"Bang—!"
A huge noise erupted in the alley, and as if by conditioned reflex, alarms blared around the alley.
Accompanied by the siren, it was clear that officers were rushing to the scene.
"It's time to end this."
Jiang Wen pierced the giant's chest with one hand, destroying it completely.
The giant struggled frantically, then its body, which had been radiating immense power, stiffened.
Its scarlet eyes lost their light.
"As expected, this demon beast seems to be a puppet," Jiang Wen said, looking at the giant's corpse, curious about its origin. Who would use this thing against him, and even predict his route?
Holding Li Jiayi's slender waist, he watched the police arrive.
"Ding-dong."
He rang the doorbell of Li Jiayi's house.
Soon, a middle-aged woman in casual clothes opened the door.
"You are?"
The middle-aged woman sized up Jiang Wen, asking hesitantly.
"Auntie, hello, my name is Jiang Wen, and I'm a friend of Jiayi's," Jiang Wen began to say, but the middle-aged woman's eyes lit up.
"So, you're Jiayi's friend, a rare guest indeed, come in quickly."
Enthusiastically pulling Jiang Wen into the house, she then saw Li Jiayi lying in his arms.
"This girl, how did she drink so much?"
The middle-aged woman brushed Li Jiayi's hair aside and touched her flushed cheeks, scolding good-naturedly.
Jiang Wen looked at Li Jiayi, hesitated for a moment, and then said.
"Jiayi got drunk with her friends, so I'm here to bring her back."
"Thank you, it's her good fortune to have a friend like you," the middle-aged woman said with a smile, taking Li Jiayi from Jiang Wen's arms.
"Thank you for your trouble, young man. It's getting late, come in and sit for a while."
"Auntie, you're too kind. Since Jiayi and I know each other, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," Jiang Wen said with a smile. He walked into Li Jiayi's house, looking around. Then, his eyes fell on the photos on the wall.
"Young man, have some fruit," the middle-aged woman brought over some fruit, carefully peeled.
Jiang Wen didn't stand on ceremony, eating the fruit while staring at the photo.
Seeing his curiosity, the middle-aged woman looked at the photo and said, "That's Jiayi's father, a photo we took a long time ago."
"Auntie took a very beautiful picture."
"Oh, you young man, you have such a sweet tongue!" the middle-aged woman said cheerfully. "What's your name, young man? Auntie doesn't think I've met you before."
"Auntie, my name is Jiang Wen. You can just call me Little Jiang," Jiang Wen replied with a smile. He was now certain that Li Jiayi's father was his martial uncle, the one who had disappeared for many years.
He hadn't expected such a coincidence in this world, that he would meet his martial uncle's family after so many years. If his father knew about this, he would surely be very happy.
Thinking of his own parents, Jiang Wen felt a little黯然.
Watching the middle-aged woman busying about, and warmly entertaining him, Jiang Wen had a better understanding of his martial aunt. She was indeed a cheerful person, but he didn't know why she raised such an introverted daughter like Li Jiayi.
The house was filled with old photos of her and his martial uncle, seemingly not minding letting people know that she still had a man who had gone missing.
After finishing her work, the middle-aged woman sat next to Jiang Wen and talked to him.
"Little Jiang, did Jiayi encounter something today? She didn't used to drink."
Hearing his martial aunt's worried words, Jiang Wen recalled what happened today and told her everything.
Hearing Jiang Wen's story, the middle-aged woman also felt a little guilty.
"Actually, I didn't really want her to go on a blind date. I just saw her staying at home every day and wanted her to meet some friends, so I said that. I didn't expect the Chen family's child to be like that, it really surprised me."
The middle-aged woman told Jiang Wen that the boy named Chen Dong was actually her boss's son. She currently worked at a domestic service company and was well-treated. When Li Jiayi went to her company to find her, she was met by the boss.
The boss liked Li Jiayi very much and wanted his son to get to know her. She couldn't refuse, so she had to agree.
"It's Auntie's fault, I didn't expect this to happen," the middle-aged woman said guiltily.
"Auntie, don't say that, it's actually a good thing. At least we realized that the Chen family's child has a bad character, which is a good thing," Jiang Wen comforted.
"You child, you really know how to talk. Indeed, from now on, our Jiayi won't associate with that Chen boy," the middle-aged woman said with a smile after hearing Jiang Wen's words.
"Auntie, can I ask you something?" Jiang Wen looked at the photo on the wall and asked the middle-aged woman softly.
"Hey, go ahead. Auntie will definitely tell you what she knows," the middle-aged woman said quickly.
"Isn't Jiayi's father at home?" Jiang Wen prepared to ask euphemistically, but thinking that there was no need to beat around the bush about his martial uncle, he simply asked directly.
Hearing Jiang Wen's words, the middle-aged woman was silent for a while before sighing, "Actually, Jiayi's father left many years ago."
"Left? I'm sorry, Auntie, I didn't know about this," Jiang Wen apologized, pretending not to understand.
"He didn't pass away, he just left our mother and daughter," the middle-aged woman said, sighing softly. "He went out many years ago, saying he would make a name for himself before coming back. Now, decades have passed, and I don't have much hope."
"So that's how it is, doesn't Auntie feel resentful?"
"Of course, there's resentment, but so many years have passed. What's the use of resenting now? I can't just be unhappy and live with anger in my heart every day. Life would be too tiring, it's better to be happy," the middle-aged woman said with a smile. "Auntie isn't the kind of person who wallows in self-pity. If that man doesn't come back, he doesn't come back, Auntie can still live well."
"Auntie is truly an amazing person," Jiang Wen praised sincerely.
He looked at the photo on the wall, and then slowly said what he knew: "Actually, Auntie, Jiayi's father is also my martial uncle."
"You?! Are you saying he's your martial uncle?!" The middle-aged woman stared at Jiang Wen with wide eyes, somewhat disbelieving.
"Yes."
Jiang Wen told the middle-aged woman everything, and after hearing that the man had disappeared for many years, the middle-aged woman sighed deeply.
"It truly is fate," the middle-aged woman murmured.
