Yang Heng sensed that the content of Jiang Cong's upcoming research was confidential, so he didn't ask any more questions. He obediently left the office, not wanting to bother Jiang Cong.
The office was deathly silent. Jiang Cong could only hear his own breathing, rising and falling.
Once he took this step, there would be no turning back. If the unexpected discovery proved Chen Er's innocence, it would be a happy ending for everyone. He wouldn't have to be troubled by this so - called secret buried deep in his heart every day.
But...
Jiang Cong frowned tightly. He subconsciously didn't want to face the worst outcome for both him and Chen Er.
Soon, the departure date was set.
Jiang Cong left three days in advance. Before his departure, Lan Heng came to see him off.
"Hey, you rascal! Why are you leaving so early? Do you have a sweetheart there and can't wait to go?" Lan Heng was making wild speculations on his own, with the fire of gossip blazing in his eyes.
After Jiang Cong completed the check - in procedures, he turned around, ignoring Lan Heng's gossiping guesses, and walked straight past him.
Lan Heng clearly wasn't willing to give up. He slyly leaned over to Jiang Cong's ear and whispered, "Jiang Cong, tell me secretly. I won't tell Chen Er. A good brother should have your back."
Jiang Cong's thin lips curled into a disdainful arc as he exposed Lan Heng's little scheme with a bit of a lecture, "Really? I bet you'll tell her as soon as I tell you. You'll stab me in the back."
Lan Heng was used to having a thick skin. He didn't take Jiang Cong's sarcasm to heart. Instead, Jiang Cong's evasive and secretive attitude made Lan Heng even more curious.
Lan Heng knew Jiang Cong very well. He was a typical upright and honest young man under socialism. Since he loved Chen Er, it was impossible for him to be attracted to other women.
But leaving early without even saying a word to Chen Er was really abnormal. Lan Heng thought so in his heart and blurted it out.
"Why didn't you tell Chen Er?" Lan Heng stroked his chin, trying to be like Detective Conan to find out the unknown truth behind Jiang Cong's secrecy.
A flash of light quickly passed through Jiang Cong's black eyes. His tone was extremely calm, but he inadvertently fed Lan Heng a whole basket of dog food, "I'm afraid it'll distract her from her studies. After all, lovesickness is bone - deep. How could I tell an outsider like you about the affection between us two?"
Lan Heng: "???" When did I become an outsider?
Lan Heng was so angry that he stamped his feet. He covered his chest with a hurt look on his face, "You! You heartless man! Have you forgotten who has been silently accompanying you?"
The airport broadcast announced that boarding was about to start. Jiang Cong pulled his suitcase, turned around, and quickly left without a trace.
Lan Heng, who was left behind, watched helplessly as Jiang Cong's figure disappeared at the boarding gate.
"Humph! If you dare to treat me like this, don't blame your brother for being ruthless!" Lan Heng took out his phone, looked at Chen Er's name in the contacts, and dialed the number with a mischievous smile on his face.
Lan Heng's timing was just right. Chen Er was in the school infirmary getting an IV drip because she didn't feel well. Her phone rang, showing that it was Lan Heng calling.
"What's up? Why are you calling me?" Chen Er asked suspiciously.
Lan Heng cleared his throat and exaggeratedly told Chen Er, "I don't know what's wrong with Jiang Cong. The research conference doesn't start for another three days, but he left today. Do you think he's going to see another woman behind your back? Chen Er, you're in a very dangerous situation!"
Hearing Lan Heng's nonsense, an alarm bell went off in Chen Er's heart. She pretended to ask casually, "Really? Then there must be something urgent for Jiang Cong to leave in such a hurry. Do you know where he's doing his research?"
These words sounded to Lan Heng like a wife caring about her husband's every move when he was away. He immediately let out a "heh" and said, "I heard he's going to a remote mountainous area in Shaanxi, near the Yellow River or something?"
Chen Er's mind immediately started to work. She didn't say much, just casually said "oh" and hung up the phone.
An idea flashed through Chen Er's mind. Her right hand subconsciously tightened on her school uniform pants.
Did Jiang Cong leave in such a hurry to go to her hometown to investigate Chen Huan's past?
Chen Er took a deep breath. The effect of the IV drip was gradually kicking in, and her mind was a bit muddled. She shook her head, forcing herself to stay awake.
If there was anyone in the village who knew the most about their family affairs, it was Lin Meifeng, her mother's older sister. When Chen Er's mother died in childbirth, her father wanted to strangle Chen Er on the spot.
It was Lin Meifeng who stepped forward, took the crying Chen Er away, and took her back to their hometown for a while.
But Lin Meifeng's family wasn't well - off. In that era, an extra mouth to feed meant an extra burden. Lin Meifeng's husband ordered her to send the child back.
At first, Lin Meifeng refused. She really wanted to take good care of the child left by her sister. But under the pressure of cruel reality, the empty rice jar reminded her of the increasingly difficult situation at home.
After sending Chen Er back, Lin Meifeng was worried and always wrote letters to care about her every now and then. Since Chen Er's father either beat or scolded her, he naturally didn't have the time to care about these inquiry letters.
It was Chen Huan who patiently replied to these greeting letters one by one. But later, these letters disappeared without a trace, just like stones sinking into the sea.
Lin Meifeng was afraid that something had happened to Chen Er. She took a train to Beicheng overnight and unexpectedly learned of Chen Huan's death.
Apart from her family, the only person Chen Er was close to was Lin Meifeng, who had only taken care of her for half a year but cared about her the most.
After the funeral, Lin Meifeng saw that Chen Er wasn't in a good state of mind and wanted to stay and comfort her so that she wouldn't keep brooding.
One night, Chen Er suddenly ran into Lin Meifeng's room, hugged her, and cried heart - rendingly, repeating, "Sister shouldn't have died. It was all that person's fault. He's the one who deserves to die the most."
Lin Meifeng wasn't stupid. From Chen Er's incoherent words, she learned that Chen Huan's death wasn't an accident.
"Chen Er, do whatever you want. Aunt will always be on your side. We can't let good people die unjustly, nor can we let bad people go unpunished!" Lin Meifeng tightly hugged Chen Er and comforted her firmly.
However, Lin Meifeng didn't know that instead of calling the police, Chen Er took matters into her own hands and killed the beast who had caused Chen Huan's death.
"Hello? Is that Aunt? It's Chen Er. How have you been lately?" Chen Er dialed the top - ranked phone number and leaned against the chair halfway because she felt weak.