The rain poured all night, leaving the next morning slightly cooler.
After breakfast, Shen Zhiqiu and Shen Xiang arrived at the Dongcheng Branch of the National Capital Police Bureau.
Since Shen Liya and Wang Fengqin had been arrested by the criminal police, they were being held here.
“Big Sis, can I see Second Sis again?” Shen Xiang tugged at Shen Zhiqiu’s sleeve, asking cautiously.
“Of course, Xiao Xiang. You can see whoever you want.” Shen Zhiqiu ruffled his hair.
She led him to the visitation room but stopped at the door. “Xiao Xiang, go in by yourself. I have some things to take care of. Wait here for me when you’re done—don’t wander off, okay?”
“Okay.”
Shen Xiang watched Shen Zhiqiu leave before taking a deep breath and stepping inside. Wang Fengqin was already seated on the other side of the table.
“Xiao Xiang!”
“Mom.”
He walked over and sat across from her. Seeing how much older she looked, his heart ached. But before he could speak, Wang Fengqin slapped him hard across the face.
“Why did it take you so long to come see me? What have you been doing, huh?”
Shen Xiang held his stinging cheek, eyes watering. “Mom, I—”
“You’re ashamed of me, aren’t you? Look at you—your face is full, you’ve even gained weight! Living the good life, I see!”
“You ungrateful brat! I knew you were on Shen Zhiqiu’s side! Did you tell her about us?”
Wang Fengqin lunged to grab Shen Xiang’s throat, but the officers behind her immediately shoved her back into her seat. “Behave!”
“Yes, sir.”
Wang Fengqin shrank back, but her glare at Shen Xiang was venomous.
Shen Xiang shook his head frantically. “Mom, I didn’t tell Big Sis anything.”
“If not you, then who? No one else knew!”
“You’ve always been close to her—closer than you’ve ever been to me! And now you’ve learned to play tricks, pretending to listen to me while secretly siding with her!”
“That little fox has even bewitched you!”
Shen Xiang couldn’t take it anymore. “Mom, stop talking about Big Sis like that!”
“Oh, look at that! I say one thing about her, and you can’t stand it!”
“Xiao Xiang, what a fine son you are! I gave birth to you, raised you, and yet her sweet words and smiles mean more to you than I ever did!”
Wang Fengqin sneered. “That day she came to the house, I knew I couldn’t rely on you!”
“But I still believed you were my son—that you wouldn’t betray me. Turns out I was wrong. Dead wrong!”
“Mom, I didn’t betray you. No matter what, you’re still my mom.”
“But you and Second Sis did something wrong—you broke the law. You tried to hurt Big Sis first!”
Shen Xiang frowned deeply. “I don’t understand. Why would you and Second Sis treat Big Sis like that? She’s never wanted to harm you!”
“Because she deserves to die! Her and that mother of hers!”
Wang Fengqin’s face twisted with hatred. “If that Ye Yunshuang hadn’t stolen your father, I wouldn’t have been humiliated as the ‘other woman’! Liya and you wouldn’t have been whispered about, treated like dirt!”
“I met your father first! We were together first!”
“Xiao Xiang, if you’re still my son, avenge me and your sister!”
She grabbed his hand urgently. “Take Shen Zhiqiu’s baby to your uncle. Leave the rest to him.”
A few days ago, Wang Yuelong had visited her. Wang Fengqin had asked him to consult a “master” on how to escape this mess. The master told her that if she handed over the “little lucky star,” she’d be spared.
She’d been waiting for Shen Xiang ever since.
She knew her son—he was soft-hearted.
“Mom, you still want to hurt Ya-Ya? She’s just a baby!”
Shen Xiang tried to pull away, but Wang Fengqin tightened her grip. “Xiao Xiang, I’m not going to hurt her! I just want to scare your sister into letting me, your dad, and Liya go!”
“Do you really want to see us locked up? If something happens to us, what will you do? I can’t bear the thought of leaving you alone!”
She cupped his face. “Xiao Xiang, I promise—if your sister lets us go, the baby will be fine. And I’ll never bother her again.”
“She married into a powerful family. She’s ashamed of us—wants to cut ties. And she’s almost succeeded! We’ve learned our lesson. We can’t fight people like them.”
“Mom, that’s not true—”
“Xiao Xiang, you’re too young to understand. Your sister isn’t as gentle as she seems. She’s ruthless!”
Wang Fengqin cut him off. “She even sent her own father to prison! There’s nothing she wouldn’t do. From now on, stay away from her. And don’t think about asking your brother-in-law to get you into the military—common folks like us can’t afford to mess with those high-society types.”
“Do you hear me?”
She stared into his eyes, and when he didn’t answer, she played her final card.
“Xiao Xiang, if you still consider me your mother, you’ll listen to me.”
“But if you’re too ashamed to call me ‘Mom,’ then go ahead—follow your sister.”
“Mom, I’d never deny you! I just—”
“Then do as I say!” Wang Fengqin leaned forward. “Xiao Xiang, I’m your mother. A mother would never harm her own child!”
Shen Xiang was torn. Emotionally, he wanted to obey her. But logically, he knew better than to trust her words.
“Xiao Xiang, do I have to kneel and beg you?”
She made as if to drop to her knees. Horrified, Shen Xiang grabbed her arms. “Mom, don’t!”
“Xiao Xiang, you’re all I have left. If you abandon me, I might as well die!”
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “Or is that what you want?”
“Mom, how could you say that? I’d never want that!” Shen Xiang panicked.
“Being in here is worse than death. Xiao Xiang, save me! I’m begging you!”
Overwhelmed, Shen Xiang was on the verge of nodding when an officer walked in.
“Take her to the interrogation room,” he ordered the guards. “New evidence just came in.”
“Can’t even stay out of trouble in custody. First kidnapping, now child theft.”
Shen Xiang froze. “Uncle, what do you mean ‘child theft’?”
“Sixteen years ago, Wang Fengqin stole a baby from Renmin Hospital. The father found proof and came to report it.”
The officer studied Shen Xiang closely. “Huh. You look just like him.”
Shen Xiang stood there, stunned. His mind spun, fragments of something just out of reach flashing before him.
