Chapter 10

"Finally, the report is done, it's time to go home. Look, it's almost four in the afternoon. If I get home, it will take more than an hour, quite a challenge!" Zhen Fan lazily glanced at his watch, pulled out his phone, and saw six missed calls, all from Eddie.

He dialed back, and the call was answered immediately.

"Hey, buddy, I thought you were kidnapped or disposed of. You know, if I couldn't reach my brother after two calls, I would definitely call the police!" Eddie's sharp voice made Zhen Fan hold the phone far from his ear due to the unique characteristics of his vocal cords.

"Where are you? I'm at... " Zhen Fan turned to look at Sarah.

"Saint Barbara Street, Avenue... 1156." Sarah said the address.

"Did you hear that?... That's not my girlfriend, oh, I'm out, waiting for you at the street corner, right... next to the Special Investigation Bureau, okay, see you!"

He hung up, put his phone in his pocket, and waved to Sarah.

"See you, beautiful!"

Zhen Fan even whistled.

"You're involved in this too, don't even think of running away!" Sarah threatened Zhen Fan. "And you're my consultant, right?"

"No, I'm not!" Zhen Fan tried to argue.

"Tomorrow, I'll send the relevant documents to your doorstep. I know the way, it's not far!" Sarah curled her lips, smiling smugly.

"I have a lawyer! Nielsen, you know him? A rogue among lawyers, very difficult to deal with! You don't want trouble, do you?" Poor Charles, this was the fourth time Zhen Fan had called him by the wrong name, out of the four times he had said his name.

"But we police often make deals with lawyers, even if he's a rogue!"

Sarah smiled as she watched Zhen Fan flee in panic.

"Boss, Chinese or Japanese?"

A tall, muscular man walked over, craning his neck to look in the direction Zhen Fan had left.

"Bright, we have work to do!" Sarah ignored him and walked straight to her office. "Raine, Erin, we have work to do!"

Zhen Fan walked out of the investigation bureau and chose a shady spot by the street, with a few coconut trees nearby.

"Screech!"

Eddie's taxi arrived, as aggressive as ever.

"Buddy, you're in trouble, right? Look behind you, that's where the cops hang out, you must have gotten into trouble! Get in, tell me, I can give you some advice!"

Eddie talked non-stop, starting to spout before Zhen Fan could even sit down.

"First, take me home. I don't want to think about anything right now. I just want to cook a big meal and then sleep." Zhen Fan leaned comfortably in the seat.

The taxi immediately took off.

After a while, Eddie, who had been quiet for a bit, started talking again.

"Guy, is your trouble from the cops? I deal with them a lot, I have experience, tell me, I can definitely help you!"

"Shut up, Rick!" Zhen Fan replied lazily.

"Damn, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie..."

"Are you a broken record?"

"This isn't funny, you must remember my name. I'm your brother, we're good friends, right?" Eddie was getting angry.

"Okay, Eddie, you're my friend, but I just want some peace and quiet right now!"

"That's better!"

Eddie nodded contentedly, forgetting what he wanted to say. They soon arrived at Zhen Fan's house.

"Uh, Eddie... yes, Eddie, by the way, your brother, the one you mentioned!" Zhen Fan stood at the door, speaking to Eddie. "You said your brother was dragged into the water by a strange fish in the lake, right? Which lake?"

"Yes, it's not far from the suburbs. If you start from Wine Valley, it's only a half-hour drive! Damn, why are you asking? Stay away from there, it's not just my brother."

"I know, see you!"

Zhen Fan went home, stretched out comfortably, and leaned on the sofa for a while before starting to prepare his dinner. Beef stew with potatoes, not because it was his favorite, but because it was the easiest to make.

"Knock, knock, knock!" A light knock on the door.

"Is it Claire?"

Zhen Fan said as he opened the door and saw Claire standing there, tightly holding a doll, her sad eyes lighting up when she saw Zhen Fan, and her face breaking into a smile.

"I've come twice before, this is the third time, you weren't home!" Claire was led into the house by Zhen Fan, sat down on the sofa in the living room, and watched as Zhen Fan brought a metal bowl on a tray to the sofa. The smell of beef stew with potatoes made Claire swallow, and she looked at Zhen Fan pitifully.

"Do you want to eat?"

"Um-hum!" Claire nodded vigorously, looking at Zhen Fan expectantly.

"Just a moment, little one!"

Zhen Fan found a plate, scooped some potatoes from the stew pot, placed a metal spoon on the plate, and beckoned to Claire.

"Come on, Claire, let's eat together!"

Claire clapped her hands, giggling, and walked to the dining table, climbed onto the chair, and sat up straight as Zhen Fan tied a bib around her.

Claire ate a lot, quickly finishing the plate of beef and potatoes, her little tummy a bit round. She then went to the sofa, lay down, and hummed contentedly with her legs in the air to aid digestion.

"Really delicious, can I... eat it again in the future?"

After humming for a while, Claire suddenly turned to Zhen Fan, blinking her eyes hesitantly.

"Of course, Claire is an angel, a treasure, of course, you can eat my beef stew with potatoes!" Who knew what the connection was between being an angel, a treasure, and eating beef stew with potatoes. But the words reassured Claire, and she smiled contentedly, lying on the sofa to watch cartoons.

Zhen Fan sat by her head, pinched her chubby cheeks, and slowly massaged her head with his fingers.

Claire felt very comfortable and soon fell asleep.

This little girl probably hadn't slept so soundly in a long time. Zhen Fan thought for a moment, walked into his study, took out a jade pendant, rubbed it in his hands for a while, and gently placed it around Claire's neck.

There was another knock on the door, followed by Annie's voice.

"Zhen, I'm here to pick up Claire!"

Zhen Fan carefully placed Claire's head, slowed his steps, and walked to the door. Annie was standing there and saw Claire sleeping on the sofa.

"She's asleep! Very soundly!"

Zhen Fan whispered to Annie, letting her in.

"She... really likes being with you!" Annie looked a bit embarrassed, as she had been worried about him before, but later thought Zhen Fan was a good person, so she let Claire come over after her persistent pleading.

"Today she came three times, you weren't home!"

Annie sat down a bit awkwardly across from Zhen Fan.

"Um, yes, these days I've been busy with the medical licensing exam!"

"Zhen, you're a doctor?"

Annie's voice was delighted, as it was reassuring to have a neighbor with a noble profession.

"Um, yes, I'm a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. In China, I studied traditional Chinese medicine. I plan to open a TCM acupuncture clinic on this street, but I have to wait two more months for the license to be issued."

Zhen Fan shrugged, nonchalantly.

"Oh, I see! Congratulations in advance!"

Annie extended her hand, and Zhen Fan shook it, feeling how soft it was.

"Thank you!"

"I need to take Claire home now. I've already disturbed you for so long, thank you!" Annie stood up, walked to Claire, carefully picked her up, and nodded to Zhen Fan.

"Claire had dinner at my place, it was beef stew with potatoes, a whole plate. I think she doesn't need to eat dinner again!"

As they reached the door, Zhen Fan smiled at Annie.

"Really? That's great news. Claire hasn't eaten so much in a long time, and she hasn't slept so soundly either. Thank you so much!"

Annie was both surprised and grateful.

"No problem, I believe she will have a good night's sleep tonight!"

In fact, that was the case.

Annie walked back home. When her husband Thomas saw her carrying Claire, he was about to speak, but Annie put a finger to her lips to shush him. In Thomas's surprised look, she walked into Claire's room and gently placed her on the bed. Claire didn't wake up throughout the process, sleeping soundly.

As she placed Claire down, Annie's eyes fell on the jade pendant around Claire's neck, tied with a red string. She couldn't resist reaching out to look at it.

"Is Claire asleep?"

Seeing Annie come out of Claire's room, Thomas asked.

"Yes, it's strange, she's sleeping very well."

Annie pursed her lips and sat across from Thomas, looking at him.

"Claire hasn't slept so well in a long time, and she hasn't been eating well either. Sometimes I really worry she'll collapse..." Annie's eyes were a bit red, and her voice was choked, clearly trying to control her emotions.

"Maybe we should let her spend more time with Zhen. Claire is clearly much happier there, with good mood, good appetite, and good sleep!"

Thomas tried to comfort his wife with some reassuring words.

"Um, maybe you're right. By the way, Zhen is a doctor, he studied traditional Chinese medicine in China. Maybe it has something to do with TCM? Maybe he can cure Claire!"

"Does TCM work for depression?"

Thomas looked at Annie in surprise. A long time ago, a doctor said Claire had depression. Who knew what a child so young could have depression, and some said it was autism, but it had never been cured.

"Maybe, but it does seem to work, doesn't it?"

Annie pursed her lips, making a decision in her heart!