Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

That was the position Zhao Jinghai yearned for day and night, the one he dreamed of getting. So this time, no matter the cost, he would capture Zhao Nuanyue and deliver her to Mrs. Li.

”Yes, Mrs. Li.” Zhao Jinghai nodded quickly. He didn’t even bother with sleep, immediately taking his men and driving to the train station. However, Jincheng City had two train stations, so they split into two groups of four and began searching for them separately.

The next morning, Station Chief Liu brought Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang to the train station to get their tickets.

”Mr. Zhao, you two wait out here for a moment. I’ll go inside and get your tickets,” Station Chief Liu said. ”Don’t wander off, or I won’t be able to find you later.”

”Yes, Station Chief Liu. We’ll wait for you right here,” Zhao Nuanyue said hurriedly, anxious. ’I wish I could just jump on a train and leave right now.’

Seeing his sister trembling slightly, Zhao Nuan Yang took her hand to warm it with his own.

”Don’t be scared. Don’t worry,” Zhao Nuan Yang comforted his sister. He didn’t want to see her so stressed and exhausted.

Zhao Nuanyue looked at her younger brother and smiled faintly. ”Nuanyang, once we’re on the train, we’ll be safe.”

As the siblings waited, Zhao Jinghai and his men, accompanied by train station staff, were searching and asking questions. To his surprise, someone had indeed just seen Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang.

Zhao Jinghai was overjoyed. He asked about the train to Labor County and learned it would depart in an hour. He immediately grew anxious. This meant they only had one hour to find Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang.

”Everyone, split into pairs and search separately. You already have their photos,” Zhao Jinghai ordered. ”Keep your eyes peeled.”

Zhao Jinghai had told everyone he was looking for his runaway children, so the guards under him were very diligent and didn’t complain.

Station Chief Liu got the tickets and came out.

Zhao Nuanyue was thrilled, but she didn’t realize that the devil was drawing closer and closer!

From a distance, Zhao Jinghai spotted the tall Zhao Nuan Yang and quickly motioned for a few men to go with him. Knowing Zhao Nuanyue’s protective nature, he figured she wouldn’t let Zhao Nuan Yang be alone. If he could see Zhao Nuan Yang, then Zhao Nuanyue had to be nearby.

Sure enough, when they were about three meters from Zhao Nuan Yang, he saw Zhao Nuanyue right beside him.

”Come here. My son and daughter are disobedient; they run away from home whenever they’re unhappy. We can’t just let them do as they please. In a moment, I want you to go right up and grab them. We’ll get them home first and sort it out later.” Zhao Jinghai was worried his subordinates wouldn’t dare to manhandle Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang, so he gave them clear instructions beforehand.

”Yes, sir!” the men replied hurriedly. ”We’ll do it right away!”

With that, the men rushed over.

Both Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang felt the Dragon Bright Grass around their necks grow warm. Zhao Nuanyue scanned her surroundings and spotted Zhao Jinghai and his men. She immediately grabbed Zhao Nuan Yang’s hand to run, but they were surrounded before they could take more than a few steps.

The moment Zhao Nuanyue saw Zhao Jinghai, all the color drained from her face. In a panic, she quickly stuffed the letters she was carrying into Station Chief Liu’s hands from behind him. Station Chief Liu was startled to see her surrounded by several burly men. He hastily hid the letters, careful not to reveal any connection to Zhao Nuanyue and expose his identity.

Now that Zhao Jinghai had managed to track them down here, Zhao Nuanyue understood. He was absolutely determined to marry her off to that fool in exchange for a promotion. He would never give up until he got what he wanted.

”Nuanyue, you running away from home in such a rush has had us worried sick! Your mother cried all night yesterday because you were gone. And I’ve been running around all night looking for you and Nuanyang,” Zhao Jinghai scolded. ”You can throw a tantrum at home, but you can’t just do something like this!”

Hearing Zhao Jinghai’s words, Zhao Nuanyue gave a cold laugh. ”Heh, save your false concern. I know exactly what you’re plotting. To get a promotion, you’re actually trying to make me the daughter-in-law of Li Jianfeng’s foolish son! If you want to climb the social ladder, send your own daughter to marry him! Why should it be me?!”

The guards froze, not expecting to hear such explosive news.

’Then again, Director Zhao has indeed been getting close to Mrs. Li recently. Perhaps there’s some truth to this.’

Zhao Nuanyue’s voice wasn’t quiet, and many people in the crowd had seen and heard what was happening. Naturally, Station Chief Liu had heard it all as well.

”What nonsense are you spouting? Even if you don’t like me as your stepfather, I have never done anything to wrong you or your brother. And look at you two, running away without a word! Don’t you know how worried everyone at home is?” Zhao Jinghai shot a look at the men beside him, signaling them to hurry up and restrain Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang.

When Zhao Nuan Yang saw the men about to grab his sister, he threw himself in front of her and began to fight them off.

But how could Zhao Nuan Yang be a match for several strong, energetic guards? After just a few exchanges, he was subdued.

”Let go of my brother!” Zhao Nuanyue cried out, seeing him captured. She was both furious and frantic. ’If I had known this would happen,’ she thought with regret, ’I never would have come back, no matter how much Nuanyang missed his mother.’

Zhao Jinghai looked at Zhao Nuanyue coldly and said, ”That depends on whether you decide to behave. If you don’t, things won’t end well for you or your brother.”

Because Zhao Jinghai was Zhao Nuanyue and Zhao Nuan Yang’s stepfather, and this appeared to be a case of children running away from home, the train station staff didn’t intervene. After all, it was a family matter. They decided to let them resolve it themselves, though in reality, they just didn’t want to get involved and cause trouble for themselves.

”Let me go! Let me go!” Zhao Nuanyue tried to struggle, but it was useless. None of the people in the crowd would help her. In desperation, she looked toward Station Chief Liu.

Station Chief Liu didn’t move either. From what Zhao Nuanyue had said, this matter involved people from the local garrison. He couldn’t afford to act rashly.

However, he gave Zhao Nuanyue a slight nod, trying to reassure her that he would do his best to save her.

Station Chief Liu’s reaction gave Zhao Nuanyue a glimmer of hope.

Zhao Nuan Yang had been beaten badly for resisting. Once they were in the car, Zhao Jinghai continued to hit him. Zhao Nuanyue threw herself over Zhao Nuan Yang to shield him, crying, ”Stop hitting him! Stop!...”

”Stop hitting him?” Zhao Jinghai sneered. ”That depends on whether you’re going to be obedient.”

The young man driving the car was one of Zhao Jinghai’s trusted subordinates; he acted as if he heard nothing of what his boss was doing.

Zhao Nuanyue knew that at this moment, she was a lamb that had fallen into a pack of wolves. If she struggled and resisted, she would be brutally beaten before being devoured. If she didn’t struggle, she would just be cleaned up, placed on the chopping block, and slaughtered.

She was the fish on the chopping block, and they were the knife, free to do as they pleased.

”Zhao Jinghai, what do you want?” Zhao Nuanyue sneered. ”I know you’re doing all this just to force me to submit.”

”Heh, yes,” Zhao Jinghai said with a smile. ”That’s right. You’re so clever, you actually figured out my goal. I’m very curious, how did you find out?”