen frowned. “What’s with you, road rage? Or are you about to get your period?”

Qiao Ziman rolled her eyes and, for good measure, glanced at her phone again.

He Cuizhen turned to Jiang Shu with a wink. “Don’t mind her. Let’s keep gossiping behind her back.”

She held up an old photo album for Jiang Shu to see. “Look, this is your sister-in-law when she was four. Don’t be fooled by how tiny she was—she once took a hatchet and chopped down a cherry tree in the park. When she tried to run away, she tripped. Look at how she’s bawling here!”

Jiang Shu giggled, and He Cuizhen pointed to another photo. “And here—she was eight. She climbed over a wall to pull up someone else’s pepper plants. I chased her all over the yard with a broom!”

Qiao Ziman scowled. “Mom, will you cut it out?”

“Not a chance,” He Cuizhen replied flatly.

He Cuizhen flipped to another page of the album, pointing out a photo from the time before Qiao Ziman entered junior high.

“Look at this! Back then, she used to trail after a little neighbor girl every single day. I doubt she even remembers it now.”

She tapped the snapshot, where a round-faced, doll-like child could be seen in partial profile. “That girl was absolutely adorable—like a porcelain doll, with chubby cheeks and delicate features. Here, you see? Your sister-in-law was always joking about marrying her someday. If your sister finds out about that, your sister-in-law’s in big trouble!”

Jiang Shu leaned in, studying the girl’s face. Suddenly, she blurted in surprise, “But that’s my sister!”

A screech of tires filled the car as Qiao Ziman slammed on the brakes. She whipped around to stare at Jiang Shu in disbelief. 

“What did you just say? Little Mute was actually Yin Yin?”

Jiang Shu nodded firmly. “Yes! That’s definitely her. I’ve seen her childhood photos a million times on Mom’s nightstand.”

Little Mute is Yin Yin! Yin Yin is Little Mute! Why didn’t she ever tell me? 

The realization sent Qiao Ziman’s thoughts spinning in all directions—excitement, shock, anger—all of it boiling down to a frantic urgency. She had to hear this from Yin Yin herself. She needed an explanation.

Without another second’s hesitation, Qiao Ziman grabbed her phone and dialed Chi Yin’s number. Each passing moment brought only the dull hum of a busy tone. She tried dialing again and again, but there was still no answer. Her eyelid twitched, anxiety tightening in her chest.

“Why isn’t Yin Yin picking up?” she muttered.

She caught the flicker of unease in Jiang Shu’s expression. Her face turned serious. “Do you know something you’re not telling me?”

Jiang Shu swallowed hard. Right now, her sister-in-law looked even more intimidating than that green-eyed woman. Fear overwhelmed her, and she threw caution to the wind, forgetting her promise to Chi Yin. In a rush, she spilled the entire story.

“What?” Qiao Ziman exclaimed. “Yin Yin went to see Elvis? Why didn’t she tell me?”

An unsettling feeling clenched at Qiao Ziman’s gut. Something’s wrong. Something must have happened to Yin Yin. She slapped the steering wheel. “Give me the address!”

Jiang Shu was on the verge of tears. “It’s at XX Number, Hui Feng Villas on Jiangcheng Road—”

Before she could finish, Qiao Ziman slammed the gas. The car shot forward like an arrow from a bow, tearing off straight for the Chi family villa.

===

Author’s Note:

I wanted to wrap up this arc and get rid of that annoying Elvis once and for all, but my kidney stone flared up. This is all I can manage for now—sob.