In the dining room on the first floor of the Uesugi household, Mizuo sat quietly at the table, eating the nutritious meal prepared for her by her sister, Yukino. There were no spicy or heavy dishes, only light and delicious food that was easy to eat.

In order to avoid putting too much pressure and psychological burden on Mizuo, everyone did their own thing instead of crowding around her. Some watched TV or read newspapers in the living room, while others went back to their own rooms with their doors open, working on their homework. However, everyone's thoughts were focused on Mizuo, listening intently, afraid to miss a single word or sound.

"So, the person who made you dizzy and took you away was Bai Yaxin."

Chongzong, who was having dinner with Mizuo, hadn't eaten his own dinner yet. He deliberately waited until Mizuo got up so that she would have company while eating. They chatted while they ate, and Chongzong naturally followed Mizuo's lead, explaining what had happened.

"Bai Yaxin? Who is that?"

To Mizuo, Bai Yaxin was still an unknown figure.

"Bai Yaxin is a member of the management of the Manranyama Corporation…"

"Why did he kidnap me?"

If it was the mischievous Mizuo from before, she would definitely have said something playful like, "Is it because I am beautiful and cute that he wanted to kidnap me?" But now, the Mizuo of today could only speak seriously and normally.

Chongzong took a moment to think. He felt that this was an opportunity to start a conversation, so he carefully made a crucial statement.

"We suspect that Bai Yaxin is one of the masterminds behind the child trafficking incident."

Chongzong's main purpose in saying this was to observe Mizuo's reaction and try to gauge her current state.

In reality, Chongzong was very anxious.

He, and everyone else, still didn't know why Mizuo had hidden away and avoided them, let alone her mental state after being rescued. He was afraid, afraid of unintentionally repeating the same mistake and driving Mizuo away again.

But, what can he do?

One should not stop moving forward out of fear.

We often hear this statement, which is actually very true, but because it has been refined and distanced from real life, it feels like a cliché that goes in one ear and out the other. We shouldn't refuse to get vaccinated because we fear the temporary pain, as that pain will protect our lives in the future. We shouldn't refuse to exercise because it is hard work, as not exercising will lead to obesity and the diseases that come with it. So, one should not stop moving forward out of fear and should never confine themselves due to laziness.

Chongzong was well aware of his fear of hurting Mizuo again, but even so, he couldn't give in to his desires and avoid this issue. Therefore, he brought up the root cause of this series of events, the child trafficking incident.

Chongzong thought that Mizuo would be excited or disappointed when she heard about it. The truth behind this incident was what Mizuo had been pursuing during this time.

Mizuo, however, didn't show much reaction and simply said, "Oh," before lowering her head to continue eating.

Could it be that Mizuo actually doesn't care about this matter at all?

Chongzong was at a loss for words for a moment, looking bewilderedly at the Uesugi couple in the living room, who were also staring at him with the same puzzled expression.

"Chongzong ge."

Mizuo finished the last bite of rice in her bowl, set down her chopsticks, and spoke earnestly to Chongzong.

"I know you all want me to return to a normal life for my own good, but..."

"But I can't pretend like nothing happened, to joke around and live a carefree student life."

"In the past, I didn't listen to Mom's advice and stubbornly pursued the truth behind the scenes. As a result, Mom, Yuki, and Mr. Watanabe were all dragged into it. Not only did it harm Yuki and cause injuries, it also caused the deaths of Mom and Mr. Watanabe."

"I want to atone, but I don't know how."

"After the funeral, just the thought of you all asking me to go back to school and resume my old life made me want to escape from you all... I don't know why."

Mizuo's voice grew weaker, choked up, brushing against the urge to cry, but she restrained herself and insisted on finishing her words.

"Later, I realized that this not only hurt you all but also hurt myself. It's not a good way to atone."

"Chongzong ge, what should I do... I..."

Forcing herself, with a weak body and fragile spirit, she completed the expression of her inner journey. Then, this twelve-year-old girl couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

Chongzong immediately stood up and walked to Mizuo's side, gently embracing her and stroking her small head.

So, Mizuo has been thinking about all this.

After understanding Mizuo's thoughts, Chongzong suddenly felt relieved of the burden in his heart, and he himself felt much lighter.

"A way to atone? That's simple, it's revenge."

Chongzong said so.