Chapter 5

“Ms. Lin disappeared for five years. As soon as she came back, she took the studio from Niannian. She said Niannian’s sister would be a single mother and needed money to raise her child, so she wanted to give her the studio.”

“Niannian looked ready to cry, but she still signed. After Ms. Lin and her sister took over, they ran it badly and found cheap suppliers. When things went wrong, they blamed everything on Niannian.”

Li wiped at her tears.

“You’re her husband. You posted an apology on her behalf, and she was attacked because of it. How dare you come here and ask where she is?”

Jin’an opened his mouth. No defense came out.

Li glared at him and picked up her box to leave.

As if waking from a dream, he hurried to stop her.

“Do you still have the purchase records?”

She looked at him for a few seconds.

Finally, she handed him a folder.

7

Jin’an examined the documents.

One required Chunian to withdraw from the studio’s operations immediately and refrain from any future involvement.

There was also the list of suppliers she’d left behind.

Yunshu had signed agreements terminating every one of their contracts.

Jin’an closed his eyes and took the folder to Lin Qian.

He threw it onto the table.

“We agreed, didn’t we? As long as Niannian didn’t hurt Yunshu, she could keep the studio. Why did you take it from her?”

No one knew better than he did how much Chunian had put into it.

Lin Qian stared at the agreement without speaking.

“And why did you frame her? After she left, you dropped every old supplier and signed termination agreements. Why lie to me and say she introduced the replacements?”

Lin Qian looked up sharply.

“I didn’t! She couldn’t tolerate anyone else. She deliberately recommended bad suppliers to Shushu.”

“Is that what Yunshu told you?”

Lin Qian nodded.

They exchanged a glance, both sensing something wrong.

Lin Qian sprang up.

“I don’t believe Shushu would lie to me. Come on. We’ll confront her.”

Jin’an agreed.

They drove home.

As they opened the door, they heard Yunshu asking her parents in panic.

“Dad, Mom, what am I going to do? The man who hit my sister has been arrested. The police are investigating. If they find out I bought those fake, substandard products, that I caused his baby’s death, I’ll go to prison!”

Jin’an and Lin Qian’s eyes met.

Without a word, they stayed out of sight.

Inside, her mother reassured her carelessly.

“It’s all right. Everyone thinks your sister did it. Why would they suddenly suspect you?”

She paused.

“At worst, we’ll tell your sister to take the blame. She won’t dare refuse.”

Shock filled both their faces.

Mrs. Xu could say such a thing so lightly.

Lin Qian could bear no more. She rushed out.

“Shushu, why did you do this?”

“You said you wanted to run the studio well and prove yourself. That’s why I gave you control. I told you to use Niannian’s old suppliers. Why did you change them without telling me and then frame her?”

Yunshu went pale, but stubbornly defended herself.

“Qianqian, I didn’t. My sister really did give me those suppliers.”

Jin’an’s face darkened.

He took out his phone and played a recording Li had just sent.

Every word proved Yunshu was responsible.

She had no answer.

Crying, she explained, “I didn’t mean to. I was frightened. I was afraid I wouldn’t be as good as my sister, that everyone would be disappointed. That’s why I thought of this.”

She stood.

“I… I’ll go and apologize to her.”

Jin’an closed his eyes.

“No need.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Niannian is missing. No one knows where she is.”

Lin Qian’s voice rose in shock.

“What?”

8

A barely visible smile touched Yunshu’s lips, though her face still looked panicked.

Jin’an watched her, his mind clearer than it had ever been.

“Yunshu, if you do something wrong, you must bear the consequences. After the baby is born, you’ll receive the punishment you deserve.”

“I’ll help compensate the victims. But you, I, all of us—we cannot put this on Niannian.”

Lin Qian hurried to add, “Shushu, I’ve helped you so many times and hurt Niannian so many times for your sake. After this, I’ve repaid the debt I owed you for saving my life. From now on, I won’t help you anymore.”