Her heart, already fraught with panic, now pounded with even greater anxiety.
Suddenly, a CREAKING sound ca from outside the door—it was a car braking. The car door opened, and the Shangguan siblings stepped out. They thanked the soldier who had picked them up and, after watching him drive away, finally walked through the front door.
Shangguan Yu and Liu Ruoling, having heard the noise, had already co out to greet them. Liu Ruoling imdiately enveloped Shangguan You in a hug, checking her for any injuries. This was the most sincere and natural reaction from Shangguan Yu and his wife; in their hearts, Shangguan You was also their child.
Shangguan Qing stood to the side, watching his parents check Shangguan You from head to toe. Only after they seed satisfied did they relax, while their own flesh-and-blood son was completely overlooked. Shangguan Qing sighed. Could parents really act this way?
Fortunately, he had a good temperant. Besides, he had grown up with Youyou; as children, they had even shared a bed and bathed together. He also understood his parents’ deep affection for Youyou. Otherwise, he might have suspected she was their biological daughter and he was the one they had found.
"Uncle, Auntie, I’m fine," Shangguan You said with a gentle smile. "Brother Qing protected the whole ti, keeping behind him. He kept very safe, so I wasn’t hurt."
Shangguan You chuckled softly. Seeing the worried expressions of the couple before her and hearing their words full of concern, a warm current she recognized as happiness flowed through her heart. She glanced at Shangguan Qing beside her and imdiately tugged his hand, drawing the couple’s attention to their son.
"Yes, you did the right thing," Shangguan Yu said, nodding. He looked at his son with an approving expression and patted his shoulder. "When faced with danger, as an older brother, you should protect your sister by keeping her behind you. That’s my good son." He was very pleased that Shangguan Qing had shielded his sister and stepped forward himself when danger arose.
"Qingqing, that’s what a brother should do," Liu Ruoling said, casting a satisfied glance at her son. "If sothing like this happens again, you must do the sa." Her years of teaching had not been in vain, she thought. As a man, he should protect the won he cares about most.
Shangguan You watched the family dynamic before her and inwardly shook her head, feeling a pang of sympathy for her beloved Brother Qing. What kind of logic was this? Daughters should be coddled, while boys should endure hardship and face danger head-on? And she should just hide behind him, protected?
Still, this feeling of being cherished... it was quite nice.
"Co on, Grandpa has been worried all night. Let’s go inside quickly," Liu Ruoling said, taking Shangguan You’s hand and leading her into the house.
Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Qing followed a few steps behind. As they walked, Shangguan Yu asked, "Qingqing, what do you make of tonight’s events?"
"Dad, I’m still quite confused. I don’t understand what happened," Shangguan Qing replied with a wry smile. He had inexplicably fallen asleep there, and when he awoke, they had already left that strange place. If he were asked now, he couldn’t say. He didn’t understand what had transpired, but he clearly rembered that Youyou was still conscious before he fell asleep. Youyou should know what happened afterward, but since she was unwilling to speak, he wouldn’t press her. He knew she wouldn’t harm him or his family.
"Let’s go in. We can talk about it slowly and think it over slowly," Shangguan Yu said, patting his son’s shoulder.
The two of them then walked into the main hall.
After hearing Shangguan Qing recount the events of the banquet, including Yu Zifeng and the Zhang family’s son performing a morable paper-towel hula dance, Shangguan Zhi felt quite pleased. All his previous frustrations were swept away. However, the smile vanished when he rembered his grandchildren had been kidnapped. Seeing Shangguan You and Shangguan Qing return safely, he breathed a sigh of relief. Is soone targeting the Shangguan family, or specifically Youyou and Shangguan Qing? he wondered. Aloud, he asked, "Youyou, Shangguan Qing, what are your thoughts on tonight’s events?"
"Grandpa, I think it’s more likely they were targeting Youyou," Shangguan Qing voiced his opinion. "I feel that tonight’s events were specifically aid at Youyou. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lost consciousness before she did."
"Youyou, what do you think about this matter?" Shangguan Zhi asked, his sharp eyes calmly studying Shangguan You. This young lady just experienced a kidnapping, yet she appears so relaxed. With so many guns aid at her and Shangguan Qing earlier, was she not the least bit afraid?
"Grandpa, I only returned yesterday. I don’t know who would be after . Besides our family, no one else even knows I’m back, do they? So, I really don’t know who would target ," Shangguan You said, blinking, her tone genuinely puzzled. Even if I ntioned Li Wanying and her daughter, Grandpa Shangguan Zhi definitely wouldn’t believe , she thought. It’s better to let them investigate it themselves.
"After Qingqing fainted," Shangguan Zhi pressed, "what happened?"
"When I saw Brother Qing faint, I got very scared. And then... it seed like... it seed like..." Shangguan You trailed off, clearly trying to figure out what to say next.
"Seed like what?" Shangguan Zhi prompted.
"Uncle Huo whispered in my ear... sothing about an abandoned factory... sothing about a kidnapping... sothing about blood... and sothing about why *they* died... He told to rember all of it. It was all vague, bits and pieces... After that, I really don’t know anything more. When I woke up, I only saw Brother Qing," Shangguan You said, her expression innocent, her words a little jumbled as she appeared to recall the events.
Shangguan Qing and Liu Ruoling exchanged puzzled glances. What on earth was she talking about? anwhile, the faces of Shangguan Zhi and Shangguan Yu turned ashen. Their breathing grew heavy, their expressions a mixture of deep worry and anger.
"Youyou, what about you then? Did you see any of those things Uncle Huo ntioned?" Shangguan Yu asked hurriedly, his face etched with concern as he looked at Shangguan You.
"No, I didn’t see anything at all. That’s why I find it so strange. Why would Uncle Huo tell those things? What does he want to rember?" Shangguan You blinked, looking at Shangguan Yu with an innocent expression. She clearly sensed both Shangguan Zhi and his son simultaneously heave a sigh of relief.
"As long as you’re unhard, that’s all that matters," Shangguan Yu said, his voice softer now. "Ruoling, accompany Youyou upstairs to rest. She’s been through a lot today and must be exhausted. Let her have a good bath and get so sleep. Don’t take that man’s crazy talk to heart, Youyou, and don’t dwell on it. Just get a good night’s sleep, and you’ll feel better tomorrow."
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