Using the manager's access card to unlock the elevator, Lillian supported Ria downstairs before anyone else could react.
By now, the wailing sirens of police cars could be heard outside. Claiming there had been a "murder" had proven quite effective—at least for the moment. This meant there was no longer any need to worry about her safety. Once she contacted her family, everything would be resolved. As for Lillian himself, he had not thought that far ahead.
The elevator doors opened. Police officers were rushing in through the main entrance, and the one in front shouted, "Where's the scene of the crime?!"
"What crime scene?!"
The staff still had no idea what was happening. Even the manager was bewildered—the incident had occurred too suddenly, and he had received no prior notice. Feeling uneasy, he asked nervously, "May I ask what's going on? Nothing has happened here…"
"I was the one who called the police!"
The voice came from behind. Everyone turned to see Lillian supporting a woman as he approached. Ignoring the manager's fierce glare, he addressed the police.
"I made the call. I discovered that someone was attempting to harm this lady."
"Wasn't it reported as a murder?" The officer frowned and glanced at the listless Ria. "Where is the suspect?"
"On the top floor," Lillian replied, then added, "Please make sure they're all taken into custody. She is Ria, the only daughter of Robert Shane, chairman of the Shane Group."
Although he had been too young to understand at the time, after leaving the orphanage Lillian had made an effort to investigate. It had been easy to find—combining the surname Shane with the appearance he remembered, he had recognized Robert Shane immediately when he saw his photograph online.
Nine years ago, the Shane Group had merely been a municipal-level enterprise. Now it had grown into a massive corporation with operations across the country. The status of Ria, its sole daughter, needed no explanation. By mentioning her identity, Lillian also intended to ensure that no one would handle the matter carelessly.
"The Shane Group?"
As expected, the revelation had an effect. Several officers' expressions changed slightly. The leader ordered, "Go upstairs and bring everyone back to the station." Then he turned to Lillian. "What did you mean by that just now? Regardless of who she is, anyone suspected of a crime must be taken in. Of course, you'll need to come with us as well."
"I understand."
What followed was straightforward. Ria was sent to the hospital, while Lillian and the young men and women involved were all taken to the station. Later, after regaining consciousness, the Manager accused Lillian of deliberately assaulting him, and relatives of that Second Heir also arrived… As for what was discussed, Lillian did not know—he had already been detained.
Three days later, a kindly old police officer brought him out and asked him to sign a "settlement agreement." The document stated that the dispute between both parties had been a misunderstanding.
His beating of the manager and the wealthy young man was deemed a misunderstanding. The young man's act of drugging someone was also labeled a misunderstanding. Once signed, neither side would pursue the matter further.
Lillian did not pick up the pen. The old officer, seemingly having expected this, handed him a slip of paper.
"Your visitor asked me to give this to you."
He accepted it and unfolded it.
[Sign it. This matter is not over for me.]
The tone was unmistakably familiar. After a moment of silence, Lillian picked up the pen and signed his name. The old officer collected the agreement with a chuckle. "Get ready—you're free to go."
After completing the formalities, Lillian walked out of the detention center. Outside, he saw a girl leaning casually against a car, wearing sunglasses. Two plain-looking women stood beside her—likely bodyguards.
"Get in," Ria said as she walked over.
"That won't be necessary."
"I have something to discuss with you."
"…."
Lillian knew she had already discovered who he was, and he also knew her stubborn nature—she would not give up until she achieved her goal. He opened the car door and got in. Ria entered from the other side, removed her sunglasses, and revealed a pair of familiar eyes.
"I didn't expect such a coincidence. It's been eight years, hasn't it, Lillian?" she said, looking at him. "Thanks to you."
Lillian's identity had never been much of a mystery. With just a little investigation afterward, she was able to find everything out.
"It's nothing. Just be more careful in the future."
"I was careless this time. I originally thought that since our families had business dealings… that bastard wouldn't dare go so far." As she spoke, Ria took out a box of slim women's cigarettes from her bag and lit one for herself. "It won't happen again. My father was terrified afterward too—now wherever I go, bodyguards have to follow."
Lillian watched the smoke rings she exhaled and paused slightly in surprise.
"You smoke?" Ria asked, raising the cigarette between her fingers. Lillian shook his head.
"No."
"Heh… still the same as before."
"…May I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why arrange that settlement agreement? I could have testified in court as a witness."
Ria glanced at him and shook her head faintly. "I was right—you're still the same as when you were little. You even dared to steal the administrator's keys just to go outside and play. You've always had plenty of courage."
"…"
"This matter isn't that simple. First of all… because of you, no actual assault occurred. If it was only drugging, it would be very difficult to gather solid evidence. Besides, their family has considerable influence locally, and that bastard is still a minor. Even if you testified, it would be hard to do anything to him."
She continued, "If we insisted on pursuing the matter, the final outcome would likely be that he walks away with little consequence, while you'd be imprisoned for intentional injury—after all, you're an adult now. You just turned eighteen this year, right? If I remember correctly, your birthday is in December."
Yours is in March. I remember too.
"You saved me. I can't let you be dragged down because of this. So both families negotiated— in exchange for not pursuing legal responsibility for that bastard, they also agreed not to pursue yours."
Lillian didn't know what to say.
"But this matter definitely won't end like this. That bastard will pay a price—there's no doubt about that," Ria said calmly. Lillian felt that after all these years, she had become far more mature than he was.
The two fell into a brief silence.
"Actually," Ria continued, "I once wanted to go back and look for you. But my family sent me to study in the UK, so it kept getting delayed. When I finally came back once, I found that everyone from our group back then had already left. We'd all been assigned to different schools, and the administrators had disappeared too, so I couldn't contact anyone. You won't blame your big sister, will you?"
"Of course not," Lillian said, shaking his head. "I won't."
She looked at him and suddenly laughed. "After all these years, you're still so quiet and reserved. Working at a club didn't train that out of you?"
"…I suppose not."
"Mm. Oh, right—you should make preparations over the next few days. Your big sister will send you abroad."
"Abroad?"
Lillian looked at her in surprise. Ria sighed helplessly.
"Although that bastard's grandfather promised they wouldn't cause you trouble, he himself… well, your blow nearly turned him into a vegetable. With his spoiled temperament, there's no way he'll swallow this humiliation. He might resort to some underhanded methods against you. And the people from the club too—you ruined their business. They won't let it go easily."
"So I have to run away?"
"Treat it as a long trip. A change of environment would be good for you. I'll take care of the visa and living arrangements, and I'll also enroll you in a school so you can continue your studies."
"I don't—"
"Be good," Ria said, looking straight at him. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"…"
"I'll take you home first."
---
Ria drove him to the place he was renting. Naturally, this address had been easy to discover as well—boarding students' residences were all registered with their schools, and contacting the school was enough.
When they arrived downstairs, Lillian declined her request to come up and take a look, then stepped out of the car.
"Lillian," Ria called out, asking seriously, "Weren't you afraid?"
"Afraid of what…?"
"When you struck that bastard back then… you should have known who he was, right? You must have known the consequences."
He was afraid—but it had been something he had no choice but to do.
Seeing his silence, Ria spoke with slight guilt. "Honestly, at the time… I hadn't even recognized you. You've changed quite a lot over the years—don't blame your big sister. I've seen far too many faces these years."
"I wouldn't," Lillian said with a smile. "I only recognized you after hearing you introduce yourself. If I hadn't heard you tell that manager your name was 'Ria,' I wouldn't… have recognized you either."
"I see—then we're even~"
"Mm."
Even—yes.
You forgot me, and that's fine. I still had to repay what I owed you. Thank you for taking care of me back then. Thank you for saying those keys were stolen by you. Now, we owe each other nothing.