Early Saturday morning, Yu Xi personally arrived at the Jian family's old residence to pick up Jian Yiling.
Jian Old Madam was unusually anxious, repeatedly reminding Yu Xi, "Yu Xi, I'm entrusting my little treasure to you, so you must take good care of her. You young people can be quite rowdy at parties, so please don't let things get out of hand."
"Don't worry, Grandma Jian! Other people's parties might get wild, but the one I'm throwing for Sheng Ye will definitely be calmer than any gala! Everyone will just gather to play some games, no noise, and absolutely no drinking!"
It was common knowledge within their circle that Zhai Yungsheng couldn't drink.
Yu Xi led Jian Yiling over to the Yu family's residence, which, like the Jian family's old house, was also an impressive vintage European-style building.
The courtyard resembled an elegant European garden, lush with vibrant rose and climbing rose bushes, creating beautiful walls of flowers.
At this moment, the Yu residence was quiet. As they walked through the grand hall, Jian Yiling noticed there were no guests aside from the family's butler and a few servants.
"Don't be scared, Yiling," Yu Xi smiled, noticing her apprehension. "The party hasn't started yet, so most of the guests haven't arrived. I brought you here because I wanted to discuss something first."
As she spoke, Yu Xi touched her nose, realizing this task was harder than she had anticipated; she felt as if she were a nefarious figure involved in trafficking a little girl.
Jian Yiling, however, did not see it that way. From a rational perspective, she trusted that Yu Xi would not engage in such activities.
Yu Xi guided her into the leisure area of the entertainment room. Zhai Yungsheng was lounging on a plush leather sofa in the rest area.
Upon seeing Jian Yiling enter, wrapped in a fluffy sweater with her petite head and fair, delicate face, Zhai Yungsheng couldn't help but think she resembled a cute little pet.
He gestured toward the items on the coffee table in front of him and said, "Little girl, I owe you a meal, so here's my repayment."
"You don't owe me anything," Jian Yiling replied, her expression calm and her eyes clear.
That meal had been her own initiative, so she felt it was incorrect to describe it as a debt.
"But once I give something, I never take it back," Zhai Yungsheng insisted, his tone firm.
Yu Xi hurried to help by placing the items into Jian Yiling's hands. "Yiling, why don't you take a look at what Sheng Ye wants to give you?"
Jian Yiling looked down at the items in her hands. Two notebooks resembling ledgers were resting there. The first one had the bold title "He Yanshan Resort Surveillance Equipment Retrieval Record" written on the cover.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
He Yanshan Resort was where the accident involving Jian Yiling and Jian Yunao had occurred. That weekend, Jian Dad and Jian Mom had taken Jian Yunao and Jian Yiling to the resort, and it was on the stairs of the hotel where the unfortunate incident happened.
And here was Zhai Yungsheng presenting her with the retrieval log of the resort's surveillance footage.
Noticing her confusion, Yu Xi explained, "He Yanshan Resort has surveillance cameras installed in all public areas of the hotel according to regulations, including the staircase where the incident took place. The hotel allows others to view the surveillance footage, but it requires registration, and they have been very diligent about it."
Yu Xi added, "Take a look at this registration log; you might find something surprising."
Jian Yiling flipped open the log, scanning for the query record from the day of the incident.
There were no records of any queries that day, but the following day, one name caught her attention—it was a name she recognized well: He Yan.
With this revelation, a complex array of emotions washed over Jian Yiling as she pondered the implications of this unexpected connection. She knew there was more to this story than met the eye, and she couldn't help but feel that the truth about that day was slowly beginning to unravel.