C9 Chapter 9

Luckily, she was rescued by Ms. Ann, a stranger she had met by chance, and managed to safely deliver the other baby still in her womb.

She had thought she had finally escaped with her life, but those people refused to let her go and tracked her down to Ms. Ann’s home.

She would never forget that day. The sky was so dark it felt like hell on earth, and rain poured down in sheets. Early that morning, she had gone to the hospital to visit her critically ill fiancé, only to be told by the doctor that he had already died. When she returned to Ms. Ann’s house in a daze, shattered and numb, what she saw was Ms. Ann’s cold, lifeless body.

Ms. Ann was covered in blood. With the last of her strength, she had written a single word on the floor in blood: “Run.”

The blood had long since dried. Xia Bing’s tears burst forth in an instant like a collapsed dam, and she nearly lost her mind.

Ms. Ann had saved her out of kindness, yet she had gotten Ms. Ann killed.

Filled with deep guilt over Ms. Ann’s death, she didn’t dare stay any longer. Holding little Xia Yanyou in her arms, she fled to London that very night.

She had graduated from Saint Martin in London, so she knew the city fairly well. To shake those people, she chose London without hesitation.

Looking back now, she was truly grateful for that decision. It allowed her to live safely in London for five years.

This time, she had come back not only to find the child she had lost back then, but also to uncover the person who had murdered Ms. Ann and avenge her.

Even knowing the road ahead was bound to be full of thorns, Xia Bing did not hesitate.

“Tap, tap, tap—”

Under the dim sky, a light rain began to fall. Tiny droplets slowly gathered in Xia Bing’s hair, and her shoulders gradually became damp.

Standing before Ms. Ann’s grave, Xia Bing clenched her fists, her voice firm. “Ms. Ann, I’m back. Five years have passed—I hope I’m not too late. This time, even if it costs me my life, I’ll find your killer and avenge you!”

At dusk, the rain gradually let up, and Xia Bing arrived right on time to pick up Xia Yanyou from school.

Outside the kindergarten, the entrance was packed with parents waiting for their children. Xia Bing squeezed into the crowd as well.

As soon as the doors opened, a stream of little kids came rushing out behind their teacher, tiny backpacks bouncing, their faces glowing with that pure, childlike innocence.

“Yanyou.” Xia Bing waved to Xia Yanyou, a gentle smile spreading across her face.

Xia Yanyou was walking out side by side with Saang Yuxin. The moment he heard Xia Bing call for him, he immediately looked in her direction.

His eyes lit up, and he called out with a bright, childish voice, “Mom!”

He patted Saang Yuxin on the shoulder. “My mom’s here to pick me up, so I’m heading out first. See you tomorrow.” Then he broke into a light run toward Xia Bing.

Saang Yuxin watched expressionlessly as Xia Yanyou threw himself into a woman’s arms outside. She bent down with a smile, gently ruffled Xia Yanyou’s hair, and said something to him. Xia Yanyou answered her with a proud look on his face.

The soft lines of her profile looked especially gentle in the evening light, wrapped in a warm golden glow. And the way she looked at Xia Yanyou was filled with affection, tender and loving.

Saang Yuxin’s gaze was drawn to her without his realizing it. Only after she and Xia Yanyou disappeared around the corner hand in hand did he finally force himself to look away, his eyes full of envy.

Xia Yanyou’s mom is so pretty, so gentle. If only he had a mom that pretty and gentle too...

Lowering his eyes, Saang Yuxin felt a wave of sadness and disappointment wash over him.

“Young master Saang.”

A kindly elderly voice sounded above him. Looking up, Saang Yuxin saw Steward Xie standing in front of him with a warm smile.

After a brief pause, Saang Yuxin hid the emotion in his eyes, put his usual calm expression back on, and got into the car.