"Is this alright? Using such means to threaten the Huangfu family, won't it anger them and be detrimental to us..."
"They are allowed to bully others with their influence, saying their son is already married and can ignore Zhuzhu. Why should we fear them? We'll go all out if we have to!" Zhong Lu was desperate, she also wanted to help Zhuzhu fulfill her wish.
From childhood to adulthood, if Zhuzhu hadn't constantly pined for Huangfu Shaohua, she wouldn't have encountered such a tragic event.
Not long after, Wu Xiufang called her, asking angrily, "What did you do to my son?"
Zhong Lu calmly replied, "You've seen the photos, haven't you? Zhuzhu is already Shaohua's person. You decide what to do. If Shaohua doesn't marry Zhuzhu into the family, I'll release all these photos and let everyone in Lancheng know how disgusting your Huangfu family is."
"You dare!" Wu Xiufang was furious.
"What is there that I dare not do," Zhong Lu said with a smile. "Zhuzhu is my life. We are both mothers, and you should understand my feelings best."
"I already told you a solution, but why are you still not letting Shaohua go?" Wu Xiufang said. "If you insist on doing this, we will never let you go!"
"We can't fight you. At worst, we'll lose everything, but your Huangfu family will also lose face. Huangfu Sisong has always prided himself on his low-key and excellent family traditions, which will only become a laughingstock for the whole city." Zhong Lu had known Wu Xiufang for many years and knew what she cared about most.
Wu Xiufang gasped. If Huangfu Sisong found out about this, he would definitely protect the Huangfu family's reputation.
"Is Shaohua in the hospital? I'll come over immediately."
Zhong Lu sneered, "He's not in the hospital anymore. We've sent him to a safer place. If you want to take Shaohua away, you must agree to our demands."
"Where exactly is he?" Wu Xiufang's tone softened, trying to suppress her anger. "We can discuss anything."
"Then let's discuss what needs to be discussed before anything else," Zhong Lu's attitude was firm.
"You name a place, and we'll talk there." Wu Xiufang saw that Shaohua in the photos had his eyes closed the whole time and was worried he might be in danger. She had to get him out of Zhong Lu's hands first.
...
Late at night, Daisy returned and still hadn't seen Huangfu Shaohua.
The note she left on the table was still there, and no one had touched the prepared meals.
Shaohua hadn't returned. Could Sheng Zhuzhu's condition in the hospital be very serious?
She called his mobile phone again. It wasn't that no one answered, but it was already turned off.
Daisy tried her best not to overthink. Perhaps no news was the best news.
She was tired after teaching students all night, so she went to bed first.
When she woke up, she found the side of the bed empty. Shaohua hadn't returned all night.
This was too abnormal. Since they got married, this had never happened.
She quickly called his mobile phone again, but it was still turned off.
She vaguely felt that something was not right and thought of checking his company's contact number online.
After much effort, she contacted a colleague from their company's sales department. The person said he had angrily resigned yesterday and had a big argument with his supervisor.
She was stunned for a moment, with a million guesses flooding her mind.
However, she remembered the hospital where Sheng Zhuzhu had been admitted before. She went there and asked at the inpatient department. A nurse told her that Sheng Zhuzhu had been discharged after her injuries healed and was no longer staying there.
Daisy's head buzzed. Recalling the scene of Shaohua leaving home yesterday, there seemed to be nothing unusual.
But he had said he was going to the hospital to visit Sheng Zhuzhu and persuade her not to starve herself.
Sheng Zhuzhu wasn't even hospitalized. Had he lied?
She tightly gripped her phone, wondering whether to call the police. Had Shaohua gone missing, or had something happened to him?
But she was inexplicably afraid that Shaohua just didn't want her anymore...
Her hand trembling, she dialed Susu's phone.
Susu was drawing in her office. The phone beside her vibrated. She glanced at it; it was Daisy.
She put down her brush, picked up the phone, and smiled, "Didn't you sleep in this morning? Seeing my red envelope, you want to treat me to another meal..."
"Susu... Shaohua... he's gone..."
Susu heard her voice trembling and her mood very low. She quickly said, "Don't worry, what exactly happened?"
"I don't know. Yesterday, after I had lunch with you, I saw him." Daisy said helplessly. "He told me he was going to the hospital, but he didn't come to the hospital, and he resigned, and his phone is turned off... Has he regretted it and doesn't want to be with me anymore?"
"Where are you? Don't think wildly, I'll come find you." This was the first time Susu had heard Daisy speak so incoherently.
Daisy's mind was in chaos. She said, "I'm at the hospital."
"Which hospital?"
Daisy gave the address, and Susu put down her work and rushed over.
She found her in a corner chair in the crowded outpatient hall, staring at her phone and sending messages. Susu walked over.
"Why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
Seeing Susu arrive, Daisy could no longer control herself and hugged her, crying, "I've sent him so many messages, and he doesn't reply. What should I do?"
Susu gently patted her back, finding it hard to believe.
Yesterday, when they had lunch together, she was full of happiness, planning her future with Huangfu Shaohua. How could Huangfu Shaohua disappear today?
Moreover, Daisy had always been bold and strong, and Susu had never seen her so sad and helpless.
"Let's leave the hospital first and find a place to sit. You can tell me what happened, and see if I can help."
Daisy calmed down for a while, let go of Susu, nodded, and left the hospital with her.
They found a quiet place to chat, and Susu ordered two hot drinks.
Daisy recounted the whole story. After listening, Susu analyzed, "From my perspective, Huangfu Shaohua should not have had an accident. Think about it, if he had an accident outside, his phone wouldn't be turned off, and relevant authorities would have contacted you using his phone."
Daisy thought about it. If he had been in an accident like a traffic collision, his phone wouldn't be off, and the personnel handling the scene would immediately contact his family. She felt slightly relieved.
"Then why did he lie to me?"
Susu comforted her, "It's probably not that he lied to you. Perhaps someone tricked him into the hospital and then cut off his contact with you."
"Who would do that..." As soon as Daisy asked, she thought of something.
Susu nodded at her and said, "Maybe it was his parents. Seeing that he was determined to give up everything for the family, they used such extreme measures."
"Then what should I do? Go to the Huangfu family to find him?" Daisy said indignantly at the thought of this possibility, "Even family members cannot deprive him of his personal freedom!"