Busan… late afternoon
The sky had turned a storm-washed silver by the time the two men from the Xiamen estate regrouped.
One stood beneath the overhang of a clinic entrance, tapping rapidly on his tablet.
"Sir," he said into his earpiece, voice low. "We've confirmed one thing already."
A pause.
"No registered father. Not on any public file."
A breath crackled through the line—cold, unsurprised, dangerous.
"Then keep pulling," Xiamen's father replied. "Files can be edited. People can be bribed. Memories can be bought."
The subordinate swallowed.
"Yes, Chairman."
He ended the call and glanced at his partner.
"He won't stop," the second man muttered. "Not until he has a name."
"Then we find it," the leader said, slipping the tablet into his coat.
"Before anyone else does."
They disappeared into the tightening fog, just as the rain began to fall.
---
Meanwhile… at Hong Yi's company headquarters
Yuan paced the dim hallway outside a restricted server room.
He'd spent the last two hours compiling preliminary data and now held a slim encrypted folder in his hand—one that felt far heavier than paper should.
He took a steadying breath and returned to Hong Yi's office.
Inside, Hong Yi didn't look up immediately.
He sat motionless, elbows on the table, fingers pressed against his lips.
Only when mr. Lin set the folder down did Hong Yi lift his gaze.
"Talk," he said.
Lin hesitated. Just for a heartbeat.
He'd served Hong Yi for ten years—long enough to know when his loyalty might turn into a blade.
"There's… almost nothing," Yuan said. "No father listed. No history of prenatal appointments. Not in the databases we can legally access."
A muscle jumped in Hong Yi's jaw.
Lin exhaled.
He tapped the folder.
"There were records. But someone erased them around four years ago.
Hong Yi felt something cold slide down his spine.
"Who?"
"Someone with reach… and money."
Someone exactly know everything about Xiamen
Her grandfather
Hong Yi leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"She ran away from home and went directly
To her grandparents
Lin said...
"And someone else is searching too. Someone moving fast in Busan. I'm tracking their trail."
Hong Yi's eyes sharpened. I know her father want to know about haoyu too.
"Stay ahead of them. I don't care what you have to do."
"Yes, sir."
As Mr. Lin left, Hong Yi turned to the massive glass window behind him.
Rain traced thin, trembling lines down the glass—like the pattern of something unraveling.
He pressed a palm against the cool surface.
"Xiamen…" he whispered under his breath.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were running from?"
If you need help I can help you but you ....
The worst part was the tightening in his chest. The part that refused to name itself.
Because deep down, he already feared the answer.
---
Xiamen estate
The lights in the study were dim, shadows pooling like ink around the room.
Xiamen's father held a glass of wine, swirling it as his secretary read off the latest update.
"No matches yet, sir. But the team believes the boy was born in Busan. A private clinic."
His father's lips curved—not in amusement, but in contempt.
"Hiding a child in Busan…" he muttered. "My daughter thinks sentiment excuses betrayal."
"Sir," the secretary ventured quietly, "do you believe the father is someone… you know ?"
"No," he said, eyes darkening with disdain. I believe he is someone we know
He placed the glass down with a soft, lethal tap.
Interesting Tell your men to come back, I've found out who his father is, today is a happy day,
Xiamen oh Xiamen ,
My daughter has become so intelligent, but I am also your father. You kept this secret very well but I found out, but what will happen when your husband comes to know about this?
---