Chapter 19

Author's POV:

Huang Jiang's private jet touched down at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the familiar city skyline coming into view. As the sleek black car pulled up to the grand villa Wu Haoyu had acquired for this purpose, the elderly patriarch felt a surge of anticipation and trepidation coursing through him.

For years, the loss of his beloved daughter Huang Yue had weighed heavily on his heart. The wounds of their estrangement had never fully healed, and now, the prospect of finally being reunited with his long-lost grandchild filled him with a mix of joy and apprehension.

As the car came to a stop, Wu Haoyu emerged from the villa's entrance, a solemn expression on his face. "Grandfather Huang, welcome to Wuhan," he said, stepping forward to greet the older man.

Huang Jiang nodded, his eyes searching Wu Haoyu's face for any further clues. "Wu Haoyu. I can't thank you enough for tracking down my granddaughter. Has your investigation yielded any more information?"

Wu Haoyu gestured for Huang Jiang to follow him inside. "Yes, Grandfather, there are some developments I need to share with you." As they entered the lavish living room, he motioned for Huang Jiang to take a seat. "Please, make yourself comfortable. This may be a lot to take in."

Huang Jiang settled into the plush chair, his fingers tapping nervously on the armrest. "I'm ready to hear it, Wu Haoyu. Tell me everything you've discovered."

With a deep breath, Wu Haoyu began, "As you know, the lead I followed led me to a woman named Chen Xinyi. Based on the information my informant provided, it appears that Chen Xinyi is the one who purchased your granddaughter from the corrupt midwife all those years ago."

Huang Jiang's brow furrowed, his fingers stilling as he processed this revelation. "Chen Xinyi? But how is that possible? I thought my daughter had given birth to a daughter and abandoned her at the hospital."

Wu Haoyu nodded solemnly. "That's correct, Grandfather. However, it seems Chen Xinyi had a different plan in mind." He paused, carefully choosing his words. "Apparently, she was desperate to trap a wealthy man into marriage, so she lied about being pregnant, only to purchase a baby girl to pass off as her own when the due date approached."

Huang Jiang's eyes widened in shock, his hands gripping the armrest tightly. "Are you saying that the child Chen Xinyi is raising... is my granddaughter?"

"Yes, Grandfather," Wu Haoyu confirmed, his voice grave. "My informant was able to verify that the girl's name is Song Yanyan, and she is the daughter you've been searching for all these years."

Huang Jiang felt a surge of emotions – relief, disbelief, and a deep sense of sorrow. "All this time, my granddaughter has been living with that woman, unaware of her true heritage?" He shook his head, his expression pained. "How could this have happened?"

Wu Haoyu's gaze was sympathetic. "I'm afraid it gets worse, Grandfather. Yesterday, my informant was killed, and the last person he had contact with was Chen Xinyi. It's possible she discovered the truth and acted to silence him."

Huang Jiang's breath caught in his throat, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Then we must act quickly. We need to confirm the DNA and bring my granddaughter home, before she's lost to me forever."

"I agree, Grandfather," Wu Haoyu said, his voice resolute. "Unfortunately, I don't have any recent photos of Song Yanyan. She seems to have remained out of the public eye, and there's no trace of her on social media. But I can arrange for a discreet DNA test as soon as possible."

Huang Jiang's jaw tightened with determination. "Do it. I need to know the truth, and I need to see my granddaughter with my own eyes." He paused, a flicker of regret crossing his features. "If only I had been more understanding all those years ago. Perhaps none of this would have happened."

Wu Haoyu placed a reassuring hand on Huang Jiang's arm. "Grandfather, you can't blame yourself. What's done is done, but now we have a chance to make things right. Let's focus on the future and reuniting you with your family."

Huang Jiang nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're right, Wu Haoyu. I've spent so many years grieving for my daughter, and now I have the chance to make amends, to give my granddaughter the life she deserves." He took a deep, steadying breath. "Tell me, what can I do to ensure we succeed in this mission?"

Wu Haoyu's expression turned serious. "First and foremost, we need to be extremely cautious. Chen Xinyi has already shown she's willing to go to great lengths to protect her secret. We'll need to tread carefully, avoid drawing any unnecessary attention, and proceed with the DNA test discreetly."

Huang Jiang nodded, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I understand. What else?"

"Once we have the results, we'll need to devise a plan to confront Chen Xinyi and bring Song Yanyan back to you," Wu Haoyu continued. "We'll have to consider the potential legal and emotional implications, as well as the possibility that Chen Xinyi may try to resist."

Huang Jiang's jaw tightened, his mind racing with the possibilities. "I've waited too long to reunite with my family. I won't let anything or anyone stand in my way." He leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "Tell me, Wu Haoyu, what are our options?"

Wu Haoyu met Huang Jiang's intense stare, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We could approach Chen Xinyi directly, confront her with the truth, and appeal to her conscience. However, given her willingness to deceive, that may not be the wisest course of action."

Huang Jiang's brow furrowed, his fingers drumming on the armrest. "Then what do you suggest?"

"Alternatively, we could seek legal recourse," Wu Haoyu said, his tone measured. "With the DNA evidence, we could potentially challenge Chen Xinyi's custody of Song Yanyan and have the girl returned to you. But that would be a long and arduous process, and we'd have to be prepared for a drawn-out battle."

Huang Jiang's eyes narrowed, his mind weighing the options. "I don't have the luxury of time on my side, Wu Haoyu. My daughter was taken from me once, and I won't allow it to happen again." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Tell me, is there a way we can bring my granddaughter home swiftly and discreetly?"

Wu Haoyu nodded, understanding the urgency in Huang Jiang's words. "There may be another option, Grandfather, but it would require careful planning and execution." He paused, gauging Huang Jiang's reaction. "We could arrange for a private, covert extraction of Song Yanyan from Chen Xinyi's care. It would be a delicate operation, but it would ensure her safety and allow us to reunite you with her without the risk of legal entanglement."

Huang Jiang's eyes widened, a glimmer of hope sparking within them. "An extraction? You mean, taking my granddaughter back by force?" He let out a deep breath, his features softening. "I must admit, the idea of not having to battle through the courts appeals to me. But would that not be considered kidnapping?"

Wu Haoyu raised a hand, his expression grave. "I understand your concerns, Grandfather. However, we would ensure that the extraction is carried out legally and ethically, with the utmost care for Song Yanyan's well-being. The goal would be to remove her from the situation without causing any harm or trauma."

Huang Jiang nodded slowly, his mind weighing the implications. "And what of Chen Xinyi? How would we handle her?"

"We would need to ensure her cooperation, or at the very least, her silence," Wu Haoyu said, his tone measured. "Perhaps we could reach an agreement, or provide sufficient incentive for her to step away without causing a scene."

Huang Jiang's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger crossing his features. "That woman has stolen my granddaughter away from me. She deserves no such consideration." He paused, his gaze distant as he reflected on the past.

He straightened in his chair, a newfound determination burning in his eyes. "Very well, then. Let's make the necessary arrangements for the DNA test and the extraction. I want to meet my granddaughter as soon as possible, and ensure she knows the truth of her heritage."

Wu Haoyu inclined his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll handle the logistics, Grandfather. You can rest assured that we'll take every precaution to ensure a successful and safe reunion."

Huang Jiang's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and he reached out to grasp Wu Haoyu's hand. "All these years, I've believed she was lost to me forever."

Wu Haoyu gave Huang Jiang's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We still don't know what happened to your daughter after she abandoned the baby. But I promise you, Grandfather, we will not stop until we find her as well."

Huang Jiang nodded, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. "You're right. I can't give up on Huang Yue. If she is out there somewhere, I need to find her and bring her back home." 

He sighed heavily, the weight of the past two decades etched into the lines of his face. "All this time, I thought I had lost both my daughter and my grandchild. But now, with the chance to reunite with my granddaughter, I feel a renewed sense of purpose."

Wu Haoyu gave him an empathetic look. "Understandably so. You've endured so much grief, Grandfather. But now, you have the opportunity to make amends, to give your granddaughter the life she deserves."

Huang Jiang nodded, his jaw set with determination. "And I won't let anything or anyone stand in my way. I've waited far too long for this moment." He squeezed Wu Haoyu's hand, his eyes burning with resolve. "Let's move forward with the plan to bring my granddaughter home. And then, we'll turn our focus to finding Huang Yue, no matter how long it takes."

The two men shared a weighted look, united in their mission to right the wrongs of the past and reclaim what had been stolen from Huang Jiang. The path ahead was uncertain, but the elderly patriarch was more determined than ever to finally bring his loved ones back home.