At night, Wen Ke had already left, returning to her place near the police station. Mianmian cuddled in Shi Su’s arms, acting cute to coax her into telling a bedtime story, insisting on falling asleep only after hearing one. Finally finishing the Sleeping Beauty story, Mianmian still showed no signs of sleepiness, her little head nestled against Shi Su’s chest, determined not to sleep. Upon hearing Shi Su’s phone beep, Mianmian discreetly raised her eyes to peek. It was a WeChat message from Wen Ke: [I’ve arrived. You and Mianmian should rest early.] Shi Su was about to reply when she caught sight of the little girl secretly eyeing her phone from her arms, and she gently tapped her little head: "Aren’t you going to sleep yet?" Mianmian puffed her little mouth: "Mommy, why hasn’t Uncle Ji Han come these days?" Just as Shi Su replied to Wen Ke and exited the chat page, Jing Jihan’s name appeared below. But ever since Jun used her phone to send that emoji to him three days ago, he hadn’t replied at all. Every time this man appeared before her, it was always unexpected. Now, it’s as if he vanished into thin air. Even though Shi Su knew his private number, had his WeChat, and knew his company’s location, each connection felt like a mountain range separating them. In Jiang City, anything associated with the name Jing already signifies wealth and prestige, exuding superiority everywhere, not to mention Jing Jihan himself. It was like when she discovered his true identity and chased him away, during that period he was invisible unless he chose to appear. Shi Su simply couldn’t see him. A person accustomed in life suddenly disappears, all news sinking like a stone into the sea. "Mommy, can I say goodnight to Uncle Ji Han before I sleep?" Mianmian rubbed Shi Su with her soft little hands, her clingy, tender voice filled with pleading. Shi Su almost softened but remained firm: "No, it’s already late; Uncle Ji Han might still be working or could’ve gone to bed early." "I just want to say goodnight, I miss Uncle Ji Han." Mianmian, pouting, kissed Shi Su on the cheek several times: "Mommy, let me talk to Uncle Ji Han." Shi Su glanced at her phone and hesitated, Mianmian already extended her small paw to grab the phone, giggling: "Mommy, please!" Shi Su shot her a stern look, her voice shrinking: "It’s really late..." The soft little paw snatched the phone from Shi Su’s hand, cheekily opened Jing Jihan’s icon. Though Mianmian couldn’t read, she remembered his profile picture of a gray little man. Watching the little girl swiftly pressing the voice button, Shi Su swallowed her refusal to prevent her voice from being recorded. "Uncle Ji Han, Mianmian really misses you!" After sending one sentence, Mianmian tried to continue speaking, Shi Su eyed her: "Weren’t you only going to say goodnight?" "Oh, sorry mommy, I forgot." Mianmian playfully stuck out her tongue, quickly pressed the phone, and said: "Mommy wants me to sleep now, Uncle Ji Han goodnight! Mua~Mua~Mua~" Seeing the little girl kiss the phone three times, Shi Su quickly took back the phone, placed it aside, and covered Mianmian with the blanket: "Sleep!" So Mianmian happily hugged Shi Su, planning to sleep obediently while whispering in her arms: "But I want to wait for Uncle Ji Han to say goodnight back before I sleep." "He’s so busy, why would he have time to reply to you? Sleep!" Barely finishing her words, Shi Su’s phone suddenly beeped, Mianmian immediately widened her eyes and looked at mommy’s phone. "It’s probably spam." Shi Su said, picking up the phone again, but was surprised to see Jing Jihan’s name on the lock screen page. "Is it Uncle Ji Han?" Mianmian asked excitedly. Shi Su thoughtfully looked at the phone, opened it, clicked on WeChat, and saw Jing Jihan had sent a two-second voice message. Jing Jihan: "Goodnight." The man’s voice was deep and soothing, carrying a hint of patience in the cool, tranquil autumn night. Hearing Uncle Ji Han’s reply, Mianmian kept her word, grinning as she closed her eyes and curled up in mommy’s arms to sleep. Shi Su was incredulous, staring at the phone screen. Replying to Mianmian but ignoring her?! Until Mianmian fell asleep quickly in her arms, Shi Su kept staring at the still phone screen. After replying goodnight to Mianmian, Jing Jihan returned to his cold silence, not even sending a single emoji in reply. Read complete versıon only at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩 Shi Su stared a while longer and set the phone down heavily. Filled with unanswered questions, she couldn’t sleep. Elsewhere, at Jinyi Club, Jing Jihan inevitably drank several glasses due to tonight’s social engagement. Jinyi Club is a private establishment located near the Southern District’s government hall in Jiang City. Unlike other upscale clubs, it doesn’t open to the public, extending invitations only to esteemed individuals from various families and groups in Jiang City’s high society. The number of people holding entry privileges here doesn’t exceed fifty, and only those with entry rights can bring a guest, with limited slots. Jing Jihan was engaged here tonight, discussing the construction project in Yawan District of the Southern Area. By now it was late at night, Jiang City’s lights shimmered like stars. Mr. Li from the district hall emerged from the box, stepping forward to ask: "Mr. Jing, why aren’t you going in?" Jing Jihan put his phone away and returned to the box. After days of relentless work and socializing, even a person as tough as iron would feel fatigued. He closed his eyes, resting against the sofa back. The hum of collaborators clinking glasses and laughter from young women hired as escorts filled the room. Perhaps this atmosphere made genuine relaxation impossible, causing other voices to gradually replace the noise in Jing Jihan’s mind— Lu Zhao’s steady and meticulous voice seemed to echo in his mind and ears: "Mr. Jing, while investigating the one behind the scenes doing little tricks, Shi Yunyin, I unexpectedly unearthed Miss Shi Su’s family background." "She and Shi Yunyin are half-sisters with the same father, Shi Hong Group’s head, Shi Lingkang." "Five years ago, Shi Su was removed from the Shi Family’s household register due to her accidental death." "Additionally, I’m uncertain whether this is related to Shi Su, but she was once an outstanding student at the Jiang City Dance Academy, originally set to matriculate at Central Dance University or study abroad in a dance school. Yet, not long after her ’accidental death’ five years ago, her mentor at the dance academy, Mr. Chu, encountered troubles... Reportedly, he was arrested and jailed for molesting young girls, and he hasn’t been released yet."