Qi Xuan spoke calmly, "No one can know for sure what the future holds. What we can do is prepare thoroughly, do our best, and leave the rest to fate. Even if the unexpected happens, we can adjust our strategy in time to deal with it."
Ye Zhi's initial unease subsided.
Yes, instead of worrying about things that hadn't happened yet, it was better to do what needed to be done.
"You're right," Ye Zhi nodded. "I still have a lot to do."
Seeing her seemingly regain her usual confident and strong demeanor, Qi Xuan cautiously asked with a hint of probing, "Are you... going back to the villa on the hill today?"
For the past few days, Ye Zhi had been staying at the Ye family home and had not returned to the villa on the hill.
"Yes," Ye Zhi replied affirmatively after a brief thought.
Gu Sheng, this infatuated man, had, at her suggestion, rushed to Country K alone for Ye Qin Ya. It was highly likely he would disturb her tonight, perhaps to report his whereabouts.
"Perfect timing," Qi Xuan chuckled. "The butler is back too. He's been missing you and even prepared to cook some of his local delicacies for you."
"Then did he not notice the fireworks were missing?" Ye Zhi asked with some trepidation.
"No, I replenished the fireworks a couple of days ago," Qi Xuan said with a wry smile.
"That's good," Ye Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's go back together."
The two returned to the villa on the hill together. The butler's warm and affectionate greeting, as if they were his own children, significantly eased Ye Zhi's mood.
That night, Ye Zhi was fast asleep when she was suddenly woken by her phone ringing.
She struggled to open her eyes, glanced at the caller ID, and almost cursed out loud.
The call was from Gu Sheng.
Ye Zhi wasn't surprised that Gu Sheng would call her. She even felt that Gu Sheng had completely come to regard her as a pillar of support for saving Ye Qin Ya.
However, she had expected Gu Sheng to call her before leaving the country to inform her. She had been waiting for his call all along. Who knew he would only call after arriving in Country K?
Was he crazy?! It was three o'clock in the morning!
He couldn't sleep, and he wouldn't let others sleep either?
It seemed Gu Sheng only knew how to be good to Ye Qin Ya and couldn't even maintain normal interactions with others!
The phone call roused Ye Zhi further. Muttering curses, she pressed the answer button.
"Hello!" Ye Zhi said unhappily. "What is it?"
"Ms. Ye," Gu Sheng said excitedly, "I've arrived in Country K. I will find Qin Ya very soon and won't disappoint your expectations..."
"Find a hotel to stay in when you arrive," Ye Zhi said impatiently. "Someone will contact you tomorrow. Oh, and the helpers I found for you require payment. Remember to pay the commission."
Gu Sheng was a bit stunned. He had a lot more to say, but Ye Zhi's abruptness disrupted his train of thought.
Seeing his silence, Ye Zhi's alarm bells began to ring. She directly asked, "You're not planning to pay, are you? You want to save her so badly, you love her so much, yet you're unwilling to spend a little money?"
Gu Sheng opened his mouth. He had instinctively wanted to ask Ye Zhi, as Ye Qin Ya's sister, why she would so crassly demand money for saving her own sister.
But Ye Zhi spoke first, leaving him speechless.
"I... I will pay..." Gu Sheng agreed somewhat dazed.
"Then that's fine," Ye Zhi frowned. "Once you find a hotel, notify me by text message. No more phone calls."
Seeing Ye Zhi about to hang up, Gu Sheng quickly said, "Ms. Ye, please don't hang up yet! You're so capable, why don't you come to Country K yourself and help rescue Qin Ya?"
Ye Zhi was utterly speechless. Were people around those with love-obsessed brains also love-obsessed?
On a personal level, she hoped Gu Sheng would succeed in rescuing Ye Qin Ya and would do her best to help. After all, if Ye Qin Ya truly met with misfortune, not only would Ou Ming Han go unpunished, but her parents would also be heartbroken.
However, why would she go to a foreign country for this?
She wasn't crazy!
If she went to Country K, Ye Zhi was certain that Ou Ming Han would immediately abandon all his schemes and conspiracies and focus all his efforts on killing her. And he would ensure she died a complete death, the kind where even her ashes were scattered.
"Gu Sheng," Ye Zhi said with a cold smile, "You'd better pray I don't come to Country K to meet Ye Qin Ya."
"Why?" Gu Sheng was startled.
Ye Zhi stated indifferently, "With only your words, you still have a chance to bring her back. But if she sees me, she'll return to Ou Ming Han's side even if it costs her life, and she might even resent you for the rest of her life.
Gu Sheng, please face reality. My relationship with Ye Qin Ya is not good. If you don't want her to ignore you for the rest of her life, you'd better not mention my name in front of her."
With that, Ye Zhi hung up the phone.
She was too annoyed to sleep now.
Before, she had thought Gu Sheng was somewhat unreliable due to his infatuation, but at least he was dependable. Now, she realized she had been too naive. She strongly suspected that if Ye Qin Ya cried and begged Gu Sheng to send her back to Ou Ming Han, Gu Sheng might soften his stance and agree.
It seemed she couldn't place too much hope in Gu Sheng.
*
Early in the morning, Ye Zhi, with dark circles under her eyes, went next door for breakfast.
"Didn't sleep well last night?" Qi Xuan asked, slightly surprised by her listless appearance.
"Yeah, I got a call in the middle of the night," Ye Zhi said helplessly. She then recounted the phone call to him.
"Qi Xuan, I'm afraid Gu Sheng might not be reliable," Ye Zhi said worriedly. "Do you have anyone you can trust in Country K? Can you find someone to discreetly keep an eye on Gu Sheng and help take Ye Qin Ya away if anything unexpected happens?"
"No problem," Qi Xuan nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."
"Also, what about Ou Tian Tian?" Ye Zhi asked, frowning.
Qi Xuan replied, "A doctor I know, while playing games together, told Ou Tian Tian that a heart transplant is usually only considered when drug treatment is ineffective and life expectancy is less than a year. She's still young, and she can definitely try other methods.
Moreover, even after a successful surgery, there's a possibility of rejection. If the reaction is severe, she would need to take anti-rejection medication long-term, and her situation might not be any better than it is now.
Ou Tian Tian listened. She decided to stall for time, to think it over carefully, and then decide whether to undergo the surgery."
Ye Zhi was astonished. In her memory, Ou Tian Tian was extremely devoted to Ou Ming Han, almost to the point of obsession. Yet now, Ou Tian Tian was so easily persuaded?
Perhaps something had changed between Ou Tian Tian and Ou Ming Han, causing Ou Tian Tian to no longer rely on Ou Ming Han so desperately?
Regardless of the reason, if Ou Tian Tian was willing to stall for time, then Ye Zhi would have time to bring Ye Qin Ya back to the country.