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Chapter 83

Although it was just a brief glance, since Lian Ru Ning was flipping through the album at a slow pace, Hao Jian eventually got a good look. 

 

In a group photo of five people with a certain building as the background, Lian Qingmiao stood on the right side with his hands behind his back, wearing a gentle smile on his face. 

 

Next to him stood a man wearing a black hat, his features sharp and striking under the brim, a man who could be described as having chiseled eyebrows and a charismatic presence. However, his bronzed complexion added a touch of mature charm, slightly offsetting any air of scholarly elegance. 

 

Though Hao Jian had rarely seen this man in her memory, she still recognized him at first glance. 

 

“Junior Sister, may I have a look?” 

 

“Of course!” Lian Ru Ning, unaware of the change in Hao Jian's expression, handed her the open album. 

 

Hao Jian flipped through it again. Aside from the earlier photo, there wasn’t another picture of the man. She pointed to the photo and asked, “Do you know everyone in this picture, Junior Sister?” 

 

Lian Ru Ning chuckled, “How could I? These should be my dad’s friends. They’ve hardly visited our home, so I don’t know them.” 

 

After saying this, she hesitated. Even though Hao Jian had looked through the entire album, she specifically came back to ask about the people in this one photo... 

 

“Hao Jian, do you recognize someone in this photo?” 

 

Hao Jian smiled faintly, closing the album and returning it. “No, I must have mistaken them for someone else.” 

 

Lian Ru Ning studied her expression but found nothing unusual. She reopened the album and pointed at a family photo of her own. “Hao Jian, this is my mom, and this is Ruoji.” 

 

Lian Ru Ning’s mother looked kind and gentle, exuding an air of quiet composure. Lian Ruoji, on the other hand, appeared cheerful and radiant. While the siblings didn’t look exactly alike, they shared about 50% resemblance, proof of their family’s good genes. 

 

As for Lian Ru Meng, she and Lian Ru Ning looked almost identical. There was no need for introductions for Hao Jian to figure out who she was. 

 

To be thorough, Lian Ru Ning still introduced her: “This is Ru Meng. Although we look 90% alike, we’re actually easy to tell apart because she has a small mole on her right cheek.” 

 

Hao Jian said, “And her eyebrows are thicker too, right?” 

 

Lian Ru Ning burst into laughter. “That’s because when she was little, she played with Dad’s razor and shaved off her eyebrows. For some reason, they grew back thicker after that. Just don’t mention it in front of her, or she’ll get mad at you.” 

 

After laughing, Lian Ru Ning handed a photo to Wei Renmin. “I’ll be going along as well, but just in case we get separated, here’s a photo of my family.” 

 

Wei Renmin glanced at it briefly before slipping it into his pocket. 

 

Lian Qingmiao soon returned, handing two stacks of money to Wei Renmin. The latter didn’t even bother counting it before putting it into his backpack. 

 

He asked Lian Ru Ning and Hao Jian, “We can leave this afternoon. When are you free?” 

 

Hao Jian still needed to notify An Minghui, so she said, “Four o’clock.” 

 

“Then let’s meet at the military academy dock at four,” Wei Renmin said and left promptly, wasting no time. 

 

After thinking it over, Hao Jian said to Lian Ru Ning, “I’m going to find An Minghui first, so I won’t be joining you for lunch.” 

“Alright, go ahead. I’ll take the time to pack up some things.” 

 

After Hao Jian left, Lian Ru Ning turned to scold Lian Qingmiao, “Dad, if you keep pulling all-nighters for your research, you’re going to get sick!” 

 

Don’t worry, I know my limits. I already closed my eyes for a while in the lab. After lunch, I’ll go back and rest.” 

 

Seeing this, Lian Ru Ning decided not to press further. 

 
 

 She suddenly recalled Hao Jian's reaction upon seeing that photo. Driven by an inexplicable urge, she opened the album and asked, "Dad, who are the people in this photo?" 

 

Lian Qingmiao glanced at it and smiled. "Oh, these are friends I’ve known for a long time. This one is Professor Cheng from Ocean University, an academician in the Academy of Bioengineering and the vice president of Ocean University. That one is an academician from the Institute of Geographic Sciences in the Academy of Sciences, and then there's..." 

 

Lian Ru Ning clicked her tongue in surprise. She hadn't realized her dad knew such distinguished figures. But then again, her dad was impressive in his own right, not only a professor at South Sea University but also someone with multiple official titles outside of academia. 

 

Thinking about it, she could only sigh at how young and naive she still was. 

 

"This is Director Hao of the Mountaineering Sports Administration Center and vice chairman of the Mountaineering Association. He’s also an Ocean University graduate. Interestingly, although he majored in geology, he prefers mountaineering. I met him through the Geological Research Association and even went on a few climbs with him back in the day." 

 

When Lian Ru Ning heard "Director Hao," she immediately felt uneasy. As the mentions of Ocean University and mountaineering continued, her sense of foreboding grew stronger. 

 

"Dad, what's this Director Hao's full name?" 

 

Lian Qingmiao noticed her odd reaction but didn’t dwell on it. Smiling, he said, "He has a rather interesting name: Hao Feng. But I heard he used to be called Hao Kan. True to his name, he’s quite good-looking." 

 

"!!!" Lian Ru Ning’s eyes widened in shock. "Hao Kan?!" 

 

Wasn’t that— 

 

She suddenly recalled Hao Jian’s reaction to the photo, and her unease deepened. 

 

"What’s wrong?" Lian Qingmiao had finally noticed that something wasn’t right. 

 

"Dad, is he still alive?" 

 

"Why are you cursing him? Of course, he’s alive. He even invited me to a conference in Mingzhu City recently, but I declined because I was busy. After the zombie virus outbreak... I haven’t heard anything about him since." 

 

"No, it’s not that..." Lian Ru Ning was flustered. "If he’s alive, then why—" 

 

She wanted to ask why Hao Jian said he had been missing for seven years. 

 

Wait, for Hao Jian, he had been missing for seven years. She had assumed he was dead but never explicitly said so. 

 

Still, after Hao Kan’s disappearance, Hao Jian’s mother, Chen Xiuzhu, had searched for him tirelessly but never found him. Hao Jian, left to endure loneliness and despair after her mother’s illness and death, had believed that he was gone forever. Yet here he was, alive and well, now even a director? 

 

Lian Ru Ning would rather believe that she and Hao Jian had mistaken him for someone else. Otherwise, how devastating would this truth be for Hao Jian? 

 

"Ru Ning, do you know him?" Lian Qingmiao asked. 

 

Lian Ru Ning quickly calmed herself, taking a deep breath before countering, "Dad, how well do you know him?" 

 

"What’s going on? Can you tell me?" Lian Qingmiao realized something was amiss and patiently asked. 

 

Lian Ru Ning thought for a moment and said, "I’m not entirely sure, but Hao Jian told me her father’s name is Hao Kan... It might just be a coincidence!" 

 

Though she said this, she knew deep down that the chances were slim. Hao was already a rare surname, and how many people would have the unique given name “Kan”? Moreover, both were Ocean University graduates. The probability of them being different people seemed vanishingly low. 

 

After a brief pause, Lian Qingmiao finally understood why Lian Ru Ning seemed so concerned about Hao Kan. 

 

He said, "But as far as I know, Hao Kan is from Yuncheng and has only one son, a 14-year-old named Hao Zuo, who’s currently studying in Yuncheng. I’ve also met his wife, she’s quite young, only 36. She doesn’t seem old enough to have a daughter Hao Jian’s age." 

 

Lian Ru Ning was speechless. Had her dad never considered that a man could have children with younger women? 

 

The more she thought about it, the more ominous the situation seemed. 

 

"Hao Jian’s father is named Hao Kan, and her mother is Chen Xiuzhu. They had Hao Jian before taking their college entrance exams. Her father was a geology student at Ocean University and later joined the mountaineering club. He climbed Yuzhu Peak, successfully summited Mount Everest, and later challenged North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley, as well as South America’s highest, Aconcagua..." 

 

Lian Qingmiao frowned. "That… matches Hao Kan’s achievements exactly." 

 

At this point, he had to admit that the overlap was too significant to ignore. 

 

"Hao Kan disappeared seven years ago after his parents died. He had an argument with Hao Jian’s mother and left home. After that, he vanished.  

People said he probably died in a mountaineering accident, but no one ever found him..." 

 

Lian Ru Ning suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Was he truly lost to an accident, or was it a lie? 

 

If his status was so high and his connections so vast, wouldn’t it have been easy for him to change his name and settle in Yuncheng? 

 

Could his disappearance have been a fabricated story, orchestrated by Hao Kan’s friends to deceive Chen Xiuzhu and her daughter? 

 

Moreover, if he already had a 14-year-old son, it meant he had found a new partner and started a new family long before his disappearance. 

 

He had likely used his expeditions as an excuse to return home occasionally, while most of his time was spent with his new family. 

 

Poor Chen Xiuzhu had trusted him implicitly, only to face endless searching, waiting, illness, and, ultimately, death in despair. 

 

Realizing this, Lian Ru Ning’s eyes reddened. Hao Kan, you’re such a scumbag, the worst kind on earth! How could he treat Chen Xiuzhu and Hao Jian like this? 

 

Lian Qingmiao’s mood also turned heavy. He seemed to understand what had happened, if Hao Kanreally was Hao Jian’s father, it would likely be a devastating blow to Hao Jian and an unbearable truth to face. 

 

“Ru Ning, when the virus broke out, he was in Mingzhu City. It was so chaotic there… maybe he... So, it’s better not to tell Hao Jian.” 

 

If Hao Jian believed he was already dead, perhaps it was better to let her keep thinking that. Otherwise, knowing the truth might be too much for her to bear. 

 

Lian Ru Ning shook her head. “It’s too late, Dad. Too late. When she saw that photo, she might’ve already figured it out.” 

 

Lian Qingmiao was startled, but before he could respond, Lian Ru Ning continued, “Hao Jian is incredibly smart. She’s also meticulous, noticing details others would overlook. From one photo, she can deduce ten pieces of information. I can’t hide this from her.” 

 

Unless she buried the matter deep in her heart after stepping out of the door, Hao Jian would surely notice something was wrong. 

 

But pretending she didn’t know would be just as difficult. Every time she thought about it, she felt a pang of sorrow for Chen Xiuzhu and Hao Jian, who had suffered so much because of that despicable man, Hao Kan. 

 

Lian Qingmiao didn’t know what to say. After a moment, he simply remarked, “Let’s eat first. We can talk after the meal.” 

 

After lunch, Lian Ru Ning packed a portion to-go for Hao Jian and returned to the dormitory. Hao Jian wasn’t back yet. As she stared at Hao Jian’s ever-present mountaineering bag, she felt a complex wave of emotion. 

 

Hao Kan had once been Hao Jian’s idol, the person she admired most. Even after his disappearance and Chen Xiuzhu’s death, Hao Jian had buried almost all items related to him, yet she still kept this mountaineering bag and the hiking boots she wore. It was clear that, deep down, she hadn’t completely let go of him. 

 

Hao Jian returned not long after, wearing a different pair of boots and carrying a military-style backpack. 

 

Lian Ru Ning immediately panicked: Did Hao Jian find out? 

 

“Why didn’t you turn on the air conditioning?” Hao Jian set down her backpack, grabbed the remote, and switched on the AC, wiping sweat from her brow. 

 

“Hao Jian, why did you change your shoes?” Lian Ru Ning asked cautiously. 

 

Hao Jian glanced at her feet, then pulled out a new pair of boots from her backpack. “Here, these are new military boots produced by the factory. They’re made with a recently developed material and are supposed to be comfortable for both everyday wear and combat. An Minghui gave me a pair, and I liked them, so I asked him for another pair in your size. Try them on.” 

 

Lian Ru Ning let out a sigh of relief. So I was overthinking it. 

 

After all, both her shoes and Hao Jian’s were quite worn out. If they had the means, why not switch to something better? 

 

She tried on the boots and found they fit perfectly. She leaned over and gave Hao Jian a kiss. “A reward for you.” 

 

Hao Jian wrapped her arms around Lian Ru Ning’s waist and returned two kisses before asking, “Want to nap all afternoon?” 

 

“Are you going to sleep too?” 

 

“I still have some things to sort out. You go ahead. I’m fine.” 

 

“I’m fine too. We woke up so late today, I’m not sleepy at all.” 

 

Hao Jian chuckled, released her, and started organizing her belongings. 

 

In truth, she didn’t have much to pack. Apart from some canned luncheon meat and instant meals, she discarded her old clothes after replacing them with new ones. Heavier items like her water bottle were left on the table, not packed into her new backpack. Even the book she’d been carrying had already been read and wasn’t necessary anymore. 

 

As a result, even with the essentials packed, her new backpack still had plenty of room. 

 

“You’re not using this mountaineering bag anymore?” Lian Ru Ning asked. 

 

“No, the military backpack is more practical. When we leave, the escort team will return my gun and machete. I’ll strap the machete to the sides of the pack for easier access,” Hao Jian replied. 

 

Her explanation was reasonable, but Lian Ru Ning still felt something was off. 

 

She couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but at such a critical time, Hao Jian abandoning the one item tied to Hao Kan felt unusually out of character.