Zhan Yichen had never given up searching for Wen Yulan. Besides his own efforts, the department responsible for such incidents was also looking for the victims.
Although several days had passed and those missing were presumed dead, under pressure from the Zhan family, they had to continue their work day after day, even without any results.
But today, Zhan Yichen received a call stating that Wen Yulan's belongings had been recovered and he was asked to identify them.
Even though he felt he wouldn't find anything, he could still deceive himself, believing that missing did not equate to death.
However, being told to identify belongings finally shattered his self-deception.
Especially when he saw the items in the box, his last defense crumbled, and he wept, holding the box.
"Young Master Zhan, are these items confirmed to be Madam Zhan's? If you confirm, I will declare her deceased."
Hearing these sharp words, Zhan Yichen remained silent for a long time before nodding. "I confirm. Can I take these items?"
"Of course, these should be returned to the family. The deceased is gone, please accept our condolences."
With such a simple sentence, he, who had lost his mother, was dismissed.
Carrying the box out, he couldn't wait to get into the car. On the steps in front of the building, he burst into tears.
How much he regretted! If he could have a do-over, he would never have sent Wen Yulan away. Pitifully, their last conversation had been so unfriendly. In the end, he never managed to say a word that Wen Yulan would be willing to hear.
The thought alone brought a tidal wave of regret, making him unable to bear the pain.
He didn't know how long he cried. By the time he stood up, his legs were numb, as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh. After a long while, he finally sat in the car.
Placing the box of belongings on the passenger seat, he rested his arms on the steering wheel, letting his mind go blank. Once he felt his legs and feet were no longer uncomfortable, he prepared to start the car and leave.
Turning the car around, he saw a fleeting figure in the rearview mirror and slammed on the brakes. Watching the back of the figure, who strongly resembled Wen Yulan, recede into the distance, he got out of the car and chased after her.
Then, he suddenly realized something and immediately used other cars to shield his movements. Seeing the person get into a van and drive towards the road, he backed away from the car.
He then hurried forward, flagged down a taxi, and asked the driver to follow the van.
They followed the van to an ordinary-looking hotel. Watching the figure get out and look around at the entrance before going inside.
He couldn't help but feel suspicious and also got out of the car.
The security measures in hotels like this were never very good. Even though he was not a guest, he could still go upstairs.
After confirming the room number, he immediately went to the front desk and booked a room next to that one.
The soundproofing here was not good. If the people in the next room spoke a little louder, he could hear them.
He didn't know what he was suspicious of, but if he didn't do this, he wouldn't be able to give up.
He sat pressed against the wall, listening to the activity in the next room.
Next door, Wen Yulan removed her headscarf, mask, and sunglasses. She carelessly threw her belongings onto the bed and began to complain.
"What kind of awful place is this you found? The location is bad enough, but the room doesn't even have air conditioning. Do you know how hot it is coming back from outside?"
As she spoke, she tugged at the nameless brand clothes she was wearing. "And these, are these meant for people? They're so uncomfortable."
Listening to her complaints, Feng Shiyi, sitting opposite her, leisurely crossed her legs and pointed to the bathroom. "If you're hot, go take a shower. This is the condition now, you'll have to make do."
"Make do? Can this be made do with?"
She raised her voice in exasperation. Compared to her life as Madam Zhan, this treatment was like the difference between heaven and earth.
Feng Shiyi knew why she was like this, but she no longer had the status of Madam Zhan.
"If you can't stand it, then go back to the Zhan family and continue being Madam Zhan, where you can eat well, drink well, and wear gold and silver. However, I can't guarantee that your dear son will still send you into house arrest if you go back."
As she spoke, she slowly fiddled with her freshly done nails, taunting Wen Yulan leisurely.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Now, legally speaking, Madam Zhan is dead. Everything you have now is your own choice. Of course, if you want to go back to the Zhan family, I won't stop you."
Recalling that she was to be sent to country B for house arrest, Wen Yulan suddenly felt that her current hardship was nothing. Even if she had nothing, she at least had her freedom.
Seeing that she had stopped talking, Feng Shiyi pulled open the door and left.
Although Wen Yulan disdained her current triumphant demeanor, she had no choice but to endure it, as Feng Shiyi was the only one who could help her at this stage.
When she learned that she was to be sent to country B, she had desperately borrowed a nurse's phone to contact Feng Shiyi, who was abroad. The other party agreed to help her, and she didn't ask why. The most important thing at the time was not to be sent there.
It was precisely with Feng Shiyi's help that the boat collision incident occurred. In fact, even before the two yachts collided, she had already boarded a speedboat.
Both boats were blown up, and the bodyguards escorting her out of the country perished, leading everyone to believe she had no hope of survival.
On the speedboat, when she saw Feng Shiyi again, she felt that she had changed significantly. Unlike before, when she was hesitant to do anything, she not only orchestrated the "golden cicada shedding its shell" incident of the collision but also arranged a scapegoat for her.
This scapegoat was none other than the hated Mu Linjing.
Mu Linjing was still conscious and able to speak when she was tied to the deck. They even exchanged a few words.
But when it came to throwing Mu Linjing into the sea, she became scared.
Unexpectedly, Feng Shiyi decisively kicked Mu Linjing overboard. After Mu Linjing fell into the sea, their speedboat sped away.
She watched from a distance as Mu Linjing floated in the water. While it was somewhat satisfying, she always felt something weighing on her heart.
Now, recalling it, she finally understood why she felt uncomfortable.
It was Feng Shiyi's drastic change that made her feel extremely frightened. She even worried from time to time that by associating with her, she might one day end up drowning in the sea.
Fortunately, no one knew she was still alive yet. If she could breathe a sigh of relief, she could think about how to proceed in the future.
However, she did not know that the person sitting in the next room was Zhan Yichen. As she loudly complained about the poor facilities, Zhan Yichen had already recognized her voice.