Chapter 174

Words : 1484 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

It’s unclear whether it was Ji Nian’s almost identical conditions or the fact that he could personally keep an eye on the child at school that swayed him. Unexpectedly, Ji Tingzhou agreed. Thus, the subsequent events unfolded: Ji Tingzhou took everyone away, leaving Ji Nian behind. In reality, it was a body double who left, while the real Ji Tingzhou went to elementary school. He particularly disliked the little black child Ji Nian had sponsored. If it weren’t for Zhi Le stopping him, he might have done something to bully the child. When Teacher Li finally fell for the illusion they had created—that Ji Nian had seemingly been abandoned—Wei Yang, chewing on a blade of grass, immediately reported the situation. Chen Mo, who was in on the plan, rushed over as well. But halfway there, the shameless Ji Tingzhou stole Chen Mo’s wheelchair, causing the old man to miss the excitement. Ji Nian had originally intended to follow Teacher Li to see where he would take her, but her father clearly disagreed. The rustling in the grass was a warning to her. Moreover, she keenly noticed that Teacher Li seemed to be acting on his own, especially since he had a weakness. This made their previous plan unworkable. So, she decided to go along with the ruse and let Ji Tingzhou and the others capture him. Back at home, as compensation for Ji Tingzhou taking Chen Mo’s wheelchair, Ji Nian decided to let Chen Mo stay overnight. Chen Mo happily agreed. Then, Ji Nian happily went off to find her father. “Dad, Teacher Li has a sister who’s been poisoned. We can use this to our advantage—offer to cure her and coax him into telling us what he knows.” “They use poison to control people; we can use the antidote to get what we want.” After being oppressed for so many years, how could Zhao Heng not harbor hatred? This approach would likely yield more information than harsh interrogation and save time. However, Ji Tingzhou merely glanced at her. “Are you talking to me?” Ji Nian blinked. “Yes, of course.” Was there a second father here? Ji Tingzhou smiled faintly at her. “Sorry, but ‘Cool Head’ doesn’t understand human speech.” Ji Nian: “......” He’s still mad. “Dad, I meant ‘cool head’ as in a cool, stylish head, abbreviated as ‘Cool Head.’” “How could you misunderstand it as ‘underwear’?” Ji Nian widened her eyes, feigning shock as she looked at him, her face full of confusion. Her lips quivered, and her emerald-green eyes glistened with unshed tears, droplets clinging to the corners of her eyes. “Dad, how could you misunderstand me?” Seeing the child on the verge of tears, Ji Tingzhou: “......” Could it really be that he had misunderstood? “Why are you crying?” He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, lowering his voice. “I’ll give you one more chance. Reevaluate my hairstyle.” Ji Nian immediately stopped crying and said solemnly, “A divine appearance, every strand of hair like a masterpiece carved by a top-tier artist. When it sways gently in the wind, it perfectly complements Dad’s flawless face. And when it’s still, it gives off a different vibe, making people unconsciously wonder where this haircut came from. Then it hits them: it’s not the hairstyle that makes the person, but the person who makes any hairstyle look good.” The long string of compliments finally smoothed out the wrinkles in Ji Tingzhou’s heart. Only after Ji Nian finished did he pinch her mouth shut. “Alright, you’re rambling.” Then he called someone over and instructed them to negotiate with the half-dead Teacher Li based on what Ji Nian had just said. After not seeing her for a few days, the child seemed to have become clingy. Wherever Ji Tingzhou went, she followed like a little tail. Whenever Ji Tingzhou turned around, she would flash him a smile brighter than the sun. Though he told her to go play on her own, Ji Tingzhou secretly enjoyed it, the corners of his lips curling imperceptibly. Zhi Le and Wei Yang exchanged a glance. Wei Yang whispered, “They’ve completely made up, right?” “Yeah, they can’t stay mad at each other.” Zhi Le was calm, as if he had expected this all along. Wei Yang asked, puzzled, “Why is that?” He had been terrified when Ji Nian ran away from home. Watching the pair in the hallway—the little one tripping, and the older one, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, reaching out to catch her with precision—Zhi Le’s eyes held a hint of amusement. “Guess.” Wei Yang: “......” That’s why I’m asking! ... Though Teacher Li had been struck down by a powerful shot and even had an arm torn off, he was still alive... Miraculously ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍alive. “Just kill me. I won’t say anything.” He had acted on his own, and the organization wouldn’t save him. Even if he had followed orders and still been captured, no one would come to his rescue. He spoke weakly, looking at the person in charge of interrogating him. The man before him was expressionless, staring at him as if he were a lifeless piece of meat. “Zhao Heng, 30 years old, from Liuxing County. Your sister, Zhao Ge, is 15. The two of you disappeared ten years ago and are currently living in City B...” Zhao Heng, also known as Teacher Li, was momentarily surprised that they had uncovered his identity, but he showed no further emotion. That was until the man pulled out a phone and dialed a number. After two rings, a weak voice came from the other end: “Brother...” Hearing this voice, Zhao Heng’s breathing became heavy. He struggled, the pain in his body contorting his face. “Xiao Ge!!” The call was disconnected. Zhao Heng’s voice broke. “What are you going to do to my sister...?” Because of the deadly poison in their bodies, the only way to get the antidote or even a pain reliever was to work for the organization. That’s why they weren’t afraid of Zhao Heng running away and allowed him to keep his sister with him. This time, he hadn’t brought Zhao Ge along. If he was captured, the organization would likely abandon Zhao Ge, but that was still better than her ending up in danger like him. But he hadn’t expected... the Ji family to act so quickly! Wait, no... With great effort, he squeezed out a question, his eyes locked on the man before him. “You knew who I was from the very beginning?” So they had taken control of Zhao Ge at the same time they captured him, or even earlier!? “Yes.” Zhao Heng wondered why they had toyed with him for days. Why hadn’t they captured him sooner? At this, the man’s expression shifted slightly. His tone, previously rigid, now carried a hint of resignation. “As for that...” “It’s because our young miss wanted to play a game, and the family head had no choice but to indulge her.” Zhao Heng was too stunned to speak. This was absurd... Utterly absurd. His earlier assumption that Ji Tingzhou didn’t care much for Ji Nian now seemed like a joke. “Let my sister go... I’ll tell you everything I know.” “That won’t do.” Zhao Heng’s throat filled with the taste of blood, his eyes wide with fury. The man continued, “We’ll cure your sister. In exchange, besides telling us everything, you’ll have to do one more thing.” Hearing the word “cure,” Zhao Heng’s breath hitched. “So...” His eyes burned with a desperate hope. If they could cure her, did that mean his earlier speculation... The man thrust his hand into Zhao Heng’s wound, twisting it. Zhao Heng nearly passed out from the pain, his body convulsing. The man said coldly, “Who do you think you are, daring to speculate about our young miss?” “If you keep thinking nonsense, I’ll tear off your sister’s arm too.” “No... no... please, I was wrong.” Fear and pleading filled Zhao Heng’s eyes. The man slowly withdrew his hand and wiped the blood off with a cloth. “If it weren’t for the young miss’s kindness, you’d be waiting for your sister in hell.” With that, he turned and left the rest to his colleagues. As soon as he stepped outside and saw the child sitting on a chair, counting the patterns on her father’s clothes, he instinctively hid the hand that wasn’t fully cleaned behind his back. Ji Nian looked up and smiled at him. “Uncle Right Two, is it done?” The man, who had been as expressionless as a robot, forced an awkward smile. “Yes.”

Chapter 174

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