Before Yan Zhenyi could learn from the police chief that a group of terrorists had arrived at Fengcheng Railway Station…
Yan Qi and her mother, Li Caifeng, had already arrived at the station plaza by bus.
“Mom, there are so many people here at the train station,” Yan Qi remarked, adjusting her sunhat and sunglasses as she glanced at the bustling crowd.
Li Caifeng sighed, thinking about the sluggish economy in recent years. “Yes, there really are a lot of people. The economic situation hasn’t been great lately.”
Yan Qi turned away from the crowd and asked her mother, “By the way, Mom, what time does your college friend’s train arrive?”
“She said her train would arrive in Fengcheng around noon.”
Checking her phone, Yan Qi noted the time—11:30 AM. “It’s almost time then. You’ll see her soon. You must be really close if you came all the way here to pick her up, right?”
A nostalgic smile crossed Li Caifeng’s face. “Yes, Bai Yuling and I were very close. If not for your father, I might have gone abroad with her.”
“Bai Yuling? Is that your friend’s name?” Yan Qi asked curiously.
“Yes. Pretty name, don’t you think?”
“It’s alright,” Yan Qi replied, then pressed further. “But why did you say you’d have gone abroad with her if not for Dad?”
Li Caifeng simply smiled faintly. “That’s not something a child like you needs to know yet.”
Yan Qi straightened up, hands on her hips, and declared seriously, “Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. In three months, I’ll be a freshman at Imperial University!”
Li Caifeng chuckled. “Even so, you’re still only fourteen. I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
Frustrated by her mother’s evasion, Yan Qi suddenly realized something. Her eyes widened in shock, and her gaze at her mother grew complicated.
“Huh? Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?” Li Caifeng asked, unaware of her daughter’s thoughts behind the sunglasses.
Yan Qi shook her head. “No, nothing.”
“Then why were you looking at me like that?”
“I was just upset you wouldn’t answer my question.”
“Oh, is that all? Want me to buy you something tasty to cheer you up?”
Yan Qi refused firmly. “No, Mom. I’m not a little kid.”
“Really? You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Alright, if you say so.”
Relieved that her mother dropped the idea, Yan Qi changed the subject. “Mom, what does Aunt Bai Yuling do for work?”
Li Caifeng answered promptly, “She used to work in public security, like your dad. But later, she disappeared for a while. When we finally reconnected, I found out she’d been transferred to state security.”
“State security? Is she here to catch spies?” Yan Qi whispered.
Li Caifeng shook her head. “No, she’s here on official business, but definitely not for something like that. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked me to pick her up.”
Yan Qi nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Come on, it’s about time. Let’s head to the exit to wait for her.”
“Okay, Mom.”
As the two made their way through the crowded plaza, a man in a black trench coat passed by Yan Qi, his eyes vacant. She froze, staring at his retreating figure.
“Qiqi, why’d you stop?” Li Caifeng asked, concerned.
“Nothing… I must’ve imagined it,” Yan Qi replied, turning back.
“Then let’s keep moving.”
Just as they were about to continue, Li Caifeng’s phone rang. She motioned for Yan Qi to stay close while she dug her phone out of her bag.