Chapter 60

In a small county like this, people generally have old-fashioned views and don't favor girls. However, Wang Zhen and his wife, who had no children, particularly liked Xia Lin. Xia Lin was always well-behaved, and the couple often felt fortunate for their choice. How did she end up being sold?

An American lawyer, a wealthy businessman from the capital, and a Chinese general! Any one of them was someone Xia Lin's parents couldn't afford to offend. For the sake of her parents, Xia Lin chose to accept, and thus, Xia Lin became Zhao Lin! All that was left for Ding Hao was a letter!

"Child, it's not that we didn't want to stop it; it's that we couldn't. Don't blame Lin'er; she had no choice. Her mother is very domineering!" Wang Zhen looked at Ding Hao, who was in a daze, and felt a pang of pain. A daughter they had raised for over a decade was suddenly gone! Although the Zhao family promised that Lin'er could visit her adoptive parents anytime, the fact that they were in America made even phone calls inconvenient, let alone face-to-face meetings.

Ding Hao seemed to be completely drained, his heart aching! This must be love! Ding Hao was now experiencing the pain of separation! After hearing Wang Zhen's account, Ding Hao knew he couldn't blame Xia Lin's parents or Xia Lin herself.

In fact, Xia Lin might be even more distressed. Ding Hao could empathize, as he had been forced to leave his parents at the age of seven!

He knew the longing for parents in his heart, and Xia Lin suddenly had a pair of biological parents. After the initial resistance, she probably yearned for family ties, unwilling to leave her adoptive parents but also unwilling to leave her biological parents!

At this moment, Ding Hao had become less important. Love is beautiful, but their relationship was probably just beginning to bud!

If anyone was to be blamed, it should be the Zhao family from the capital! Just because they are a prestigious family, does that give them the right to change someone's life at will? Ding Hao took out his phone and made a call. On the other end, a middle-aged man said flatteringly, "Hello, Brother Ding!"

"Tell me, do you know about Xia Lin's situation?"

"Yes, yes, Boss, you're back in Yungang? Where are you? I'll come to find you right away!" Yang Xinmin seemed to sense Ding Hao's displeasure and quickly left his office, driving a police car out the door.

A few minutes later, Yang Xinmin arrived at the scene. Seeing the silent group, he was also frustrated. This boss, Ding Hao, had always been very considerate to him, and he had helped him secure his position as chief. However, the Zhao family was someone he couldn't afford to offend!

"What did I tell you before?" Seeing Yang Xinmin, Ding Hao vented his anger on him, grabbing his collar and pushing him back, asking. This bold move by Ding Hao frightened Xia Lin's parents and Gu Wen.

Ding Hao was indeed rash; Yang Xinmin was not Cao Zhe, but a respected police chief! Moreover, this matter seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Yang Xinmin also knew why Ding Hao was angry. When he was promoted to chief, he had promised Ding Hao to take good care of his relatives in Yungang. He had readily agreed, not knowing what Ding Hao was worried about. In his eyes, how could a police chief fail to take care of a few ordinary people?

Clearly, he had underestimated the task Ding Hao had given him, or this sudden change had caught both of them off guard! Without Ding Hao, he wouldn't have become the county police chief so smoothly, and if he angered Ding Hao, he might be removed from his position at any time.

"Boss Ding, you ask Old Xia. It's not that I didn't intervene, but their influence was too strong. I couldn't do anything. And at the time, someone threatened to report us to the police..." Yang Xinmin was telling the truth; when he arrived at Xia Lin's house, they had already notified him.

When Yang Xinmin arrived, the military ID was flashed, and there were several guards. Three main people came, but five cars arrived. The people who saw him didn't explain; they directly threatened to report human trafficking!

"Yes, Chief Yang did his best." Xia Lin's father pulled Ding Hao from behind, separating the two.

"Yes, Ding Hao, don't be impulsive!" Wang Zhen also advised.

In fact, Ding Hao knew that given the other party's strong influence, Yang Xinmin couldn't have done much. What made Ding Hao angry was that so much time had passed, and he hadn't even been informed, left completely in the dark!

"Ding Hao, let's go. Uncle and Aunt have said that Xia Lin had her reasons, and causing a scene here won't help!" Gu Wen had been listening to Xia Lin's story for a while and only snapped out of it when Ding Hao suddenly lost his temper. She couldn't let anything happen to Ding Hao, so she took him from Xia Lin's father and held him.

"Boss Ding, I wanted to call you, but you ask Old Xia. Those people threatened to report the Xia couple for human trafficking! I don't think you'd want that to happen..." Yang Xinmin felt relieved when Ding Hao was held back. In his view, Ding Hao had a strong background, and Xia Lin's biological parents were even more complicated. He couldn't afford to offend anyone!

After being held back by Gu Wen and taking a few steps back, Ding Hao gradually calmed down. This matter couldn't be blamed on anyone present. Since Xia Lin had decided to turn off her phone and not inform him, the others could only respect her decision. And the reason she did this was because of her biological parents.

A prestigious family from the capital! Ding Hao didn't believe Xia Lin would forget him, but in this situation, it was best for her to comply! If his family hadn't fallen into trouble, they wouldn't be looked down upon like this. On the other hand, if he had stayed in Qianjiang, how would he have met Xia Lin and been neighbors and friends for over a decade?

"Sorry, Chief Yang."

"It's okay, I understand."

"Go back to work. I'll talk to Uncle and Aunt. Let me know if there's any news."

"Sure, sure..." Yang Xinmin had shown up. Although he was uneasy, Ding Hao's mood was clearly off, and he didn't know what would happen next. If Ding Hao vented his anger on him, what could he do as a police chief? Better to leave quickly.

"Ding Hao, don't blame Chief Yang. He has been very considerate of us during this time!" Xia Lin's parents didn't know about Ding Hao's involvement, thinking Yang Xinmin was just being considerate of the locals.

"Uncle, Aunt, do you have Xia Lin's contact information?"

Xia Lin's parents shook their heads. The situation was sudden, and Xia Lin's biological mother was very determined. Xia Lin's old phone was confiscated, and she probably got a new one in America. Her biological mother's goal was clear: to cut off Xia Lin's ties with her adoptive family. Of course, to avoid making Xia Lin resentful, she didn't say it outright.

In Xu Liya's view, her daughter was still young. Once in America, living with her, she would soon forget everything in Yungang. So when Xia Lin's father suggested taking her to the capital for school, it was rejected.

As for Ding Hao and Xia Lin's relationship, Xu Liya didn't take it seriously. She saw it as a child's play, having forgotten her own infatuation with a married man when she was young.

Xia Lin's parents didn't know, and neither did Gu Wen. Ding Hao called Ma Zhen, but Ma Zhen didn't know either! Everyone familiar with Xia Lin knew she had gone abroad, and many were surprised that Ding Hao didn't know. After a round of calls, Ding Hao was extremely disappointed! Xia Lin seemed to have vanished!

"Ding Hao, are you okay?" On the way back to school, seeing Ding Hao silent, Gu Wen was very worried and cautiously asked.

Ding Hao didn't respond, just numbly shook his head and continued walking to school. He didn't even look up when a few acquaintances greeted him.

"Ding Hao, you can't be like this. I'll heat up the food; you should eat something." It was already past four when Ding Hao first entered the house, and after visiting Xia Lin's house, it was almost six. Gu Wen was afraid Ding Hao wouldn't eat because of his mood, so she carefully dealt with the situation.

"Ding Hao..." Seeing Ding Hao's dispirited state, Gu Wen was heartbroken, and tears streamed down her face. Although Ding Hao's heart was still with Xia Lin, she liked his masculinity and confidence. She didn't want him to sink into despair!

"I'm fine, let's heat up the food and eat." Seeing Gu Wen cry, Ding Hao finally reacted. Yes, Xia Lin was gone, but many people still cared about him. He couldn't be so selfish and make them worry.

"Okay!" Seeing Ding Hao respond, Gu Wen quickly wiped her tears and went to the kitchen.

"Let's have a drink." After Gu Wen heated up the food, Ding Hao said lightly.

"Ah?" Gu Wen hesitated for a moment but then got up and took a bottle of red wine from the fridge. Although she had gotten drunk here before and almost had an intimate moment with Ding Hao, she had stayed away from alcohol since then. But today was different. Ding Hao had been hit hard and was in a bad mood. It was fortunate that he hadn't gone to a bar to drink himself into a stupor like those in the movies.

She liked Ding Hao, and if he wanted to drink to ease his pain, she would naturally accompany him. Gu Wen had even decided that she would do anything to comfort him, including offering herself! Thinking of this, her face flushed.

Ding Hao, however, didn't notice, and started drinking one glass after another.

"Ding Hao, drink slowly; you'll get drunk if you keep this up!"

"Ding Hao, you can't drink anymore!" Gu Wen had anticipated Ding Hao drinking to forget his sorrows but didn't expect him to drink so much. One bottle of red wine was almost finished, and soon Ding Hao had opened three more. Gu Wen quickly tried to take the bottle and hide it.

"Give it to me!"

"No."

"Give it to me, come, have a drink with me."

"No!" Seeing Ding Hao start to act like a drunk, Gu Wen pouted and refused.

"Why, why are you women like this? You said you like me, but you won't even drink with me?"

"Ding Hao, you're drunk!"

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