The next day, it was already afternoon before A-Bo and I-Bo were able to see Sanxing at the hospital where he had been admitted.
Only his shoulder was wrapped in a bandage--clear evidence of where the bullet had hit—but his entire appearance had changed. It was obvious he had been severely beaten.
I-Bo pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down, studying him with concern.
"God… how did this even happen, Sanxing?"
A-Bo stood nearby with his arms folded, silently observing him, his expression tight. He couldn't even bring himself to speak.
Sanxing, propped up against a pillow and clearly in pain—unable to move even his shoulder—struggled to talk.
"I don't know them… they attacked me."
"They came to your house?" I-Bo asked.
Sanxing shook his head slowly.
"I stayed out late yesterday in Zhongshan… I went to see a friend. He wanted me to stay over, but I refused because I had something to do in Chongqing early this morning. So I left…"
He paused, wincing.
"On my way back, when I was close to my street, I noticed a car following me. I didn't think much of it—I assumed they were just trying to find their way. When I entered my street, it was already late, no one was around."
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"I hadn't even stepped out of my car to open my gate when I gestured for them to pass. Then the driver got out and walked toward me. I thought he needed directions…"
His voice tightened.
"But before I realized what was happening, he punched me—hard. While I was trying to defend myself, three more guys came out of the car. They all started beating me at once."
I-Bo's expression darkened.
"At the same time," Sanxing continued, "they kept asking me about a guy… someone. They said I should tell them where he was or they'd kill me."
"A guy?" I-Bo asked sharply, standing up.
Sanxing nodded weakly.
"Yes. Zhan. I swear, I don't even know him. I've never heard that name before. But they kept beating me, demanding I reveal his location."
A-Bo and I-Bo exchanged a quick look.
"They were ready to kill me," Sanxing said. "If not for luck… or whatever you want to call it… I'd be dead."
He took a breath.
"A soldier nearby heard me screaming and came out with a gun. One of my neighbors also came out with a machete. Before they could reach me, those guys shot at me—twice. One hit my shoulder, the other hit the gate. Then they jumped into their car and drove off."
"I swear… I don't know anything about this Zhan."
Just then, two of Sanxing's aunts entered the ward. A-Bo greeted them briefly before stepping outside.
He walked to the front of the hospital and sat down.
About ten minutes later, I-Bo joined him and sat beside him silently.
A-Bo broke the silence.
"He's not after Sanxing… he's after me."
I-Bo exhaled.
"Sean used to call Sanxing often just to reach me… that's probably how he got the number. But I also spoke to Sean that day… so really, he's tracking both of us."
A-Bo gave a faint, cold smile.
"He definitely pulled his call records. That's how he got all the numbers."
I-Bo stood up immediately.
"We need to remove our SIM cards. If we're on his list, he'll already know we're in Chongqing."
He paused, thinking.
"And before anything else, we need to focus on getting his father out. Sean is safe for now—but his father isn't."
A-Bo shook his head slightly.
"I don't think he is completely safe… not even with his aunt. As long as that guy has his number, he can track him too."
I-Bo froze for a moment.
He had underestimated Yiming—but not anymore.
"That guy…" he muttered, exhaling. "He's dangerous. Smart, calculated, and ruthless."
He thought quickly.
"I think we should arrange for them to leave the country—maybe to the Republic of Korea. Somewhere safe. At least until we settle this case."
A-Bo stayed silent.
"But what if he's needed in court?" he asked.
"For now, his lawyer can represent him. If he's required later, we'll handle it."
A-Bo nodded slowly.
"…That could work."
I-Bo added, "We should also visit his mother."
A-Bo looked at him.
"As who?"
I-Bo replied simply, "Human rights representatives."
***
Meanwhile, Yiming stood in the living room, reading through a document his mother had just handed him.
His sister, sat nearby, her face filled with anger.
After finishing, Yiming smirked, crushed the paper in his hand, and tossed it aside.
"So what's the point of all this humiliation?" his mother snapped. "You still won't listen to me?"
Before he could answer, his sister cut in sharply.
"How do you expect him to listen after everything he spent on that ungrateful boy?"
Her voice rose with frustration.
"A court notice doesn't mean he should back down. We'll fight this in court—and we'll win."
She leaned forward.
"Whoever is backing him thinks they can pay their way out of this? Fine. Let them try. We'll drag this as far as it goes."
She scoffed.
"That boy changed the moment he left for abroad. I warned you brother. Now look—he comes back acting different, thinking he's untouchable."
Yiming said nothing, pacing slowly with a faint smile.
His sister continued, her tone colder.
"No matter who's supporting him, they'll waste their money. In the end, he'll come back here. And when he does… things will be exactly how we want them."
Yiming turned and walked upstairs without a word.
Their mother watched him go, her frustration spilling over.
"Ever since this started, he barely eats… barely rests. That boy has turned his life upside down."
His sister stood up, determined.
"We just need to act. In the end, he'll return—and when he does, we'll be ready."
Then she followed after Yiming.
✴✴✴
I-Bo sat beside A-Bo in their lawyer's office, both of them listening carefully.
The lawyer leaned back slightly and said,
"He's trying to re-litigate a case that has already been resolved in court. The case was officially closed after he declared he had forgiven the debt. His legal team even filed a notice of discontinuance, which the court approved, and the debtor was released from any further obligation."
He paused, shaking his head.
"Honestly, I don't understand what kind of lawyer his son is working with. There's even written confirmation of the debt forgiveness on record. Why would they go as far as having the man arrested again? This is a clear abuse of legal process and malicious prosecution."
I-Bo leaned forward slightly.
"So what do we do now, sir?"
The lawyer placed his pen down.
"We'll file a motion to dismiss the case. We'll argue abuse of process and raise estoppel—meaning they cannot pursue that same debt again. We'll present the original court documents and proof of forgiveness."
He added firmly,
"They've also violated a court order, which is a serious offense on its own."
A-Bo spoke calmly,
"They did it because they believe he has no one to defend him. They think they can keep him locked up indefinitely because his family has no voice."
The lawyer nodded.
"That won't stand. We'll proceed with the case, and he will be granted bail while proceedings continue. They may even be ordered to pay damages."
:
:
Later that afternoon, A-Bo parked in front of Zhan's family house—the same spot where they had dropped him off that night.
Behind them, another car pulled up. Three guards stepped out and stood beside it, alert.
I-Bo quietly observed the neighborhood.
A-Bo stepped out of the car, leaning against it with folded arms. I-Bo followed and came around to stand beside him.
"Where's the house?" I-Bo asked.
Without looking at him, A-Bo replied,
"Right there. In front of you."
I-Bo turned his gaze to the house across from them.
A young boy passed by, and A-Bo called him over.
"Go inside and tell them there are visitors asking for…" he paused, glancing at I-Bo.
I-Bo said, "Tell them we're here to see Sean's mother."
The boy nodded and hurried inside.
A-Bo frowned slightly.
"Sean? Since when is that his name? Why not just use his real name?"
I-Bo looked at him.
"And what exactly is his real name?"
A-Bo didn't answer.
"You should know better than I do," he said coolly.
I-Bo only smiled faintly.
Inside the house, an older woman peeked through the doorway, startled by what she saw outside—two unfamiliar men, and guards standing nearby.
She quickly retreated inside, almost stumbling.
Soon, Zubei's Mama adjusted her scarf and stepped forward, followed by Antu's Mama, who was still fixing hers.
They both stood at the entrance, watching cautiously.
"Good afternoon," Antu's Mama greeted nervously.
I-Bo walked closer while A-Bo remained where he was, arms still folded, observing silently.
"We're here to see Sean's mother," I-Bo said politely.
Zubei's Mama quickly responded,
"Of course, please come in! She's inside. She's not feeling well, so she can't come out—but you can meet her in her room."
They stepped aside, letting them pass.
Their assumption was simple—they thought these men had come to take Lina away, just like Xiao Aiyin had been taken earlier.
A-Bo locked his car and signaled to the guards to wait outside before walking over to I-Bo.
Inside the compound, the environment was chaotic—water splashed everywhere, worn-out cement floors, scattered utensils, flies buzzing around, and clothes hanging on lines across the yard.
I-Bo knocked lightly and entered Lina's room.
A-Bo followed shortly after.
I-Bo greeted respectfully, bowing slightly near the entrance.
"Good afternoon."
A-Bo did the same.
Inside, Lina sat quietly, with Samei's Mama beside her.
Samei's Mama quickly spread a mat on the floor for them.
She had also assumed they came to take Lina away—but their respectful behavior made her hesitate.
I-Bo sat down, but A-Bo remained standing, clearly uncomfortable from the heat. He wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
Samei's Mama handed him a small fan.
"Thank you," he said softly.
She pulled back the curtain slightly.
"We haven't had electricity for over two weeks now. The transformer broke."
Outside, Zubei's Mama and Antu's Mama waited anxiously, confused that Lina hadn't been dragged out yet.
Inside, I-Bo looked closely at Lina.
He didn't need to be told who she was...Zhan's resemblance to her was undeniable.
Softly, he asked,
"How are you feeling Aunty?"
"I'm better," Lina replied quietly.
A-Bo also greeted her, and she responded, watching them carefully, waiting to understand their purpose.
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then A-Bo finally spoke,
"We attend the same school as Xiao Rabbit...Zhan in the U.S. His friend told us everything that's been happening, so we asked for your address and came to check on you."
Samei's Mama visibly relaxed.
"Thank you so much. We truly appreciate your concern."
I-Bo spoke gently,
"Please don't worry too much. Everything will be resolved soon. We're taking the necessary steps. His father will be released shortly, and Sean will return home safely."
Samei's Mama raised her hands slightly in relief.
"That's good news… we're very grateful."
Lina said nothing—tears streamed quietly down her face.
A-Bo added,
"We'll come back tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, thank you," Samei's Mama said sincerely.
A-Bo stood up quickly, excused himself, and stepped outside, the heat becoming unbearable for him.
As he left, the women in the compound watched him closely, confused.
Who were these people?
They had expected chaos—not calm, respectful visitors.
A few minutes later, young boys arrived carrying supplies:
Two large bags of rice.
Cartons of pasta.
Boxes of noodles.
Large gallons of cooking oil.
And cartons of spices.
They placed everything in front of Lina's room.
Everyone stood frozen in shock.
Samei's Mama stepped forward, eyes wide.
"…All of this?"
Inside, I-Bo quietly placed money beside Lina.
"Use this for anything you need, Aunty. We'll be back tomorrow."
Lina couldn't even respond—she was overwhelmed, tears continuing to fall.
Without waiting, I-Bo turned and walked out.
As I-Bo stepped out of Lina's room, Nenne—who had been standing in the middle of the compound—suddenly broke into loud sobs the moment she realized they weren't police officers. She dragged a small chair and sank into it, staring at him with teary eyes.
"With all the money you spent buying these food supplies," she cried, "you could have used it to bail my son out. He has no one—no one at all. If not for sheer luck, he might rot in there. Last time, only I know what I went through to get him released. I went from house to house begging for help."
I-Bo lowered his voice, calm and reassuring.
"We'll do everything we can to get him out, Grandma. Please try to stay calm."
Nenne wiped her tears with the edge of her clothes.
"How can I stay calm when my son is locked up? If you people are from media—radio or television—then take me. Record my voice, my face… let the world see me. Maybe someone important will take pity and help me."
"That won't be necessary," I-Bo replied gently. "I promise you, he'll be back home soon."
She looked at him sharply.
"Where exactly are you from? Are you human rights people?"
I-Bo hesitated briefly. Zubei's Mama and Antu's Mama were standing nearby, ears wide open, listening to every word.
"We went to the same school as Sean in America," he said finally. "When we heard what happened, we came to check on things."
Nenne stood up quickly.
"It's been almost a week now—no sign of Zhan anywhere. His mother is inside, grieving. I'm here, grieving my son. That's how we're all suffering. The moment that boy heard about the forced marriage with that Yiming, he disappeared. He told me himself he didn't want him. I've never seen anything like forcing someone into marriage in my life!"
Her voice broke again as she burst into fresh tears.
I-Bo fell silent, unsure what else to say—especially with the two women listening so intently. Instead, he slipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out the remaining twenty thousand, and stepped closer to her.
"Please take this, Grandma," he said respectfully. "We'll come back tomorrow."
She quickly waved her hands.
"No, no… take it to the station instead and secure my son's release. That matters more than money."
I-Bo smiled softly.
"Please keep it. I give you my word—he'll be out soon."
This time, she accepted it with both hands, her voice trembling as she thanked him repeatedly.
"If I'm not here tomorrow, they'll take you to my house. It's not far."
"I understand," he replied with a nod.
After saying his goodbyes, he turned and left. Behind him, Zubei's Mama and Antu's Mama watched with tight, unreadable expressions, each lost in her own thoughts.
Nenne tucked the money securely into her bra and muttered,
"I'll leave early tomorrow morning… maybe I'll find a way out of this."
She then headed toward Lina's room.
"Samei's Mama!" she called. "Come and move all these things inside. Don't let anything go missing. Food is wealth these days—who knows how much they spent on all this."
Samei's Mama quickly came out and began carrying the items inside. One by one, the provisions disappeared into the room.
Antu's Mama retreated to her room with a sour expression, while Zubei's Mama followed suit, shutting herself behind her worn curtain.
Outside, I-Bo returned to the car and found A-Bo already inside, reclining his seat with his eyes closed, the air conditioner blasting at full power.
I-Bo slid into the driver's seat and glanced at him.
A-Bo adjusted his posture, opening his eyes. Without a word, I-Bo started the engine.
As they drove out of the narrow streets, A-Bo guided him silently until they reached the main road. The security vehicle behind them followed closely.
After a while, A-Bo spoke, his tone serious.
"If we can find a house—anywhere between 50 to 100 million—buy it. They need to leave that place."
I-Bo nodded slightly.
"That can happen after Xiao Aiyin is released. Not now."
"It doesn't matter," A-Bo replied. "Start looking from today. That place… it's not fit for anyone to live in. The hygiene alone is unbearable. It feels like a prison."
I-Bo kept his eyes on the road.
"We can't rush decisions. Not until the head of the family is free. We're handling this step by step."
A-Bo said nothing more, but the tension in his expression didn't fade. The condition of the house had clearly unsettled him deeply.
⏭ ⏭
The next afternoon, they returned again—this time on their lawyer's request. They needed to confirm whether Xiao Aiyin's family had any original documentation proving the debt had been forgiven.
After parking, A-Bo turned to I-Bo.
"I'll wait here."
I-Bo chuckled lightly.
"Then you didn't need to come at all."
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped out and headed inside. Security was even tighter this time—they couldn't risk being caught off guard.
Inside the compound, everything was quieter. The co-wives sat scattered, pretending not to care.
As I-Bo walked further in, his eyes landed on two young girl's helping Lina with chores.
He immediately recognized them—Zhan's younger siblings.
"Meilin… Meiqin…" he called gently.
They both looked up.
"Hello," they greeted shyly.
I-Bo smiled warmly.
"How are you both?"
They only smiled in response, a little unsure, before returning to their work—Meilin scrubbing while Meiqin rinsed.
I-Bo stood there for a moment, watching them… his expression softening.
The situation had gone far beyond just Zhan now.
This was about an entire family.
And he knew—there was no turning back anymore.
💚💙❤🖤