Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 447 - 322. Arrest Me (, Part 1)

Sitting in her office the next day, Shi Nian finished her work and drove to the "Middle Ages".

Yan Sheng was somewhat surprised to see Shi Nian coming but seemed mentally prepared for her visit.

Shi Nian couldn’t help but closely examine Zan Hua and Xiao Kai, the two children.

Yan Sheng then told the two kids to take an early lunch break, locked the store door, hung a lunchtime sign, and returned to brew tea.

"Like Yanqing, you always have undertones in your words and actions. Last time, he kept staring at Zan Hua and Xiao Kai endlessly, just like you do now. So I know you came for the same reason as he did, and you’re here on his behalf."

Shi Nian laughed: "Nothing escapes you, big sister."

Shi Nian sat down to drink tea, looked around, and suddenly pointed at the wall: "Where is the calligraphy you used to have there, big sister?"

When a scroll hangs on the wall for some time, it leaves an imprint. Now that space was filled, but due to different dimensions of the scrolls, the mark of the previous scroll was still visible.

Yan Sheng glanced at it: "Oh, the original one was sold. Don’t forget this is a shop for doing business; all the setups here are for sale if someone likes them and is willing to pay."

Shi Nian, still supporting her chin, asked: "What was it originally?"

Yan Sheng raised an eyebrow: "It was a piece of calligraphy by a Japanese High Monk, with the words ’Heartbeat’."

Shi Nian clapped her hands: "Ah yes, I remember. I always felt that calligraphy perfectly complemented the tranquil feeling of having tea here with you. Tea is calm, but the heart moves, an interplay of tranquility and movement, yet silent, creating a superb ambiance." Shi Nian took a sip of tea: "But it’s a pity, why sell it?"

Yan Sheng looked over: "What, are you interested in it?"

Shi Nian nodded with a smile: "Actually, I liked it last time, but faced Aunt Shen and got so nervous that I forgot about it. Big sister, maybe you could tell me who bought it, so I can discuss with them and see if I can offer a higher price, willing to part with it."

Yan Sheng slightly frowned.

Shi Nian understood that it’s a merchant’s rule not to disclose the identity of buyers. If the buyers are disturbed, it would be disrespectful to the shop.

Shi Nian smiled, lowering her eyes: "I know asking this breaks the rules, but big sister always talks about fate. I saw it first and had a connection, so it’s a regret if lost like this. You understand better than me; although many things and people must be lost in life, some should not be let go easily without trying to retrieve them."

Yan Sheng looked at Shi Nian once more.

Then lowered her head to sip tea: "Maybe you’re right. That piece of calligraphy might truly be fated with you. So even if you missed it yourself, someone close to you retrieved it. Though you can’t see it now, it’s indeed near you."

With a Zen-like hint, Yan Sheng spoke, which Shi Nian understood.

Her heart quietly jumped: "Big sister, do you mean Huangfu Huazhang bought it?"

Yan Sheng set down her teacup: "Not bought, gifted by me." She lifted her eyes quietly: "In this world, having an opportunity to feel a heartbeat is a blessing, especially for someone like Huangfu, whose heart is as serene as an ancient well."

Shi Nian laughed: "It’s a pity Mr. Huangfu didn’t mention it, and the calligraphy wasn’t sent to me."

"But he bought it because of your casual remark," Yan Sheng chuckled lightly: "Without you, he wouldn’t have glanced at it. His fate with the calligraphy stemmed from you."

Shi Nian looked at the tea leaves expanding in water: "You seem protective of Mr. Huangfu."

Yan Sheng responded calmly: "Having shared life and death, naturally, this bond exists—like comrades surviving from the same trench."

Shi Nian tilted her head back to the wall: "Suddenly remembered something. Never connected before, but now a flash of insight."

"Oh?" Yan Sheng waited patiently for her to continue.

Shi Nian smiled gently: "I went to Singapore to interview for this case involving Meng Chuyan. Saw a wind chime, made from purple copper, reminded me of my grandfather teaching, calling it Iron Horse, with profound Buddhist meanings. Just now, out of nowhere, thought of that famous story asking if it’s the wind moving, the flag moving, or the heart moving. In essence, regardless of wind and flag, the High Monk heard only the copper bell under the eaves moving."

In ancient times, eaves wind chimes were primarily for wind measurement. When the wind starts, even before humans hear it, the chime’s sound warns them. No matter the movement of wind or flags, the assessment tool is merely the chime under the eaves.

Shi Nian lowered her eyes: "So, it’s said the movement of the chime sparks fate, the heartbeat responds to fate."

Da Sheng is such a person, who attempted this manner. Indulgent in red dust as an elitist hermit, if Yanqing truly confronted like interrogating criminals, Da Sheng would only shut tighter.

All roads lead to Rome, yet each path differs.

Yan Sheng deciphered: "You’re saying that wind chime must relate to me, and you speak with more rationale than Yanqing, more assertively."

Shi Nian didn’t disagree but smiled mischievously: "I extend more than he—mentioned, chime moves sparking fate, heartbeat aligning fate; though both the chime and calligraphy belonged to big sister, not now. The chime became a crime scene signal revolving between Hong Kong and Singapore; the calligraphy was taken by Mr. Huangfu..."

Yan Sheng squinted: "What are you trying to say?"

Shi Nian felt desolate yet smiled: "Everything has a destined course. I sense this matter was predetermined to conclude not with big sister but rather with Mr. Huangfu."

Individual intuition varies, Xiao Sound and Yanqing both associated the chime and child smuggling directly with Da Sheng, but she wasn’t, thought of Huangfu Huazhang.

Child smuggling even Da Sheng might commit, but considering Huangfu’s life-death bond with Da Sheng, entirely possible his involvement or utilization.

The chime issue aside, given Meng Chuyan committed suicide, yet child trafficking demands truth establishment.

Shi Nian stared at brewing tea aroma: "Hence, I believe Mr. Tang and Mr. Luo are mistaken, the real orchestrator of child trafficking is Mr. Huangfu."

If guessed right, and Da Sheng witnesses indeed, that’ll be an ironclad evidence against Huangfu!

Yan Sheng slightly startled, then shook her head: "All you know. But the smuggling of children was definitely me, legally speaking, yes, a criminal."

Shi Nian was shocked: "Not the utilization of big sister’s shipment channels by Mr. Huangfu?"

Yan Sheng sighed, shaking her head: "How would I. Given words reached so far, your insights rich in Zen, I’d rather explain. Shi Nian, truly misjudging Huangfu. Child smuggling is related, however neither intended harm."

"Oh?" Shi Nian’s heart felt perplexed: "Why then do this?"

"Protecting the children." Yan Sheng responded succinctly and assuredly: "Years leveraging warfare areas to collect antique furniture, Huangfu conserves wartime relics with similar devotion—our endeavors aiming to safeguard centuries-long legacy amid turmoil. Gradually realizing, war’s most helplessly ruined, inherently precious aren’t relics accomplishable—but rather the very children."

Shi Nian stunned, heart simultaneously opens wide yet sharp ache.

Yan Sheng softly closed her eyes, yet Shi Nian glimpsed moisture at her corners: "Both Huangfu and I’s belief slowly wavers. Preserving relics and antiqued treasures remains worthy; starkly witnessing numerous vibrant lives perishing, injured amid disturbances?"

"Shi Nian, certain you’ll comprehend without witnessing privatively—sometimes only a toddler, carefree smiling, suddenly shell strikes home, transforming rubble, relatives into corpses... that instant a child’s eyes turn brilliant to desolate void... then childhood abruptly concluded, gazing future with hatred, fear. That child... enduring, fundamentally shattered."

"Hence inaction is unbearable, Huangfu and I decided what’s possible—smuggling these children along shipment."

Shi Nian’s eyes moisten. Understanding more despite no personal sight.

Yan Sheng concluded calmly: "Legally, M Country remains unbounded aiding wartime orphans, my trafficking criminal. Despite, persevering. Until exposure, hands won’t cease. Embracing criminality, unwatching them despair amid ignitions."

Yan Sheng finished placing the teacup: "Notify Yanqing, arrest me now."