126: Chapter 126 Growing Towards the Sun

News of the case's resolution spread quickly.

Front page headline of the Central Plains Evening News.

"Police Crack Major Forced Prostitution Ring, Rescue Six Imprisoned Women."

The report detailed the case: a three-person gang led by Liu Mouqiang had long imprisoned, abused, and forced women into prostitution, and was suspected of multiple serious crimes including intentional injury, rape, and murder.

With the assistance of a concerned citizen, the police dismantled the gang in one fell swoop, rescuing all the victims.

The report did not mention Cao Kun's name, only referring to him as "a concerned citizen." This was at Cao Kun's request; he didn't want fame.

The girls were placed in the Municipal Public Security Bureau's relief station, receiving care from dedicated doctors and psychologists.

Liang Lingmeng visited them daily to follow up on their progress.

A week later, Cao Kun went to the hospital.

Xiao Li was recovering the fastest.

The wounds on her face had already scabbed over, and her spirits were much better.

Seeing Cao Kun, she immediately stood up, tears glistening in her eyes: "Brother Cao, you're here."

Cao Kun placed the fruit basket he brought on the bedside table: "How are you? Feeling better?"

"Much better," Xiao Li wiped her eyes, "The doctor says I can be discharged in a few more days. The Enforcement Officer said they can help arrange for me to return home or find a job in Central Plains."

"What are your plans?"

"I want to go home," Xiao Li said, "I miss my parents... and my little brother. Even though home is poor, at least... at least it's safe."

Cao Kun nodded: "That's good too. Go home, rest well, and start fresh."

"Brother Cao..." Xiao Li hesitated for a moment, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might... I might already be dead."

"Don't say such things," Cao Kun patted her shoulder, "Living well is the best thanks you can give me."

He went to see the other girls.

Xiao Yun's condition was the most concerning.

She was in a separate room with a dedicated Nurse attending to her.

She no longer talked to herself, but she also didn't speak, just stared blankly out the window.

The psychologist said she had severe post-traumatic stress disorder and would require long-term treatment.

"Will she recover?" Cao Kun asked the doctor.

"It will take time," the doctor said, "But at least she's safe now. That's already the biggest step forward."

Lin Xiaoyan was recovering well.

She was sitting on the bed reading a book—a high school Chinese language textbook.

Seeing Cao Kun, she put the book down: "Brother Cao."

"What are you reading?"

"Reviewing," Lin Xiaoyan said, "I want to retake the university entrance exam. I got accepted three years ago, but couldn't go because my family had no money. Now... I want to try again."

Cao Kun was somewhat surprised, then smiled: "Good. If you need any help, just say the word."

"No need," Lin Xiaoyan shook her head, "The Enforcement Officer helped me contact a social relief organization. There's financial aid. I want to rely on my own strength."

Looking at the determination in her eyes, Cao Kun knew this girl would pull through.

She was like wild grass, trampled upon, burned, but with just a little sunlight and rain, she would grow again.

Wang Tingting was still coughing, but much better than before.

She had asthma, and having been off her medication for too long during her imprisonment, she developed a lung infection. She needed to stay in the hospital for treatment for a while longer.

Liu Qian and Zhang Yue were recovering the fastest and had already started planning for the future.

Liu Qian wanted to learn cosmetology and hairdressing, while Zhang Yue wanted to open a small snack shop.

"Brother Cao, when our shop opens, you must come," Zhang Yue said with a smile. It was the first time Cao Kun had seen her smile—it was very warm.

"Definitely," Cao Kun said.

As he was leaving the hospital, Cao Kun ran into Liang Lingmeng in the corridor.

"I was just looking for you," Liang Lingmeng said, "There's new progress on the case."

"What progress?"

"Xiao Mei's body was found," Liang Lingmeng's expression was serious, "At the city's east landfill, exactly where you said. The forensic examination determined the cause of death was massive hemorrhage from an abortion, time of death two months ago. DNA comparison confirmed it was Xiao Mei."

"Did Brother Qiang and the others confess?"

"They did," Liang Lingmeng said with a cold laugh, "The evidence is solid; they had no choice but to confess."

"They admitted to the imprisonment, forced prostitution, abuse, rape, and Xiao Mei's death. The procuratorate has already approved the arrest, and prosecution will commence soon. With multiple crimes combined, the minimum sentence is life imprisonment, possibly the death penalty."

"Death penalty?" Cao Kun was somewhat surprised; in Huaxia, death penalty sentences were issued very cautiously.

"Intentional injury resulting in death, raping multiple people, forced prostitution under particularly severe circumstances..." Liang Lingmeng listed, "And with Xiao Mei's body found, it's ironclad evidence. They can't escape it."

Cao Kun nodded.

This was for the best.

These scum didn't deserve to live in this world.

"Those videos and photos..." he remembered Brother Qiang's threats.

"They've all been destroyed," Liang Lingmeng said, "I supervised it personally. Computers, hard drives, phones—all storage devices were physically destroyed. No backups."

"That's good."

The two walked to the hospital entrance.

The sunlight outside was brilliant, warming their bodies.

"Cao Kun," Liang Lingmeng called out to him, "This time... thank you. If it weren't for you, those girls might have..."

"No need to thank me," Cao Kun interrupted her, "I just did what I should have done."

"But you could have ignored it," Liang Lingmeng looked at him, "It wasn't your responsibility."

Cao Kun smiled but didn't answer.

He looked up at the sky, azure and clear.

"I should go," he said, "I have other matters."

"Wait," Liang Lingmeng took an envelope from her bag, "This is the reward from the police, fifty thousand. It's not much, but..."

Cao Kun took the envelope and stuffed it into his pocket without even looking at it: "Donate it on my behalf to those girls. They need it more."

Liang Lingmeng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Okay."

Cao Kun turned and left.

After a few steps, he heard Liang Lingmeng say from behind: "Cao Kun, you're a good person."

A good person?

Cao Kun's steps faltered slightly, but he didn't turn around.

He didn't know if he counted as a good person.

He had done many things, some on the edge of the law, some even crossing the line.

But he had his own bottom line: never harm the innocent, never bully the weak.

Perhaps, that was enough.

On the drive home, the system's voice echoed in Cao Kun's mind.

[Ding, mission complete]

[Rescue the imprisoned girls, ensure the perpetrators receive due punishment]

[Mission reward: Four hundred thousand huaxia coins have been deposited]

His phone vibrated; the Bank deposit notification arrived: 400,000.00 yuan has been transferred to your account.

Cao Kun glanced at it and turned off his phone.

Money was no longer important to him. What he cared about more were the smiles on those girls' faces, the hope rekindled in their eyes.

As the car passed by the river, he suddenly changed direction. Instead of going home, he went somewhere else.

A flower shop.

The shop wasn't large, but it was cozy.

The glass display window was filled with flowers, a riot of colors, vibrant and full of life.

The shopkeeper was trimming the leaves of a bouquet of roses, her movements gentle, her gaze focused.

Cao Kun pushed the door open; the wind chime above made a crisp sound.

The shopkeeper put down the scissors and wiped her hands: "Looking to buy flowers?"

"Yes," Cao Kun looked around the shop, "Any recommendations?"

"Depends on who they're for," the shopkeeper said, "A friend? Family? Or... a girlfriend?"

Cao Kun smiled: "For someone... who has been reborn."

The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then pulled out a few stems from a flower bucket.

White lilies, pink carnations, yellow sunflowers. She skillfully arranged them, wrapping them in light purple paper and tying a ribbon.

"Lilies represent purity, carnations represent new life, sunflowers represent hope."

She handed the bouquet to Cao Kun.

"Wishing her... to face the sun from now on."