Guo Yingying studied English and had translated numerous medical journals, so she was sure about the medical terms, like the one for oxytocin—she wouldn’t get that wrong.
She wasn’t sure why her brother Guo Tiandi had such drugs in his bag. She hadn’t thought much of it until she heard that He Saibing was pregnant, and almost instantly, she connected the dots.
Oxytocin accelerates uterine contractions, commonly used before medically induced abortions. If the dosage is high enough, it could directly cause a miscarriage.
Why would her brother have these drugs in his bag for He Saibing? Why would he want He Saibing to have a miscarriage? Was her brother responsible for He Saibing’s disappearance?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She realized that since moving to the sanatorium, she had been losing touch with her brother, gradually drifting apart, not even knowing what he was busy with all day.
She grabbed her phone and dialed Guo Tiandi’s number, but the call went unanswered until it hung up automatically.
She waited a while, but there was no callback.
In the past, Guo Tiandi always answered her calls swiftly, never letting the phone ring more than three times. If he missed a call, he’d quickly call back.
Using the phone number provided by Guo Yingying, Zhao Yunzhi managed to contact Guo Tiandi, asking for his cooperation in the investigation. Guo Tiandi said he was out of town looking for Guo Yingying’s parents and couldn’t return to B City anytime soon. Further attempts to contact him were met with no response.
Meng Jin asked Zhao Yunzhi to notify Jennie Yang to come to the station for a blood sample. Jennie Yang cooperated and agreed to come the next day.
“She didn’t seem nervous at all,” observed Zhao Yunzhi. “She asked why we needed her blood, and I vaguely mentioned it was for the investigation.”
Meng Jin nodded, wondering how to obtain Liu Er’s sample. Liu Er’s body had been cremated, and the samples previously collected from the body were worthless. They had to collect new samples.
Not entirely worthless, though—they could at least test if Liu Er had suffered from congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Meng Jin called Dr. Jin, only to learn that the samples from Liu Er had been taken by Jennie Yang’s secretary right after the case was closed.
It was rare for family members to specifically collect a deceased’s samples from the forensic department. Jennie Yang not only took the samples but did so as soon as the case was closed. Why the rush?
It seemed like she was trying to destroy evidence after committing a crime.
They would first compare the DNA of Jennie Yang and Guo Tiandi. Since Guo Tiandi was traveling with a reunion team and out of reach, they had to track his movements online. He was currently in Longcheng.
Zhao Yunzhi closely monitored the situation, suddenly clenching his fists in excitement, “This time it’s promising; Guo Yingying’s biological parents have indeed been found, and Guo Tiandi is about to meet them.”
Meng Jin glanced through the rearview mirror and saw a bizarre scene: Zhao Yunzhi holding his phone, staring intently at the screen, munching on snacks non-stop, while Long De fed him like feeding a kitten.
Meng Jin made a snap decision to go to Longcheng.
Longcheng, located at the border, adjacent to northern Myanmar, connected by mountains and rivers, is a vital gem trading hub and a transshipment point for trade between the two countries.
Due to its beautiful scenery and more developed economy compared to Myanmar, Longcheng is highly attractive to the people of Myanmar, breeding a thriving smuggling industry with hundreds attempting to cross the border each year.
If that phone call had already alarmed Guo Tiandi, he might be planning his escape.
After filing a report, buying plane tickets, and preparing, they contacted the Longcheng police. By the time they arrived in Longcheng, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
Before leaving, Meng Jin had a meal with Tang Xiaoguo, asking her to check more often on his mother, Mrs. Luo, whose health was deteriorating. Mrs. Luo was a strong-willed woman, stubbornly enduring her illness, but she was spending more time in bed.
Tang Xiaoguo overcharged him during the meal, but agreed readily.
Suddenly, from her hearty laughter, he glimpsed sunlight, unlike his life, which was like a dark, damp marsh accustomed to being shrouded in gloom. Yet, he yearned for the warmth of the sun.
Tang Xiaoguo was like a ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds. Initially blinding, but gradually her warmth felt comforting. Meng Jin wasn’t sure if he genuinely liked her, or if it was because Mrs. Luo liked her.
He decided he would propose to her after the case was closed.
Long De was paying his own way, approved to accompany Meng Jin and Zhao Yunzhi. Having lived abroad for years, he was somewhat out of touch with domestic life, not having linked his WeChat to a bank card, habitually using his credit card for shopping and dining, which sometimes led to light-hearted teasing from shopkeepers. Zhao Yunzhi ended up being his walking ATM, his modest salary bearing the brunt, though fortunately, he came from a wealthy family.
After a quick meal at the airport, the trio proceeded to find Guo Tiandi. Zhao Yunzhi kept an eye on online updates, suddenly cheering, “Success, the match is confirmed. Guo Yingying’s biological parents have been found.”
The reunion team arranged for Guo Tiandi to meet Guo Yingying’s biological parents at a hotel.
The hotel was swarmed by media, making it virtually impenetrable. To avoid startling the crowd and causing panic, the police did not enter the hotel but set up surveillance around it, planning to arrest Guo Tiandi as soon as the reunion event ended.
The internet buzzed with the news of Guo Tiandi’s search for his sister’s parents, garnering mixed reviews. Some praised him as a model brother, while others speculated he was trying to shirk responsibility.
In response, Guo Tiandi explained that finding their parents had always been Guo Yingying’s wish. He regretted not having helped her sooner, especially after her disability, which deepened his remorse. He was determined to take action.
He even openly admitted that he had intended to pressure Jennie Yang into assisting with the search. The crazy journalist who attacked Jennie Yang had indeed been “influenced by him.” He stated that to fulfill his sister’s wish, he would do anything, grateful beyond words for the netizens’ overwhelming support.
Watching Guo Tiandi’s emotional speech, Zhao Yunzhi cursed him as a hypocrite. Guo Tiandi knew well that Guo Yingying had been abandoned and had no desire to find her parents. His true motive was to shift the blame, shamelessly reversing black and white.
Finally, an elderly couple appeared at the reunion site, seemingly honest and simple, in their fifties with black hair interspersed with white, their faces bearing the marks of hardworking people, indistinguishable from millions of other parents who toil for their children. It was hard to imagine they would abandon their young daughter.
Did they have an unspeakable reason? Looking economically average, perhaps they were burdened by financial troubles and wanted to rid themselves of a heavy burden.
Meng Jin suddenly understood why Guo Yingying was devastated upon hearing that her brother was helping her search for their parents. She felt she was being abandoned again. Having been abandoned once was a lifelong trauma, and now she was facing it again.
What made her even more despairing was her belief that she was merely a burden, a nuisance. First abandoned by her parents, then by her brother, treated this way by everyone—it must be her fault. She couldn’t blame her parents or her brother. If anyone was to blame, it was her own ill fate.
When she was first abandoned, her body was still somewhat healthy, though she had a heart condition, and her brother had accepted her. Now, blind and deaf, who would want her? It was a miracle to encounter one savior, let alone hope for a second.
Meng Jin and his team squeezed into the reunion venue, hiding in an inconspicuous corner, uncertain if Guo Tiandi would appear.
Finally, Guo Tiandi arrived, albeit late. Before he even showed up, the venue erupted in thunderous cheers, welcoming him like a hero returning from battle, granting him the highest honor.
Guo Tiandi was tall, and if not for the ugly scar on his face, he would have been the dream lover of many girls.
Guided by the emcee, Guo Tiandi and Guo Yingying’s parents hugged and cried, the crowd cheering unanimously, the atmosphere reaching its climax, a scene of joy and harmony.
Suddenly, a man’s scream startled everyone. Initially, it was hard to pinpoint the source of the sound. People looked around, searching, their gazes circling the venue several times before focusing on the stage.
The scream came from Guo Tiandi. He raised his arm to look, his expression one of horror. Strangely, he held up his arm, his head twisted at an odd angle, mouth agape, trying to bite at something on his arm.
Meng Jin and his team, hidden in the corner, couldn’t see clearly what was happening on stage. People in the back also couldn’t understand the situation and stood up, stretching their necks to see, gradually moving forward to get a closer look, soon surrounding the stage.
Someone exclaimed, “He’s been bitten by a snake!”
Chaos ensued on stage, Guo Tiandi’s face turning pale as he collapsed like a noodle. Someone called for an ambulance, while others shouted and pointed at Guo Yingying’s parents, accusing them as they tried to flee through the crowd, only to be caught and pinned to the ground.
The snake that had bitten someone had escaped, but fortunately, someone had seen it clearly and recognized it as a white-helmet snake.
Guo Tiandi was rushed to the nearest hospital, but unfortunately, the hospital lacked the specific antivenom. The doctors managed basic treatment and contacted a hospital in Myanmar that still had the last vial of antivenom.
Guo Tiandi had to be transferred to Myanmar for antivenom treatment immediately, or his life was at risk.
The Longcheng police, collaborating with Meng Jin, took custody of Guo Tiandi, waiting for Meng Jin’s decision on whether to let him go to Myanmar.
He had only six hours.
Meng Jin suspected that Guo Tiandi might use this as a chance to flee and never return to China. Since China and Myanmar had no extradition agreement, capturing Guo Tiandi once he entered Myanmar would be extremely difficult.
Moreover, the details of Guo Tiandi’s crimes were still unclear. Even if they were clarified later, finding him in Myanmar would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Yet, without sending him to Myanmar, his death was certain.
Guo Yingying’s parents remained tight-lipped, even under intense interrogation. Why did they bring a poisonous snake to the reunion? Why attempt to murder Guo Tiandi? Did they have antivenom? Were they colluding with Guo Tiandi? Were they trying to help him escape?
Their response to all questions was silence.
Time ticked away, and Guo Tiandi’s fate was in Meng Jin’s hands.
