Qu Mo was driving Shen Jianian back to Rose Manor when Lu Yanzhi had already left.
He opened the rear car door, his expression slightly tense, with a hint of guilt. He hadn't completed the task assigned by his boss well, so he was, of course, not feeling relieved.
Shen Jianian lay in the back seat, her tangled long hair covering half her face, and her light-colored clothes were stained with large smudges, looking much more disheveled than when she went out.
As Qu Mo was at a loss for what to do, the main hall's door was opened from inside, and Zhou Rongzhen came out with Fu Jichen.
Shen Jianian, who was unconscious in the car, was carried out, as before, personally carried by Fu Jichen, and taken by elevator back to the guest room on the third floor where she had been staying these days, and placed on the bed.
Qu Mo did not dare slack off, closely following them and stopping at the door.
Fu Jichen's brow was furrowed, his displeased expression fully displayed, and he said to Zhou Rongzhen, "Call Xiao Jingshan to find out where he is, I think her fever's come back."
Shen Jianian's face was abnormally red, her forehead and mouth corners were bleeding, and the inside loose white sweater had a pulled thread. He hadn't expected things to become like this after just one trip home.
Qu Mo had told him on the phone that Shen Jianian wasn't doing well, so he immediately had Zhou Rongzhen call Xiao Jingshan. This time it was slightly urgent, and Xiao Jingshan couldn't make it before Shen Jianian got home.
Zhou Rongzhen agreed and quickly dialed the number to hurry him over.
Fu Jichen left the room, glanced at Qu Mo, who was standing straight in the hallway outside, waiting with his head bowed, and asked him, "What's the matter, I told you to follow her?"
Qu Mo felt even more guilty at the questioning, but he didn't equivocate, laying out the facts straightforwardly.
"I took Miss Shen to the Yin Family villa, then, as you instructed, I waited outside. It got dark and I didn't see anyone. Only after asking the security guard did I find out that the community has two gates for residents, and Miss Shen must have gone out the east gate." Qu Mo didn't understand why the boss was certain that Miss Shen would come out after going back, he just followed orders, "By the time I drove around to the east gate, a group of thugs was dragging Miss Shen to a secluded area..."
At this point, he paused slightly, daring to look up at Fu Jichen's expression, which remained impassive.
"I took action to deal with that group of thugs. They were skilled, likely have caused trouble before. I wanted to hand them over to the police station, but seeing Miss Shen fainted on the ground, I had to attend to her first." Qu Mo lowered his head even more, "That's how it went."
For a while, he didn't get any response from Fu Jichen.
Qu Mo's throat rolled, dryly swallowing air. He had failed in his duty to protect Miss Shen, betraying the boss's trust. This was the simplest task he'd received, yet he messed it up.
Tense, Qu Mo added softly, "I arrived just in time, Miss Shen wasn't violated."
Fu Jichen lifted his eyelids, finally giving him a glance, "Find out if those people were instigated by someone or for another reason, don't let it go."
"Yes."
Qu Mo breathed a sigh of relief, turned to leave, secretly reminding himself not to make any more mistakes.
*
At the Yin Family dining table, only Yin Chengde and Yin Shuyao, father and daughter, were present. The Japanese-style lampshade above cast silvery-white light, illuminating a table full of delicious dishes.
Hu Yuzhi was almost hit and, after venting, went back to lie down in her room, not wanting to face Yin Chengde.
In the dining room, only the faint sounds of clashing bowls and chopsticks could be heard. Yin Chengde picked up some food with his chopsticks, a heavy worry climbing to his brows, as he frowned and took a sip of wine.
Yin Shuyao looked up at him, her father was pinching the bridge of his nose, deeply furrowed. She put down her chopsticks and gently comforted, "Dad, don't be mad at Mom, she's also thinking for the family. We did mention President Qin's situation to Sister Jianian, maybe something wasn't expressed clearly, leading to her misunderstanding and causing the current situation. Before you came back, we tried to talk to Jianian, but she kept defying Mom; Mom lost her temper and that's why she acted against her."
In front of family, Yin Shuyao was always obedient and sensible, never a worry in her studies. Before graduating college, she already entered the family company for training, and the supervisor in charge of her praised her as an invaluable assistant. Yin Chengde doted on his only daughter, hoping she would take over the company in the future.
In the past, no matter big or small, as long as Yin Chengde got angry, her persuasion always worked. This time it was different; her persuasion wasn't much effective, and Yin Chengde still kept a stern face, "Try to call Little Nian several times, apologize to her, and persuade her to come back. She doesn't have other relatives in the world, where else could she settle if she leaves us? Even though you're the younger sister, she lost her parents not long ago, we should be more tolerant and take care of her."
Yin Shuyao didn't argue, outwardly agreeing, "I know, I'll try to persuade her well."
She ate a few bites, using the excuse of calling Shen Jianian, left the dining room, and went upstairs to her room.
Avoiding her father's gaze, Yin Shuyao's lips curled into a cold smile. Persuade Shen Jianian to come back? She wished that person would disappear from her world forever.
Actually, that wish had already been fulfilled.
Yin Shuyao raised her wrist to check the time, calculating the hours since Shen Jianian left home. As the answer came to mind, the smile on her lips spread wider.
So much time had passed; Li Wu and his people should have succeeded without a doubt.
Yin Shuyao hummed a light tune, holding her phone, and went to the balcony to call Li Wu.
Li Wu and his gang were employees hired by the Yin Family, primarily responsible for tasks like loading and unloading goods. Their hands weren't clean, caught reselling building materials, repeatedly warned yet unrepentant, they angered Yin Chengde and were dismissed, never to be reemployed.
During her initial internship at the company, Yin Shuyao, to avoid being accused of using connections to get in through the back door, started from the bottom, often dealing with those workers, so it wasn't strange she knew Li Wu.
After being fired, Li Wu and his subordinates occupied Nanshui Pedestrian Street, still doing manual labor to make a living.
Half a month ago, Yin Shuyao replaced her supervisor to inspect the work there and brought Shen Jianian along. Her father had instructed her to take care of the emotionally down Shen Jianian, to take her out occasionally to lift her spirits, lest she brood at home and harm her health. In front of her father, she had to maintain appearances, playing the understanding and thoughtful sister.
It was also then she saw Li Wu smoking and playing cards on the street, noticing his designs on Shen Jianian.
Li Wu was someone easy to exploit, willing to do things for small favors, let alone such a good task; he would do it even without being paid.
Tonight, there's no moonlight; the night is as dark as ink. On the balcony, the wind howled coldly. The call Yin Shuyao made to Li Wu went unanswered.
She frowned at the phone screen, impatiently ended the call.
What was Li Wu up to, this late and still not finished? He better not cause any deaths...
Yin Shuyao startled herself with her imagination, if there was a death and the police got involved, wouldn't it implicate her? The call she made to Li Wu would be evidence.
First time doing something like this, it was impossible for Yin Shuyao not to be scared. She pursed her lips, trying to make a second call.
This time the ringtone lasted a long while, and just before it was about to hang up, it was finally answered, but it wasn't Li Wu's voice.
"Miss Yin?"
"Who are you?" Yin Shuyao was highly alert, hearing a stranger's voice, her heart instantly clutched tight, holding her breath.
"I'm Brother Wu's mate, he went to the toilet."
Yin Shuyao's heart settled back into place, sighing discreetly, "You guys..."
Before she could finish her question, the phone was snatched by another person, and the next moment, Li Wu's cursing voice came through, "Yin Shuyao, you stupid bitch, are you trying to get me killed?"