To tell the truth, I dont know.


    The old director chuckled drily. Would it still be called anonymous, otherwise? They didnt show up when signing the paperwork, not even for the donation acknowledgement letter and the letter of gratitude we extended to them. What we obtained in the end was actual funds and a very um signature.


    Gu Yan,


    A very um What wasthatsupposed to convey?


    The director was also well aware that this consortium behind the scenes might be critical to them. After a moment of deliberation, he said, How about this, Ill find a way to obtain the past files for you. Of course, I dont have that much authority to give you ess to the confidential documents, but I might be able to manage some documents like the acknowledgement and thank you letters. Do you need them?


    Given their present circumstance, naturally, the more clues the better.


    No matter how insignificant.


    Thatll be ideal. Thank you, Gu Yan said.


    The old director said, But itll take some time. I need to contact some trusted friends. And I cant guarantee that they are avable now


    He nced at the time. They probably wont be in a meeting at this time, but they could be dealing with some problem or other. You know, tiresome affairs always have the worst timings. They donte in the day, but just love to crop up right when youre about to clock off work.


    Perhaps afraid that theyd be in poor spirits, the director cracked a joke, winking at Gu Yan and Yan Suizhi, eternally young at heart.


    Yan Suizhi smiled, going along with his words. I know this too well. Its probably some cosmicw of the universe.


    Cosmicw prevailed.


    The old director spent a long time trying to contact his friends only to be returned with busy tones.


    What did I say, the director shrugged, saying helplessly. They might be unavable until nighttime.


    Time moved much faster in Wine City than in De Carma.


    It took only the span of what felt like a short conversation and a few calls for the sky to be dyed a ck umber.


    Joe and Ke Jin finally came out of the shut room.


    I just got a call from Laura. Shes hitching a ride on her friends private cargo shuttle and will be reaching tonight. Joe waved his smart device at Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan.


    His throat was even more hoarse now.


    My goodness, dear child. At the sound of his voice, the old director practically shoved a teacup into his hands. Drink some tea and moisten your throat. How did your voice get so hoarse.


    Abf jmmfqafv atlr xlcv ufraegf jcv ribkis vgjcx rbwf, rjslcu, Par cbatlcu; P pera ajixfv j  abb wemt.


    Llr fzqgfrrlbc jqqfjgfv ojaluefv, jcv atf gfv lc tlr fsfr tjv sfa ab gfmfvf. Lbkfnfg, tf ibbxfv wemt yfaafg atjc yfobgf.


    Xe Tjc wfjregfv tlw eq jcv rfa tlr wlcv ja fjrf. Lf vlvca rjs wemt, wfgfis qjaalcu tlr rtbeivfg.


    Joe was all too familiar with his best buds way of showing concern. He said, Dont worry, Im not mad anymore.


    He requested for warm water and handed it to Ke Jin, watching the other slowly drinking it in little sips, then spoke gloomily, Some people who didnt get it said that Ke Jin was very dependent on me and that I was the one supporting him. Frankly, I was so narcissistic that I also believed that. Its only afterwards I found out that he was actually the one supporting me


    When I was contacting my friends earlier, I was actually a bit unable to control myself. My whole head was cursing out the Sweepers ancestors, rehearsing how Id torture him if I ever found him, how to get him to fall to his knees begging for remorse, how to get him to lose his mind and experience absolute desperation and destion how to get him killed.


    Joe trailed off into silence, then he sneered. All of that filled my head. I wasnt even sure if I identally talked crazy while on thems.


    That was why he stood in a corner through it all, never turning his head back for a long time.


    But when I looked into his eyes, those words wouldnte out.


    As long as looked at Ke Jin, the others once crisp and clean voice would ring in his mind, joking with a straight face, No, stop, dont disrupt my logic. The anger has shot to my head, youre not to mess me up. Im nning to collect every piece of evidence and honourably p it on that scums face. Your lynching him in a sack is pure chaos; dont lead me astray.


    He didnt know how many simr speeches came to his head, rising and falling one after the other, drowning out the madness bit by bit.


    As long as Ke Jin was by his side, he could swiftly calm down, pull himself together, and even force out a chuckle.


    And then, things wouldnt seem that bad anymore.


    I just made a vow to him that I will collect all the evidence and honourably pin this beast in the courthouse. Like this, whilst getting me out of my rebellious phase, after he after he recovers, who knows. Maybe hell be happy.


    No matter how proficient Joes friends were, it still took them a while to obtain results.


    So, they left the old director, intending to settle down at their amodations first.


    Joe had simr tastes to Gu Yan when it came to booking hotels in Wine City, usually staying at Silver Tea on Kale Avenue whenever he came down. The night in that area was rtively quiet and conducive for rest. However, after the whole affair with the herdingbird was brought to light, he felt that it was too quiet and was conversely unable to calm his mind, changing his booking to a hotel in the busiestmercial district of Wine City instead.


    While conversing, they walked down to the welfare homes courtyard.


    At this time, some of the young men who hade to help out were calling it a day, loosening their muscles and chit-chatting as they prepared to go home.


    Joshua Dale jogged over the moment he saw Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan. He was still scratching his head somewhat awkwardly at first, but when he heard Joe say the name of the hotel, his eyes instantly brightened. So youre going to be staying at Two Moon Street?


    Yes. Gu Yan nodded.


    Thats great. If its Two Moon Street, then thatll be much closer to us Joshua said. Grandma Kitty would like to invite you for dinner, is that okay?


    Grandma Kitty? Yan Suizhi exchanged a look with Gu Yan, thinking that this address was quite interesting. Are you talking about your neighbour, Ms Kitty Bell?


    Joshua nodded. Yeah, thats her.


    Yan Suizhi arched his brows. Incredible, you abducted a grandmother for yourself like that?


    What do you mean abducted! Joshua Dales tanned face flushed. He red at Yan Suizhi.


    Despite the days that they hadnt seen each other, Yan Suizhi was still able to turn this little brat red-necked.


    Seeing that he couldnt win this fight, Joshua threw down a line. Hold on a sec.


    He turned heel and ran out of the gates, towing someone back with him.


    It was a boy a few years older than him, but in Yan Suizhis eyes, he was a little brat all the same.


    Go on. Joshua flung the boy in front of everyone, stepping to the side like an overseer.


    Erm Im Chester, weve met before. The boys expression immediately turned guilt-ridden at the sight of Yan Suizhi. About that is your leg doing well?


    Yan Suizhi, Pretty well. Would you like to say hi to it?


    Chester,


    Gu Yan,


    As soon as Gu Yan heard that someone was starting to speak in non-humannguage again, he opened his mouth to ask, Has Kitty Bell recovered?


    Chester, red-necked victim no. 2, was extricated from his predicament. He immediately said, Shes fine now. She got better long ago, shes in the pink of health now.


    Gu Yan nodded.


    So heres the thing, Chester said. Joshua told me that you guys were here, and I told Grandma Kitty. She made sure I came over to invite all of you to dinner. As an apology for scalding you with waterst time, as well as a thank you for helping with the case.


    Seeing that Yan Suizhi and the others were about to politely decline, Joshua added, Whether Chester can sleep at home tonight rides on this dinner.


    When they arrived at Kitty Bells house, they discovered some major changes.


    The wall that had separated Joshuas and Kittys houses had been bored through, and now a door with direct ess to both sides stood between, essentially merging the two houses into one property.


    This olddy who had been hurt and hospitalised never turned away from kindness, taking the two siblings, who had also suffered from the cae, under her wing, giving them an elder and a home to rely on.


    But this house was still small even after the merging. The dining table was a traditional long table, just barely adequate to fit everyone.


    Whether it was Yan Suizhi, Gu Yan, Joe, or Ke Jin, all of them were notcking in height. When they sat down, it was a bit of a tight fit.


    Such a dining experience was a first for Yan Suizhi and the rest, with Ke Jin being the only exception. He had experienced the same crowded atmosphere having spent his childhood in an orphanage, with arms pressing up against arms, and at times without space to even set down their hands. However, they had a particrly warm and fun nanny looking over them, so those days werent too grim for him, and hed even be nostalgic for it from time to time.


    Of course, these were only what Joe and Gu Yan had once heard Ke Jin say.


    When he heard it, Joe actually was unable to understand how someone could still be happy when squeezed with others. Yet now, crowded around the table, everyone felt that it actually wasnt that bad.


    Joshua Dales sister, Rosie, had her eyes crinkled into a smile when she saw Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan.


    This young girl clung to the door frame without entering, and after smiling at them, she whipped her head around and dashed off. After a while, she skidded back into the room. She stuffed two candies into Yan Suizhis hand, then stuffed two candies into Gu Yans as well.


    Joe and Ke Jin were strangers to her. If this were in the past, she would have ignored them. But this time, groundbreakingly, she stuffed candies in their hands too.


    Joshua Dale critiqued, The little missy is going delirious with delight.


    This was the purest and most direct kindness from a child. No one was capable of refusing it.


    However, when Rosie was stuffing Ke Jin candy, everyones palms had secretly worked out a sweat. It was too easy for this unexpected action to shock Ke Jin out of his own world, causing an emotional outburst.


    Ke Jin stared at the sweets on his palm for a long time before reacting.


    He unwrapped one and ced it into his mouth. After a long while, he pressed the other one onto Joes hand.


    And so lil Young Master Joe went delirious with delight.