Mysterious call
Song Hongsheng raised his cane, ready to strike Yu Ban.
Yu Ban dodged to the side and pointed at Huo Anran standing beside her.
“Grandpa, the police officer is right here. You better keep it together. Just got out, and now attacking the police again!”
Song Hongsheng was startled.
Seeing Huo Anran in uniform, he froze for a moment.
“Who attacked the police? I was hitting you!”
Yu Ban said, “In front of the police, hitting anyone is wrong.
They let you out because of your age, worried you’d get into trouble inside.
You’ve only been out less than a day, and you’re already on your way back.”
Song Hongsheng knew that at his age, he wouldn’t be sent to prison to serve time anymore.
But he had lived honestly all his life and had always held respect and fear for government authorities.
Although Huo Anran was a young girl, her uniform still frightened him.
He tried to hide his cane behind his back and asked respectfully, “Officer, aren’t you supposed to come once a week? I just got home.”
Earlier in the car, Huo Anran had already heard Yu Ban mention Grandpa’s situation and naturally understood what he meant.
She hurried to explain, “Grandpa Song, I’m not here to see you, just passing by to drop off your granddaughter.”
Her polite “you” made Song Hongsheng both embarrassed and delighted.
It had been a long time since anyone treated him with such respect.
This female officer even called him “Grandpa Song,” while others only called him “Old Song.”
“Comrade officer, what trouble has Song Song caused this time? Tell me, and I’ll go home and teach her a lesson.”
Huo Anran felt a bit awkward.
“She hasn’t caused any trouble. It’s related to an important case. She was just called to the Criminal Investigation Department to give a statement.”
“The Criminal Investigation Department?” Song Hongsheng’s face tightened. “Isn’t that where they handle murder cases? That girl, what exactly did you do?”
Yu Ban impatiently replied, “Grandpa, who told you that the CID only handles homicide? Didn’t they clearly say I just gave a statement?”
At that moment, Song Wenya came out of the neighborhood vegetable stall holding a bag of lotus roots.
Seeing Yu Ban standing with a female police officer and shouting something at Song Hongsheng, she hurried over anxiously.
“Song Song, what are you doing? Your grandpa hasn’t done anything seriously wrong. You reported him once, isn’t that enough? Why did you even bring a police officer here?”
Huo Anran frowned as the middle-aged woman came over hastily and immediately reached out to pat Yu Ban’s head without asking a word.
This girl’s living environment was truly harsh; she must be frequently beaten at home.
This was actually how the original family interacted.
Yu Ban was a bit unaccustomed to it but wouldn’t just stand there and take the hits.
“Song Wenya, how exactly did Grandpa end up inside? Do you really want me to tell the truth?”
Song Wenya stopped hitting Yu Ban when she saw the officer’s tightly furrowed brows and the hint of disgust in her eyes.
She didn’t dare act further but still couldn’t help but say, “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s all your fault. Grandpa often has back and waist pain; so what if he took some medicine? You’re just overreacting, you stupid kid.”
After speaking, she forced a smile and said to Huo Anran, “Officer, we definitely keep an eye on my dad. Don’t worry, I signed the papers myself. You don’t need to be so strict. Dad is old now, his legs aren’t convenient. Where could he possibly run off to?”
It was clear Song Wenya also saw Huo Anran as someone sent to supervise them at home.
Before Huo Anran could explain, Yu Ban said, “Weren’t there people from the Judicial Office before? How would the police show up at our door? Mom, don’t be so nervous. You’re not feeling guilty about something, are you? Got into trouble again? Or did you start using again?”
Song Wenya’s expression turned as sour as if she’d eaten a dead fly.
“You stupid girl, stop talking nonsense. I quit long ago. The community’s Xiao Li even said they want to use me as an example in the Correctional Group.”
Then she gave Huo Anran an awkward smile.
“Officer, my daughter is just reckless. She must have caused you trouble. I’ll teach her a lesson when I get home, don’t worry. My place is messy, so I won’t invite you in.”
With that, Song Wenya grabbed Song Hongsheng with one hand and pushed Yu Ban with the other, heading toward the stairwell.
Yu Ban shook off her hand, turned back, and thanked Huo Anran, “Sister Anran, thank you for bringing me back. See you around.”
Huo Anran thought there was no need to say goodbye.
The whole time had been awkward, and she even regretted coming.
This family really didn’t seem like law-abiding citizens, but they clearly had small-time troubles and were too timid for anything serious, not worth wasting time on.
She wanted to say something, warning Yu Ban not to be so familiar and stop calling her “Sister Anran”—people might think they were close friends.
But she also felt sorry for Yu Ban. Having a family like this wasn’t her fault.
Looking back through the rearview mirror at the sunlit residential area fading behind, Huo Anran thought it didn’t matter what it was called.
They wouldn’t have much contact anyway.
Though Yu Ban called her warmly, she hadn’t asked for contact information.
She just wanted to put on a brave face, get close to the protagonist, and show her determination to do right.
Once they reached the seventh floor, Yu Ban asked Song Wenya, “Mom, you had me report Grandpa. It’s not just to get a reward, right? What’s the real purpose?”
Song Wenya gave her daughter a sharp look.
“What purpose? Who told you to report? You were mad at Grandpa because he wouldn’t pay your tuition, so you went to report him out of spite, right?”
Song Hongsheng was old and tired from climbing to the seventh floor, stopping three times to rest.
Now sitting on the sofa catching his breath, he looked at Song Wenya, “Xiaoya, whoever reported me, those medicines must be yours hidden in my room!
If you’re short on money, just say so!
Did I give you too little?
How did you agree to it back then?
And now you keep embarrassing me!
I should’ve thrown you in the trash back then!”
Yu Ban couldn’t help but laugh silently.
Though Grandpa was gruff and sometimes too soft-hearted, and favored boys over girls, he was still the better person in this household.
The harshest words he used were about the trash bin.
Occasionally, he would raise his cane high but only lightly bring it down.
Though he disliked his granddaughter, he had been paying for her tuition and living expenses all along.
Recently, however, seeing that Song Wenya and her husband seemed to be making money, he stopped paying Yu Ban’s tuition.
Song Hongsheng often said he had done everything he could for his unfilial daughter and wanted to kick her out, but still let her family live in his house.
Because he was harsh with his words but soft at heart, Song Wenya dared to live in his home and hide contraband despite his age.
But these past two months, Song Wenya had gone crazy, reporting three times in a row.
What was in Grandpa’s room wasn’t drugs but prohibited medications—things that could either be a big or small matter.
Yu Ban felt there must be something more than just money involved.
Besides, the police weren’t fools.
They wouldn’t let her profit off this, and they would keep a close watch on her, hoping she would lead them to something bigger.
Song Wenya didn’t care about Yu Ban’s suspicion and instead asked, “Hey Song Song, are you looking for a boyfriend? Why are you acting so strange lately? Flapping your wings, and now what’s with that female officer? I’ve been to jail before but no one ever brought me back.”
Yu Ban shrugged.
“What can I do? Everyone loves me. The female officer likes me, and even a male cop feels sorry that I can’t take the police academy entrance exam! Sigh, having parents like you, what choice do I have?”
“You? The police academy?” Song Wenya’s mouth stretched wide. “You stupid girl, everyone dislikes me, but you can’t? I gave birth to you and raised you…”
Here we go again…
Yu Ban wouldn’t feel guilty over words like that, unlike the original owner.
She went straight upstairs.
Song Wenya thought she was just a late bloomer in rebellion and didn’t take it seriously.
After scolding her, that was enough.
Downstairs, she dug out a bag of fruit and went upstairs carrying it.
Song Hongsheng was furious that no one paid attention to his rant and, just as Song Wenjie and his mother returned, his anger flared even more.
The three of them conferred for a long time and decided to push Song Wenya’s family out, sell the house, and get an apartment with an elevator for Song Wenjie’s wedding.
Yu Ban had barely settled in when she was told to move.
She was considering whether to move back to the school dorm or rent somewhere else when Song Wenya walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, and turned to her brother and stepmother.
“Wenjie, don’t push me. Believe it or not, I’ll jump from here and make sure Dad’s house never sells.”
Yu Ban was dumbfounded.
This family was truly something else.
She had thought Song Wenya wanted to talk about inheritance, to split the property with Wenjie.
Instead, she threatened to jump.
The stepmother watched coldly.
Song Wenjie jumped in surprise.
He wasn’t worried if Song Wenya died or not, but he feared the house would become a haunted property.
If it became a jinxed house, even if it sold, the price would be slashed drastically.
The stepmother, realizing the severity after his warning, hurried with him to pull Song Wenya back.
She even called Yu Ban for help: “Song Song, quickly stop your mom!”
Yu Ban sat on the sofa watching the show.
“Don’t worry, my mom is just scaring you all.”
Song Wenya shot her a resentful look and struggled to cling to the windowsill.
“You’ll see if I’m serious!”
She was quite strong.
Song Wenjie feared he couldn’t hold her and shouted toward the bedroom, “Brother-in-law, aren’t you home? Come out quickly, my sister is trying to jump!”
Yu Ban’s father-in-law lived in the same house, but since it was awkward, he didn’t dare come out, leaving Song Wenya to threaten her own life.
Song Wenya was pulled down and started sobbing, “My life is so miserable. I lost my mom young, Dad remarried, no one cared or loved me. Now even my own brother wants to kick me out…”
Watching the farce, Yu Ban suddenly felt living here was pointless.
Better to move out soon. She couldn’t escape the protagonists or avoid this family.
Still, she kindly reminded, “Mom, according to Inheritance Law, you already have a quarter share of this house. Even if it’s sold, you’d get money. So why are you complaining? Who here cares about how miserable your life is?”
Song Wenya immediately stopped crying.
“I get a quarter? Really?”
Song Wenjie panicked.
“Song Song, what nonsense are you spouting? Dad already said this house is mine. Your mom remarried. She has no claim here.”
The stepmother wished she could throw Yu Ban off the stairs.
“What inheritance law? Your mother is a woman, and she thinks she can claim rights?”
Yu Ban grinned and said to Song Wenya, “Mom, did you hear that? Your stepmother thinks she’s a woman and gave up her inheritance. Maybe you can get half. Hurry downstairs and ask Grandpa to split it for you.”
Though Song Wenya had been angry with her daughter before, for some reason she felt Yu Ban made sense—probably because of her confident expression.
So Song Wenya sat up, grabbed her brother, and headed downstairs to ask Song Hongsheng to divide the property.
The stepmother hurried after them, casting a venomous glare at Yu Ban before leaving.
Yu Ban wasn’t fazed.
The upstairs was finally quiet for a while.
She grabbed an ice cream from the fridge, ate it, and searched online for apartments.
Suddenly, an unknown number flashed on her phone, startling her.
Before she could react, her hand pressed the answer button instinctively.
Just as she was about to ask who it was, she recalled that an unknown call had previously led the original owner to Jin Hong Hotel.
She stared silently at the screen.
The other side was silent for a few seconds before a man’s voice came through, “Beihe Apartments, Building E!
There’s something there you’ll want to see.”