Before leaving, Father Jiang generously tossed a card to Jiang Cong. "Go and pursue my future daughter-in-law properly. I don't want to worry about you when I'm this old."
Jiang Cong showed no sign of shyness. He smoothly took the bank card. After seeing his parents off on the plane, he immediately rushed back to Beicheng.
All he wanted was to be by Chen Er's side on New Year's Eve.
Even though he had a thousand kinds of deep affection, Jiang Cong didn't say it out. He just wanted to spoil the little girl subtly.
"Really? Jiang Cong, then I'll reluctantly let you stay with me for a few days." Hearing Jiang Cong's words, Chen Er felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey. How lucky she was to meet such a wonderful Jiang Cong.
Jiang Cong knew right away that Chen Er was indirectly inviting him to stay overnight.
Jiang Cong didn't consider himself a gentleman like Liu Xiahui. Even if he couldn't do anything substantial for now, just being with her was good enough. It was much more interesting than staying at home alone.
"Okay. What do you want to eat? I'll cook it." Jiang Cong stood up, walked into the kitchen, and skillfully tied on an apron.
"Dumplings. My dad used to make them for me occasionally." Chen Er mentioned her family in front of Jiang Cong for the first time. She leaned against the kitchen doorframe, with a complex look on her face.
"Okay." Jiang Cong quickly kneaded the dough, rolled out the wrappers, and prepared the filling.
Chen Er happily wrapped dumplings beside him, looking quite enthusiastic. Although some of the dumplings leaked because they were stuffed too full, and her little face was covered with flour.
Jiang Cong didn't interrupt Chen Er. She was just using this to remember those short, beautiful moments in the past.
"Okay, the dumplings are cooked. Come and eat." Jiang Cong turned off the stove and fished out the dumplings from the steaming water.
Actually, it was a stretch to call them dumplings. After being steamed at high temperature, they had turned into scattered, unidentifiable objects.
Chen Er didn't think there was anything wrong with them. She ate the dumplings on the plate one by one, with red eyes. "I want to drink."
Chen Er remembered the past. Although her father hated her for taking her mother's life when she was born, he would still cook her a plate of dumplings during his rare moments of sobriety.
At that time, there was no more fierceness on her father's face, but a faint hint of love. Chen Er loved this little bit of comfort so much that she clung to it tightly.
Even though her father beat and scolded her when he was drunk, even though her childhood was spent in pain and fear, Chen Er always told herself that at least she had a family and relatives in this world.
But...
Now, she was all alone. In this big house, there was only her.
Jiang Cong didn't say a word. He just changed his shoes and went out directly.
Finally, Chen Er couldn't help but sob softly. Her fingernails dug into the table tightly. "Sister, Dad, I really miss you so much..."
Just when Chen Er thought Jiang Cong had left, the doorbell rang again.
"I... I thought you had left..." Chen Er wiped away her tears randomly. Her voice was hoarse, and her nose was red from crying.
Jiang Cong felt so heart - ache. He wanted to pull the little girl who was pretending to be strong into his arms and comfort her well, but his reason stopped him.
"I went to buy some wine." Jiang Cong picked up the shopping bag and showed it to Chen Er.
Chen Er took the wine and weighed it. It was only the weight of two bottles. "Aren't you going to drink?"
Jiang Cong shook his head. He got the bottle opener and a wine glass, and poured a glass of wine for Chen Er. "I can't drink. Alcohol will slow down one's thinking and lead to wrong judgments."
Chen Er pursed her lips and shrugged helplessly. "Well, then I'll have to enjoy this fine wine all by myself."
Jiang Cong was worried that Chen Er didn't know her limits when drinking. If she drank too much, she would have a headache the next day. So he bought wines with low alcohol content and less after - effects.
Maybe Chen Er had been suppressing herself for too long. After a few glasses of wine, she started to cry and laugh, acting drunk.
"Tell me, is there really no one in the world who likes me? Am I really that bad?" Chen Er fell into deep self - doubt. She hung her head, and her voice sounded muffled.
Seeing that Chen Er was really drunk, Jiang Cong gently stroked her head. Her short hair was extremely soft. "How could that be? There's still me. I'll be with you."
Chen Er giggled. She scratched her head like a lovesick fool and said coquettishly, "Then let's pinky - swear. You're not allowed... not allowed to leave me! Don't leave me alone like my sister and dad did!"
Jiang Cong reached out his hand and made a serious pinky - swear with Chen Er.
Seeing this, Chen Er finally tilted her head contentedly and fell into a deep sleep, snoring softly.
Jiang Cong looked at the little drunkard sleeping soundly on the bed helplessly. Resignedly, he picked up Chen Er and, relying on his memory, found her bedroom.
The furnishings in the bedroom were very simple. Chen Er was precocious beyond her years. All the books on her desk were about psychological research.
When other girls were in the age of loving beauty, Chen Er simply tidied herself up, looking clean and neat.
Jiang Cong glanced at the books on the desk thoughtfully, turned off the light, tucked the quilt in for Chen Er, and tiptoed out.
In the living room, the TV was still on. Jiang Cong opened another door and walked into the room with the wall engraved with the word "he".
Jiang Cong didn't turn on the light. By the faint moonlight refracted through the window, he frowned and thought.
The fact that Chen Er read books on psychological research showed that she liked to study people's psychological behaviors. With her intelligence, she should have achieved a certain level.
In the case of Sheng Qingqiu before, Chen Er had briefly accompanied them to the investigation site. So, did Chen Er also make corresponding analyses and judgments at that time?
If Chen Er could make the same inferences as him at this age...
Jiang Cong's eyes flashed, and he withdrew his hand from the wall.
When he rescued Zhang Lu in the darkroom, the fire was obviously set by Ji Pei, and Ji Pei liked Chen Er.
If Chen Er knew people's psychology well enough, she must have subtly guided Ji Pei's actions. That was why Ji Pei didn't kill Zhang Lu to silence him for so long.
Chen Er's actions didn't have a substantial impact on the case. Instead, they provided room for him to rescue Zhang Lu.
But why did Chen Er know all this but not dare to say it?
Chen Er was completely innocent in this case. Even if she stated her series of inferences, she wouldn't get into any trouble.
But every time they reached a dead - end, there would always be a timely hint.
The white powder found in the alley where Chen Er was lying, and the message from that mysterious person.