Chapter 3 — The Day I Left Home

He furrowed his brow, assuming that she was simply throwing a tantrum over his words. It was not until half a month had passed, during which everyone found themselves completely unable to reach her, that they finally realized something was amiss. Her parents and Chen Di rushed to the police station to file a missing person report. The officer on duty happened to be the very same one who had tracked down Yue Lin all those years ago. The officer grew pale, quickly pulling them away toward a blind spot beneath the surveillance cameras.

I knew this matter could never be hidden forever, though I never expected you all to discover the truth so quickly.

Back then, the results of the DNA paternity test were genuinely switched. We only discovered the truth a year later, but seeing how happily Yue Lin was living with all of you, we decided to just let the deception ride.

What do you mean by that?

The mother stared blankly at the officer. Seeing the utter confusion in the eyes of the three adults, the officer realized with a jolt that they were completely in the dark. A flicker of regret for his loose tongue crossed his features.

Aren't you here to settle the score with me?

The father's eyes widened in disbelief.

We are here to report our adopted daughter missing. What do you mean by saying Yue Lin is not our biological child?

Chen Di stepped forward in agitation, grabbing the officer fiercely by the collar.

Explain yourself clearly!

Inside the reception room, the officer poured each of them a cup of tea before slowly sitting down.

When your identities were being verified all those years ago, the files of your true biological daughter and Yue Lin were accidentally swapped, resulting in Yue Lin being mistakenly sent to your family.

The officer drew a deep breath.

When we discovered the mistake, we intended to reveal the truth to both families, but by then we learned that your true biological daughter and that couple had been in a severe car accident a month prior.

All three of them died on the spot.

If we had spoken the truth then, we were terrified it would only bring further devastation to your family and the child.

The officer abruptly dropped to his knees before the parents.

I am so sorry. If not for the mistake made back then, perhaps your real daughter would never have... met such a tragic fate.

The mother's eyes turned bloodshot, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. The father trembling lit a cigarette. Chen Di kept his gaze fixed downward, his thoughts entirely unreadable. The surrounding air seemed to grow thick and heavy, pressing down with a suffocating weight. The officer stood up and walked out. Five minutes later, he returned holding a file folder, from which he pulled a photograph and placed it gently on the table.

This is your true daughter.

Take a look at her.

The mother jerked to her feet, her eyes locked fiercely onto the smiling girl in the photograph. For the past six years, she had relentlessly poured her heart into making up for Yue Lin, simply because Yue Lin had painted such a harrowing picture of her first sixteen years. For Yue Lin's sake, she had even been willing to let the daughter she had raised for sixteen years suffer grievance after grievance. But now, the police officer was telling her that Yue Lin was not her flesh and blood at all. She simply could not accept it.

Could you have made another mistake!

The mother's voice trembled with terror.

How could a mistake like this possibly happen twice?

The father stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, a profound exhaustion etching itself across his face.

How did she live while she was still alive?

The officer paused for a moment before realizing that the father was referring to the deceased biological daughter. A trace of wistful sorrow crossed his face as he spoke of the lost girl.

During her first sixteen years, her adoptive parents cared for her exceptionally well. After her biological parents found her, she remained the only child in that household. She was blessed with two pairs of parents who cherished her deeply.

When she was alive, she lived a very happy life.

The father's eyes misted over, and he forced a bitter, heartbreaking smile.

That is good. That is good to hear...

Chen Di, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly stood up and looked the officer squarely in the eyes.

She is missing now, and we want to find her.

The officer placed a phone call to her. After a brief conversation, he shook his head heavily at the three of them.

She has grown up. She stated that she is completely safe right now, that she has no wish to see any of you, and that she hopes you will not disturb her further. She said she wants to start a life entirely of her own.

My child...

The mother collapsed heavily onto the floor, weeping with a heartbreaking, soul-rending agony. The name she had deliberately banished from her lips for six long years was finally spoken aloud once more, yet the person who bore it would never hear it again. The father helped the mother back to their home. Chen Di walked closely behind them, his mind reeling in a daze from the sudden, earth-shattering truth. The moment the front door unlocked, Yue Lin raised her phone and beamed brightly at them with a cheerful laugh.

I almost forgot to share some wonderful news with all of you! I just got accepted by the Lin Corporation!

From now on, I can stay forever with Mom, Dad, and brother Chen Di!

Tomorrow I will report to the office. I am going to become the perfect corporate professional!

As she finished speaking, she finally noticed the strange, heavy expressions frozen on their faces.

Mom, Dad, brother Chen Di, what is wrong with all of you?

With eyes swollen and stained with tears, the mother walked straight past Yue Lin toward her bedroom without uttering a single word. The father patted Chen Di on the shoulder and said in a subdued voice.

Chen Di, you should tell her the truth. Talk to her gently.

Chen Di nodded. The father followed the mother into their room. Yue Lin frowned in utter bewilderment.

What truth?

Without answering, Chen Di signaled for her to go inside her bedroom so they could talk.