novelraw Chapter 189 : Want to Have a Drink_
Chapter 189 : Want to Have a Drink_
Chapter 189: Want to Have a Drink?
When Chen Fan saw Wen Wan, this woman was almost going crazy, wandering around at the entrance.
"What's going on?"
Chen Fan didn't waste words and asked directly.
"I had a class tonight, so I left my mom alone in the room."
"But I forgot to lock the door when I left, and when I came back, she was gone."
Wen Wan was really panicked, completely losing her usual elegance, obviously in a state of disarray.
"Calm down first."
Chen Fan comforted her with a sentence and then asked, "Doesn't Auntie usually use a wheelchair?"
Wen Wan explained, "My mom can walk normally, but she's physically weak and doesn't have much strength most of the time..."
Chen Fan nodded to indicate his understanding.
"How long has it been since you discovered that Auntie was missing?"
"Almost an hour."
Wen Wan then added, "From when I went to class until now, it has been at least three and a half hours..."
"It's all my fault, why didn't I check again? How could I forget to lock the door?"
Seeing Wen Wan's anxious and self-blaming manner, Chen Fan could only console her.
"It's no use saying these things now, let's find Auntie first."
"Where does Auntie usually go? Have you looked?"
"I've looked everywhere, including the places where my mom likes to take walks in the evening."
Chen Fan asked, "Could she have left the school?"
Wen Wan thought for a moment and shook her head, "It's unlikely. My mom has been teaching here for most of her life, and her life is within this school."
"Besides, with her current strength, she's unlikely to be able to walk out of the school gate..."
This was a bit of a relief.
Chen Fan secretly let out a sigh of relief, then suggested, "Think carefully, is there any other place Auntie often goes to that you've missed?"
Wen Wan shook her head anxiously, "No, I've searched everywhere she might be..."
"Should I report to the police?"
Chen Fan frowned, "They probably won't accept the case if she's been missing for less than 24 hours, right?"
"Here's what we can do, ask the teachers, you can immediately contact the school security department and have the security guards help search for her on campus."
"Also, have the security department check the surveillance cameras to see where Auntie went."
"Yes, the security department..."
Only then did Wen Wan react, and she hurried toward the security department.
After taking a few steps, Wen Wan stopped and turned back to Chen Fan, instructing him, "You go back first, if my mom returns, you must call me immediately."
Chen Fan nodded, "Don't worry. Auntie will be fine."
After Wen Wan left, Chen Fan went upstairs alone.
The attic door upstairs was open, but Chen Fan didn't go up, he glanced at the master bedroom door, which was also open, and walked over to close it.
However, he discovered that the room seemed to have been rummaged through.
Since moving in, Chen Fan had always slept in the study and had never been to the master bedroom.
Most of the items in this bedroom had been moved by Wen Wan to the attic, and the bedding had been replaced with new ones.
But now, the entire room was in disarray, as if someone had gone through it.
Chen Fan curiously entered and noticed a crumpled, yellowed photograph on the bedside table.
It must have been found by someone rummaging through the wardrobe.
The photo showed a young couple dressed in the popular military green Lenin suits of the 1950s or 1960s.
The woman in the photo appeared to be only in her twenties, and if you looked closely, her eyebrows and eyes bore a 70-80% resemblance to Wen Wan.
No need to ask. This was Wen Wan's mother when she was young.
The man in the photo must have been Wen Wan's father.
Chen Fan didn't understand who had found this photo, Wen Wan wouldn't have come in here intentionally. Could it have been Wen Wan's mother?
Chen Fan curiously flipped over the photo and discovered that there was a line of small writing in pen on the back.
"May 16, 1958, at Yunhai University."
Chen Fan thought this date must hold special significance for Wen Wan's parents.
Carefully examining the photo, Chen Fan suddenly realized why the background looked so familiar.
Isn't this the pavilion by the Xiangsi Lake at Yunhai University?
Chen Fan didn't recognize it at first because the photo showed Xiangsi Lake from decades ago, with some old buildings in the background, but those old buildings have long been demolished and replaced with willow trees.
Only that pavilion has been preserved and renovated.
Chen Fan was suddenly struck by a hunch.
Without another word, he swiftly grabbed the photo and rushed out, running downstairs.
He dashed across the sports ground and reached Xiangsi Lake, beginning his search around the lake.
With the poor visibility at night, Chen Fan could only search bit by bit under the dim glow of the street lamps.
A few minutes later, Chen Fan found the pavilion and saw a frail, lonely old woman sitting inside.
The old woman was wearing thin clothes, sitting quietly on a recliner, head bowed, dozing off.
Upon seeing this sight, Chen Fan let out a long sigh of relief.
He immediately took out his phone and called Wen Wan.
"I've found Auntie."
"She's by Xiangsi Lake, at the third pavilion."
After hanging up, Chen Fan carefully approached and took off his coat, gently draping it over the old woman.
A few minutes later, Wen Wan came running, out of breath. Seeing the old woman in the pavilion, she could no longer hold back her tears.
"Mom..."
Wen Wan rushed over and hugged her mother, sounding somewhat accusatory and self-reproachful.
"Mom, where did you go? I thought I'd never find you again..."
"Didn't I tell you not to go out? Why didn't you listen?"
The old woman smiled and raised her hand to wipe away her daughter's tears.
"I... wanted to go for a walk, but I got tired along the way. I originally planned to sit and rest before going back, but I fell asleep without realizing it..."
Wen Wan wiped away her tears and gently helped her mother up.
"Mom, let's not sit here anymore. It's too windy at night. Let's go home."
With Chen Fan supporting the old woman on one side, they helped her back to the dormitory. As soon as they entered, Wen Wan's mother lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
Wen Wan gently closed the door and tiptoed downstairs.
Chen Fan had just washed his face and came out of the bathroom when he saw Wen Wan and smiled at her.
"She's asleep?"
"Mmm."
Wen Wan was somewhat grateful. "Thank you."
"But... how did you find her?"
Chen Fan took the photo out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"I found it on the bed in the master bedroom. Auntie must have taken it out."
Wen Wan took it and glanced at it, looking slightly surprised.
"I've never seen this photo before."
Chen Fan reminded her, "Look at the back."
Wen Wan curiously flipped over the photo and saw the line of small writing on the back.
Chen Fan explained, "I'm guessing Auntie missed your dad, and this date must hold special significance for them..."
Wen Wan's eyes turned red. "Today is the day my dad and mom got their marriage certificate."
Chen Fan: "Your mom never told you about this?"
Wen Wan shook her head. "Never."
"But still, thank you."
Chen Fan smiled.
"It's good that she was found. I'll head back to the study now."
Just as he was about to leave, unexpectedly, Wen Wan spoke up.
"Do you... have time? Want to have a drink?"
Chen Fan: "......"
Wen Wan actually took the initiative to invite him for a drink?
Keep in mind, previously she had been avoiding excessive contact with him.
Is the sun rising from the west now?