Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 397 - 276 The Girl Without a Past (5 Updates 2)

Chapter 397: Chapter 276 The Girl Without a Past (5 Updates 2)

Guan Liang was startled: "In this world, how can someone have no information from before high school?"

Tang Yanyi glanced at him but didn’t explain, directly instructed, "Search all children’s welfare institutions nationwide, cross-compare Meng Chuyan’s photo with those of all Asian girls of that age group taken in by the welfare institutions."

Guan Liang suddenly understood, "Right!" He said, his fingers flying as he quickly searched.

Search result windows opened one by one on the screen, followed by numerous childish faces popping up.

Because many years had passed, and they had to carefully compare Meng Chuyan’s current appearance with those childhood photos. Tang Yanyi moved in front of the computer, staring at those photos intently.

With nothing to do, Guan Liang tilted his head to watch her.

Tang Yanyi was focused on comparing the photos, but still felt his gaze, turning back to warn, "Don’t ask anything!"

Guan Liang could only sigh and turn back around.

He knew Tang Yanyi wasn’t the Tang family’s bloodline; she was adopted after Su Xi Liu was injured and couldn’t have more children. So what he wanted to ask was, "Did you think so quickly that Meng Chuyan had no information because she might be an adopted child...is it because you thought of yourself?"

But this question had always been a thorn in Tang Yanyi’s heart, so he didn’t dare to ask it lightly. Tang Yanyi’s reaction also confirmed his worry.

Actually... he really wanted to know Tang Yanyi’s past. He wanted to tell her that he really didn’t care whether she was a Tang family member; he just wanted to know all of her, the real her. If her childhood experiences were scars, he wanted to see them clearly and then help her heal.

But after looking through all the photos, Tang Yanyi sorrowfully lifted her eyes, "No."

.

Guan Liang, upon hearing this, also snapped, "How can there not be? Did we make another mistake?"

Tang Yanyi shook her head, "No, we’re not necessarily wrong. She just didn’t come from a formal children’s welfare institution; she might have been taken in by a private foster family. Over a decade ago, those families often didn’t have formal legal procedures, and the children they took care of came from all sorts of channels, some legitimate, some not."

This answer, though plausible from a deduction standpoint, was practically no different from having no answer.

Guan Liang stared into Tang Yanyi’s eyes, "Do you still want to continue investigating?"

"Of course I do," Tang Yanyi was decisive.

Guan Liang lowered his head, "But if we continue investigating, we might find ourselves without legal grounds. Meng Chuyan isn’t a suspect in any case, nor is she a victim, so as police officers, we can’t just investigate her background. What’s more, with so many private adoption agencies across the country, if we want to investigate them, we have to have legitimate reasons, possibly even search warrants. But we have nothing now."

Tang Yanyi also felt a gray cloud over her heart. Yet, Guan Liang’s expression caught her attention.

When Guan Liang said the above, although his tone was worried, his eyes were clearly calm and composed.

Tang Yanyi sneered, "You’ve thought of something already, just say it."

Guan Liang bit his lip, "...It’s just a suggestion."

"Speak!" Tang Yanyi rolled her eyes impatiently at him.

Guan Liang rubbed his hands, "What I mean is, sometimes there’s a type of people who can continue to do investigations where police might find it inconvenient. Their status makes it easier, and they are less likely to be resented by interviewees."

Tang Yanyi sneered, "Don’t tell me it’s private detectives. Please, Mr. Guan, many of a private detective’s methods are restricted by this state’s laws. Moreover, if it’s ever found out that police officers sought their assistance, then the police might as well not exist, as citizens could all go to private detectives instead."

Guan Liang laughed awkwardly, "Xiao Yi... Do you really think I’m that stupid?"

Tang Yanyi bit her lip, turned around after a moment, "Sorry, forget I said anything."

The atmosphere cooled between them as Tang Yanyi stared grimly at the screen without turning back.

Guan Liang quietly glanced at her profile, letting out a silent sigh, releasing the mouse and keyboard, and pivoted his chair back beside her. He softened his voice, wore a smile, "...Xiao Yi, actually I meant we could collaborate with journalists."

"Journalists?" Tang Yanyi’s eyes suddenly flickered with interest, but then it dimmed as she vigilantly eyed Guan Liang, "Who do you mean? Don’t tell me it’s Shi Nian again?!"

Guan Liang laughed awkwardly, "I knew you wouldn’t agree if I said it, so I didn’t dare mention it."

"But Xiao Yi, Shi Nian is now Huangfu Huazhang’s girlfriend... can’t you let it go?"

Tang Yanyi took a deep breath, "Let me think about it."

.

Since it was around Christmas and New Year, the "Women Related to the Tang Family" organized a dinner party.

These women related to the Tang Family included two groups: women of the Tang family and women who once were or might become Tang family women.

The women of the Tang family included four girls from the Tang family, Shen Wan, and the sisters-in-law Su Xi Liu;

Women who once were or might become Tang family members included: Huo Danru, An Cheng, Shi Nian.

Nine women gathered at the Tang family’s mountain villa, avoiding work and the men, to have the gathering alone together.

The gathering was actually organized by Shen Wan. From Shen Wan’s perspective, the hardest person to invite was naturally Huo Danru, so she was the first to call and invite her. Unexpectedly, Huo Danru didn’t reject outright but pondered for a moment before asking, "If I organize this gathering and you assist me, would it be okay? If you don’t mind stepping down from the host position, I’ll agree to come; otherwise, if you’re afraid I’ll steal your limelight, then forget about it."

Huo Danru’s words didn’t surprise Shen Wan at all. Shen Wan merely laughed and asked, "Just tell me why you want to do this."

This was also a knot for Huo Danru; she had promised her son to have dinner with An Cheng and Shi Nian but hadn’t managed to make it happen. She was a bit nervous about facing An Cheng alone, so she thought having someone like Shen Wan present might make the situation easier to handle.

Understanding the reason, Shen Wan laughed and agreed without hesitation.

Huo Danru was cautious for An Cheng’s sake, and for her own part, it was also for Shi Nian.

These women had reached their age and status where there really wasn’t anything they’d struggle through just for themselves. All the careful planning and quiet maneuvers were ultimately for their children.

With nine women together, the scene was actually harmonious. With so many people, even those who disliked each other could find others to talk to, avoiding awkwardly facing just one person.

Remembering her promise to her son, Huo Danru was the main chef today.

Tang Yanyu, being a professional pastry chef, naturally claimed the other half of the kitchen as her own.

Tang Yansheng and Tang Yanjian, being daughters of the Tang family, naturally had to help out in the kitchen as well.

Shen Wan and Su Xi Liu, as the intermediaries, both assisted in the kitchen and hosted An Cheng and Shi Nian in the living room.

In fact, Shi Nian felt a little embarrassed and wanted to help in the kitchen too. Although her cooking skills were once criticized by Tang Yanqing, she could still help with things like washing vegetables and dishes. But An Cheng held her back, her expression ice-cold as she warned, "Those are all Tang family members; them working together in the kitchen is called familial joy. What are we, why squeeze into the Tang family’s activities? People might think we’re just scheming women waiting to marry into the Tang family and become phoenixes."

An Cheng’s indifference made Shi Nian sigh inwardly. She understood An Cheng’s heart and put aside any kitchen etiquette, focusing solely on keeping company with An Cheng in the living room.

Had she also gone to the kitchen, An Cheng would have been left alone in the living room.

Shi Nian smiled, "Right, at least let’s consider ourselves guests."

An Cheng looked over, her gaze cool, "Are you really with Huangfu Huazhang now? Was Yan Qi not good enough for you?"

After all, they were childhood friends; although An Cheng outwardly didn’t care for the Tang family, she still somewhat stood by Tang Yanqing at heart.

Shi Nian smiled awkwardly, simply retorting, "Why can’t everyone just have their own preferences? Besides, what’s wrong with Lawyer Tang, can’t he be a match for Director An?"

An Cheng didn’t expect Shi Nian to retort, feeling a bit awkward as she rolled her eyes, "Boring."

Shi Nian laughed. She found a unique way to get along with An Cheng.

Among the nine women, there were actually several pairs of grudges: Huo Danru vs. Shen Wan, Huo Danru vs. An Cheng; Shi Nian vs. Tang Yanyi; Tang Yansheng vs. Tang Yanjian. But because of An Cheng’s temperament, today’s main conflict seemed to be between An Cheng and Huo Danru, so even though Shi Nian and Tang Yanyi felt a bit awkward meeting, they at least managed to get through it on the surface.

After An Cheng finished her tea, Shi Nian got up to boil water for her, only to run into Tang Yanyi at the entrance. Tang Yanyi was just coming out of the kitchen, hands still dusted with flour, and wasn’t expecting to see Shi Nian, resulting in some awkwardness in her expression.