Chen Yu was momentarily stunned by Ruan Xingyao’s question.
He said, “With Xingxing’s abilities, of course she has special privileges.”
The implication was clear — even if the rules said she couldn’t bring Baiyi along, nothing could stop her from bringing other small animals.
So why bother making things complicated?
Might as well just give her that privilege.
Since that was the case, what harm was there in acting first and reporting later?
Ruan Xingyao curled her lips and said nothing more.
Anyway, if Chen Yu wanted to make things convenient for her, then any trouble that came with it would be his to handle.
After dinner, the four people and one dog walked out of the restaurant.
Ruan Xingyao picked up Baiyi and said to the others, “You guys go back first. I’ll take Baiyi to visit his mom.”
Ruan Xingzhuo immediately said, “Sis, I’ll go with you.”
You Huan quickly followed, “Xingxing, I want to go too.”
Chen Yu added, “Let’s all go. I’ll drive.”
Although Ruan Xingyao felt a bit helpless, she was genuinely moved.
She patted Baiyi’s head, nodded, and said, “Alright then, let’s go together.”
After Zhao Wanying passed away—since her entire family had once served as undercover police officers and all had died in the line of duty, later honored as martyrs—and because Zhao Wanying herself had been a victim of malicious revenge, yet still provided crucial data to the police about a new type of drug during her rehabilitation—
As a result, Zhao Wanying, being the orphaned child of martyrs, was granted a special burial at Ning City’s Martyrs’ Cemetery.
When Ruan Xingyao and her companions arrived at the cemetery, they could already see someone standing near the entrance from afar.
Once Chen Yu parked the car, that person started walking toward them.
It was Xie Lin.
Ruan Xingzhuo turned to Chen Yu and said irritably, “Wow, Chen Yu, you really did it this time!”
Hearing that, Chen Yu immediately looked toward the back seat where Ruan Xingyao was sitting.
He saw that both Ruan Xingyao and You Huan were staring straight at him.
He quickly said, “It wasn’t me, I swear!”
He really hadn’t tipped anyone off!
It was just that since they were visiting the cemetery that night, he’d filed an application — most likely, Xie Lin got wind of it and decided to show up himself.
Ruan Xingyao stared at Chen Yu for a full half-minute, but couldn’t detect any sign of guilt or deceit in his eyes.
Finally, she said, “Alright then. Since we’ll be working together closely from now on, I’ll trust you.”
With that, regardless of how Chen Yu felt, Ruan Xingyao opened the car door and got out first.
Xie Lin had already approached and stopped in front of her. “Yaoyao, long time no see.”
Ruan Xingyao was momentarily speechless and looked at him with mild exasperation. “It hasn’t been that long, has it?”
Besides, it wasn’t like she’d really wanted to see him.
Even if they were never to see each other again, it didn’t matter.
Xie Lin could tell what Ruan Xingyao was thinking, and a wave of heaviness pressed against his chest.
He said, “Yaoyao, can we please talk? Just for a bit?”
At the very least, he wanted a chance to properly apologize to her.
However, Ruan Xingyao only gave him a bright, flawless smile and said, “Captain Xie, I know what you’re about to say, so let me go first. I understand all the decisions you made, and I’ll make sure to stay in my lane, do my job obediently, and perform my duties well. As long as the payments come on time, I’ll give my all — till death if need be!”
As she spoke, she even raised her hand and gave a perfectly formal salute — the picture of discipline and professionalism.
But that attitude of hers was like a knife straight to Xie Lin’s heart.
Pain flickered in his eyes, his expression almost slipping out of control.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Things between him and Ruan Xingyao shouldn’t have turned out this way.
Ruan Xingyao saw the hurt in his eyes but chose to ignore it.
She turned to Ruan Xingzhuo and You Huan and said, “Let’s go. Let’s take Baiyi to see his mom.”
Ruan Xingzhuo had already taken Baiyi out of the car.
When the dog heard her words, it immediately dashed ahead on its little paws.
After just a few steps, the white pup stopped and turned around, calling out, “werwer!”
“Erwer! Erwer!”
【Xingxing! Hurry up! Come on, come on!】
Ruan Xingyao chuckled, grabbed Ruan Xingzhuo with one hand and You Huan with the other, and jogged after Baiyi.
Chen Yu parked the car properly and followed them a bit later.
As he passed by Xie Lin, he paused, patted him on the shoulder, and said quietly, “Captain Xie, Things are getting tougher.”
He himself came from an ordinary working-class background, just following orders from above — there wasn’t much he could do about it.
But Xie Lin…
Chen Yu could only say that things had reached this point between Xie Lin and Ruan Xingyao because of Xie Lin’s own choices.
Xie Lin almost choked on the words, unable to swallow or refute them.
Seeing him like that, Chen Yu didn’t feel satisfied — if anything, his chest felt tight and heavy.
Compared to Xie Lin, he figured he wasn’t any better off either.
The two heavy-hearted men stopped exchanging barbs and quickened their pace to catch up with the others.
Ruan Xingyao and her group had already reached Zhao Wanying’s grave.
Even though it was nighttime, the Martyrs’ Cemetery didn’t feel eerie or frightening.
Especially now — the night lights in this section had been turned on, illuminating the area as bright as day.
It was Ruan Xingzhuo and You Huan’s first time visiting here.
Looking at the young face on the tombstone, You Huan’s eyes instantly grew moist.
She couldn’t help but whisper, “She was so young…”
And from the photo, one could tell — she had been a kind girl, with eyes full of warmth and gentleness.
Such a beautiful girl, at such a beautiful age, now lay here in eternal rest.
For some reason, You Huan suddenly thought of her younger self.
If Ruan Xingzhuo hadn’t pulled her back that day, she really would have ended her life.
If things had truly gone that way, she thought, she would never have forgiven herself — not even in death.
You Huan sniffled and turned to look at Ruan Xingzhuo. “Ruan Xingzhuo, thank you,” she said softly.
Thank you for giving her a second chance at life — for keeping her from throwing away a chance to live that so many others would beg for.
Ruan Xingzhuo lowered his gaze to meet hers, momentarily stunned by her sudden gratitude.
But within seconds, he understood what she meant.
Without thinking, he reached out and gently patted her on the head. “Be good,” he said quietly.
You Huan sniffled again, her eyes glistening as she stared up at him.
She leaned in a little closer and whispered, “Don’t worry, Ruan Xingzhuo. I’ll make sure to live well—with you.”
Ruan Xingzhuo was almost startled by her words.
He cleared his throat and turned his face away before muttering, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
The way she said it sounded like she only wanted to live well because of him.
You Huan puffed up her cheeks and tilted her head, studying him.
His ears were completely red now, and she had the sudden urge to poke them — but in the end, she managed to hold herself back.
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 50 chapters of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
