"Who knows if they’re not birds of a feather, now they’re falling apart, like dogs biting dogs."

"..."

Dan Hanjie was taken aback, not expecting her to say that, his eyes flickered slightly.

"Dan Hanjie, can you tell me what really happened back then? Why did my father tie himself up on the rack, and why did you point a gun at him..."

Qin Youxuan couldn’t bring herself to say those last two words.

Her heart ached as if being gripped, making it hard to breathe.

"In the surveillance video, there was no sound, but I remember in the glass room, both you and my father spoke. At that time, I thought my father was begging you, but you didn’t agree. Now that I think about it, it makes no sense, my father’s expression wasn’t one of fear, it was urgency."

Qin Youxuan turned the laptop in Dan Hanjie’s direction, the screen frozen on Ye Zhanxing’s face.

"Tell me, what was he anxious about? Anxious to find death? Why?!" Qin Youxuan almost lost control, whispering, tears falling onto the laptop keyboard.

Her crystalline cat-like eyes were covered with sad tears; she wiped them stubbornly, persistently looking at Dan Hanjie.

Dan Hanjie never wanted to explain to her what exactly happened that day, and she never knew if there was some underlying story.

It wasn’t until she watched the complete video and saw Tingye locked in the small dark room.

The details Qin Youxuan had missed finally began to slowly emerge.

She already had an answer in her heart, just waiting for Dan Hanjie to confirm it.

"It’s because of Tingye, isn’t it? I couldn’t hear what you and my father said in the glass room, but I could tell my father was very anxious. Was it because someone was threatening you with Tingye, forcing you to kill my father!"

Qin Youxuan cried out, clutching Dan Hanjie’s collar desperately, collapsing into his arms.

"..."

Dan Hanjie’s eyes tightened, lips pressed together, reaching out without a word, placing a hand on the back of her head, pulling her into his embrace.

Letting Qin Youxuan vent her emotions.

She had done very well.

No matter what Dan Hanxi’s intentions were, Qin Youxuan chose to trust him, even in such sadness, easily discovering the problem within.

"Dan Hanjie, you’re a bastard! What right do you have to hide from me, making me misunderstand you all along..."

"Do you think that by doing this, I’ll be grateful to you? I won’t..."

"How could you lay a hand on my father, how could you..."

"What will happen to Tingye in the future, that’s his grandfather, and if he finds out..." Instantly panicked, Qin Youxuan suddenly looked up at Dan Hanjie.

"Is it because you were worried about this, that’s why you kept it from me?"

"I can only tell you, if it happened again, I would still make the same choice. It’s the choice Ye Zhanxing made, and it’s mine too, so I won’t make any excuses for myself. Whatever retribution comes, let it befall me alone. It has nothing to do with my son, he shouldn’t have to bear anything."

"..."

Qin Youxuan’s hand froze, forgetting to cry.

Dan Hanjie lowered his head, his long fingers brushing across her cheek, gently placing a kiss on her brow and eyes.

"It’s my fault, I didn’t protect you and our child well enough, allowing others to take advantage. You can blame me, hate me, but as for anything else, don’t worry about it."

Dan Hanjie held her in his arms, instructing the driver to drive off.

...

In the café.

"Mr. Xi, Miss Qin has left for quite a while."