Lan Wangji had waited roughly thirty minutes before the police cars had pulled away with their angry cargo of Wen Chao's men. From the whispers in the crowd, he gathered the cops had shown up, marched into the brothel and then marched out with half-naked swearing men. No one seemed to know what had triggered the raid but the laughs that had erupted from time to time as they watched the process gave their opinion of it.

He had gone to his car as soon as it was no longer blocked in and headed out to the hospital. During a particularly long light, he sent a quick 'OMW' to Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng. He still felt slightly guilty for worrying them but it had been worth it to take that leap. Another wild grin crept across his face as if exploring unknown territory.

As he drove, he considered the bag in the passenger seat. He knew the blanket was in it but he didn't know what else it contained. What if it was something that wasn't good for A'Yuan? While he would never dispose of the boy's belongings, it was appropriate to check them. Just in case.

Pulling into the hospital parking lot, he actually paused long enough to look at himself in the rear view mirror. Cobwebs adorned his hair. There was a smudge of something on his jaw. And a good size scrape on his cheek. As is the way of these things, when he saw it, it began to sting.

He scruffed through his hair and removed all the cobwebs he could feel. He'd wash his face and take care of his cheek when he got back to the room. Opening the bag, he gently removed the blanket in case there were items wrapped in it. A small bottle of inexpensive floral perfume tumbled on to the seat. That would explain the soft, pleasant scent emanating from the blanket.

Peering in to the bag, he saw a small stuffed pillow that looked like a daikon radish maybe with a smiling face embroidered on it, several match box cars and an Ultraman figure that probably came in a child's meal from a fast food place. There were also two envelopes. He debated for several moments on whether he should open them. Wei Ying had accepted the role of Wei Yuan's father but, after SiSi calling him 'Wen Yuan', there might be information Wei Ying was not ready for in his current condition. He decided he would look it over and then decide.

The first envelope was a larger one. Inside, carefully placed between cardboard salvaged from a cereal box, were pictures. A small, chubby-cheeked A'Yuan eating a cupcake with frosting all over his smiling face. Another of him as an infant in the arms of a woman smiling with love and pride at her son. Lan Wangji assumed she was A'Yuan's mother, Yang Fenju. She was a pretty woman. Wei Yuan had her smile. Of the handful of photos, the most current picture was of the two of them. Yang Fenju was behind A'Yuan with her chin resting on his shoulder, her arms wrapped lovingly around him. He looked maybe six or seven. Both were smiling at who ever was taking the picture.

The years as a prostitute had taken a toll on her by the most recent photo. She looked tired, used up, in the picture. Lan Wangji had no idea what had led Yang Fenju to become a prostitute much less stay as one but she had loved her son. That was obvious. It must have been painful for her to know she hadn't been able to protect him.

The second envelope was a used one from an electricity bill. Inside was a birth certificate. He opened it with trepidation. The boy was named Wen Yuan at birth but there was no father listed on the birth certificate. Had she hoped Wen Chao would go easier on the boy if she told him the child was his? There was no way to know unless maybe SiSi was able to divulge that information. It might be worth while to attempt to communicate with her. Meet in a less dangerous location for both of them.

Lan Wangji let out a loud sigh of relief. There was nothing directly associated with Wen Chao in the trash bag. He felt much better knowing what was in the bundle was acceptable and most likely wouldn't trigger either Wei Ying or Wei Yuan. He hadn't felt comfortable with the idea of hiding information from Wei Ying but, if it was necessary for his well being, Lan Wangji would do it.

Having Wei Yuan's birth certificate was a suprise. It would help as they moved through the legal processes. He didn't want to do it but they would need a DNA test. The police would do one without a doubt. It would give them a chance to see if Wen Chao was a genetic match to any unsolved cases. Getting that information and comparing it to Wei Yuan's DNA shouldn't be that difficult. If he really was Wen Chao's son, there was going to be a legal battle for the ages. If nothing else, Lan Wangji would spirit Wei Yuan and Wei Ying out of the country. Surely Nie Huaisang with his endless connections would know someone who could help them.

He wouldn't let Wei Yuan go back to that bastard. It was that simple.

-----

In the hospital room, Wei Ying woke with a start. He had been dreaming of pain and blood and Wen Chao's laughing face getting larger and larger until it loomed over him. He sucked in air as he looked around the room. Wei Yuan was sitting with Jin Zixuan and animatedly discussing something about soccer. His ShiJie was dozing curled up in a chair with a blanket carefully tucked around her. Jiang Cheng was on his phone alternately texting and calling his officers as he ran his department from the hospital room. Yu Bin and Nie Huaisang were both asleep. Nie Huaisang was in the chair, his fan in one hand and Yu Bin's hand in the other.

'There is no danger here. Wei Yuan is safe. ShiJie is safe. Ge-ge is safe.' he told himself. 'They're safe and I'm safe.' played over and over in his head as he willed himself to believe it. His breathing slowed but his hands were shaking. He fisted them and buried them under the covers to hide it. He kept breathing. Slow in. Slow out. 'They're safe and I'm safe.'

He was startled again when Lan Wangji came in to the room. His quick smile faded as he saw the skinned cheek and dirt. "What happened to you? Are you okay?" his voice was anxious. Concerned.

Now everyone was awake and looking at Lan Wangji. The dust, dirt and cobwebs were evident. He just held up the trash bag with a small side smile. "I got it."

Wei Yuan was so excited. "My blanket!" He hugged the detective. "Thank you, Shushu."

"You are welcome, A'Yuan." He nodded toward Wei Ying. "Come. You should open the bag on the bed with your Baba."

A'Yuan nodded happily. Lan Wangji placed him beside Wei Ying. The boy wasted no time pulling the blanket out. He held a corner of it out to his Baba.

"It smells like my Mother. She always smelled like flowers." Wei Yuan's lip trembled but he didn't cry.

Wei Ying smelled the blanket and smiled. "She smelled lovely. I can see why you like it so much."

The boy nodded his head and reached into the bag again. In his hand was the radish-shaped pillow with the embroidered face. He smiled again. "My Mother gave me this when I was a baby. It was always on my bed."

He looked at it with memories in his eyes. Wei Ying watched him and smiled. Next he pulled out two small cars and a small action figure. That got a grin. "I played with these a lot. Ultraman always stomped on the cars."

"Why?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Ultraman is the good guy. Only bad guys are rich enough to have cars." was Wei Yuan's matter of fact reply. The adults in the room glanced at each other. It made sense considering where he was raised.

"A'Yuan? Did you like going to school?" Lan Wangji asked.

"I never went to school. My Mother taught me to read. We went to the library." A'Yuan said as he had Ultraman jumping on the top of the cars.

"Why didn't you go to school, Little Lion?" Wei Ying asked.

"Mother was afraid they would take me away and she wouldn't see me anymore. I heard her tell the aunties. I didn't want to go to school anymore then." The boy paused in his play. "If I go to school, will they take me away from you?"

"No. If you go to school, you'll make friends and learn things. Have fun." was Wei Ying's judicious answer.

"Are you sure? I don't want them to take me away." Wei Yuan was quite serious. From the corner of his eye, Wei Ying saw his ShiJie wipe a tear from her cheek.

"I won't let anyone take you away. You belong to us now. We are family and we don't don't lose anyone." Wei Ying was just as serious.

Wei Yuan nodded with a smile. "Then maybe school would be okay. Someday."

The last three items Lan Wangji handed to Wei Ying.

"I didn't want them to get bent or the perfume bottle broken." he explained.

"Thank you." Wei Ying looked at the detective a little closer. There was a look in his eyes. Exhilaration would be the best description. "How did you scrape your cheek?"

"Jumped to the next building. Had to roll." The answer was almost too simple for the reaction it got.

Wei Yuan's mouth fell open. "Like on tv? Just to get my blanket? Wow!" Lan Wangji had just rocketed to hero status in his eyes.

Jiang Cheng was startled. The quiet, icy detective was smiling. Not a full smile but close enough. Apparently, he had enjoyed his adventure.

Nie Huaisang and Yu Bin started laughing.

"Here we were so worried and you were having the time of your life!" Nie Huaisang laughed harder.

Jiang Yanli realized Lan Wangji had skinned his cheek no differently than a boy skins their knee. She grinned. "You need that scrape cleaned up."

Wei Ying looked agitated. "What if you had been seriously hurt?"

Lan Wangji's smile changed. Jiang Yanli recognized this smile. Her husband used it on her regularly. She hid her own smile behind her hand.

"I am fine, Wei Ying. The scrape will heal. A'Yuan has his blanket. It is all good." Lan Wangji didn't even seem to notice when he reached out for Wei Ying's hand. "Yes?"

A tight squeeze of the hand holding his. "Yes."

"The two envelopes have pictures and Wei Yuan's birth certificate." Lan Wangji unfolded the birth certificate and pointed out Wei Yuan's birth name.

Wei Ying nodded. "I knew yesterday. No one deserves that and we don't know if it's true. Until we do the DNA, we won't know for sure."

Nie Huaisang was listening intently. "Won't know what for sure?"

"A'Yuan, can you take some water bottles to the guards? I would appreciate it." Wei Ying smiled.

"Okay, Baba." He laid his toys on his blanket and lifted his arm to Lan Wangji to help him off the bed. As soon as he was on his feet, his Gu-gu handed him two water bottles and opened the door for him. He was smiling shyly at the two officers as Jiang Yanli closed the door.

All eyes were on Wei Ying.

"Wen Chao said A'Yuan's mother was convinced he was Wen Chao's son which would explain why Wen Yuan is on his birth certificate. The bastard didn't believe it though. Do you think it's true?" Wei Ying spoke quickly. He needed this all out before his son returned.

"Whether it's true or not, Wen Chao will try to prove his paternity as soon as he realizes A'Yuan will be able to testify against him as an eye witness to murder. He'll try to claim the boy and beat him in to submission so A'Yuan recants." Nie Huaisang's fan was wafting again.

"We need to prove he's NOT Wen Chao's son as soon as we can. That means DNA. Taking it from A'Yuan is easy. We can tell him we're just checking if he's okay. Which, in a weird way, is true. We'll need a court order for Wen Chao but that won't be difficult."

"Why would the hospital do a DNA test?" Jiang Cheng questioned.

"I don't know but I'm hoping. The question then would be what string do we need to pull to get the results. I don't want to go through official channels. Just in case." He gave a hard smile. "Wen Chao has gotten away with more shit than we'll ever know. He's not getting A'Yuan."

He paused and looked at the nods around the room. "We've got this."

"Lan Wangji - " Nie Huaisang started but was cut off.

"I will call my brother. See what the hospital has done." Lan Wangji was already pulling out his phone.

"I have to leave but if you need anything from me, call or text." Jiang Cheng stood. His stomach was tight as he thought of what was coming next.

Jiang Yanli hugged her brother.

"You don't have to do this, Di-di." she whispered.

"Yes. I do." A quick kiss on his sister's forehead, a nod for Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng opened the door.

"Little Lion? I think your Baba wants to look at the last envelope with you." Jiang Cheng smiled.

"Okay, Shushu!" A'Yuan smiled back.

Ignoring the surprised looks on his men's faces, he closed the door behind A'Yuan.

Turning back to them, he was again their Inspector. Both men gulped.

"That's my family in there. Do you understand?" Jiang Cheng's voice was hard.

Both men nodded. The braver of the two spoke up. "We'll take care of them, Inspector. We will."

"Please pass that information to the other guards. I would appreciate it. I will be gone most of the day. Use your SOP. If you don't know them, call 'All Clear' loudly and distinctly as you let them in then be prepared to grab them after they're in the room. If you need me, text me or call. Any questions?" Jiang Cheng looked each man in the eye.

They bowed. "No, Inspector."

A nod and Jiang Cheng was on his way to arrest his mother.
~♡~♡~♡~

Sorry so late today!

Smiles and Warm Hugs, Everyone

❤️🍫🫖❤️