Chapter 18: The Breeding Machine

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“The police suspected him at first as well, but no matter how thoroughly they investigated, the technology available at the time yielded no evidence that he was an accomplice.”

“Then, when he grew old, he became bored with the police’s inability to catch him and voluntarily handed over a notebook in which he had recorded plans for every crime. Once the notebook was made public, it shocked the entire world.”

Jiang Zhengde said, “That’s right. It’s the same case.”

Han Li asked, “You suspect that she might be the mastermind behind these three cases as well?”

“It cannot be ruled out,” Jiang Zhengde replied.

Huang Qian added, “There have indeed been people who, desperate for money, went to extremes and sold their intelligence online to make a living.”

Zhao Quan said, “But I feel that Yan Ningxi is merely a recent university graduate. She performed excellently at school and received scholarships many times. Besides, her purpose was not to witness the crimes’ results. She stopped the crimes every time.”

“Everyone can look at the messages she sent me. The urgency in her tone doesn’t seem fake.”

Everyone lowered their heads to examine the materials. What Zhao Quan had said was indeed true.

Liu Zhen said, “They really don’t seem fake. The statements given by the three people all indicate that they devised the plans themselves. We also found no evidence on their phones, computers, or other belongings that they had contacted Yan Ningxi.”

Han Li asked, “Could the mastermind have threatened them, saying that if they exposed her, their entire families would be killed? Perhaps they were afraid to act against her because of that.”

“That’s very possible,” Huang Qian said. “There’s another possibility: Yan Ningxi knows who is behind everything and knows all of that person’s plans, but doesn’t want anyone to die, so she deliberately reported the matter in advance to stop the crimes.”

“This…”

Everyone fell silent.

If that was the case, then things were considerably more complicated.

Zhao Quan said, “If she knows who is behind it all, then that person is clever enough to control so many others and is very likely not short of money. Since they aren’t short of money, and Yan Ningxi knows them, her family’s financial situation couldn’t possibly be as poor as it appears.”

Jiang Zhengde raised his brows. “What you’ve said makes sense. Everyone’s suspicions are possible. Do any of you have other ideas?”

…

After waiting a while and seeing that no one else had anything to say, Jiang Zhengde spoke in a grave tone. “It’s already very late. Based on what we know at present, we truly cannot determine whether Yan Ningxi is involved. Everything we’ve analyzed just now is merely speculation.”

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“But if something related to her happens again in the future, we may be able to gather more information.”

“Let’s do this. Starting now, monitor Yan Ningxi’s movements around the clock.”

Zhao Quan looked troubled. “Director Jiang, if we do that, we really don’t have enough manpower.”

“I know.” Jiang Zhengde took a sip of hot tea. “That’s why your captain and the other officers currently on leave will end their vacations early. They’ll be back tomorrow.”

“That’s wonderful.” Zhao Quan breathed a sigh of relief.

With the captain there, many cases could be resolved with ease.

Nancheng First Hospital

Yan Qingyu was leaning against the bed, a high school English textbook still in his hands.

His eyes, however, were not on the book. He was staring blankly at the television mounted on the opposite wall.

When Yan Ningxi arrived, she saw her younger brother distractedly flipping through the pages.

“I’m here.”

At the sound of her familiar voice, Yan Qingyu’s eyes immediately lit up, and he instantly perked up. “Sis, you’re finally here.”

Yan Ningxi placed the late-night food on the bedside table. “Sorry. Something came up at the company today, so I was delayed. Then I went back to take a shower. I won’t be this late tomorrow.”

“I’m not blaming you.” Yan Qingyu watched his sister arrange the food on the over-bed table with a smile, but when he remembered what had happened during the day, his expression suddenly darkened.

Yan Ningxi handed him a pair of chopsticks. She was a little hungry herself, so she sat beside the hospital bed and slowly ate a steamed dumpling.

Seeing how awful he looked, she quickly stood up and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll call the doctor.”

“No need. I’m fine.” Yan Qingyu spoke cautiously. “Sis, if I tell you something, can you promise not to get angry?”

Yan Ningxi sighed in relief and sat back down. As she continued eating, she said, “You’ll have to tell me first before I can decide.”

“All right.” Yan Qingyu took a deep breath and told her what had happened during the day. “Sis, that old couple came today. They even brought their second daughter.”

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Yan Ningxi’s expression remained indifferent. “How rare of them. They were actually willing to come. But knowing their temperament, I doubt they came merely to inquire about your condition, did they?”

The three people Yan Qingyu referred to were their paternal grandparents and the second aunt Yan Ningxi had encountered at the supermarket, Yan Xiuh e.

Yan Qingyu nodded. “Sis, you’re so clever. As soon as they arrived, they asked about my condition. When they learned that treating me would cost at least a million, they were actually delighted. They said it wasn’t much money and that they could help us find a million.”

Yan Ningxi furrowed her brows. “When someone offers kindness without reason, there’s always a hidden motive.”

Yan Qingyu suddenly became agitated. “Sis, you guessed it. They actually said they could arrange for you to marry as soon as possible. They had already planned everything. They said there was a man willing to pay a million as a bride price to marry you. As long as you married him, he would give you a million.”

“And if you later had a son, he would give you another million. They even said that way, we wouldn’t have to worry about my medical expenses.”

“They really do treat women as nothing more than childbearing machines.” Yan Ningxi clenched her fists and asked through gritted teeth, “What happened next?”

“At the time, only Mom was here. After hearing that, she immediately called Dad and summoned him over. Once Dad understood what was going on, he confronted them outright and drove them away. He even berated them, saying they clearly had ulterior motives and were obsessed with money. He said that even if you married, they wouldn’t give us the money for my treatment. They would certainly keep it for themselves, and by then, all of their children would be lost.”

“I knew our parents weren’t foolish.” Yan Ningxi smiled in satisfaction.

When Yan Qingyu first became ill, Yan Xiubai had immediately thought of his own parents.

After all, when he had money in the past, he had given them a great deal. They had barely needed to spend any of it, because he had paid for all their food, clothing, and daily necessities himself.

Yet they had shown not the slightest compassion or concern for their grandson. They had simply said that leukemia could not be cured and told them to give up.

They had even said that the money was for their old age and warned them not to covet it.

That very night, they had placed a notice in the newspaper severing relations with the family and declaring that they would never have anything more to do with one another.

So her parents would never believe what they had said today.

Yan Qingyu declared firmly, “Sis, don’t worry. I won’t let them marry you off to just anyone. I’d rather die. You mustn’t agree either. I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself.”

Yan Ningxi knew her younger brother would stand by her. In a gentle voice, she said, “All right. Your sister will listen to you.”

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