Even though it was difficult to speak, eventually one still had to say it. Better a short pain than a long one; it was better to just get it out in one go.
Duan Chen had no intention of interfering with such matters. He calmly dropped Mi Xueer off at her destination.
Upon arriving, as she got out of the car, Mi Xueer clutched Duan Chen's sleeve with a pleading look.
Her face, filled with anxiety and a hint of panic, parted her lips hesitantly as she asked, "Brother Duan Chen, can you come in with me? For some reason, I feel a bit scared."
Seeing her like this, Duan Chen's heart softened for a fleeting moment.
He shook his head helplessly. "Then I'll go in with you. But you have to remember, some things you always have to face yourself."
He didn't understand why Mi Xueer insisted on calling Mi Le her brother. She hadn't undergone a paternity test, nor had she met her never-before-seen father, yet she was so stubbornly convinced.
But Duan Chen wouldn't dwell on this issue.
Even a wise judge couldn't settle a family dispute, and he had no desire to involve himself in other people's domestic affairs.
He escorted Mi Xueer upstairs. Standing at the door of the room, Mi Xueer's face was full of unease.
She gently raised her hand and knocked.
"Xue'er! Mom knew it had to be Xue'er!"
The moment she knocked, the door was immediately opened. Without any makeup, completely barefaced, and with a weariness that couldn't be hidden, Zhong Yu rushed out from inside.
Her expression was incredibly agitated. Seeing Mi Xueer standing at her doorstep, she was overcome with an uncontrollable surge of relief and joy, as if she had survived a disaster.
With a forceful embrace, Zhong Yu pulled Mi Xueer into her arms and then burst into uncontrollable sobs.
"Mom was so scared. Where did you go?"
"Xue'er, I almost lost you. My dear daughter."
Mi Xueer also found it hard to control her emotions, her eyes red. She raised her arms and hugged her beloved mother. However, Mi Xueer knew what was most important right now.
She and Zhong Yu entered the room together and closed the door. Duan Chen followed closely behind. The three of them sat down on the sofa.
Zhong Yu went to the bathroom to compose herself, quickly applied a light makeup, and then came out.
She tidied her long hair and sat on the sofa, her expression stern and composed, returning to her image as an elite female CEO.
Yet, one could still see from her reddened eyes how turbulent Zhong Yu's emotions were.
She spoke with conviction. "Mr. Duan Chen, thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know what torment Xue'er would have faced."
"Whatever you need, just ask. I will agree to anything I can do."
Mi Xueer hesitated for a moment and tugged at her mother's sleeve.
Zhong Yu turned to look, the sudden loss of her beloved daughter making it difficult for her to maintain her elite facade in such a short time.
She asked in a gentle tone, "What is it, Xue'er? Is there something you want to tell Mom?"
Mi Xueer spoke softly, "Mom, do you have a pocket watch?"
Upon mentioning the pocket watch, Zhong Yu's expression stiffened.
She narrowed her eyes, and in an instant, she connected all the dots.
She said, with a hint of gritted teeth, "I understand. Was it because of the pocket watch? Because of your deceased father, that you were kidnapped this time?"
Duan Chen spoke up. "Ms. Zhong, I can only say that it was partly the reason. They released Xue'er in order to get the pocket watch you hold."
"Yes, yes."
Although Mi Xueer was reluctant, she knew what was most important at the moment.
She watched as her Brother Duan Chen, for her sake, signed a contract and an agreement with the other party.
If the pocket watch wasn't retrieved, not only would the bomb inside her body remain undetonated, but her beloved Brother Duan Chen would also be implicated due to this contract.
She hadn't carefully examined the punishment clauses displayed on the contract, but Mi Xueer knew it couldn't be anything simple.
Otherwise, why would they have let them go?
Despite her reluctance, for her own sake and for Brother Duan Chen's life, this transaction had to be completed.
As for the pocket watch...
There would be opportunities to get it back later.
A look of determination flashed in her eyes. "Can you give me that pocket watch? Mom."
A cold smile flickered across Zhong Yu's lips, but anyone could tell this smile was definitely not directed at Mi Xueer.
She stood up and went into the bedroom. After a short while, she emerged holding a rather vintage-looking pocket watch.
She placed the pocket watch directly into Duan Chen's hand, her attitude utterly devoid of attachment, so straightforward that it almost seemed too efficient.
Zhong Yu said generously, "This broken thing, I've long since had no interest in it."
"If it weren't for the fact that I was worried Xue'er might pester me for her father's belongings when she grew up, I would have thrown it away with the trash long ago."
Her attitude was magnanimous and completely unhesitating.
It was evident that she truly meant it.
However, at that moment, Duan Chen gently shook his head.
A smile flickered across his lips. "Although I need the pocket watch, I never said I had to hand it over to them."
"What do you mean?"
Mi Xueer and Zhong Yu both looked at Duan Chen in unison.
They found it difficult to comprehend what Duan Chen meant by his words.
Duan Chen didn't play coy. He directly placed the pocket watch in his palm and gently flipped open its cover.
The True Sight activated at that instant.
The moment it activated, Duan Chen was somewhat shocked.
Because his spiritual energy was being consumed at an astonishing speed!
Faster than when he had looked at the church.
This object was definitely hiding something.
After a single glance, Duan Chen immediately closed the cover of the pocket watch and then placed it in Mi Xueer's hand, his tone carrying a significant weight.
"I don't think it's a good idea to give this pocket watch to Mi Le."
"There's a lot going on inside."
As soon as he finished speaking, before Mi Xueer could respond, Zhong Yu, who had been silently observing, asked with hidden doubt.
"Mi Le?
Almost by a woman's intuition, she instinctively asked, "Who does this name refer to?"