"How much of the shares do you still hold in your hands, thirty-two percent, isn’t it? Those shares are enough for you to conduct ten more searches; feel free to come again next time."
Rong Shaoze gave him a faint glance, then turned and walked outside.
A subordinate was indignant, unable to accept defeat, "Shaoze, why should we be afraid of him? We searched and so what? What can he do to us. Giving him three percent of the shares, that’s too cheap for him!"
Rong Shaoze’s eyes flickered slightly, casting a light glance at him, and he quickly bowed his head, too frightened to utter another word.
Getting back into the sports car, he took another look at Rong Mingyan’s villa, the doubts in his heart still persisting.
"Keep a close watch on this place, don’t overlook any clues."
The subordinate standing outside the car immediately nodded, "Yes, rest assured."
As the car drove away, Rong Mingyan walked upstairs, pushed open the door of a room, entered, and opened a wardrobe as big as a wall, then proceeded to open a hidden compartment inside it.
The doors to the compartment, identical to the wall, slid open to each side, revealing a tiny space of just a few square meters.
Lin Xinlan crawled out from inside and asked him, "Has Rong Shaoze left?"
"Mm. You were quick to react, even packed up all your stuff," he noted, his gaze falling on the backpack she was carrying.
"Qiao Yiyang called and told me that Rong Shaoze could come to search this place at any moment. So, I have always been prepared, waiting for the moment he would come, to avoid any panic."
Rong Mingyan nodded in approval, "You are very cautious in your actions."
She smiled but didn’t say anything.
He continued, "I reckon that in a few days, if Rong Shaoze truly can’t find you, he will probably give up. You can stay here safely; he has searched once, he won’t come again."
"Mm," Lin Xinlan nodded slightly.
It had been five days, and Lin Xinlan’s whereabouts were still unknown.
Rong Shaoze felt he was almost on the verge of exploding.
If he couldn’t find her soon, he didn’t know what he would do.
Having slept poorly for several days, Rong Shaoze’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, his expression weary, but still he forced himself to stay awake, refusing to sleep.
Sitting beside the bar, he poured himself a drink and gulped it down, but the alcohol failed to numb his senses or distract him; Lin Xinlan’s figure stubbornly occupied his thoughts.
The effect that woman had on him was even worse than he had imagined.
If he couldn’t find her, he suspected he would be unable to concentrate on anything.
But where on earth could she be?
In a moment of frustration, the man smashed the glass onto the floor, shattering it.
Rong’s mother walked in, saw the scene, and frowned slightly, "Shaoze, are you still troubled over Lin Xinlan?"
Without turning around, he picked up another glass and poured himself another drink.
"No more drinking!" Rong’s mother stepped forward, forcefully took the glass from his hand, and set it down hard.
"Shaoze, look at what you’ve become. Are you even my son? My son... how could you be so distressed and drinking yourself silly over a woman?"
"Mom, did you need something from me?" he said, rubbing his temples which were beginning to ache, his eyes tiredly half-closed.
Rong’s mother softened at the sight of him, her anger dissipating.
"Can I not come if there’s nothing wrong? You are my son; can’t I come to see and care for you?"
"I heard you’ve been searching for the person day and night for five days straight. Even if you were made of iron, you couldn’t bear it. Shaoze, heed your mother’s advice, let go of Lin Xinlan, and let yourself go too, will you?"