167: Chapter 167 Open and Frank

"Also, I didn't snatch the child away. She came here on her own. You should know in your heart exactly what you've done to her."

"If you want to resolve this quickly, come to my house and find me now. Remember, bring Yang Jin with you."

After saying this, he hung up the phone immediately.

"Beep, beep, beep..."

Hearing the busy tone from the phone, Chen Ling was furious.

"Shen Yan!"

Seeing her so angry, Yang Jin hurriedly comforted her, "It's fine, it's fine. As long as she's been found, it's okay."

It would have been better if he hadn't spoken; as soon as he did, Chen Ling remembered his fault in losing Youyou.

"You have the nerve to speak! If it weren't for you, would Youyou have gotten lost?!"

Yang Jin hadn't expected Chen Ling to settle this score with him now.

He froze for a moment, then lowered his head and whispered, "I only did that to propose to you. Besides, Shen Yan planned to take the child himself; it's not like I lost her on purpose..."

Chen Ling rolled her eyes and pointed directly at Yang Jin's nose, snapping, "If you hadn't failed to watch her, could he have taken her? At the end of the day, this is all your fault!"

Endure it! She's still useful!

Yang Jin counseled himself internally while taking a deep breath to suppress his rage.

"Yes, you're right, it's all my fault. But the most important thing for us right now is to go pick up the child, isn't it?"

The police officers nearby also chimed in with advice.

"That's right. The priority now is to get the child back. Since she's with her father, you two should head over there quickly."

Chen Ling felt they were right.

The most important thing now was to get the child back as soon as possible.

Thus, she stopped her tirade, turned around, grabbed her coat, and walked out of the police station.

As soon as she stepped out, Yang Jin followed with the police officers.

"Why are you bringing them along too?!"

Hearing Chen Ling's question, Yang Jin replied, "What if we get there and Shen Yan refuses to give the child to us?"

"With the police there, I believe he won't dare refuse to return the child."

Chen Ling frowned, then said dismissively, "If you want to think that way, then fine. Get in the car, let's go together."

Yang Jin gave a hurried response and then got into the car with the police officers.

Over half an hour later, the group arrived at the entrance of Shen Yan's home.

"Ding-dong!"

The doorbell rang. Shen Yan set down the bowl in his hand and went to the door to open it.

The moment the door opened, Chen Ling pointed at his nose and began shouting.

"You human trafficker! What right do you have to snatch my child away? I'm telling you, this isn't over between us!"

Shen Yan rolled his eyes and simply turned around to walk back into the house.

Inside, as soon as Youyou saw Chen Ling and Yang Jin, she immediately hid behind Shen Yan in fear.

This action left the police officers present completely stunned.

"I've said it before: I didn't snatch Youyou. She came to me of her own accord."

"Chen Ling, let me ask you, how have you been treating the child these past few days?"

Thinking of the slap she had given Youyou a few days ago, a flash of guilt crossed Chen Ling's eyes, but she quickly adjusted her composure.

"I am Youyou's mother. I can treat her however I want. No matter what, I would never harm her!"

Hearing this, Shen Yan let out a cold laugh.

Originally, he thought Yang Jin was the only one who was utterly shameless.

Now it seemed Chen Ling was the most shameless of them all.

What did she mean, being the mother meant she could treat the child however she wanted?

Where did this fallacy come from?!

"If you really wouldn't harm her, you wouldn't have slapped her. Do you know how wronged Youyou feels?"

As soon as he spoke, Chen Ling immediately glared at Youyou.

"I only slapped you once! Was it really necessary to run to your father to tattle?!"

Youyou was frightened into tears by Chen Ling's tone.

"I didn't mean to... I just don't want the Bad Uncle to be my daddy. I don't want Mommy to keep hitting me. I want to come back to Daddy..."

Youyou sobbed as she spoke, gasping for breath from her crying.

Seeing her cry like this, the police officers' hearts softened instantly. They stepped between the child and Shen Yan to face Chen Ling, saying, "The child is right here. If you want to argue, it's best to do it away from her."

Chen Ling clenched her fists and said to Shen Yan, "Then have Youyou go back to her room first. Regarding Youyou's matters, let's lay our cards on the table and talk right here."

Shen Yan agreed.

He crouched down and said to Youyou, "Youyou, go back to your room and sleep for a bit. Daddy has some things to discuss with Mommy and the others."

Youyou didn't want to go back to the room; she felt her daddy would be bullied by the Bad Uncle.

"I don't want to go back. What if the Bad Uncle bullies you?"

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow and asked Youyou, "From what you're saying, are you suggesting the Bad Uncle has bullied you before?"

Youyou nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, Bad Uncle bullied me. He told me Mommy would hit me and told me not to call him Bad Uncle anymore, and then he wouldn't let me go out."

Hearing this, Chen Ling's fists clenched even tighter.

Because this wasn't an overly serious matter and wouldn't sway the police's judgment, Shen Yan didn't let Youyou continue.

He patted Youyou's head and said gently, "Okay, Daddy knows. Daddy won't let the Bad Uncle bully him. Our Youyou is a good girl. Will a good girl go back to her room to sleep now?"

Youyou hesitated for a moment but finally agreed.

Once the child was back in her room, the police said to the group, "Since this is an internal family dispute, if you don't want us here, we can leave the scene."

As soon as the words were out, Shen Yan immediately refused.

"No, this isn't just a family dispute; it's a civil dispute as well. To be safe, you should stay. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from hitting someone in a moment."

He looked at Yang Jin as he said the last sentence.

Yang Jin knew this was a threat against him. With a curl of his lip, he walked straight to the sofa in the middle of the living room and sat down.

"Fine, let the police stay then. Let's have a good talk about the child's custody."

Since they all said so, the police naturally couldn't leave.

Everyone walked over to the sofa and sat down.

"Shen Yan, just say what exactly you want."

Chen Ling was the first to speak.

In response to Chen Ling's question, Shen Yan said directly, "Haven't you always known what I want?"

"I've told you from the beginning: I will definitely seize custody of the child."

As soon as he finished, Chen Ling quickly refused.

"No! Impossible! No matter what, I will never give up custody to you."

At those words, Shen Yan sneered.

"I don't care whether you give it up or not. I'm taking this to court for sure!"