Chapter 376 - The Trump Card

"Andy, Babe. It's time to go home," said Lu Fang trying to wake up his wife, who was sleeping like a rock. 

Andrea lazily got up. Her pregnancy is making her so lazy as of recently. She yawned and said, "Babe, I dreamt of a platter of cheese. Huhu. When can I eat normally again?"

The man hugged her from the side and kissed her cheek before saying, "We are almost done with your first trimester. You'll soon eat normally."

She hugged him back and kissed him on the lips. She said, "Babe, we did not do it last Sunday. Do you want to make love now?"

The man smiled. Rarely does his wife asked whenever she was pregnant, but he had matters requiring his attention. "I need to go to the old mansion and speak to dad. Is it okay for Hanxi to take you home?"

"Is it really that urgent?" Andrea asked with a frown.

The man nodded then gave her the details Li Wen shared. 

She said, "Wow… Did dad ever mention if his face was recognizable after the crash?"

"I don't believe we covered that. It was a less important detail, but now... it may be," replied Lu Fang. 

"Did you get Gao Rou's hair?" asked Andrea. 

"Yep! Piece of cake," he said before giving a smirk. 

"Okay, then you go ahead. Don't stay out too late though." She paused for a moment before asking, "Will this pursuit affect our plans for the next week?"

"No, no. In fact, I was thinking of heading to Guangzhou earlier. This way, I can ask General Lei to take me to Han Yun. Maybe he knew of this Kang Liang," answered Lu Fang. "Still, we can have your family reunion at brother Ting's home."

"That is good to hear," said Andrea. "Then, go and call Hanxi for me, babe."

Hanxi and Andrea took another car and headed for home, while Lu Fang was driven by Juan to the old mansion.

Upon arriving, they had dinner and after which he informed his father of the investigation progress involving Gao Rou's father. 

They sat in the dining area, discussing, "Dad, do you remember if you were able to recognize his face?"

Lu Wei forcefully rubbed his hands against his face. He let out a heavy sigh and said, "It was not really important at that time, Lu Fang. We - were just very disheartened. He wore the same watch. He had the same build -  He had third-degree burns and everything was disfigured, including his face."

"Of course, the more obvious was he was driving my car. Everyone knew that Gao Rou's father was supposed to pick me up... So you are suggesting that this man... is Gao Rou's father?" Lu Wei clarified Lu Fang's assumption. 

Lu Fang pursed his lips before answering, "I'm not sure yet, Dad. That's why I am planning to find this man. I came to you, hoping you can tell me more."

"If you are asking me if it is possible? I don't know. I don't know if Yanlin could have orchestrated everything from the start," said Lu Wei. "But knowing him, he was indeed capable."

Lu Fang took a deep breath and said, "It's a shame that he is dead - "

"He would have said nothing. He never even explained his actions to us. He was just pure evil, Lu Fang!" Yelled Lu Wei, angry about being reminded of Rou Yanlin. "Listen to me, do what you have to do. Find this man!"

"I know the General kept Han Yun alive. He is the primary witness against the families who had hired Yanlin to do their dirty work. Start there - "

"Yes, dad. I plan to. Which is why we are going to Guangzhou unscheduled. We'll also meet with Yeong and Li Wen sometime next week," Lu Fang answered. 

"Good. Good."

"I kept it from Gao Rou for now," added Lu Fang. 

"I think it is best." Lu Wei pondered for minutes, unable to speak. Eventually, he said, "My heart feels heavy, did we just brought trouble to Gao Rou's father? His connection to us led to his end? and… if there is a possibility that Kang Liang is Gao Chaoxiang, it -"

Lu Wei interrupted himself, nearly in tears. "Son, it meant that he was kept alive and suffered all these years?! But -  but if he is Gao Rou's father, why not return to his son's side?"

"Dad, he was abused and medicated for a long time," said Lu Fang. "I received his medical records, and it was a thirty long page of medical terms which I need to further understand… It honestly gave me a headache... Ultimately he somewhat believes that he is this Kang Liang."

"But I kept thinking… He contacted Gao Rou when? That was over eight months ago. If  - if he wanted to get paid or needed cash badly, wouldn't he have called several times? In a period of eight months, he called five times? Five times, dad."

"You are right… It does not add up. Make this your top priority, Lu Fang. I'll go to the office in your place in the next few days. In any case, both Bolin and Gao Rou are around… Let's do this for Gao Rou."

The man nodded before saying, "Yes, dad. Yes, I will."

The next day, Lu Fang sent more men to Shanxi, providing details of Kang Liang's last known address.

He prepared for Gao Rou and Bolin for their early leave to Guangzhou. They left with their private plane immediately that same night. He brought his entire family with him including the caregivers and stayed in the Xia mansion.

He figured he can easily return to his family in the middle of his investigation if they were just in Guangzhou. 

He first met Han Yun in a secured prison in Tianjin, but all he could tell him was, "Mr. Lu. That car crash happened when I was still three years old. I have no knowledge of it - but know this; Rou Yanlin had always wanted to hurt your family. It was your grandmother, Lan Xioli who kept stopping him from accomplishing his schemes… I'm sure you know this already. She stayed by Yanlin's side to keep you all safe."

"I would not be surprised if he had plans that did not push through or were put on hold, somewhere along the way. In fact, there was a time that he asked for you to be kidnapped but Lan Xioli appeased him," said Han Yun. 

His brows turned into a frown, as if in deep thought before saying, "I recall, however, he told me a few times he had a trump card against your family, locked up in the asylum but because it was discovered, he was not able to use it. I did not know who it was or what the said trump card was."

The next day, Lu Fang and Lei Dong studied further Kang Laing's medical records. It was not any different from what he already knew. He was provided with medications that resulted in memory loss and received psychiatric treatment. 

Even Rou Chunhua, who was locked up inside the asylum did not recognize him, saying, "There were too many of us locked up... and almost everyone suffered the same fate, Lu Fang. It is very much possible, he was brainwashed and made to believe he is someone else."

Lu Fang was in Lei Dong's home, interviewing his wife when he finally received news from his men. "Master, we found him. He is in bad shape. He looked like he hasn't eaten for days."

Lu Fang took a deep breath and said, "feed him. Wash him. Take him to the hospital for a check. I'll be there in a few hours."