The bad value system is measuring values.

Chapter 195 Birthday Celebration

Tianquan, in the end, was still merciful and released some of Zhong Huanli's abilities.

In the torrential rain, Zhong Huanli stood in his familiar yet unfamiliar home.

He slowly squatted down and picked up the withered flower that had been ravaged by the rain.

The cold-colored skin of her hands resembled a flower of white bones in bloom.

He walked along the path, a place piled high with fallen branches, withered leaves, and countless dead flowers, resembling the ruins after a catastrophe.

Everything here seemed so dark and overgrown with weeds.

The door that once led to warmth is now tightly sealed, and all the visible windows are also sealed with the same seal, preventing any light from shining through.

A dazzling bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, and Zhong Huanli's figure vanished outside in the blink of an eye.

The room was covered in filth and dust, with broken table legs scattered everywhere. The once valuable decorations had vanished, leaving not even a trace of what should have been a crime scene.

He rushed up to the second floor as if the stairs would collapse if he slowed down even a step.

He went alone to Qiao Xiao's room, where the windows were also tightly sealed, and the chandelier swayed precariously in the wind, as if the whole house was trembling under the onslaught of the torrential rain.

"Xiaoxiao?" Zhong Huanli looked at the illusory figure in front of him. The figure looked at him gently and called out, "Brother."

In an instant, Qiao Xiao vanished, leaving only an empty room. Then, a fleeting image entered his mind.

In that instant, he witnessed the tragedy unfold: Zhong Yan's body lay limply amidst a pool of crimson, the wild barking of Asdor echoing around them, while Qiao Xiao stood to the side, clutching a blood-stained blade...

"Asdor, perhaps we can find Xiaoxiao's location by its scent."

Mentioning Qiao Xiao, Zhong Huanli's heart clenched involuntarily. "She's still injured, her face hasn't recovered, and she has no ability to protect herself. Where could she go?"

"And who exactly killed Zhong's father?"

Several names flashed through Zhong Huanli's mind.

A deafening clap of thunder echoed across the sky, and his figure appeared inside the house.

Zhong Huanli stepped into a renowned five-star hotel. This hotel was undoubtedly a microcosm of the city's prosperity, a dazzling jewel on the city skyline, attracting countless business elites and political figures. Its security system was top-notch, comparable to national-level security.

In a lavishly decorated private room, a long-haired girl in a deep blue dress sat next to another young woman, accepting the gifts from each elder with a gentle smile.

"Congratulations! You've turned eighteen this year."

"Oh my, you're getting more and more beautiful! You're so lucky!"

The birthday girl was already tired of all the flattery and compliments. She had hosted countless banquets like this. She was truly lucky to have such a family to rely on.

Just then, a woman of noble bearing and elegant attire walked over gracefully. She smiled broadly at the girl who was shining amidst the crowd and said gently, "My darling, I have specially chosen an even more exquisite dress for you. Go and try it on to see if it fits."

The girl readily agreed, "Okay, Mom."

Zhong Huanli followed closely behind the girl, silently disappearing behind her.

The girl gazed at the long dress that shimmered under the golden light, her eyes sparkling with amazement. "My God, it's absolutely gorgeous."

She tried it on in front of the mirror and exclaimed, "It's like it was made just for me!"

"So, who exactly are you?" Zhong Huanli slowly walked out, staring at the face in the mirror that was exactly the same as Qiao Xiao's, and asked a question.

Upon hearing his voice, the girl quickly backed away, lowering her head and murmuring, "I...I am Qiao Xiao. On April 8th, XX year, I witnessed a homeless man break into my house. He attacked my adoptive father and tried to kill me. I kept running, running and running. Fortunately, my good friend Lu Zi saved me and took me to her house..."

Listening to these flawed statements, Zhong Huanli stared coldly at her, already convinced that she was definitely not Xiaoxiao.

Why didn't you report it to the police and instead hid in their house?

As if touching on a sensitive topic, the fake Qiao Xiao began to ramble on again, "Because I suffered a brain injury, I couldn't remember my identity, which is why I've been hiding for so long. Lu Zi's family treated me very well; they took pity on me and even adopted me!"

Zhong Huanli: "He's been mind-controlled." He said coldly, slowly walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

After the fake Qiao Xiao left, everyone in the room dropped their pretense. Lu Zi, who had just been feigning composure, now wore a ferocious expression. She complained to the wealthy woman beside her, "Mom! Why did you keep a fake Qiao Xiao by your side?"

"Okay, my dear daughter, please don't hold these things against me. Just listen to your mother and I will take care of everything for you."

"Mom, hurry up, I really can't stand that fake Qiao Xiao anymore."

"Good good."

Lu Zi is always inseparable from her mother, which makes it difficult for Zhong Huanli to find an opportunity to talk to her alone.

The sound of news reports could be heard in the corridor.

"This station's reporter brings you the latest developments in the heinous murder case of April 8, XX year. According to eyewitnesses, the only suspect at the time was wearing a red raincoat. Recently, some residents have claimed to have seen a figure resembling the suspect."

Although many years have passed since the case was filed, new clues continue to emerge. Where are the family's two children? Why would someone like Mr. Zhong, who had no grudge against them, be so brutally murdered? The case remains shrouded in mystery, leaving many heartbroken.

The rain outside intensified, and Zhong Huanli quickly crossed the stairwell, continuing her search for Qiao Xiao. Though her desire for revenge was burning, the time was not yet ripe. Her immediate priority was to find Xiao Xiao.

On April 8th, the fake Qiao Xiao was celebrating her birthday, but where is my Xiao Xiao now?