Chapter 102: Sister, Come Home Early
"So someone did report it after all?"
The moment Ye Fuli put down her phone, she fell deep in thought.
"Who could it be? Those two from the Ye family…"
"No, they wouldn't dare."
"Then, could it be He Ying after all? Or perhaps Huang Li…"
"Who could it be?"
…
Ten minutes later.
Ye Fuli arrived at the police station.
Spotting He Ying sitting in the corner, she couldn't help but smile.
"Miss He? What a surprise."
He Ying instinctively shuddered at the sight of her smile.
But now, with her benefactor's fate unknown, she forced herself to stay calm.
Ye Zhen needed her help!
She had to step forward; she couldn't pretend she didn't know this person.
Ye Fuli calmly took a seat across from her.
A moment passed.
She saw another familiar face walk in through the door.
This time, Ye Fuli's smile vanished. Instead, she fixed the other person with a meaningful gaze: "Dad, it's you."
Ye Fu Li hadn't expected Ye Fu Li's father to actually step forward.
Hmph.
This man, who always prioritized profit above all else, had actually broken his usual pattern today…
It seemed Ye Zhen had truly changed him profoundly in this lifetime.
The officer in charge of the case flashed a look of obvious disgust the moment he saw Ye Fuli.
"Ye Fuli? You again! Can't you just settle down and live a normal life? Why must you keep coming and going here? Do you think this place is your home?"
Ye Fuli gave her a lazy glance and smiled. "Officer, please watch your language."
"You're young and irresponsible, yet you still have the nerve to argue!"
Ye Fuli shook her head and sighed. "You hold such strong prejudice against me. I truly doubt whether you can handle this case fairly and impartially."
"You…!"
Just as the officer was about to explode, an older colleague grabbed his shoulder, found an excuse, and ushered him out.
The older officer, however, adopted a more conciliatory tone toward Ye Fuli.
They each took their seats.
"Tell us what happened. What exactly is the situation?"
…
"The truth is, my sick sister needed me, so I took her out for a while. I don't understand why they would interpret this as illegal confinement?"
Ye Fuli looked utterly innocent.
She glanced at He Ying, then at Ye Dad.
"Dad, I know you don't like me, but you can't slander me either. My sister is sick now—both physically and emotionally fragile. What she needs isn't a nanny you hired, but the companionship of family. You and Mom are both so busy—can you really be with her around the clock?"
Ye Dad's face darkened.
Just as he was about to speak, Ye Fuli raised her voice even louder, drowning him out: "Dad! If anyone's guilty of illegal detention, it's you and Mom! She told me everything you did to her!"
Ye Dad turned ashen at her words.
The veteran police officer, sensing something amiss, immediately fixed his sharp gaze on Ye Dad: "Explain. What's going on?"
Ye Dad opened his mouth, hesitating.
He was usually eloquent and persuasive in front of outsiders, but now he was flustered and at a loss for words.
Ye Fuli then fixed her gaze on He Ying: "Miss He, you're an outsider. Why do you keep meddling in the Ye family's affairs?"
"Ah, right."
"The He family is getting into real estate, and the Ye family has similar plans. You'll stop at nothing to ruin the Ye family's reputation, will you?"
"Our sisters share a deep bond, and our family is harmonious. Yet you dare to falsely accuse us of confinement. How appalling!"
He Ying's eyes widened instantly.
She slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.
"You're talking nonsense! My family's business has nothing to do with this…"
She trailed off.
Because Ye Fuli was telling the truth.
Though she was a carefree rich kid who never got involved in the family business, her elders had indeed mentioned they were currently competing with the Ye family for the development rights to a plot of land downtown.
How did Ye Fuli know?
How did this terrifying madwoman know everything?
Ye Fuli pushed her glasses up and smiled. "Miss He, why did you stop? Coincidentally, I have my uncle's number. I spoke with him not long ago about this very matter. How about I call him now and have him chat with you?"
"Ye Fuli, you little bitch!"
If the call reached her father, He Ying would only receive a scolding. The He family might even send someone immediately to take her back and quickly suppress the matter.
Ye Fuli, you're truly treacherous and despicable!
"Hey! Cut it out."
The officer sitting nearby was getting a headache from their shouting.
In his mind, he'd already dismissed this as a routine family dispute or business conflict, not worth taking seriously.
"Alright! You're all prominent figures here. Keep your private matters out of this place. Go home, sort it out, and come back when you've talked it through, okay?"
Seeing the officer about to leave, Ye's father quickly grabbed his arm.
This anxious middle-aged man spoke at breakneck speed: "I need to see my daughter! Make them bring her back to me, okay? That's all I ask!"
"Enough, Dad."
Ye Fuli grabbed her father's arm.
Her eyes filled with anguish as she looked at him, feigning vulnerability. "Even if you don't like me anymore, you can't be so heartless as to send me to jail! Come on, let's go home. Once my little sister has had enough fun, I'll bring her back…"
The commotion drew many stares.
The officer sighed helplessly and said, "Alright, have your sister call your father."
"Right! Call Ye Zhen."
He Ying seized the suggestion as if it were a lifeline and immediately agreed.
"If Ye Zhen says she's fine herself, then we'll believe she's fine!"
She knew Ye Fuli had surely confiscated Ye Zhen's phone, preventing her from contacting the outside world.
She called Ye Zhen hundreds of times, but the line never went through.
She sent countless messages, but Ye Zhen never replied to a single one.
Yet, upon hearing this suggestion, Ye Fuli showed no sign of panic. She immediately pulled out her own phone, ready to dial Ye Zhen's number.
"Wait, don't use yours—use mine." He Ying grabbed her hand and shoved her own phone into it. "Call! You call!"
Ye Fuli smiled sweetly at her.
Behind her glasses, her eyes were cold and calculating.
What a troublesome person. If she weren't so reluctant to invite trouble, Ye Fuli might have chosen to make the other person disappear.
"Well, does it really matter whose phone we use? Miss He, are you worried I might make up a fake call?"
In truth, He Ying's concern was entirely justified.
She knew Ye Fuli well enough to understand how dirty her methods could be. A fake call? It was entirely possible.
Ye Fuli slowly dialed Ye Zhen's number.
Then, she pressed the call button.
Beep—
The phone rang a few times before being picked up.
"Little sister? Oh, you're not asleep? I thought you'd be napping at this hour."
Ye Fuli's voice sounded utterly matter-of-fact.
She pressed the speakerphone button, letting everyone hear Ye Zhen's voice.
At that very moment.
Ye Zhen sat in the basement, staring blankly at her shackles. After a moment of silence, she replied to Ye Fuli: "I'm not sleeping."
The call came through the shackles.
Though she couldn't see the caller ID, the ringtone before the call connected was…
"The person most likely to be killed by Ye Fuli."
Ye Fuli laughed softly and said, "Sis, Dad and the others are worried sick about you. They think I've imprisoned you. Is that true?"
On Ye Zhen's end, there was a long silence.
He Ying's urgent voice rang out on the other end: "Little sister! Did that psychopath kidnap you? Say something! Don't be afraid! Where are you? Tell me, where are you?!"
Ye Zhen bit her finger, closed her eyes, and fought back the bitter ache in her heart.
"No, Third Young Miss."
She could sense that Ye Fuli was exercising restraint in her actions.
Anyone else falling into Ye Fuli's hands would likely meet a grim end.
She couldn't bear to imagine He Ying reduced to such a state.
Even less could she bear the thought of He Ying suffering such a fate for her sake.
Ye Fuli spread her hands. "Miss He, are you satisfied now?"
Then she turned to Ye's father and asked pointedly, "Would you like to say a few words to your daughter?"
"Zhenzhen, are you truly all right?"
Ye Dad was deeply suspicious, yet helpless.
Over the phone, Ye Zhen chuckled softly. "Why would I be upset? My sister has been so kind to me—cooking for me, washing my clothes, changing my bandages. She's been truly wonderful."
"Is that so?"
Ye Zhen sighed. "Dad, please be nicer to my sister. After all, she is your biological daughter. Before she came home, she endured so much hardship… Please don't bully her anymore."
Hearing this, Ye Dad and Ye Fuli exchanged glances, their expressions shifting.
Ye Fuli felt as though something had struck her heart with brutal force.
A wound she thought had healed reopened, bleeding relentlessly.
"Sis, come home soon. Remember to buy me ice cream, okay?"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Ye Fuli hung up the phone.
She forced herself to look calm as she faced the others, still smiling. "Alright, I have to go now. My little sister is waiting for me at home."
Watching Ye Fuli walk out of the police station, Ye's father slumped weakly into a chair.
As for He Ying, she felt the sun shining brightly, yet the air was bitterly cold.
She had to crouch down and hug herself tightly.
But her teeth still chattered uncontrollably.
"I'll keep searching for Ye Zhen, Ye Fuli. You can't hide her forever…"