Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 177

Chapter 177

Shen Zilin sat in the western restaurant, his attention divided. Half of it was on the smart watch on his left wrist, hidden under the table, the other half… on the two people before him, one old, one young.

He gripped his fork tightly, mechanically putting the steak his father had cut for him into his mouth, it tasted like sawdust.

“Zilin, try this chestnut cake, it’s their signature dish, the best ones are made with chestnuts harvested in autumn.” He Lanxi said with a smile, she picked up the cake plate and placed it closer to Shen Zilin.

Kind and generous, like a friendly aunt meeting a child for the first time.

Shen Zilin tried to respond politely, but his thank you still sounded a bit stiff.

He Lanxi’s smile softened, she turned to He Rongzheng and said, “Zilin is so well-behaved, I should bring my two little monkeys over to learn from him.”

“Zilin is a good boy, and Changchang and Suisui are also good children, don’t let them hear you say that.” He Rongzheng said seriously, looking at He Lanxi.

“Okay, okay, okay, I won’t say anything about them. With you protecting them, how would I dare to?” He Lanxi said, her smile widening, then she whispered, acting coquettishly, “If I had known that after Changchang and Suisui were born, you would only dote on them and not me, I wouldn’t have gotten married and had children so early.”

“Come on, who was the one who… ahem.” He Rongzheng said, remembering the two guests at the table, he stopped, turned to Shen Jianghe, and continued their earlier business discussion.

He Lanxi also stopped trying to steer the conversation towards family matters, she took a sip of water.

The light through the glass made the water sparkle, He Lanxi, as she lifted her glass, glanced at Shen Zilin, who was looking down, then, suppressing the surge of malice within her, she put down her glass, her face once again bearing a kind smile.

A few days ago, He Lanxi received the news that Wei Maomao’s mom from “Where’s Baby Going” Season 3 might be the person He Rongzheng was looking for, and now, Shen Jianghe and Shen Zilin, who were on the same show as Wei Maomao, came looking for them.

He Lanxi found it hard to believe this was a coincidence.

Over the years, she had seen all kinds of people bringing information, claiming to be the missing person. If it were someone else, she wouldn’t have taken it so seriously. But this time, it was Bai Lei.

Bai Lei, this person… putting aside her questionable taste in men, in other aspects, He Lanxi felt they were quite similar. Not good people, prioritizing their own interests, but not without reason.

It was just… Bai Lei being vague about the source of the information, it was a bit strange.

But regardless, because of Bai Lei, He Lanxi took this information very seriously.

This Zhang Shilan, she was easy to investigate, and yet… not so easy.

An author with several published books, He Lanxi, using the excuse of collaboration, easily obtained photos of Zhang Shilan from publishing houses she had worked with, along with some information from editors and staff.

And because of the recent hit film, He Lanxi received the behind-the-scenes footage from Wei Maomao’s roadshow, which included a clear shot of Zhang Shilan carrying Wei Maomao away. Honestly, whether it was from the photos or the video, He Lanxi didn’t think Zhang Shilan and He Rongzheng looked very much alike.

But Bai Lei was still very certain…

This past year, Bai Lei, for Cheng Rongrong’s sake, had asked He Lanxi for many favors. He Lanxi felt that even if she disregarded their past relationship, just based on Bai Lei’s current needs, she wouldn’t be playing pranks.

Sadly, the information about Zhang Shilan only went as far back as her being sent to the Many Stars Orphanage at the age of seven, the information from before that wasn’t so easily accessible.

For He Lanxi, the fastest way to confirm was, of course, a DNA test.

But that Zhang Shilan, she had people watching her apartment for almost ten days, and not only did Zhang Shilan not leave, even Wei Maomao didn’t…

During the National Day holiday, even if they didn’t travel, they should at least take the child out, right? What were they, cavemen? Or a family of mushrooms growing in a dark corner?

Thankfully, He Lanxi always had backup plans.

Wei Chengli, the only one in the Wei family who would leave the house during holidays, had already taken the person she sent back with him today. This also saved her the trouble of targeting the Experimental Kindergarten. After all… that Wei Maomao, who knew which powerful family she was reborn into, the only two convenient opportunities to get her hair, one was when she was being escorted to school by a crowd of children… the other was when she was being handed over to her parents by the teacher after school.

The security at kindergartens and elementary schools in this city was very tight; if He Lanxi wanted to send someone in, it would be too much of a hassle and too slow. Wei Chengli was much more convenient, in just a few days, she used him to gain access to their home.

With Zhang Shilan’s DNA almost in her grasp, and the related person right before her, He Lanxi, looking at Shen Jianghe and his son, felt they weren’t here for a simple social visit.

And just as He Lanxi was entertaining her guests, pretending to be relaxed, but actually listening intently to every word Shen Jianghe said, Shen Zilin’s smart watch, hidden under the table, with a newly applied privacy screen protector, lit up.

It was an unknown number, from one of the phones and SIM cards Shen Zilin had someone deliver to Cheng Tingyan.

[18xxxxxxxx6: Can you call?]

[Shen Zilin: No]

[18xxxxxxxx6: 3]

[18xxxxxxxx6: 2]

[18xxxxxxxx6: 1]

[Shen Zilin: Ringing]

[Shen Zilin: Girl answering]

Three minutes earlier…

At 6:20 PM, Cheng Tingyan, using the excuse of going to the bathroom, left the martial arts classroom, she retrieved her small bag from the locker room and quickly left the building, heading towards the small park behind it.

At 6:23 PM, Cheng Tingyan avoided the crowded areas of the park, walking slowly along a deserted path, trying to catch her breath, she took out the things Shen Zilin had someone deliver to her a few days ago from her bag.

Question, answer, it was a pre-arranged plan with Shen Zilin, they had even rehearsed it.

The good news was, as soon as she made the call, Shen Zilin’s phone rang.

The bad news was, it was a woman’s voice on the other end, based on the message Shen Zilin sent after meeting with the head of the He family at 6 PM, it should be He Lanxi, the head of the He family’s niece, the person Cheng Tingyan wanted to avoid the most.

In the restaurant, Shen Zilin watched as the old man took out his ringing phone from his pocket, just as he was about to answer, the aunt next to him reached out and offered to take the call.

And the old man… just gave it to her!

Shen Zilin, unable to control himself, stabbed his fork through the steak, the clinking sound of the fork against the plate made him break out in a cold sweat.

Thankfully, almost at the same time, Shen Jianghe put down his glass a bit too forcefully, the muffled sound covering the clinking of the fork and plate, Shen Zilin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“Hello? Hello?” He Lanxi said, glancing at the father and son, who had made those strange noises almost simultaneously, she stood up and said to He Rongzheng, lowering her voice, “The signal here isn’t good, I’ll go outside to answer.”

Shen Zilin, his head lowered, continued to eat his steak, but his hand under the table moved swiftly, he sent a message, then he suddenly realized that Cheng Tingyan, who was talking to the aunt, could hear it.

And Cheng Tingyan did hear it.

“I’m looking for He Rongzheng.”

“I’ll only talk to He Rongzheng himself.”

…

On the other end of the phone, He Lanxi offered polite explanations and introductions, but Cheng Tingyan, after saying just two sentences, hearing that they wouldn’t put He Rongzheng on the phone, immediately hung up.

Should she try again, or move on to Plan B…

Cheng Tingyan walked slowly along the path, she decided to try again.

This call wasn’t entirely in vain.

At least it proved two things. The contact information on the website was indeed for the head of the He family. And the old man, whom He Lanxi constantly complained about in her previous life, still trusted his niece very much.

In the restaurant, Shen Zilin, after finishing his steak, started eating his fries.

What he ate wasn’t important; what mattered was that chewing calmed his anxiety. Time ticked by, he was worried that the aunt, having taken the phone, wouldn’t come back.

Thankfully… she did.

“The signal was bad, I couldn’t hear clearly, I only said a few words, then the call dropped.” He Lanxi said, sitting down, she placed the phone face down on the table.

“Man or woman?” He Rongzheng asked in a low voice, concerned.

“A man, sounded like he was in his forties or fifties.” He Lanxi said, she wouldn’t lie about something so easily exposed.

Not hearing clearly and not hearing at all were two different things.

[Shen Zilin: She’s back, you can call.]

[18xxxxxxxx6: 1]

…

The phone rang again, He Lanxi immediately pressed her hand on it and stood up. “I’ll go out…”

“Auntie!” Shen Zilin shouted, although he didn’t know what Cheng Tingyan was planning, the plan was clear, she wanted to talk to the old man himself, seeing that the aunt was about to take the phone and leave again, Shen Zilin couldn’t help himself.

He Lanxi, who had already stood up, froze and turned around.

“Auntie, you’re busy, let her answer the call, Dad will go and get you a new slice of chestnut cake.” Shen Jianghe said, patting Shen Zilin’s hand, he smiled at He Lanxi. “The chestnut cake here is truly delicious.”

“It’s fine, Lanxi, you go and order, besides the chestnut cake, get a few other kinds too.” He Rongzheng said, reaching out to He Lanxi. “I’ll answer the call.”

He Lanxi looked at the number on the screen, it was the same one from earlier… She gripped the phone tightly, very tightly, but she couldn’t crush it with her bare hands.

This phone, she received a few calls on it every week, she had answered many of them, they were all spam calls.

The timing today was just a coincidence, that’s why she wanted to prevent it… She shouldn’t let a spam call damage her image. He Lanxi quickly adjusted her mood.

“Right, I’ll go.” He Lanxi said with a smile, she slowly placed the phone in He Rongzheng’s hand.

But even if she slowed down, the ringing didn’t stop.

“Hello?” He Rongzheng said clearly.

Shen Zilin frantically typed on his smartwatch: [It’s him, he said hello, it’s you now, right?]

He Lanxi walked slowly; she wanted to hear what the man who insisted on talking to He Rongzheng wanted to say.

Then, in the next second, she heard the thunder that had been hanging over her head for over thirty years.

“Meng, the Meng in ‘Ming Min as a secret code’!” He Rongzheng said excitedly, standing up abruptly.

“Uncle.” He Lanxi said instinctively, wanting to approach him, but He Rongzheng waved her away.

“Is it, in those words, did you want me to choose this!” He Rongzheng said, clutching the phone as if it were his lifeline.

Shen Jianghe put down his knife and fork and glanced at his empty chestnut cake plate.

So, this matter, it was almost over, right?

He Rongzheng had completely forgotten about his guests, his niece, everything other than the phone in his hand.

In the spacious private room, He Rongzheng paced back and forth like an old ant, excitedly comparing notes with the fortune teller on the other end of the phone, details only they knew.

In the small park, Cheng Tingyan, wearing a mask and using a voice changer, finally had the confirmation she needed.

The voice on the other end of the phone was an old man’s tearful plea, begging for forgiveness, asking for a meeting.

Cheng Tingyan wasn’t trying to torment him, she asked so many questions just to confirm a few things.

And now, she could finally say it.

“I’m truly not the person you’re looking for; I’m just an ordinary fortune teller. You’ve done many good deeds over the years, we’re fated, I’ve done a few readings for you. I’ve calculated the most likely person you’re looking for, I can tell you, but before that, I have another reading for you.” Cheng Tingyan said, looking at the artificial lake in the distance, her eyes darkening. “Don’t speak, don’t make a sound, if you accidentally reveal what I’m about to say, your family might be in great danger.”

The old man on the other end of the phone, who had been rambling non-stop, fell silent. After a moment, she heard a muffled, questioning sound.

“There are two people who might harm the person you’re looking for. If I can help you find her, I believe you’ll also trust my judgment about these two problematic people, right?” Cheng Tingyan asked, confirming again.

The response she received was a firm, muffled sound.

“These two, they might not have done anything yet, but they will. I hope you can protect the person you’ve been searching for so diligently.” Cheng Tingyan said, biting her lip under her mask. “Don’t make a sound. One is named He Lanxi, the other is Bai Lei.”

The old man on the other end didn’t make a sound, Cheng Tingyan even felt that for a moment, even his breathing stopped.

“Can you remain suspicious of them and protect the person you’re looking for?” Cheng Tingyan couldn’t help but ask.

In the western restaurant, He Rongzheng, who had been shedding tears, wiped his face, he glanced at the three people in the private room, he didn’t even dare to look at He Lanxi.

If it were when he first received this call, if the person on the other end had said such things, mentioned He Lanxi’s name, he definitely wouldn’t have believed them.

But now, they had mentioned too many things, too many coincidences…

Whether they were truly a fortune teller or… the person he was looking for, they were the most important person to him now.

He wouldn’t question them, they hadn’t even told him where to find the person he was looking for!

“I can.” He Rongzheng said again, even though He Lanxi, just a few steps away, was looking at him with concern, he said firmly, “I definitely will, I’ll do it immediately, I can definitely do it!”

His aged voice, no longer filled with sadness and despair, was now powerful and resolute.

Cheng Tingyan felt that this was the best outcome she could achieve.

And so, He Rongzheng finally received the information he had been longing for, for so many years. She was… in the same city…

He didn’t dare to ask for a pen and paper, he didn’t dare to repeat it out loud, he just silently repeated it in his mind, then, finally, he asked for confirmation. “After the call, can you send the information to this number as a text message?”

Of course.

“This is our last conversation, I’ve told you the result of the reading, our fate is over.” Cheng Tingyan said, then hung up. She quickly typed Zhang Shilan’s address and sent it as a message, then removed the SIM card from the phone, walked a short distance, and threw it into the artificial lake.

He Rongzheng stared at the message on his phone; he didn’t even have time to ask about the fee…

“Mr. He? I didn’t want to interrupt earlier, I apologize.” Shen Jianghe said, standing up. “Do you have something… Should we take our leave? We can continue our conversation another time.”

“Yes, yes, yes. I apologize, I have some matters to attend to, next time, let’s meet again next time.” He Rongzheng said, waving them away dismissively, his mind elsewhere.

Shen Jianghe reached out to pull his son, whom he couldn’t pull away earlier when He Rongzheng was losing his composure.

Mmm, good, this time, he moved.

Shen Jianghe and his son hurriedly left.

He Lanxi saw them off at the door, after calming herself down, she returned to the private room with a smile.

“Uncle, you were so excited earlier, did you get any news about my aunt?” He Lanxi asked, walking towards He Rongzheng, who was sitting on the sofa, her voice laced with anticipation.

“It’s hard to say, there are many scammers nowadays, but there’s a possibility, I’ll investigate it.” He Rongzheng said vaguely, typing rapidly on his phone.

He Lanxi: “…“

Just a possibility? She had never seen He Rongzheng lose his composure like that before…

That flushed face, those tears, those whispered words… would he act like that if he thought it was a scammer?

What?

Just because there was a lead about the real person, she, the niece who had been a substitute for over thirty years, was no longer trusted?

That heartless old man!

Just as He Lanxi was trying to casually approach the sofa and see what He Rongzheng was doing, the old man suddenly looked up.

“I’ve forwarded the message to you, go and check this person’s background, see if she could be the one I’m looking for.” He Rongzheng said, holding up his phone.

He Lanxi took out her phone and opened the message. “Zhang Youyi, someone from Cangshan City?”

“Mmm, it sounded quite convincing. Help me investigate.” He Rongzheng said gently.

“Okay, I’ll go now.” He Lanxi said, she casually scrolled through her phone and saw the message about failing to obtain Zhang Shilan’s hair, she wasn’t even angry.

The important thing was, her uncle still trusted her, she still had a chance.

Zhang Youyi, you better not be that person!