Chapter 491 - 168: The ’80s Drama Queen is Forced to Become a Top Student (3)

Chapter 491: Chapter 168: The ’80s Drama Queen is Forced to Become a Top Student (3)

"Yes," she said, choking back sobs, "I... I told her that if she couldn’t find anyone, she should look for a police officer."

Her heart twinged with pain again. ’I must have been out of my mind back then, possessed by some strange surge of maternal love. Why on earth did I mention the police to Sheng Leyun?’

She was beside herself with regret, already imagining the fate that awaited her once the child was found.

Still, Ren Xingchen sobbed, "Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. We’ll definitely find her."

"It’s just... my daughter is going to hate me forever."

"She was standing right there, perfectly fine. I go inside for two minutes, and she’s just gone? How?"

"She doesn’t want our families to join together. She could have just said so... did she really have to do this...?"

Everyone recalled the little girl’s earlier attitude and thought it seemed plausible she would deliberately stir up trouble like this.

"This is no time for talk. We need to find the child first. The station has been a mess lately. If we wait any longer, she could really be targeted by traffickers!"

"Right, right." As they spoke, someone had already fetched the train police. Everyone started talking at once, giving a rough summary of the situation.

When the train officer heard a child had gone missing during the stop at the last station, his expression immediately grew serious. He took out a pen and a notebook and began carefully recording Xiao Xuezhen, Ren Xingchen, and Sheng Leyun’s information.

Faced with this official inquiry from the officer, Xiao Xuezhen and Ren Xingchen braced themselves. In front of so many people, they had to maintain the facade of anxious parents who had lost their child and recount the details.

"Alright, try not to be too upset," the officer said, trying to soothe them. "We’re half an hour from the next station, but I’ll report this to my superior and see if we can speed up the train..."

"We’re cracking down hard on traffickers right now. Usually, we have plenty of plainclothes officers staked out at every station..."

However, every one of the officer’s comforting words felt like a death sentence to Ren Xingchen. The tiny sliver of guilt and reluctance she had felt earlier now curdled completely into hatred.

’She hated that Sheng Leyun’s father was dead. Why did he have to leave this burden behind?’

’She even silently cursed, hoping Sheng Leyun would never be found—that she’d be sold off to some remote mountain village. At least that way, all her housekeeping skills would be enough for her to live out the rest of her days in peace.’

Every second was agony.

Afraid Sheng Leyun would be found, Ren Xingchen started trying to clear her own name by subtly slandering the girl.

"The child takes after her father, bottling everything up and never saying what’s on her mind. And I’m an impatient person, not some mind reader. How am I supposed to know what that girl is thinking all day?"

"She’s my own child. Of course I might be a little harsh with her sometimes—I’m her mother, after all. I just never thought she’d use her own disappearance to get back at me..."

"If I’d known she was thinking of this, I never would have gotten off the train. I would have rather you all laughed at me than give her this opportunity..."

The crowd nodded sympathetically. It was true, kids these days were more cunning than the last.

To get their way, they’d resort to anything—running away from home, self-harm, all sorts of extreme things.

So, they could understand Sheng Leyun’s actions. Her mother was starting a new family, and the girl, unhappy about it, had deliberately run off to make everyone’s hearts ache with worry.

Suddenly, a quiet voice spoke up. "Ren Xingchen, I think you could be on television. That was quite a performance."

"If there weren’t any witnesses, no one would ever know I was abandoned like a piece of trash in a warehouse at some unfamiliar station."

Li nodded as well. "They say even the most vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. I guess I’ve seen it all today."

"Mr. Xiao, Ms. Ren, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to pursue your own happiness. But the child is innocent. If you don’t want her, you could find a kind family to adopt her."

"Besides, she’s old enough to take care of herself. All you have to do is provide a roof over her head, find her a school, and give her food and clothes. She’d hardly be any trouble for you."

"And you’re not even willing to take responsibility for that?"

Everyone was thrown for a loop again. The plot was twisting a little too quickly!

"Sheng Leyun?" Seeing her, Ren Xingchen was so startled that the tears she had been carefully manufacturing finally fell.

"Ha. Surprised?" Sheng Leyun smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You can stop the act now, Ren Xingchen. With so many people at the station, there are always a few who don’t stick to the main path."

"Not only did Uncle Li witness you cruelly abandoning your ’burden,’ but a few other people were waiting for the train in the cool shade around the warehouse, and they heard the entire thing."

"We’ve all arranged for them to go to the local station and give a statement. Oh, and I used the money you gave me to get rid of me to compensate them for their lost wages."

"Actually, the specifics don’t even matter anymore. The fact is, I went missing while I was with you. So whether it was me being a willful child or you being a malicious mother, you still bear the greatest responsibility."

"What happens next will depend on both of your attitudes and actions."

Xiao Xuezhen and Ren Xingchen were mortified beyond belief. They couldn’t lose their tempers in front of everyone, or even utter a single word of reprimand toward Sheng Leyun.

"Yunyun, it’s good that you’re back," Xiao Xuezhen said with a smile. "Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to treat you well!"

He knew that at this point, there was no backing out. And Sheng Leyun was nothing like the simple, foolish, easily-satisfied child who only knew how to do chores that Ren Xingchen had described.

On the contrary, she was just like her father!

Xiao Xuezhen’s fist clenched slightly. He sneered inwardly. ’Smart people never live long.’

’He’d also seen how Ren Xingchen’s mind worked. It seemed he would have to ’train’ her properly, lest she do something stupid and drag him down with her again.’

’As for Sheng Leyun... their time in the Capital City would be long. He would surely find a way to have her ’reunite’ with her father sooner rather than later.’

Sheng Leyun suddenly felt a sinister chill. Her eyes swept across the crowd before landing on the man who was smiling at her and making such solemn promises.

Her lips curled into a smile. "Alright, then. Everyone here and I will be watching to see just how well you treat me!"

"If your actions don’t match your words, then I’ll just go report the situation to your work unit. I’m sure the organization will be happy to pay a home visit."

A vein bulged on Xiao Xuezhen’s arm, but he still took a deep breath, smiled, and nodded. "Of course. And as long as I treat you well, I trust that a smart and sensible child like Yunyun wouldn’t go running to my workplace for no reason."