Chapter 542: Farewell

The next day.

Liu Yutong arranged for someone to help Gao Min with her discharge procedures. Gao Min was lucky—she only had some scrapes and bruises, no broken bones. After a thorough examination confirmed she was fine, she could be discharged.

Plus, she had work to handle… or rather, accolades waiting to be claimed.

First, the hit-and-run driver who’d fled had been captured. This wasn’t much of a surprise, given that Liu Yutong had already spoken with Gu Yebai and the others.

Between the powerful police presence and the coordinated pursuit by Wanlong Society members, the driver never stood a chance of escaping.

After being apprehended, he was temporarily held in a makeshift detention area next to the hospital morgue. Like Vulture Master, he voluntarily confessed and provided relevant evidence.

And so, Gao Min somehow found herself awarded the title of People’s Police Officer for “heroic injury sustained in the line of duty and meritorious service in solving the case.” Back at the station, she’d receive at least a third-class merit award, possibly even second-class.

Were it not for her young age and short time on the force, her accumulated merits would have been more than enough for promotion to district police chief.

With Gao Min’s situation resolved, Liu Yutong took Yaya to see her father off on his final journey before returning to Pearl City.

Back in Pearl City, a backlog of matters awaited her attention: the opening of the first Wanlong Shopping Plaza, Wanhui Youxuan’s Series B financing, the school anniversary celebration, and more.

For the foreseeable future, she wouldn’t have a moment to spare.

After breakfast, Liu Yutong picked up Yaya from the hotel where she’d spent the night and headed to the cemetery to pay respects to her parents. Since Yaya had virtually no extended family, there was no need for a formal memorial service—everything would be kept simple.

At the cemetery, a gentle breeze stirred.

Liu Yutong held Yaya’s hand, standing before a newly erected tombstone.

“Yaya, say goodbye to your parents.”

Yaya clutched a rabbit plushie in her arms—a birthday gift from her father.

Then she bid them farewell with utmost seriousness.

“Daddy, Mommy, Yaya is here. I brought the little bunny Daddy bought me. It’s had a bath and smells nice.”

“Mommy, look—I memorized Sister Tongtong’s phone number: 158… um… I’m still working on the rest.”

“Daddy, I brushed my own teeth at the hotel yesterday without Sister’s help… I’m being brave, so I didn’t cry these past few days…”

“I have a secret to tell you—Sister bought me a new schoolbag. It’s pink, because I’m going to school in Pearl City.”

“I’ll eat well and drink milk every day. When I grow up, I can come visit you by myself.”

“…….”

After the farewell, Liu Yutong took her hand and turned to leave. Only then did Yaya’s held-back tears spill over, and she waved a small hand behind her.

“Goodbye, Daddy. Goodbye, Mommy…”

………….

Yaya’s home was in an old six-story residential complex on the outskirts of South City. It was an old house passed down from Yaya’s grandparents to her father. Though only a two-bedroom, one-living room unit, it could fetch several hundred thousand yuan nowadays.

Of course, it hadn’t been worth much before, given its remote location. If property values hadn’t risen in recent years, Yaya’s father might have sold it long ago to pay off his debts.

However, the area had development potential. Old neighborhoods like theirs were prime candidates for demolition and relocation, which would fetch millions in compensation.

As Liu Yutong and Yaya reached the building, they ran into the elderly neighbor from apartment 502 across the way.

“Hello, Grandma!”

“Yaya, you’re back?”

This neighbor was the kind-hearted woman who’d taken Yaya to her father’s accident scene a few days earlier—a decision she deeply regretted afterward. How could she have taken a child to witness such a thing?

Thankfully, the child was fortunate enough to be taken in by someone wealthy.

Liu Yutong thanked her politely: “Ma’am, thank you for always looking after Yaya.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Yaya is like a granddaughter to me. Her father was always busy with work, so I usually took her to and from kindergarten. The child is so thoughtful—every time I picked her up, she’d pull a small candy from her pocket, a reward from her teacher, and give it to me…”

The woman stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing: “Are you here to pack up?”

Liu Yutong nodded: “Yes, I’m taking Yaya back to Pearl City.”

Though reluctant to part with Yaya, the neighbor knew this was the best outcome for the child. She eagerly led them upstairs.

“Come on, let’s go up. Yaya’s family is in 501. Their lock is a bit old—you have to lift it up before you can turn it…”

“By the way, do you need help packing? I have large woven bags and cardboard boxes at home…”

Liu Yutong shook her head: “Thank you, ma’am, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve brought people.”

Only then did the woman notice the seven or eight black-clad figures who had appeared behind them.

“Well… well, just let me know if you need anything. Yaya, if you come back during holidays, you must come visit Grandma!”

Yaya nodded vigorously: “I’ll miss you, Grandma. When I learn to write, I’ll send you letters.”

“Good, good…”

The woman turned away to wipe her eyes: “Then Grandma won’t disturb your packing. If you need anything, just knock, alright?”

Liu Yutong thanked her again: “Thank you for your trouble, ma’am!”

After bidding farewell, Liu Yutong opened the door with Yaya and entered.

Since no one had been home for days, a thin layer of dust had settled, giving the place a desolate air.

Yaya clutched her rabbit plushie tightly, her large eyes surveying this familiar yet somehow strange home. “Sister,” she whispered, “the house is a bit dirty.”

“It’s alright. We’ll clean it up.”

Liu Yutong patted her head and addressed the Wanlong Society members behind her: “Handle everything gently. Focus on packing Yaya’s and her parents’ photos, albums, Yaya’s awards, and other meaningful items. Leave the furniture and large belongings.”

“Yes, Young Mistress!”

The group immediately began dividing the tasks and packing.

Liu Yutong sat on the sofa with Yaya, flipping through an album filled with photos of Yaya from infancy to childhood, from her hundred-day portrait to her first birthday pictures. As they looked and chatted, their laughter grew louder.

Before long, Yun Cheng and Ma Da arrived as well.

They had come to bid Liu Yutong farewell.

One was about to depart for BS Province, the other to go abroad.