A Shocking Dream

Chapter 207

Lin Wunian closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: Even without the account book, Ah Nian's testimony was still a powerful weapon. He didn't know how much truth she was saying, but the injuries on her body couldn't deceive anyone. Those bruises and scars, old and new, crisscrossed like claw marks left by a vicious beast, each one silently telling of a past tragedy.

Ah Nian huddled in a corner, her hair disheveled and her figure frail, seemingly a breeze that could blow her over. She timidly raised her eyes, but when they met Lin Wu Nian's, she frantically dropped them, her hands subconsciously clutching the corners of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

"Anian, don't be afraid. Now that you are here, I will definitely protect you. But everything you said is of great importance and there can't be any mistakes." Lin Wunian slowed down his tone and tried to comfort her.

Ah Nian nodded slightly, his lips trembling, and after a while he squeezed out a weak mosquito-like voice: "Sister Lin, I am absolutely not lying." His clear eyes were full of earnestness, like a wounded cub still trying to seek shelter, looking at Lin Wu Nian eagerly, hoping for trust to come.

Lin Wunian looked at the innocent Ah Nian, his brows furrowed slightly, his heart pondering. She hadn't mentioned how she'd gotten her injuries, and this unexplained silence lingered like a fog.

What she said about Yang Zishi was just her one-sided account. There was no circumstantial evidence, no physical proof. With only this pitiful appearance and a few mournful words, how could she possibly stand firm in this turbulent situation? Lin Wunian knew that once he stepped into the murky waters of this dispute, every step had to be taken with extreme caution. The slightest mistake would lead to eternal damnation.

"Ah Nian, I naturally trust you, but others don't. In court, sincerity alone won't overturn a verdict." Lin Wunian sighed softly, raising his hand to tuck Ah Nian's messy hair behind her ear. The touch was warm, and Ah Nian shuddered violently like a frightened quail. This subtle movement didn't escape Lin Wunian's attention, and he became even more certain that the child was hiding a deep fear.

"Sister Lin, I'm not lying." Ah Nian repeated her words again, frantically clutching Lin Wunian's sleeve, her fingertips cold and trembling. Her frightened, fawn-like eyes stared straight at Lin Wunian, as if trying to force the sincerity of her words into his heart with this persistent gaze.

Lin Wunian gently held Anian's hand, trying to use the warmth of his palm to dispel the bone-chilling cold, and said slowly: "Anian, I know you are anxious, but this matter involves a lot of people. Even if I believe it, others will find it hard to be convinced just by your words. We have to find something tangible to gain a foothold in this storm." Anian nodded desperately, a few strands of hair soaked with sweat stuck to his forehead, looking embarrassed but resolute.

"Okay, your injuries have not healed yet. Kankan will be here, you can tell her if you have anything." Lin Wunian deliberately mentioned the injuries on Anian's body to let her know that nothing can escape the eyes of a doctor.

Ah Nian's body stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously hunched her shoulders, as if trying to hide the scars in the deeper darkness. She lowered her eyes to stare at the ground, her dense eyelashes like two small fans, casting fan-shaped shadows on her pale cheeks, covering the panic and anxiety in her eyes.

Lin Wunian watched, sighing inwardly. Since Ah Nian didn't want to talk, she didn't press the issue. As she turned to leave, Ah Nian gently grabbed the corner of her clothes, the force so light it felt like a spider's silk thread, ready to break with a slight tug. "Sister Lin... I..." Ah Nian stammered, wanting to say something but stopping herself. When she raised her eyes, they were filled with mist, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Lin Wunian turned around and said softly, "Anian, don't be anxious. I will listen to you when you want to talk. But you need to take good care of your body. Although the past is like a shackle, don't carry it with you all the time and hurt yourself." Anian slowly loosened his hand, and his fingertips rubbed the corner of Lin Wunian's clothes for a few times, and finally slipped away powerlessly, nodding silently.

Wan Wan stepped forward, helped Ah Nian sit down, and took out the ointment to change her dressing. Ah Nian timidly rolled up her sleeves, revealing a crisscross of bruises and purples on her arms, the new and old scars shocking.

Xianxian frowned and couldn't help muttering, "How can someone be so vicious to be so cruel!" Lin Wunian's eyes flashed, and his anger grew stronger, but he didn't show it on his face. He just watched Xianxian skillfully clean the wound and apply medicine. Xianxian's nose turned red in pain, and he bit his lower lip tightly, not saying a word.

After the dressing was changed, Anian seemed to have made up her mind. She sniffed and said softly, "Sister Lin, actually... I'm afraid that telling it out will implicate you." Anian's voice gradually became lower and her body couldn't stop shaking.

Lin Wunian looked solemn as he stepped forward and held Anian's hand: "Anian, you did the right thing. Now that you have run into this kind of thing, you can't avoid it. Don't worry, now that I'm in charge, I have no intention of staying out of it. I will definitely catch these villains and give you peace." A light flashed in Anian's eyes, full of gratitude.

"Alright, you should heal your wounds first." Lin Wunian released Ah Nian's hand and walked out, each step carrying a heavy burden. As she stepped out of the room, she glanced sideways and caught a glimpse of Ah Nian huddled in the corner of the bed, like a dying, wounded, yet still terrified fledgling. Her pitiful appearance only served to accentuate the enigmatic and unpredictable nature of this disaster.

The sunlight in the corridor mirrored Lin Wunian's current turmoil. She knew that what Ah Nian had experienced was far more than could be described simply. Those scars, deep and shallow, old and new, overlapped like the remnants of years of ravage by vicious beasts. They could not have been the product of just one or two humiliations.

Ah Nian's words were evasive, his eyes shifting with fear. His hatred for Yang Zishi was palpable, but Lin Wu Nian keenly detected a subtle hesitation – was Yang Zishi the sole culprit behind the abuse? Or were there other accomplices, lurking in the shadows, manipulating the situation and using Yang Zishi's name to deceive others?

Inside the Zhou residence, the lights were bright, yet the silence was as profound as a cold pond, a depth so profound it evoked fear. Zhou Junze and Yang Zishi, their faces gloomy, sat frozen in the hall like two frost-covered statues. They hadn't moved an inch all night, their eyes fixed on the door, anxiously awaiting the appearance of the little girl. That little girl, like a crucial key, held the key to their unspeakable secret. Without her, it would be as if the sky had collapsed, their future shattered.

The breaking light of dawn struggled to squeeze through the window lattice, casting a shadow on the two men's faces, stained with fatigue and anger. Zhou Junze's eyes were red, bloodshot and crisscrossed, like a madly spreading blood web; Yang Zishi's face was also dejected, his usual arrogance completely eaten away by anxiety, leaving only the dark circles under his eyes, a testament to the torment of a sleepless night.

At this moment, a servant stumbled in, knelt on the ground with a plop, and said in a trembling voice: "Second Master, that... that little girl was taken back to the inn by Lin Wunian!" Zhou Junze felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer, his body shaking violently.