Chapter 710: Hasty Meeting (Combined)

After they finished discussing those matters.

Gao Min suddenly asked Liu Yutong a question: “Sis, do you hate our biological parents?”

Liu Yutong was looking down at a text message on her phone. At these words, her fingers paused slightly.

“Why do you ask?”

Gao Min said softly, “It just came to mind. I was just asking.”

“If we’d grown up in a normal family, maybe our lives would be completely different now. Maybe we’d be happier.”

Liu Yutong put away her phone and looked up at her. “I don’t hate them, because hatred is meaningless. They chose their own path, and we chose ours. And I think I’m quite happy and fulfilled now.”

Gao Min was taken aback, then said with a smile, “You’re always like this—so calm it’s hard to believe you’re a twenty-year-old girl. Sometimes I really wonder which of us is the older sister.”

“But you’re right. Hatred is meaningless, and dwelling on the past can’t change anything.”

With Zhao Weixiang’s arrest and their own investigations over the past two years, they had essentially pieced together their family history.

Gao Min’s adoptive father, Gao Shubai, and their biological father, Liu Lei, had been very close brothers-in-arms, graduates of the same police academy.

After graduation, both men met the women of their dreams and even planned to hold a joint wedding ceremony.

But Gao Shubai’s girlfriend was later diagnosed with acute leukemia and tragically passed away. He was an extremely devoted man, and her death devastated him. He swore he would never marry.

Later, Liu Lei was assigned to an extremely dangerous undercover mission. He could be exposed at any moment and couldn’t care for his family and newborn child. So he entrusted the infant Gao Min to his good brother Gao Shubai.

First, he wanted to give his daughter a relatively safe and clean environment to grow up in.

Second, it would give Gao Shubai something to live for, preventing him from falling into despair.

This was the origin of Gao Min’s story.

As for Liu Yutong, Liu Lei most likely didn’t even know she existed at the time.

Later, Gao Shubai was stabbed during a case investigation. Liu Lei was on the scene and could have saved his brother, but Gao Shubai used all his strength to stop him. If Liu Lei had intervened, his undercover identity would have been exposed and all their efforts would have been for nothing.

Liu Lei ultimately chose to trust his brother, but Gao Shubai didn’t survive…

After this incident, Liu Lei’s personality changed drastically. Feeling he had nothing left to lose, he began a ruthless purge of other syndicates, sending him further down a path of no return.

Until those behind him decided he had become uncontrollable and arranged to have him eliminated…

After piecing everything together, Liu Yutong and Gao Min found the truth difficult to accept, but the past was set in stone and could not be changed.

Silence fell for a moment. Gao Min sniffed, forcing down the sorrow in her heart, and asked again:

“What do you think we should do if our birth mother comes looking for us?”

As the only “invisible figure” in their family history, their feelings toward that birth mother were even more complicated.

Of course, it was possible she had her reasons.

Liu Yutong’s answer was simple and direct: “Let her come. But whether we acknowledge her or not—that’s our call.”

Actually, she held no hope that her mother would come looking for them. In her previous life, she had never met her mother. Of course, it was possible she’d missed her because she’d never returned home after being accepted to university, and no one knew which city she was in.

The trajectory of this life had already shifted because of her, the butterfly effect. For instance, she had never met Yun Cheng and the others in her previous life, so it was possible to meet them in this one.

But even if her mother did find them in this life, she most likely would not acknowledge her.

From the moment her mother chose to leave her behind, something had already broken between them.

If not for her own efforts and her grandparents’ support, her fate might have been like many rural girls—dropping out early, forced into early marriage and motherhood, becoming a village woman, living a muddled existence.

Besides, before meeting, both sides would build up an idealized image of each other, viewing one another through a natural filter.

But that filter could easily shatter upon meeting.

If she had truly become an uneducated, unemployed village woman with a snot-nosed child on her back and sallow skin, would her mother still sincerely want to acknowledge her?

Probably not.

But these hypotheticals didn’t matter to her.

As she’d said, the initiative was in their hands.

Gao Min looked at her younger sister, understood her position from her words, and nodded.

“I understand what you mean.”

“No matter what, we sisters are of one heart. Your decision is my decision.”

Liu Yutong said, “Why think about that? It’s unlikely to happen. I don’t think she’ll come looking for us. Right now, we should focus on how to deal with Jiang Yuan. The birthday banquet is an opportunity we need to plan carefully.”

The sisters discussed a bit more. Seeing that it was getting late and they’d had their fill, they prepared to leave.

Liu Yutong took the black coat Lan Die handed her and put it on. The golden dragon emblem on her left chest gleamed brilliantly.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Gao Min also stood up. The two walked side by side out of the private room, with Yun Cheng and Ma Da following behind.

As soon as they stepped out, they heard a sudden burst of cheers from the crowd downstairs.

Then they heard someone start singing “Happy Birthday.” It turned out some university students were celebrating a classmate’s birthday at the restaurant.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you…”

The singing was cheerful. Since many university students were dining in the hall and loved joining in the festivities, many began clapping and singing along. The scene was very lively.

The Lin family of three, seated in a corner, were also infected by the energy of these young people and clapped along.

“Look at these kids, so lively and full of energy.”

“Yes! At that age, carefree and able to eat and drink with friends—it’s probably the happiest time of their lives.”

Jiang Lu thought of her own daughter: “When Tongtong celebrates her birthday, it should be like this too, celebrating with classmates, right?”

Hearing this, Lin Feng comforted her: “Auntie, don’t think too much about it. Maybe Tongtong is even more popular and her birthdays are even more lively.”

“When we find Tongtong, we’ll throw her a huge celebration. We’ll hire the best cake chef and make it a grand affair.”

“Mm.”

At that moment, the birthday girl puffed up her cheeks and blew out all the candles on the cake in one breath. An even louder round of cheers and applause erupted around her.

Jiang Lu also clapped gently, lost in thought as she imagined her daughter making a wish in the candlelight.

However, just as they were about to cut the cake, Liu Yutong’s group emerged from the private room and appeared at the top of the stairs.

Almost the instant they appeared, all cheering in the hall stopped dead.

Some diners unconsciously put down their chopsticks and stood up, looking at the group of black-clad figures on the stairs.

The Lin family was stunned by this abrupt shift in atmosphere.

“It was such a lively birthday celebration. Why did it suddenly go so quiet? Are they about to perform some special ritual?”

But they quickly realized why everyone had gone silent—a group of black-clad figures was descending the stairs.

The diners and university students in the hall looked at the black-clad group with eyes full of awe and even nervousness.

Especially the two girls at the front, who were very eye-catching.

The one on the left was tall and slender, her black long coat giving her a cold, refined aura. She also exuded a powerful, commanding presence.

The one on the right was about the same height, with sharp, boyish short hair. Her brows and eyes radiated heroic spirit, and she possessed an equally impressive bearing.

Behind them followed several young men also dressed in black suits with dragon emblems on their left chests, each with a solemn expression—clearly not ordinary figures.

The diners’ first reaction upon seeing them was: “I didn’t expect so many high-ranking members of Wanlong Society to be dining here too.”

Though their faces showed awe, their hearts also held an indescribable excitement.

Lin Dong narrowed his eyes, carefully studying the two girls at the front—especially the one in the black coat. She looked to be around twenty, yet exuded the pressure of someone long accustomed to command, as if she were born to stand at the apex of the pyramid.

The people behind her were clearly not ordinary either.

“Who would have thought Pearl City, though not large, would hide such dragons and tigers!”

Jiang Lu was even more shocked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

That powerful black-clad girl on the left was none other than the “little sister” from the plane, with whom she had chatted so happily and felt such a kinship!

The girl’s current image was a far cry from the quiet, bookish neighborly girl from the plane—she had become far more imposing.

At this moment, Lin Feng couldn’t help but ask, “Dad, who is that girl in black? It seems like everyone here is afraid of her.”

Lin Dong didn’t answer, only staring at the dragon emblem on their left chests. He seemed to have seen this symbol before… Right, the black-clad foreman in the restaurant earlier also had this emblem on his chest.

So these must be the people from Wanlong Society that the students were just talking about.

And they were likely core figures of extremely high status within Wanlong Society—otherwise, the students wouldn’t react this way.

It’s just that they’re so young!

Unbelievably young!

Liu Yutong was long accustomed to such scenes. Her gaze fell on the birthday girl wearing a crown, and she gave a slight nod and a faint smile.

Seeing that Liu Yutong had actually noticed her and even greeted her with a smile, the girl flushed with excitement and blurted out, “Senior! I… I’m your fan! Ah, no, no—you’re my idol!”

Liu Yutong hadn’t expected the girl to dare speak to her. She smiled and asked, “You’re also from Finance University?”

The girl nodded vigorously. “Senior, I’m in business management just like you. I really, really admire you so much!”

Liu Yutong offered her a blessing: “Junior, happy birthday to you!”

“Thank you, senior! Thank you!” The girl’s voice trembled with excitement.

The students in the hall, seeing that the legendary Young Mistress of Wanlong Society was so approachable and had personally offered birthday blessings, were filled with envy.

Liu Yutong also called over a waiter and said something quietly.

The waiter immediately understood, quickly walked to the birthday students’ table, and announced with a smile to the entire hall:

“Dear students, honored guests, and most importantly, our birthday girl today. Our boss has said that all expenses for your table tonight, as well as for all guests present, are on the house! This is Yu Yue Fang’s birthday gift to our birthday girl, and also our thanks to all students and customers for your continued support of Yu Yue Fang!”

After these words, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even more enthusiastic cheering than before!

“Wow—!!”

“Thank you, Student Liu! Student Liu is so generous!”

“Thank you, boss!”

“Yu Yue Fang is so generous!”

“Birthday girl, you have so much face! Senior is really treating you specially!”

“…”

Especially the students at the birthday table, whose faces flushed with excitement. Several boys even jumped up.

They might not know Liu Yutong personally, but the name of Wanlong Society’s Young Mistress was legendary in Pearl City, especially around University City.

Getting a free meal blessing from this legendary student was something they could brag about for years!

The birthday girl was also overwhelmed with excitement, secretly vowing to work hard and get a job with Wanlong Society.

Amid the lively atmosphere, Liu Yutong gave a gentle wave to the students and guests, then turned and left the restaurant with her group.

Just as they were about to get in their cars, an excited voice suddenly rang out behind her.

“Please wait!”

Liu Yutong paused and turned around. The “older sister” from the plane, with whom she’d had such a pleasant conversation, was chasing out of the restaurant, looking at her with pleasant surprise.

Behind her followed a father and son of considerable presence—likely her family.

A trace of surprise flickered in Liu Yutong’s eyes, and she politely greeted them: “What a coincidence, Sis. I didn’t expect to run into you here again.”

Jiang Lu beamed with joy. “Yes! What a coincidence! We meet again here—this must be fate!”

The pleasant surprise and excitement on her face were genuine. Meeting Liu Yutong here made her feel as if heaven itself was helping her find her daughter.

“By the way, we were so caught up in conversation last time that I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Jiang Lu. This is my husband, Lin Dong, and this is my son, Lin Feng.” She introduced the father and son behind her.

However, the moment she heard the name “Jiang Lu,” Liu Yutong’s eyes imperceptibly hardened.

Jiang Lu?

Wasn’t that her birth mother’s name?

In an instant, countless thoughts and complex emotions surged within her. She forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, maintaining a polite facade as she calmly asked, “Are you… here looking for someone?”

Hearing this, Jiang Lu immediately forgot her intention to ask for contact information and names, and said urgently:

“Yes! I mentioned it on the plane, and you encouraged me to find my long-lost daughter. Now I’ve gotten information. She should be here in Pearl City, studying at Finance University. My daughter is called Tongtong, full name Liu Yutong. Do you know her? If you do, could you possibly…”

Before she could finish, Liu Yutong suddenly spoke, interrupting her in an icy tone: “Sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to. I must go!”

Without giving Jiang Lu any chance to react or question further, she said to Yun Cheng and the others, “Let’s go.”

Yun Cheng quickly went to the roadside and opened the door of the Maybach.

After Liu Yutong got in, the others entered their respective cars as well, and the convoy departed immediately.

The Lin family watched the black convoy leave, the smiles on their faces gradually freezing.

“Wait.”

“Everything was fine just now. Why did she suddenly turn cold?”

“Are all women this fickle?”

“Most importantly, even if you’re busy, you could at least leave some contact information!”