Chapter 189: Chapter 187: Sixteen Years
"If you’re free, have some fruit. I’m busy now." Luna was busy playing mobile games and had absolutely no time to pay attention to Elliana Lyle, who came to see her.
Just watch her move directions with her left-hand pinky while pressing skills with her index finger, playing with such fluidity as if she didn’t need to use both hands at all.
"Why do I feel like your left hand is smoother than your right?" Watching her play, Elliana Lyle couldn’t help but ask.
After all, she couldn’t possibly operate with one hand, let alone her left.
"Because I was left-handed when I was little."
Seeing Luna fully immersed in her game, she didn’t want to disturb her, so she lay diagonally on the sofa instead. She had to admit that this room was quite spacious, equipped with everything, even a small kitchen.
Luna wouldn’t feel stifled recuperating here.
Taking advantage of Luna’s gaming break, she started to browse videos. The first one was an official news release from Wyen.
A few photos, plus some segments, with the title below: A certain Ye, due to excessive defense, led to the deaths of two people. After court trials, the judgment was as follows: ...
"Sixteen years of fixed-term imprisonment" reflected in her eyes.
Why does this incident seem so familiar? After some thought, she followed the link below to check the complete event.
[Seven adolescent girls were trafficked; as of now, only six have been rescued, and one even went missing in the hospital...]
No need to check further; she already knew. She hurriedly sat up, "Luna, something’s happened!"
"What is it? Tell me."
"Last time, you said the girl who took down the bald guy has been sentenced."
...
After a few seconds of silence, Luna quickly put down her phone and snatched Elliana’s over, her eyebrows furrowing deeper the more she watched the video.
"Damn!" Luna entered cursing mode, speaking rapidly while cursing in varied ways.
"Breathe, take it easy, calm down." She quickly comforted Luna, worried her excitement might injure her barely healing arm.
Luna remained angry, saying, "If she hadn’t killed him, she’d be the one dead! Sixteen years? Are they out of their minds? What do they mean by causing the deaths of two people? Didn’t they thoroughly investigate?"
...
Upon hearing these words, Elliana Lyle remained silent, only speaking after Luna finished cursing, "We’ll help her appeal, let Li Si go."
―――Wyen.
Holy Spring Town.
"Look, that girl was trafficked and now she’s back. Who knows if she’s clean or not."
Five middle-aged women were sitting at a shop entrance, pointing and sneering or showing disdain at the girl passing by.
A woman in a mustard-colored floral dress with pockmarks gave the girl who hadn’t yet walked far a disdainful sneer and ordered, "You know, if it were me, I’d hang myself long ago, just like her shameless sister."
"Oh dear, as they say, better a bad life than a good death. Marry someone from out of town; who would know about her dirty deeds?"
"Whose son is so unlucky..."
These hurtful and piercing words deeply hurt the girl’s heart. She didn’t pretend not to hear them; she simply acted like she didn’t.
Returning, she’d thought she could start anew, never expecting such gossip and rumors.
Her name is Yan Xue; she just graduated from vocational high school with a degree in early childhood education. She could’ve started an internship, but now the kindergarten didn’t want her.
Today, like previous days, she hoped to find work in the town, but ended up with the same result.
No one in town was willing to hire her; they said she was tainted.
Originally planning to try her luck in the city, her parents firmly opposed, forcing her to find work to support herself while refusing to let her leave the town.
Walking to a secluded corner, tears welled up uncontrollably as she checked her phone, seeing a message from her mother asking her to come home for dinner.
And, as expected, she saw the sentencing result of her fellow rescued sister, instantly feeling both anger and helpless acceptance.
Sixteen years—how many sixteen years can one have in a lifetime? This life, it’s essentially ruined.
"Sisters, how are you all doing today?" The message was sent in the group chat of the rescued sisters.
They exchanged contact information in the hospital, naturally adding each other afterward.
Charlotte King: "Not good at all. My grandma wants to marry me off to a fifty-year-old bachelor. I ran away today. I’m going to start being self-sufficient."
Yan Xue @Charlotte King: "Go for it."
Liu Jiaxin: "...I don’t get it; my family cares for me so much, how can your family be so heartless? If you need help, come find me, sisters."
Soon, Liu Jiaxin sent 200-yuan red envelopes to everyone in the group, totaling a thousand for five people, though one didn’t claim it.
They knew Liu Jiaxin lived in the city, had a good family situation, was both wealthy and had good parents; she had what they envied but could never have.
Sometimes, Yan Xue wondered, why were the disparities between people so vast?
Seeing Charlotte King’s message, she also had the idea to secretly escape, no matter her parents’ disagreement!
Thinking it over, she didn’t even want to go back to pack her things. With over three hundred yuan in hand, she planned to head to the city right then.
Liu Jiaxin lived in North City, and a slow train ticket from Wyen to North City was just 197 yuan, but the ride lasted a whole day, nearly 24 hours.
Once in North City, she could seek Liu Jiaxin’s help, possibly staying one night, avoiding ending up on the streets, and then look for work the next day. Getting into a factory would be ideal.
In fact, she could join a factory anywhere; she just felt North City wouldn’t leave her isolated. With the goodness of Liu Jiaxin, having such a friend meant she wouldn’t fear dying outside.
Moreover, at worst, she still had a sister she’d lost contact with for years.
Thus, she messaged Liu Jiaxin privately.
"I want to come to North City to find you, is that okay? I’ll just stay one night and then I’ll look for a job."
She thought of treating Liu Jiaxin to a nice meal once she got her paycheck and repay that 200 yuan, considering it borrowed from Liu Jiaxin.
Liu Jiaxin: "Sure, when will you arrive? I’ll pick you up."
"Probably the morning after tomorrow."
After this discussion, she got on the shuttle heading to Wyen.
...
―――Meanwhile.
North City Airport.
Li Si, carrying a briefcase and dragging a suitcase, started rushing toward the check-in counter, as he had to go to Wyen to help a girl.
Though unwilling to go, he had to as arranged by Elliana Lyle.
The journey wasn’t lengthy, after merely an hour and a half, the plane arrived at Wyen Airport.
However, arriving in Wyen was merely the first step. The second step involved locating the girl he was meant to assist.
Since Luna hadn’t yet provided him with the exact address, he could only wait.
After an hour, he finally saw Luna send an address.
...
After a ten-minute subway ride, during the peak off-work hours, he was nearly crushed by the crowd. He finally got off and, navigating the address, found the girl’s home—only to be mistaken for a swindler!
"Get lost, swindler! If you don’t, I’ll call the police!" A burly man glared at him, seemingly ready to tear him to shreds the next second.
Li Si remained fearless, handing over a business card, seriously stating, "This is my business card, please contact me if needed; all my info is searchable online."