After Being Locked Away for Three Years, the Real Daughter Made the Whole Family Cry After Her Release - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Going Home

Zhou Qingci looked at the tear stains on Wen Ning’s face and suddenly recalled the day four years ago when she had just been found. When he finally held the sister they had lost and recovered with great difficulty, Wen Ning had also silently cried just like this.

At that time, he swore that he would make up for all the suffering she had endured outside and would spoil her beyond measure.

Thinking of that, Zhou Qingci looked at Wen Ning, his tone softening with a hint of tenderness, “Alright, I’ll take you home.”

Wen Ning slowly closed her eyes and hoarsely said, “Thank you, Young Master.”

Her voice was so soft it was barely audible. Zhou Qingci thought she had called him ‘big brother’ and felt even more pleased.

After three years of treatment in this high-end sanitarium, Wen Ning’s stubbornness and rebelliousness had completely vanished. She now looked like a gentle, obedient young lady of the Zhou family.

Sending her here had indeed been the right decision. That money was well spent.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Qingci immediately asked Wen Ning to go pack her things while he went downstairs to handle the discharge paperwork.

The doctor blocked her path from behind, his eyes dark and cold as he stared at her, “Wen Ning, congratulations on being discharged.”

Wen Ning couldn’t stop her body from trembling. She swallowed nervously and spoke cautiously, “Thank you, Dr. Wang, for taking care of me these three years.”

Dr. Wang raised his eyebrows and said with ambiguous meaning, “No need to thank me so soon. There will be plenty of chances in the future.”

Wen Ning didn’t quite understand what he meant by that.

But when she came downstairs with her thin, worn-out canvas bag to find Zhou Qingci, she saw the sanitarium director warmly handing over a bag of items to Zhou Qingci.

When the director saw her, his smile widened.

“Wen Ning’s condition has improved significantly, but she still has occasional emotional outbursts. If that happens, just inject her with a sedative to calm her down.”

“If that doesn’t help, give us a call. Our sanitarium takes lifelong responsibility for every patient.”

Wen Ning’s steps halted instantly.

Zhou Qingci accepted the sedatives with one hand and shook the director’s hand firmly with the other.

“Thank you for treating my sister over these past three years. Sorry for all the trouble.” Noticing Wen Ning hesitating at the stairs, he waved at her, “Ningning, come over and thank the director.”

Yellowed teeth in a disgusting smile, greasy fat fingers, a needle dripping with medicine, a cold grey electroshock table…

Flashes of memory rushed through Wen Ning’s mind. She shut her eyes tightly and almost ran out in a hurry.

Only when she passed through the doors without resistance and felt the sunlight burning her skin did she realize—it had been three years, and she was finally out.

Zhou Qingci followed her out with a frown. He pressed the car key, and a luxurious deep blue McLaren let out a beep.

Wen Ning kept her head down, walked past the passenger seat, and opened the rear door.

Just as she lifted her foot to get in, Zhou Qingci suddenly scolded, “Wen Ning, who are you giving attitude to?!”

“I told you to thank the director just now, but you ignored me and walked out, making me look bad on purpose, didn’t you?”

“And now you’re deliberately not sitting in the front seat? What, am I your driver now?”

Wen Ning paused, then said quietly with a touch of self-mockery, “The front seat is Zhou Yaya’s exclusive spot. I’m not worthy.”

Back then, when she had just returned from the countryside, she didn’t understand the difference in status between the front and back seats. Zhou Qingci had been seeing them off. Zhou Yaya dragged her to the garage and told her to sit in front, so she got in the passenger seat.

But when Zhou Qingci came out and saw her sitting there while Zhou Yaya stood awkwardly outside, he immediately lost his temper. He scolded her for being ignorant and snatching Yaya’s exclusive seat. He pulled her out roughly and made her apologize to Zhou Yaya.

Zhou Qingci remembered the incident from four years ago too, but instead of showing guilt, his frown deepened. His eyes were filled with impatience as he looked at Wen Ning.

“Yaya gets carsick and can only sit in the front. You’re her older sister. What’s wrong with letting her have it? It was just a trivial matter, and you’ve held a grudge until now?”

Wen Ning’s lashes lowered, and her dry voice sounded both like resignation and release, “I am letting her have it.”

Zhou Qingci stared coldly at Wen Ning. Was this submissive demeanor what he had hoped for?

No. It wasn’t.

He wanted a gentle, obedient, and sensible sister who clung to him like she used to, calling him big brother, but who wouldn’t bully Yaya all the time.

Not this Wen Ning, who only knew how to keep her head down.

A surge of frustration rose in his chest. He suddenly flung open the front passenger door and dragged her forward.

“Sit properly! Wen Ning, if you feel so wronged, then go back to the sanitarium and continue your treatment!”

Wen Ning didn’t understand why Zhou Qingci was suddenly angry again, but she knew one thing for sure—she never, ever wanted to go back to that hell.

She exhaled softly and was just about to apologize again when Zhou Qingci’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, his expression softening instantly as he answered with a gentle voice, “Hello, Yaya.”

Hearing that familiar name, Wen Ning’s pale, thin hands tightened as veins faintly appeared beneath her skin.

Scenes from three years ago flashed through her mind, so painful she could hardly breathe.

It was a while before Zhou Qingci hung up. He put away his smile and said coldly, “Three years ago, you falsely accused Yaya, yet she holds no grudge. In fact, she still cares about you. Just now, she called to ask if you’d been discharged.”

“She cried because she was worried you’d be embarrassed about having to apologize in public. She said over and over again that as long as you’re willing to come home, she doesn’t need an apology.”

“Wen Ning, can’t you learn to be more like Yaya?”

As long as she was willing to come home?

Zhou Yaya was probably the last person who wanted her to return.

Wen Ning kept her head low, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.

The rest of the ride was silent. When they arrived at the Zhou family mansion, even from afar, the villa on the mountainside was bright with colorful flowers and balloons floating high in the air.

The McLaren pulled in through the back gate.

Zhou Qingci explained coldly, “Today is Yaya’s birthday. It’s a joyful occasion. You’ve just been discharged, and your presence brings bad luck, so don’t enter through the front.”

Wen Ning was used to this kind of treatment. She didn’t react much. “When should I apologize to her?”

Zhou Qingci glanced at the time. Today, Shen Xufeng was planning to propose to Yaya.

Thinking of the past engagement between Wen Ning and Shen Xufeng, Zhou Qingci felt it was best for her to witness their proposal with her own eyes. That way, she would give up once and for all and stop trying to be the third party who might ruin Yaya and Xufeng’s relationship.

He never understood why, even though Wen Ning was the one engaged to Shen Xufeng since childhood, it was Zhou Yaya who had spent over ten years growing up by his side. What made Wen Ning think she was more qualified to be Madam Shen?

That delusion was one of the reasons the Zhou family believed she needed “treatment.”

“Let’s go now,” Zhou Qingci said, then took her directly to the banquet hall.

“Dad’s flight was delayed. He couldn’t get a private jet, so he’s not back yet. I’ll let the others know.” He told her to wait there for a moment, since bringing Wen Ning back was his own last-minute decision.

Wen Ning stood quietly in place. The dazzling lights, the elegant guests, the clinking of glasses—it all contrasted sharply with her simple white T-shirt and gray pants.

She and the Zhou family belonged to two completely different worlds.

“Who’s that? Dressed worse than the waitstaff. How’d she even get in?”

“Don’t you need an invitation to enter?”

People whispered among themselves, puzzled and curious.

A bold socialite waved her over, “Hey! Pretty girl, are you one of the servers? Come here for a second!”

Wen Ning hesitated, unsure whether to go over.

Suddenly, a figure rushed over and forcefully grabbed her wrist, dragging her away.

“Was that… the second young master of the Zhou family?”