Chapter 133: Chapter 126: Official Announcement WHOOSH.
The cloth strip was torn away, and Wang Yan took a moment to adjust to the transition from darkness to light.
She found herself in a windowless room, unable to see what was outside.
A man in a face mask stood in the corner of the room, silently watching her.
Wang Yan recalled what had happened. About ten minutes ago, on her way to work at the public security bureau, she had received a phone call telling her it was time for her to meet with her daughter, Chen Na.
Without giving her any time to prepare, a car had appeared and whisked her away. The car had partitions and all its windows were blacked out, making it impossible to see outside or know where she was going.
Upon arriving at their destination, she had been blindfolded and led into this unknown room.
She glanced down at the miniature camera she always kept pinned to her collar, surprised to find it was gone. It had obviously been discovered and removed.
’Just who are these people...’
CREAK.
The door opened. Wang Yan turned her head, and when she saw who had entered, her eyes instantly welled up. She rushed forward and threw her arms around her daughter.
"Nana!"
"Mom..."
Having not seen each other for over a month, mother and daughter both burst into tears.
Wang Yan wiped away her daughter’s tears, ruffling her hair as she asked with concern, "Nana, where have you been all this time? That organization... they haven’t hurt you, have they? Your hair..."
Chen Na now had a neat, ear-length bob, making her look a bit like the short-haired woman who had first sought them out.
"Mom... I can’t talk about the organization... Is your illness better?"
Wang Yan froze for a moment, then nodded. "It is. After I took that pill, I went to the hospital for a check-up. They found that the cancer cells were gone."
"That’s wonderful..." A joyful smile spread across Chen Na’s face.
"Nana, I know you made a deal with that organization to get this, right? Tell me, what exactly do they want you to do?"
Chen Na shook her head. "I really can’t say, or else... I just need to help them with some things. I think it’s only right. After all, they gave me such a precious medicine to cure your illness, Mom..."
"..."
Wang Yan was at a loss for words. She couldn’t argue, because it was the truth.
Without that medicinal item, she would likely be dead by now. After her diagnosis, the doctor had told her plainly that she only had one or two months left.
Chen Na said, "Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. I..."
Just then, the door opened and the short-haired woman walked in. "Chen Na, it’s about time. You know this was just a brief meeting, not a long chat."
Chen Na nodded reluctantly.
Seeing the short-haired woman, Wang Yan immediately stepped forward and demanded, "Who are you people? Why would you make a deal with a child? What do you want?!"
The short-haired woman said calmly, "Don’t get emotional, Ms. Wang. From the very beginning, we never forced your daughter to do anything. She voluntarily joined us in exchange for the life-saving medicine for you... You should be happy to have a daughter who loves you so much."
"You!" Wang Yan’s chest heaved with anger. She was, of course, moved that her daughter was willing to sacrifice for her. But as a mother, how could she accept her daughter being part of a mysterious organization, doing who-knows-what dangerous things?
If she had to choose, she would rather die from her illness than let her daughter put herself in danger for her sake.
"Mom, it’s okay... I really did this voluntarily," Chen Na said, stepping forward. "I’ll apply to see you again. We both have to keep living well!"
"Nana..."
Wang Yan looked at her daughter. In just over a month, it seemed her child had matured a great deal. The old Nana would never have said such things.
"Alright, Chen Na, we’re way over time," the short-haired woman said. Chen Na nodded, gave Wang Yan one last hug, and turned to leave.
Wang Yan tried to grab her but was blocked by the short-haired woman.
After Chen Na had left, the short-haired woman warned, "Ms. Wang, we know you’ve joined the public security bureau, and we know you want to investigate us. But I advise you, for your own sake and for your daughter’s, to stop these unnecessary actions."
Wang Yan glared at the woman. "When are you going to let her go?"
"That’s not for me to decide. Besides, Ms. Wang, perhaps you haven’t considered this carefully: your daughter’s survival rate is actually higher with us than with you. We have ample resources to invest in helping her get through the Rules. What resources can she get with you?"
Wang Yan was stunned by her words.
"That’s all for today. One more reminder before you go. If you, Ms. Wang, can live your life peacefully and refrain from unnecessary actions, the organization will allow your daughter to visit you again. But if you insist on working against us, her next request will be denied. You’d best think it over."
With that, the short-haired woman left. Wang Yan stood there in a daze for a few minutes before finally leaving the room.
After going downstairs, she realized she was still somewhere in the city center. Many people were out strolling and wandering about.
’Of course...’
It was currently a non-Rule Stage. During a non-Rule Stage, the shelters would open, and people who had been cooped up for a month all came out. Even though the outside world was a mess of demolition and construction with nothing much to do, just getting out for a walk was a relief after being confined for so long.
The organization had used this period, under the cover of the large crowds, to arrange their meeting so it wouldn’t be noticed.
"Nana..."
Thinking about the short-haired woman’s words and what her daughter had said before leaving, Wang Yan could only resolve to live well.
Only by staying alive would she ever have a chance to be reunited with her daughter.
...