Ji family's old residence.
After confirming that Ji Zhixiu had returned alone, Ji's mother instructed the servants to serve the dishes.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was quiet.
Ji's mother broke the silence, "Why did you come back alone today?"
It wasn't that she particularly missed seeing Jiang Mian, but these two were always inseparable, so this was very unusual.
Ji Zhixiu calmly raised his eyes, "Didn't you call me back, Mom?"
Ji's mother said with a hint of displeasure, "I asked you to come back for dinner, not to stop her from coming back for dinner. It's as if I'm being harsh on this daughter-in-law. If you ask me, no matter how busy work is, you can't always be out. You two should consider having a child. You're already so old..."
Ji Zhixiu responded indifferently, "Okay."
If she had said this in the past, Ji Zhixiu would have surely told her to worry less about these things.
Today, for some reason, he didn't say anything, causing her to swallow her prepared words, which made Ji's mother look at him a few more times.
After dinner, Ji Zhixiu got up and said, "I'm leaving now, Mom."
Ji's mother was unhappy, "Your wife isn't home, why are you going back so early? Stay here tonight, I've already cleaned the room for you."
Ji Zhixiu nodded, "Okay."
Ji's mother was surprised, so agreeable today?
Something's not right, not right at all.
An episode of the TV show was ending. Ji's mother got up and called him, "Come with me."
Ji Zhixiu followed her.
The study.
"Tell me, what's wrong with you?" Ji's mother asked.
Ji Zhixiu's expression was calm and collected. "What's wrong?"
"Are you still pretending in front of your mother? You never eat steamed sea bass, but tonight you took two bites. You didn't finish it. Isn't this being distracted?"
No one knows a son better than his mother. Ji's mother immediately saw that he was preoccupied.
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Ji's mother continued, "Did you have a fight with Jiang Mian?"
"No," Ji Zhixiu denied.
"Then what is it? You've always had your own ideas since you were a child, and you never tell me your worries, always thinking you can handle everything alone? Do you know that the people who care about you want to share your burden?" Ji's mother felt a little disappointed.
She never felt much sense of accomplishment as a mother.
Ji Zhixiu never gave her any reason to worry.
Ji Zhixiu was speechless. After a long pause, he said, "Jiang Mian is missing, Mom, I can't find her..."
His voice was filled with a sense of confusion, as if he didn't know what to do.
Ji's mother hadn't expected such a serious matter, no wonder the child was so unfocused.
"Did you call the police? This kind of thing should be handled by the police," Ji's mother frowned.
"She went missing abroad, so I didn't call the police. I sent my own people to look for her. Calling the police would have a bad impact on her."
"Foolish! Is looking for her yourself more convenient than the police?" Ji's mother scolded him.
Ji Zhixiu rubbed his forehead, "My people are more capable than the police."
"Fine, do as you wish. But you're still looking for her, what kind of state are you in? She's not gone forever. Who are you trying to put on a show for? Does Jiang Mian want to see you like this? If she's gone, you need to find her. What is this now? Will she come back if you collapse?" Ji's mother was both heartbroken and angry, her voice rising with each word.
She had never seen Ji Zhixiu like this. Is Jiang Mian really worth it?
Ji Zhixiu was speechless. Suddenly, as if awakened by the scolding, he said, "You're right, Mom, I need to find a way."
"Get a good night's sleep first. How can you have the energy to think of solutions if you don't rest well?"
Ji Zhixiu nodded, "I understand, Mom. Thank you for your concern."
"Are you being polite with me? Go rest."
Ji Zhixiu got up, as if he had found a glimmer of direction.
If he couldn't find Jiang Mian, was there a way to make Jiang Mian come to him?
He needed to think carefully.
...
The Shen family.
The maid helped Shen Tingyu pack her luggage.
Shen's mother patted Shen Tingyu's hand, "Tingyu, this time, you must get proper treatment. But don't put too much pressure on yourself. We'll all be waiting for your good news at home."
Shen Muyuan smiled, "Mom, the doctor said this treatment plan will be long-term and won't show results immediately, so don't rush. The process doesn't matter as much as the good outcome."
Shen Tingyu nodded obediently, "Yes, Mom, brother is right. I will cooperate well with the doctor. But I don't know how long I'll be gone this time, so don't miss me too much, Mom."
"How can I not miss you?" Shen's mother sighed, "Never mind, let's not talk about this. If everything is packed, you should go. Don't miss your flight. The earlier you get there, the earlier you can come back."
Shen Muyuan took the luggage from the maid, "Mom, wait at home with peace of mind. I'll escort my little sister."
"Okay, take your time on the road. Call me when you arrive."
"Understood, Mom."
The two got into the car.
The car slowly drove out of the Shen family's gate.
Shen Muyuan said while driving, "If you have any problems over there, you can come to your brother, okay?"
Shen Tingyu smiled, "Brother, I know, you're so nagging."
Shen Muyuan shook his head, "Isn't it because I'm worried about you? But don't worry, I'll fly over to see you as soon as I have time."
Shen Tingyu playfully said, "If you come, what about Yuan Tou?"
"What? Are you jealous of a cat? Yuan Tou will be taken care of by the maids at home, of course."
"I see you're very doting on Yuan Tou."
"Am I not doting on you?"
Shen Tingyu blushed, "Of course not!"
"Silly girl, I've arranged for someone to pick you up when you land. Don't wander around alone if it's inconvenient, okay?" Shen Muyuan explained everything in detail.
"I know, I know, I got it!"
"That's good."
After seeing Shen Tingyu off, Shen Muyuan watched the airplane slowly fly across the sky.
Shen Muyuan couldn't quite explain why, but he felt a sense of relief from the bottom of his heart.
When he returned home, Yuan Tou immediately clung to him.
As soon as he saw the cat, Shen Muyuan thought of Jiang Mian.
He wondered how she was doing.
How could she have disappeared out of the blue?
Seeing him lost in thought, Yuan Tou meowed to attract his attention.
Shen Muyuan came back to his senses and reached out to stroke its head, "I hope she's alright."
"Meow~"
...
Jiang Mian had been in this room for an unknown amount of time.
Judging by her estimation, it had been about a week.
Every day when she woke up, there would be food in the room. It wasn't delicious, but it was barely edible.
She neither fussed nor made trouble, quietly eating and sleeping.
Until today, when the door was suddenly opened, and the two men who had kidnapped her appeared before her again, "Let's go, we're moving on."
Jiang Mian frowned, and all her escape plans were instantly disrupted.
Based on her observations over the past few days, there was no one outside the room.
The person who brought her food every day was a middle-aged woman in her forties.
She was quiet, didn't speak, and her attitude towards Jiang Mian was neither good nor bad.
The key to the room was with her.
As long as Jiang Mian could find a way to get the key, she would have a chance to escape.
But now, they said they were moving on?
This wasn't their final destination. What were they planning to do?
Jiang Mian was very confused.
She couldn't understand why these people had kidnapped her.
This time, they didn't blindfold Jiang Mian and took her out directly.
They followed the same route as before, but it was exceptionally quiet this time.
Upon exiting the room, the man took out a pill bottle from his pocket and offered her a pill, "Take this."
Jiang Mian timidly asked, "Brother, what is this?"
"Take it and have a good sleep, understand?"
"I'll take it, I'll take it," she took the pill from the man's hand and swallowed it immediately, without even asking for water.
The man smiled, "You're quite sensible. Alright, go inside."
Jiang Mian got into the dark car. As soon as the door closed, Jiang Mian desperately tried to induce vomiting, ignoring the discomfort in her stomach, until she spat out the white pill.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She had no intention of taking that pill.
She wanted to see where they were taking her.
Jiang Mian didn't have to wait long before she felt the car stop.
She immediately lay down, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.
The car door was opened, and the man gestured with his lips, "Bring her down."
Another nodded, jumped into the car, and dragged Jiang Mian out.
The port.
The man handed Jiang Mian over, "I've delivered the person. My boss's mission is complete. It's up to you now."
The man opposite smiled slightly, "I've received her. Thank you for your hard work during this time."
He waved his hand, "I took your money and did the job. No need for pleasantries. We're leaving, my brother and I."
"Safe travels, gentlemen."
After they left, the man coughed, and soon someone came forward, "Sir."
"Take her to the yacht."
"Yes."
Jiang Mian felt herself being carried, and at the same time, eyes lingered on her face, filled with scrutiny.
She tried to slow her breathing, afraid of being discovered.
Soon, Jiang Mian was brought into a room and thrown onto a large bed.
After everyone left, the room fell silent.
Jiang Mian's eyes immediately opened as she surveyed her surroundings.
What did she hear that man say earlier? A yacht? So she was at sea now?
Paris was not coastal. It seemed she had already left Paris.
No wonder Ji Zhixiu hadn't found her.
Jiang Mian's brow furrowed slightly. They had hidden her too well. She had to find a way to contact Ji Zhixiu.
The room contained only a European-style palace bed with two medieval beauty murals hanging above it.
Opposite was a piano. The furnishings were simple and everything was in plain sight.
The floor was covered with Persian rugs, and no corner was missed, exuding extreme luxury.
Jiang Mian quickly scanned for useful information, searching everywhere, but found nothing.
There was no time, place, or any useful information.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. Jiang Mian felt that she needed to figure out where these people were taking her.
Initially, she thought the previous place was the final destination, and she would be able to see the mastermind there.
Who knew that there was nothing, and now they had changed locations.
And that "Sir" didn't seem like someone easy to deal with.
She was lost in thought and didn't notice the footsteps approaching outside the door.
The door was pushed open, and the man's surprised voice echoed in the room, "You're awake?"
Jiang Mian looked up and immediately put on a frightened expression, "Who are you? Where is this? What do you want to do to me?"
"Which of your many questions should I answer first?" the man chuckled.
Jiang Mian bit her lip, "Answer them one by one."
"My name is Ren Fei, and I'm also from the capital. As for where this is, it's as you see," Ren Fei said calmly.
His features were ordinary, nothing special.
The only thing worth mentioning was his voice, which was quite clear and pleasant, somewhat incongruous with his appearance.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips, "Then why did you kidnap me?"
"Of course, to take money and eliminate trouble."
This was the second time Jiang Mian had heard this phrase.
The last time it was said by those two brothers.
It seemed these people were all bought off.