SFTD -Chapter 116 Uninvited Guest

“Mr. John O’Neill suffered a car accident at the end of last month and fractured both tibias. Although the injuries aren’t severe, he’s quite old and also has diabetes, so his recovery has been very slow. Because of this, his adopted daughter has no one to take care of her. The California welfare officials have required him to properly arrange placement for Miss Charlotte within one week, so they contacted you. I’ll send you the detailed itinerary and our photos on Facebook later. Then, we’ll see you this weekend!”

After the lawyer finished speaking, he quickly hung up.

Zhou Hai was holding his phone, completely stunned.

What kind of situation was this?

Are you kidding me?

They wanted him to take care of a child?

Thinking of this, he quickly opened his tablet and started messaging his teacher, John O’Neill, on Facebook.

Zhou Hai: Teacher O’Neill, can you explain what’s going on with Charlotte? What exactly is this?

O’Neill: Ah, you mean that lovely girl. Her parents died in a shooting when she was four. She had no family in the country to take her away, and I happened to be handling matters at the welfare home. I felt sorry for her and adopted her. After living with me for a few years, Charlotte gradually started smiling again and was able to integrate with her classmates at school.

Zhou Hai: That’s not what I’m asking. Why are you handing her over to me?

O’Neill: You’re like my son. I’m busy right now—asking you for help is only natural. In your Chinese culture, isn’t there something like “once a teacher, always a father”? Something like that. Besides, although the child is ethnically Chinese, she has never been to China. This just happens to fulfill her dream.

Zhou Hai was speechless.

With his personality, taking care of a child would be a disaster.

Fulfill a dream? Really?

Wasn’t this just turning him into a nanny and tour guide?

He rubbed his aching temples. His teacher had always had a soft heart for orphans, having adopted many over the years. But he never even knew there was a girl like this.

Zhou Hai: Be clear. How long am I supposed to be her guardian?

O’Neill: Haha! Until I recover, of course. Pray that I get better soon.

Zhou Hai: Give me a precise time. One month? Two months? Or longer?

O’Neill: Oh… let’s say six months for now. How about that?

Zhou Hai: “……”

O’Neill: Oh right, I already asked Charlotte to prepare several types of medication you take—enough for about half a year. When it runs out, someone will keep mailing them to you. She also brought you some new forensic journals. There are some excellent papers on modern biotechnology applications in forensic science. I think they fit your research direction very well.

Zhou Hai: “……”

Fine.

Six months then. Only six months.

On the condition that she would not interfere with his work. He would arrange someone to take care of her daily life.

O’Neill: Good. Thank you, my dear Hai!

After closing the chat window, Zhou Hai suddenly realized something—

He had forgotten to ask how old Charlotte was.

She was adopted at four, and they had lived together for several years… so she should be seven or eight? Or even younger?

Having to take care of a child… his teacher really had a way of thinking.

He imagined the chaotic life ahead for the next six months, his brows tightly furrowed. But for the sake of the continuously supplied medication, he decided to endure it.

Zhou Hai started the car, turned the key, and stared at the road for a long time, not even knowing where to go. It wasn’t until the cars behind him honked repeatedly that he finally stepped on the accelerator and drove toward the center.

No matter what, he had to return first and finish the report on the Zhang Miaomiao case.

At the same time, in a hospital in California, USA.

John O’Neill wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face filled with a hint of triumphant satisfaction as he quickly closed Facebook and shut his laptop.

Cold rain outside struck the window violently.

The lawyer behind him let out a long breath and helped the limping O’Neill back onto the bed.

“Mr. O’Neill, I’m helping you lie like this… If Miss Charlotte finds out, she’ll be very sad. Besides, it violates my principles.”

Old John shrugged.

“When you become a father, you’ll understand, William.”

“A kind lie is more comforting than the truth. I don’t want everyone to know that I have bone cancer and don’t have many days left.”

“This is the best arrangement I can give her. I don’t want her to see me at my most painful stage. All the other children are already grown, only Charlotte is still young.”

“And she’s always dreamed of going to China. Why not let her fulfill that wish now?”

“Zhou Hai is my most outstanding student. Chinese people value promises. I trust him with Charlotte.”

The lawyer, William, looked into O’Neill’s eyes for a long time, then finally nodded helplessly.

“Alright. I’ll prepare everything and bring Charlotte over to say goodbye to you.”

O’Neill shook his head.

“No need for goodbye. Just say the doctor forbids visits.”

William looked at him again—understanding that he didn’t want to break down emotionally. He bowed slightly.

“Alright. I’ll go prepare. If anything comes up, message me. Use that ‘Uncle Tom’ account.”

“Got it. Goodbye.”

William left the room.

He knew Mr. O’Neill didn’t want anyone to see him being tormented by bone cancer. As a longtime friend, he would help fulfill his final wish.

He disappeared into the crowd.

Half an hour later, East South City Judicial Appraisal Center.

East South City Judicial Appraisal Center

Zhou Hai walked quickly back into his office with his things and immediately opened his computer, typing rapidly.

Xu Biao glanced at him in confusion.

Normally, after closing a case, Zhou Hai wouldn’t be this frantic—at most he would make coffee and stare out the window for a while. Today, however, he seemed unusually abnormal.

Xu Biao nudged Fengzi with a whistle and raised his eyebrows, asking if he knew what was going on. Fengzi shook his head.

Xu Biao stuffed the remaining half of his snack into his mouth, wiped the crumbs away, and walked over with a thermos.

“Hey, Hai, what are you so busy with?”

“I’m rushing the report for the 1.19 drowning case of Zhang Miaomiao. Just a few words left.”

Xu Biao frowned and leaned on the desk.

“Why so urgent? The case is already closed—you could write it tomorrow.”

Zhou Hai finished typing the last line, printed the report, checked it, and signed it before tossing it to Xu Biao.

“Help me complete the case file and send it to Captain Huang. I’m going to ask Director Pang for leave.”

He packed up his desk and prepared to leave.

Xu Biao grabbed him immediately, blinking in disbelief for a long time before reacting.

Their boss—the “Judge of Hell” type forensic examiner—was actually asking for leave.

Something that had never happened before.

Xu Biao’s curiosity instantly flared.

“Hehe, leave? That’s rare. What are you going off to do, Hai?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve got a date?”