Chapter 288: A False Alarm

Chen Yang, when I came home today I saw a stranger wearing a baseball cap come out of the elevator in our building. Is he an employee of your company?

No, our company's employees won't move there until next month. That unit currently only has our two households.

You should be careful. That person is about your height, very sturdy, looks like a martial artist. When we brushed past, he deliberately lowered his head. By the time I noticed something off and looked back, he had already disappeared.

Okay, I'll pay attention.

Chen Yang was in a hotel room discussing with Lin Wei the transfer procedures for Lin Xiaomi when Chen Bing suddenly called to tell him that a stranger had appeared in the elevator unit where Chen Chunmei lives.

This made him feel a bit uneasy.

Who is that person? What is their purpose?

"Honey, what's wrong?" Lin Wei saw Chen Yang answer Chen Bing's call and immediately looked worried, asking concernedly.

"Brother Bing said there's a suspicious stranger in the unit where my aunt lives. Do you think it could be Liang Jianfeng's people coming to retaliate against me?" Chen Yang has few enemies, and the biggest threat is Liang Jianfeng.

This person is the deputy director of Xingcheng Public Security Bureau, embezzled hundreds of millions during his tenure, a ruthless figure who deals with both sides. Although he's been arrested, there surely remain many residual forces lurking in unknown corners. If someone wanted to take revenge on him covertly, it would indeed be hard to defend against.

Liang Jianfeng has already been placed under shuanggui, many of his associates have been arrested. The remaining people are trying to stay away from him as fast as they can; how could they possibly help him retaliate against you? Lin Wei felt Chen Yang's worry was a bit unnecessary. "Moreover, after his arrest he confessed that the purpose of targeting you was to seize control of the public agricultural products trading company. Now that the people are all inside, what meaning does your company still have?"

"Is that someone from the Zhang family?" Excluding Liang Jianfeng, the only remaining possibility is the Zhang Group. Zhang Jun was arrested, and the Zhang Group suffered a major blow in business; behind all of this there is Chen Yang's shadow. Zhang Daguo has plenty of motives to retaliate against Chen Yang.

Lin Wei thought this possibility was high and told Chen Yang: "Sunflower Garden Community should have surveillance installed; let's first go to the property company to pull the footage. Since this person has appeared, they will definitely have left evidence."

Chen Yang thought that made sense, so he and Lin Wei drove to the property office of Sunflower Garden Community.

When they arrived at the property company's entrance, they happened to see the property manager coming out with Chen Bing.

"Chen Yang, Lin Wei, you've come at just the right time." Chen Bing said solemnly: "I've already checked the surveillance footage; this person came once on Friday afternoon and left at night. Today they came at noon and left around six o'clock. Each time they appeared they wore a baseball cap and deliberately avoided the camera's view."

Friday afternoon was when Chen Yang took Lin Xiaomi to the Chen home. Today at noon was when Chen Yang took Zhao Qian and Lin Xiaomi out shopping and returned.

Could this person be related to Lin Xiaomi?

Chen Yang's face grew a little grim. Lin Xiaomi's father, while alive, was a narcotics officer who had offended many major drug lords. His mother died in retaliation by those drug lords.

If this person is targeting Lin Xiaomi, then the danger extends not only to Lin Xiaomi but also to Chen Chunmei's family.

Chen Yang shared his speculation with Lin Wei and Chen Bing; the two of them also grew grim-faced.

Chen Bing immediately called his colleagues at the police station under Sunflower Garden Community's jurisdiction, asking them to bring the surveillance footage to investigate this suspicious man.

Two hours later, Chen Bing's colleagues found the suspect in a small hotel near Sunflower Garden Community.

However, when Chen Yang and the two others arrived at the district police station, they discovered that the suspect was actually a police officer—and a colleague of Lin Xiaomi's father.

"Hello, I'm Zhou Rixin, here is my identification." Zhou Rixin showed both his work ID and his ID card to Chen Yang, Lin Wei, and Chen Bing.

After realizing it was a false alarm, Chen Yang breathed a sigh of relief. However, when speaking with Zhou Rixin, he still carried some dissatisfaction.

"Officer Zhou, if you want to see Xiaomi you can just tell us directly. Being all mysterious like that scared the hell out of us."

Zhou Rixin said a little embarrassedly: "I just wanted to see how Xiaomi is doing. If things aren't good, I want to take him back to Yunnan Province."

Chen Yang guessed that Zhou Rixin must have seen him bring Xiaomi to Xingcheng, felt uneasy, and followed him. So he said to him: "Officer Zhou, rest assured, Xiaomi is of the Lin family's bloodline; we won't neglect him."

Upon hearing Zhou Rixin's words, he couldn't help but snort coldly, quite dissatisfied, saying: "Mr. Chen, you're a good person, but others may not be. Xiaomi is of the Lin family's bloodline, yet he was sent to your Chen family to be raised. It seems they may not be willing to accept this child."

Lin Wei's face flushed slightly; regarding Xiaomi's placement, the Lin family indeed handled it somewhat improperly.

Chen Yang didn't want his wife to feel embarrassed, so he immediately explained: "Officer Zhou, don't misunderstand. Letting Xiaomi come live in Xingcheng was my idea. The living conditions and educational standards here are better than in Qingshui City; I did this hoping Xiaomi could have a better future."

Zhou Rixin waved his hand, indicating Chen Yang didn't need to explain further. "Mr. Chen, I know you're a good person. Having Xiaomi live with you puts my mind at ease. Thank you also for your family's willingness to take in Xiaomi."

Chen Yang said humbly: "Officer Zhou, you're being too polite. I am Xiaomi's uncle by marriage; looking after him is only natural."

Zhou Rixin smiled helplessly and said nothing more. After all, Chen Yang is indeed the Lin family's son-in-law; the Lin family entrusted Xiaomi to Chen Yang's aunt for upbringing, which ultimately fulfilled their obligation of care.

Moreover, from his observations over the past two days, Chen Yang's family treats Xiaomi no differently than a relative. Members of the Lin family have also come voluntarily to visit the child.

Since the Lin family hasn't abandoned Xiaomi, this outsider has no grounds to blame them.

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Lin, since Xiaomi's placement issue has been resolved, my mission is also complete. If I ever have the chance to come to Yunnan Province, you can give me a call."

Zhou Rixin left Chen Yang his mobile phone number and then departed directly.

Watching his disappearing back, Lin Wei let out a soft sigh. She said to Chen Yang: "Honey, why not just bring Xiaomi back to Qingshui City to live with us?"

Chen Yang laughed: "Xiaomi is getting along very well with Qianqian now. If you let him come back to Qingshui City with us, he might not be willing."

Lin Wei, hearing that, couldn't help but wryly smile. Clearly Xiaomi is of the Lin family's bloodline, yet now he is closer to the Chen family than to his own. What is this...?