Holda explained everything in detail.
Now that he had decided to fully surrender, the more he spoke, the stronger his hope that those people would be eradicated in one swift strike became.
After receiving enough information, Xie Youzhou turned on his phone and called the police.
“You’re not the police?!” Holda glared at him.
“I’m a police collaborator,” Xie Youzhou replied sternly. “You better not hold anything back.”
“How could I still have any reservations?” Holda scoffed, “My sister and I are as good as dead. Now, we’re entirely in the hands of your Hua Xia police.”
After saying this, Holda turned to Lin Zhiyu: “If all those people are arrested, will you be able to forgive me?”
Lin Zhiyu looked at Holda and asked, “Under what circumstances would you forgive someone who got you and your sister addicted to drugs?”
Holda was suddenly stunned. His throat felt as if it was blocked, and he couldn’t utter a word.
…
The police secretly took Holda away.
Since Xie Youzhou had reported everything directly to his superiors, this case became a major one, prompting the deployment of several members from the Special Forces Dragon Team.
This might be the last time Xie Youzhou would fight alongside his comrades in the Dragon Team—though his comrades were unaware of it, he couldn’t help feeling nostalgic.
However, the situation left no room for delay or hesitation. Xie Youzhou immediately secluded himself in his secret cabin, searching for any useful information.
At this point, only a few key members involved in the case knew anything substantial. To prevent information leaks, the other officers were informed that the newly arrested prisoner was as tight-lipped as the old man before him.
The case was far from being solved. After Lin Zhiyu handed the evidence over to the police, he returned to work.
However, he didn’t forget to repeatedly remind his father and sister to avoid buying random things off the street.
After narrowly escaping death, Lin Zhiyu focused more on his collaboration with Professor Bai Chunling regarding addiction treatment.
If a breakthrough is made, could people who became addicted to drugs due to someone’s malicious scheme be saved? Could countless families be freed from hell?
**
“What?!”
News of the two individuals’ failure and arrest soon reached Hortez, who was accompanying Ruan Jiaojiao, enjoying the breeze outside. Hortez glanced at the beauty beside him and suppressed his anger and hostility.
“Did they say anything they shouldn’t have?”
“No, no, they wouldn’t dare,” the person on the other end replied cautiously. “Master, according to our sources, they were trying to get Lin Zhiyu addicted to drugs because they saw how wealthy he would become. Right now, the Chinese police are getting ready to close the case.”
Hortez tossed the cigar between his fingers, reluctantly satisfied.
But only dead people truly say nothing.
“Whether they’ve said anything or not, I need them dealt with quickly.”
“Yes, Master! But… the Hua Xia police have been keeping a tight watch on the prisoners lately, and the security system has been upgraded. It’s more challenging than before. It’ll take more time and resources.”
A cold glint appeared in Hortez’s eyes. “No matter how much it costs, they need to be eliminated. And have Banda pick a few more men. When you head to Hua Xia, make sure not to draw attention.”
“Yes, Master.”
After giving his orders, Hortez gently woke Ruan Jiaojiao, who had fallen asleep in his arms.
“Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao… It’s getting late. Let’s go have dinner.”
Ruan Jiaojiao opened her eyes lazily and saw Hortez looking at her. The sky above was ablaze with fiery clouds, the brilliance surrounding him made him appear even more handsome and gentle.
Ruan Jiaojiao blushed, “Brother Hortez, did I fall asleep?”
“You slept very well, Jiaojiao. You smell so good. If I weren’t worried about you being hungry, I wouldn’t have had the heart to wake you,” Hortez said, gently brushing her hair from her forehead. “What would you like to eat tonight, Jiaojiao?”
She had been staying with him lately, while the Ruan family was scrambling to recover their finances. How could they properly care for her in such an environment?
Jiaojiao deserved to be raised by the best family in the world.
“I don’t feel like eating much. I want to take a walk by the lake. Will Brother Hortez come with me?”
“Of course, Jiaojiao. I’ll go wherever you want.” Hortez smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
He wanted to kiss her lips, but every time he tried to express his feelings, Jiaojiao would shyly pull away.
He didn’t want her to distance herself from him. Maybe the timing wasn’t right yet. One day, he would make Jiaojiao his completely.
Ruan Jiaojiao lowered her head shyly. A kiss on the forehead was acceptable, but anything deeper wasn’t. After all, they were just like siblings…
If only Lin Zhiyu had been this kind to her, things wouldn’t have reached this point.
Thinking of him, her eyes darkened. She didn’t know why, but lately, she couldn’t stop thinking about the person who had hurt her and her family.
Why did Lin Zhiyu suppress her and her family so much?
Maybe only when he disappeared completely would she be able to forget about him and finally heal those wounds…
Unfortunately, Ruan Jiaojiao’s wish did not come true. Not only did Lin Zhiyu not disappear, but he also received a piece of good news.
The house granted to Lin Zhiyu by the government was finally available, and he excitedly took Father Lin and Lin Zhaoqiu to see the new place.
Father Lin and Lin Zhaoqiu were even more thrilled and could barely contain their excitement during the trip.
When they arrived at the community, Lin Zhiyu showed his ID and the government documents and was granted entry.
“Hello, Professor Lin. As a new homeowner, please provide us with the ID numbers and other information for yourself and your family. We’ll prepare your access cards right away since they need to be linked to your details,” the staff member explained.
Lin Zhiyu nodded with a smile. “I’ll give you the information shortly. Can we see the house now?”
“Of course,” the staff member replied, leading the way.
The residential area for top talents was divided into eight zones: two for generals and military families, two for political families, three for the families of top scholars, and one reserved for others. Lin Zhiyu was assigned to Building 3, Unit 601, in District 6—an excellent location.
“The layout of Unit 601 is fantastic,” the staff member continued. “It has four bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and two bathrooms. The net indoor area, excluding the shared spaces, is 150 square meters. It also has a large balcony, 12 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, connecting the living room and the second bedroom. If you don’t like the current layout, Professor Lin, we can have someone modify it to your preferences.”
“Wow, this place is incredible!” Lin Zhaoqiu exclaimed, practically jumping with excitement.
Though their family owned a company, they only had one house, and it was under 100 square meters. When things were going well, her parents had planned to use the company’s savings to buy small homes for her and her brother, so they wouldn’t have to struggle when they got married. But before they could, their family was framed, the company went bankrupt, and they suffered one misfortune after another.
Remembering this, Lin Zhaoqiu’s expression briefly darkened, and she excused herself to the restroom. When she returned, her smile was back in place.
“Brother, can I have this second bedroom?” she asked, pointing to the north-facing room near the living room.
“Wouldn’t you prefer one of the two southern bedrooms?” Lin Zhiyu asked, looking at her kindly.
“The master bedroom is yours, the larger southern room is for Dad, and the smaller southern room can be used as a study,” Lin Zhaoqiu said, scratching the door frame. “I want the north-facing room. It’s the same size as your master bedroom, and it’s cooler. I don’t like rooms that are too sunny.”
“Okay, as long as you like it, I have no objections,” Lin Zhiyu replied, then looked at Father Lin. “But Dad should still have the master bedroom.”
Father Lin waved his hand dismissively. “Zhiyu, you take the master bedroom. You’re the pillar of the family now, the head of the household.”
“Dad, don’t say that.”
“It’s not arrogance; it’s the truth,” Father Lin said, patting his son on the shoulder. “Your sister and I are relying on you now. Okay?”
Lin Zhiyu smiled slightly. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”
The house was indeed excellent, with high-quality finishes. The only thing missing was furniture, but the water, electricity, wall paint, and hardwood floors were all complete.
“There’s no furniture yet, but home décor is our Lin family’s expertise,” Father Lin said, taking various tools from his bag and measuring the dimensions. “Tell me what style of furniture you two want, and I’ll take care of it.”
“I know, Dad,” Lin Zhaoqiu said quickly, resuming her inspection of the house for the nth time.
Lin Zhiyu watched his busy father and excited sister, his heart filled with contentment.
Suddenly, a figure rushed in from outside.
“Gege!”
A tall, sturdy man came in like a gust of wind and embraced Lin Zhiyu tightly, nearly knocking him over with the warmth of the hug. Before Lin Zhiyu or the others could react, Xie Youzhou let go, grinning.
“Gege, you’re really about to move in!”
“Aren’t you busy today?” Lin Zhiyu asked, raising his head slightly.
“We’re almost done. I just need to finish a few things tonight,” Xie Youzhou replied. “I’ll take you on a tour of the area later. It’s huge and has everything.”
“Is there a place to buy vegetables?” Father Lin asked.
“Of course! They sell everything here—pots, pans, clothes, shoes, and other daily essentials, all high-quality and safe. No one dares to cut corners on materials here,” Xie Youzhou assured him.
“That’s great—very convenient,” Father Lin said with a wide smile, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening.
“There’s more,” Xie Youzhou added. “Each zone has a building materials section and a canteen. Most of the residents here are very busy, so it’s common for them not to have time to cook. The food in the canteen is excellent.”
“There’s a canteen?!” Lin Zhaoqiu exclaimed, clasping her face in excitement. “I want to try the food there!”
“It’s around dinnertime now,” Lin Zhiyu said, looking at Xie Youzhou with a smile. “Xiaoyou, why don’t you take us there?”
“No problem.”
Meanwhile, Hortez’s men were heading to the Lin family’s original residence.
Yes, this was where Lin Zhiyu’s family had lived, but where were they now?
