Free Web NovelChapter 2137: Chapter 2040: The Reason
Tong Jian furrowed his brow, thought briefly, and said to Zhang Jing, "What could possibly happen? Just a little girl, a worthless, money-burning nuisance; she’s not going to get snatched by traffickers, is she? That dead girl might have gone to play at someone’s house and ended up staying over with those gossiping women! It’s late, let’s sleep."
Zhang Jing, however, recalled some recent news she had seen: human traffickers had indeed appeared in Jinling lately. Especially now, with the end of the year approaching, many families visited relatives and friends, with lots of people coming and going, and not many were vigilant. That dead girl running out could very well run into traffickers.
"What if she truly gets kidnapped?"
Worry flashed in Zhang Jing’s eyes, but of course, she wasn’t concerned about the safety of her adoptive daughter; she was worried about their source of funds. That dead girl was an eyesore, but she was their cash cow. If she disappeared hastily and that woman pursued the matter, their dreams of making a fortune would go down the drain.
Tong Jian glanced at his wife and immediately understood Zhang Jing’s concern, letting out a chuckle and said:
"What are you afraid of? If she’s lost, she’s lost. That woman hasn’t contacted us for years; it’s clear she doesn’t plan to reunite with this daughter. By the time that woman remembers her daughter, we’ll have run far away with her money, living blissfully with Hanghang. Who knows if that woman could even find us by then."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jing remained silent for two seconds, then couldn’t help but laugh:
"You’re right, if she’s lost, she’s lost. That dead girl eats so much every day; it’s good if she’s lost, saves on food, and stops the gossiping women nearby from wagging their tongues. Those old biddies with nothing to do just love meddling in others’ affairs, so annoying to see!"
Tong Jian hugged his wife, bowed down to kiss their slumbering son, and nodded:
"Rest assured, soon those old witches won’t be talking about you anymore. If asked, we’ll say Tongtong was sent to be cared for by grandma in the countryside. In such family matters, no one would truly investigate, and no one will know that the dead girl was abducted."
The couple spent time affectionately together because of that windfall of a million. Both were excited and only fell asleep at dawn.
As for their adoptive daughter Tongtong’s disappearance, they didn’t concern themselves at all. For them, it was a trivial matter. Even if the child was lost, they had no intention whatsoever to look for her.
Huo Sining had been quietly waiting outside the door, until she saw the lights in room 316 finally go out, and no more sounds were heard. Yet she still didn’t see the couple come out.
Huo Sining originally thought, upon discovering Tongtong’s disappearance, at the very least, this couple would feel anxious, rush out, and search.
But clearly, she underestimated this couple’s cold-bloodedness. From discovering Tongtong’s disappearance to falling asleep during those seven or eight hours, this couple showed such calmness and could even sleep in peace. Huo Sining found it unbelievable.
Her eyes were filled with coldness. Initially, she wanted to give this couple a chance. If, upon discovering Tongtong’s disappearance, they had a change of heart and diligently searched for the child, Huo Sining wouldn’t mind letting them off. But their behavior infuriated Huo Sining.
Tong Jian and Zhang Jing, tired from their passionate moment, were sleeping soundly, unaware that at this moment, outside their door in the alley of Fuzi Street, someone full of murderous intent was standing with a grim look.
Little did they know, this would be the last peaceful sleep they would have. Tomorrow, awaiting them would be someone’s unending fury.
At two in the morning, Huo Sining returned to the hotel. The materials she’d had someone investigate had also been sent to her phone. Seeing them, the corners of Huo Sining’s mouth curled into a cold smile, silently thinking ’as expected.’
This information was what Huo Sining had someone investigate about Zhang Jing and Tong Jian’s specific circumstances during the day. Upon investigation, Huo Sining found several issues and understood why Elisa had entrusted her newborn daughter to this couple years ago.
It turned out that before this, Zhang Jing and Tong Jian couldn’t have children even after being married for six or seven years. Several hospitals had failed to find a solution, even a few renowned doctors had pronounced them incapable of having children.
This result was a bolt from the blue, leaving the couple in utter despair. After painstakingly adjusting their mindset, they began seeking ways to adopt a child through various channels.
It was in such a situation that Elisa learned of the couple’s plight. Coincidentally, she was about to give birth, and the company urgently called her back. Desperate, Elisa secretly investigated the couple and, upon confirming they truly couldn’t conceive and were desperate for a child, she made the impulsive decision to give her daughter to them.
After contacting and consulting with the couple, Elisa gave them a sum of money monthly, with the condition that they treat her child kindly.
With such an unexpected blessing, under the circumstances at the time, Tong Jian and Zhang Jing joyfully accepted without hesitation.
Soon after, Elisa gave birth to Tongtong. Though a girl, Tong Jian and Zhang Jing had no hope for a child, so they cherished and looked forward to Tongtong. Initially, they indeed treated Tongtong as their own.
During that period, Elisa hadn’t fully trusted the couple, so she arranged for someone to observe them for a while. After confirming they were treating Tongtong well, she withdrew the person she had monitoring them.
Elisa thought the couple she found was reliable and had good character, but she couldn’t have imagined that fate would take a turn. After raising Tongtong for a couple of years, Zhang Jing suddenly became pregnant, and when Tongtong was three, she gave birth to their son Hanghang.
With a son, their own flesh and blood, Zhang Jing and Tong Jian’s attitudes abruptly changed. Their treatment of their adoptive daughter Tongtong underwent a 180-degree shift, from initial scolding to subsequent abuse, all happening without warning.
Yet all of this, due to Elisa being abroad and fully trusting Zhang Jing and Tong Jian, she remained oblivious, believing her daughter lived well in Jinling.
