Lu Quan walked into the study room. "Dad," he called out.
"Son, you are here," Lu Jiang snapped out of his thoughts, gesturing for him to have his seat.
"I found out something," Lu Quan informed him as soon as he took his seat.
Lu Jiang perked his ears up instantly. "What is it?"
"I think you should see it yourself," Lu Quan said, and pushed the document to him.
Lu Jiang stared at him for a while, before he picked up the document.
His eyes glanced through it, and with each word he read, his brows furrowed.
"She is not their biological daughter." Lu Jiang murmured.
"Yes dad. The person who gave me this information said they brought in Yue Ning twenty-one years ago, but he can’t recall the exact day." Lu Quan relayed.
"Do you think she is our daughter?" He asked staring at the document.
"There is a possibility. Dad, do you think we should get a DNA test done?" Lu Quan asked.
Lu Jiang hurriedly shook his head. "Not yet. I feel we should investigate the Yue couple, they might have something to say. Even if we want to get a DNA test done, we don’t have access to Yue Ning."
"I didn’t think of that," Lu Quan breathed out.
"It is not your fault. Just continue with the investigation," Lu Jiang instructed.
Two days passed by peacefully. Huo Feng’s and Yue Ning’s relationship improved during these two days. Yun Li also visited her bringing laughter and brightness into the house.
Even Yun Li and Huo Yan bonded over these past two days. After all, they had the same character.
Yue Ning now sat in her room, the sunlight filtering gently through the curtains. The bandages on her leg had been removed, leaving only faint scars as proof of her accident. She absently traced her fingers along them, her thoughts drifting.
The door creaked open, snapping out of her wandering thoughts.
"Mr. Huo?" she called softly with uncertainty evident in her voice.
Huo Feng stepped inside, holding a thin folder in his hand. "It’s me." He said, stepped in, and placed the file on the table.
Yue Ning’s gaze fell on the file, and her brows knitted slightly. "Is that...?"
He gave a short nod and set it on the table beside her bed. "You asked me to look into your background. I’ve started digging, but the results are inconclusive."
"Inconclusive?" Yue Ning repeated, her lips pressing together with her brows furrowed.
"There are no proper records before you entered the Yue household. Or rather, before you were born," Huo Feng explained briefly, his voice was filled with curiosity.
"Everything about you begins and ends with them. And even within their household, there are gaps. Too many." He finished.
Yue Ning lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the blanket. "So I really don’t belong to them."
It was just as she expected.
"That much seems likely," Huo Feng confirmed. His eyes softened as they lingered on her. "But as for who you really are—there’s nothing yet. It’s as if someone deliberately erased your past." His brows knitted as he said that.
Her heart sank at his words, though she forced a wry smile. "I thought I had prepared myself for this, but hearing it still feels... strange."
Huo Feng leaned closer, his tone firm. "Don’t carry this burden alone. Since you asked me to investigate, I’ll see it through. No matter what the truth is, I’ll find it for you."
Yue Ning looked up, startled by the quiet conviction in his voice. Her heart eased briefly at his words.
But the System’s voice resounded faintly in her mind, reminding her that the countdown on her mission was still ticking.
"Ning Ning." His voice was soft, and she lifted her misty eyes to meet his.
"We will find your real family. That’s a promise," he vowed firmly. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
"Thank you, Mr. Huo," Yue Ning said, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Uhn?" She blinked, feeling puzzled.
"Don’t call me Mr. Huo anymore. Call me Huo Feng," he corrected.
"Shh." His lips curved faintly, though his tone left no room for argument. "If you keep calling me that, I’ll take it as though you hate me."
Yue Ning hesitated, then whispered, "Huo Feng."
Her soft voice brushed against the air like a feather, and something stirred inside him. He swallowed hard, turning abruptly toward the door. "I’ll be in my study."
If he stayed longer, he feared he might cross a line he wasn’t ready to face.
Yue Ning’s heart skipped as she watched him leave.
Why did seeing him leave caused her to feel so unsettled.
’I knew it!’ the System suddenly exclaimed in her mind, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Her brows twitched. "What did you know?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her tone. Whenever there was excitement laced in the system’s voice, nothing good ever came out of it.
’Huo Feng is in love with you, that’s what I know!’ the System chirped with certainty.
Yue Ning nearly choked. "What nonsense are you spouting? Have you lost a few screws in your head?"
’I’m telling the truth. You might deny it, but deep down, you also sense it. He’s already falling for you—he just doesn’t realize it yet.’
"You must be joking," Yue Ning shot back mentally.
’I know what I’m seeing. And perhaps—you might also be falling in love with him.’
’When you’ve completed your mission, it might be too hard for you to return to your world since you’ll be in love with him.’
Yue Ning’s heart clenched. She recalled what the System had told her when it binded to her.
What choice would she make when that time came? She was at a loss.
Meanwhile, Huo Feng was heading to his study when a servant hurried over, bowing nervously.
"Young Master, someone pinned this outside the gate." He held out a single black rose, a small note tied to its stem.
Huo Feng’s steps slowed, his expression hardening. He took it, his fingers brushing the cold petals before unfolding the note.
His brows knitted as his eyes scanned the words: Huo Feng, enjoy your fleeting peace. The days ahead will be colder than you imagine.
A dangerous glint flickered in his gaze. He crushed the paper into his fist, the rose stem snapping in his grip.
Who dared to provoke him so openly? Could it be the mastermind behind the kidnapping?