FI CH65: A Fateful Encounter

Song Xiaotian’s gaze froze. “…You’ve changed.”

“Sigh, no.” Shao Lan gestured at his features. “It’s true, ‘exactly’ as handsome. Just a fleeting glance, but he looked so much like you when you were young.”

Song Xiaotian also glanced outside. “Is he really that similar?”

He grumbled reluctantly, “No matter how similar, he can’t possibly be as handsome as me.”

Shao Lan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “What are you getting jealous for? He’s just a kid, about An’an’s age…”

She paused as she spoke, her heart fluttering again.

Song Xiaotian was still peering out the car window, muttering, “Oh, then he could be our son… never mind.” He turned back and saw Shao Lan was quiet. “What’s wrong?”

Shao Lan’s mouth opened, but she didn’t know what to say. Some feelings come out of nowhere and are strange to voice. Besides, it was just a fleeting glance, and he had already disappeared into the vast crowd…

Just as she was thinking, the car door opened. “Dad, Mom!”

Her thoughts were interrupted. She turned her head and saw Song Jin’an had returned. “An’an.”

Song Jin’an’s expression was a bit tense. “Why did you guys come?”

“Your dad had a meeting in the city, so he came to pick you up.” Shao Lan smiled. “Not happy?”

Song Jin’an glanced around. “No.”

He said, getting into the car.

Song Xiaotian gave the order to drive. Shao Lan turned her head to ask with concern, “Did you have fun?”

Song Jin’an stiffened. “Yeah.”

Shao Lan just assumed he was tired and didn’t ask any more questions.

The car was quiet for a while, then suddenly Song Jin’an spoke up, “Mom, I’ve run out of allowance.”

Shao Lan was taken aback. “Didn’t I just give you over a million last week?”

“I had a lot of things to spend on, and I was playing with so many friends…”

She sighed. “An’an, it’s not that I’m reluctant to give it to you. But you should plan your spending a little. How did you spend it all?”

Song Jin’an’s heart tightened. He said vaguely, “Well, I spent a bit of money on the cruise.”

As he spoke, he quietly slipped his phone back into his pocket: on the transaction history, there was last week’s biggest expense, 300,000. Now his balance was basically at rock bottom. He had almost been embarrassed by not being able to pay just now.

He made up an excuse, “And a friend’s birthday, for a gift.”

Gift-giving in their circle was indeed a bit expensive.

Shao Lan gave him a light glare but didn’t say anything about giving him money. “We’ll talk when we get home.”

…

On the deck, Lin Su, who had been buried in a hug, straightened up.

The lines of fate had crossed. It wouldn’t be long before things returned to their rightful place.

A voice came from above his head, “Not dizzy anymore?”

He gathered his thoughts and said considerately, “If you want to hold me for a while longer, I can be dizzy again.”

He Zhenling let out a scoff but said nothing.

Just then, his subordinates returned.

They stopped a few steps away, glancing over, then glancing again. Lin Su primly stood up and straightened his clothes:

“Never mind. I’ll let you take advantage of me when I’m weak next time.”

A few steps away: “…?”

He cut He Zhenling off before he could speak, getting back to the point. “How should we handle this cruise ship?”

He Zhenling glanced at the people a few steps away, letting him off the hook lightly. “Metaphysical crime. Confiscated and turned over to the Surveillance Association.”

Lin Su looked at him with admiration. “Your company’s main source of income isn’t from raiding houses, is it?”

“…”

“You’re overthinking again, sleepyhead.”

The two separated, and the subordinates also came over. “President.”

The cruise ship was confiscated by the Surveillance Association, and the evidence on board was also entered into the archives.

He Zhenling flipped through a few pages. “Jin Yongwen can be convicted directly. Those ‘old money’ types are a bit troublesome.” He turned to Lin Su and said, “I have to personally make a trip to the capital. You…”

Lin Su said dotingly, “I know, I’ll go too.”

“…”

The words on the tip of his tongue stopped.

He Zhenling gave him a deep look, then turned his head to give an order. “Book two plane tickets to the capital.”

The subordinate’s mouth opened. “…Yes.”

Lin Su basked in the sun, narrowing his eyes: Xuenima, he’s getting more and more forward.

Xuenima: [And you’re getting more and more skilled at shifting the blame.]

Two fingers came together and pinched its mouth.

“Of course, I have official business too.”

The interrogation on Pingcheng Island lasted for two days.

On the third day, the news of the “‘Sea Dream’ Cruise Incident” was widely reported. Jin Yongwen’s face appeared in the society news, and the matter of the upper circles using “dark arts” became known to everyone.

It caused a huge uproar both inside and outside the circle.

In the capital, at the Song family villa.

Clang! A glass of water was knocked over on the coffee table.

Seeing the news, Shao Lan broke out in a cold sweat. She looked at Song Jin’an, who had just come down the stairs, and asked seriously and with lingering fear:

“An’an, something this big happened, how come you didn’t mention it?”

Song Jin’an glanced at the TV news and froze.

Then he looked away, suppressing his guilt. “I don’t know what happened either. I just know that when we got off the ship, a lot of powerful people were taken away… It has nothing to do with me anyway.”

“How does it have nothing to do with you? What if something was done to you? It was targeting you kids…”

Shao Lan paused as she spoke and asked, “The students who were with you on the ship, were they from a prestigious university?”

Song Jin’an was instantly on guard. “…Yeah, what’s wrong?”

“Are they from H University and G University? Is everything alright with them?”

“They’re all fine.” Song Jin’an held his breath slightly, studying her carefully. “Mom, why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Shao Lan smiled. “I’m just asking.”

She looked at Song Jin’an again. “Metaphysics is an unpredictable thing. Mom will find someone to take a look at you. Just to make sure there are no problems…”

“I don’t want to—!”

Song Jin’an suddenly became agitated.

Shao Lan was taken aback by him.

Song Jin’an quickly realized his overreaction and ran over to act spoiled. “I don’t want to. I’m scared of things like witchcraft…”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to have any major issues, Shao Lan relented. “Sigh, alright. But we have a regular check-up scheduled in two days. You have to go to that.”

That didn’t matter…

Song Jin’an agreed, “Alright.”

…

Two days later, the plane landed at the capital’s airport.

Lin Su and He Zhenling walked out of the airport one after the other.

Outside, a subordinate from the Surveillance Association headquarters was already waiting by a car. Lin Su glanced over and said in his mind:

“So Little He’s lair is in the capital.”

Xuenima praised accordingly: [This time, it’s really letting the tiger back into the mountains.]

“…Shh.”

In the span of a few words, they had reached the car.

The subordinate from headquarters had never seen Lin Su before. He greeted He Zhenling with a “President,” then secretly sized Lin Su up. He Zhenling glanced over but said nothing, turning his head to ask:

“Are you going to H University? I’ll have you sent over first.”

Lin Su was searching the map. “It’s not on the way. I’ll just get a taxi.” He then looked at the headquarters’ marked location. “You’ve been in Xuncheng all this time. You don’t go back to headquarters?”

He Zhenling chuckled lightly. “Who told you to be in Xuncheng?”

Lin Su paused, then looked up shyly. “You’re really something. You get flustered when you can’t see me.”

He Zhenling looked at him and said slowly, “Of course. The thought of you in a place I can’t see…” He mouthed the word: flirting. Then he said, “I get so flustered I can’t sleep.”

“…” Lin Su.

The subordinate from headquarters: ???

Lin Su raised a hand to cover his mouth, his eyes lowered. “Okay… okay, it’s broad daylight. Don’t say such shameless things.” He looked at his phone. “My taxi is about to arrive. You can go first.”

He Zhenling let out a muffled chuckle into his palm. The warm breath brushed past, and Lin Su’s fingertips curled. Just as he was about to pull back, his wrist was grabbed with a slap.

He Zhenling lowered his eyes and pulled him by the wrist.

A soft press, there and gone in an instant.

He let go, turned to open the car door, and called to the dazed subordinate, “Let’s go.” Then the car door slammed shut with a bang!, and the private car streaked away out of sight.

Lin Su stood there. “…”

After a long moment, he brought back his blushing hand: Xuenima, did he just steal a kiss…

[Xuenima you have called is not in service. Hiding.]

Lin Su: .

It was morning, and the sunlight was gentle.

Lin Su and Zhou Li had arranged to meet at a coffee shop, and they also called Pei Jin, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time.

The three of them sat at a table by the window.

Pei Jin first greeted Lin Su. “Long time no see, junior.” He then said apologetically, “I originally wanted you to enjoy the trip. I didn’t expect so many things to happen.”

Lin Su sipped his coffee. “It’s fine. This trip has been quite fruitful.”

At least the large cruise ship was now in his possession.

Pei Jin was taken aback, then chuckled. “That’s good.”

They exchanged a few pleasantries, then Zhou Li asked, “By the way, junior, what brings you to the capital?”

Lin Su said seriously, “Of course, I came for you, senior.”

Zhou Li was stunned and pointed. “Me?”

“Have you forgotten you placed a commission with me?”

“That… I remember, of course.”

Zhou Li scratched his head. “I’ve been thinking about it for two days. A DNA test definitely needs to be done. But I can’t go home right now, and I don’t know where my biological parents are.”

Pei Jin had probably heard about it and wasn’t surprised. “Does junior know?”

Lin Su nodded. “I do.”

Two pairs of eyes fell on him in unison: !

Zhou Li’s mouth fell open. “Where are they?” He then thought, “Hey… but it would be strange for me to suddenly show up at their door.”

“It would be a little,” Lin Su said, then smiled at Zhou Li’s dejected expression. “But fate will guide you. Don’t worry.”

They sat for a while. Pei Jin still had things to do back at school.

The three of them got up to leave the coffee shop.

Pushing the door open, there were three steps. Zhou Li was walking in front, turning his head to talk to Lin Su. As he was talking, his head suddenly disappeared from view. “Waaah—”

The steps had just been mopped, and Zhou Li’s foot slipped.

Lin Su’s eyes were quick and his hands were fast, grabbing him! However, Zhou Li’s brute strength was astonishing, and he was pulled down along with him. “Oof…” Behind him, Pei Jin’s eyelid twitched, and with one hand, he lifted—

Thump, Zhou Li fell at the bottom of the steps.

Lin Su narrowly avoided falling and was held up by the scruff of his neck by Pei Jin.

He turned his head. “…Thank you, senior.”

Pei Jin took a breath and let go. The two looked at Zhou Li, who was hissing on the ground. “Are you okay? Did you sprain anything?”

Zhou Li, the big dog, burst into tears. “Wuwu, it hurts so much…”

The two: “…”

They helped the large Zhou Li up and saw that his knees and palms were scraped, with some bleeding. Pei Jin frowned. “Let’s go to the hospital and get an X-ray.”

Zhou Li had recovered. “It’s fine. I’ll just go to the school clinic.”

“No,” Pei Jin said sternly. “You’re an athlete. Don’t joke around with your body.”

Lin Su had decisively called a taxi. “I’ll take Senior Zhou to the hospital. Senior Pei, you can go back first.”

“I’ll have to trouble you, junior.”

Zhou Li, who had been arranged for in a few words: …Wuwu.

…

At the hospital, Zhou Li was more familiar with the process than Lin Su.

Registration, consultation, X-ray—he went through the procedures on his own. Lin Su trailed along the whole time, amazed:

“Xuenima, the medical system now is also very mature.”

[Yup.]

The X-ray was taken quickly.

Lin Su had found the best hospital in the west district. There were quite a few people seeking treatment, so they still had to wait for a while.

At this time, the waiting area was also full.

Perhaps seeing that Zhou Li had difficulty walking, a kind nurse came over, pointed, and whispered, “You can go sit in the private physical examination center next door. There aren’t many people there.”

Lin Su thanked her and took Zhou Li over.

The floor tiles of the physical examination center were clean, and the seats were spacious.

It was very quiet all around, with only a few medical staff talking in low voices. Lin Su helped Zhou Li sit down.

“Are you thirsty, senior? There’s a water dispenser over there.”

“It’s fine, junior. You should sit down.”

Lin Su was used to talking to people face-to-face. He stood before him. “No need.”

As the two were talking, the sound of footsteps came from behind a door on the side of the physical examination center, accompanied by the low voice of someone on the phone. “…Yeah, I’m at the physical examination center. You can come over…”

The footsteps crossed the hall to the water dispenser to get a cup of water.

The phone call ended, and then they turned back.

Lin Su subconsciously turned his head and came face to face with Shao Lan in her long dress.

Shao Lan also happened to look over.

She saw two figures waiting by the rest chairs. The young man in the black outer shirt was handsome and excessively eye-catching. And beside him sat a companion, tall and large.

Hearing the noise, the person looked up at her with his full face.

Handsome features came into view, and Shao Lan stopped abruptly! She froze on the spot, her hand holding the paper cup trembling—

“You…”

Zhou Li was bewildered. “…Huh?”

Shao Lan was stunned for two seconds, then walked up to the person in a few steps and gently took his hand. “You… what’s your name?”

__

Author’s Note:

Dad Xiaotian: Why is she holding his hand?
He Daniao: Why is she holding his arm?
Husky Li: ^OvO^?

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