Her delicately trimmed eyebrows furrowed slightly as she clenched her teeth and pushed herself up, "Go check on the young master, will you? Call the doctor and tell him to hurry over."
"It’s nothing, don’t mind me, just go see to Shaoze first."
The doctor arrived for an examination and said that he had fainted due to extreme exhaustion, and that he would be fine once he woke up.
Rong’s mother sat by the bed, pained at the slightly wan appearance of her son.
She extended her hand to caress his face, her eyes filled with tender affection.
In her life, her greatest pride was having a son like Shaoze. If, if he truly insisted on being with Lin Xinlan, she would have to compromise.
He was just a woman, she didn’t need to fall out with her son over something so trivial. As long as he was happy, it didn’t matter who he married.
The sky gradually darkened, and Rong’s mother, supporting her head, couldn’t help but fall into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, she found herself covered with a blanket on the bed, and Rong Shaoze was nowhere to be seen.
She sat up abruptly, looking out the window—the day was already bright.
Where was Shaoze? Where had he gone?
Lin Xinlan was reading a novel in her room when someone knocked on the door. She put down the book and went to open it, seeing Rong Mingyan standing at the doorstep.
"Mr. Rong, is there something you need?"
Rong Mingyan’s eyes were grave as he spoke in a low tone, "Miss Lin, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Seeing his serious demeanor, Lin Xinlan became serious as well.
"Do you mind if I come in to talk?"
She quickly stepped aside, "Of course not."
Sitting on the sofa, Rong Mingyan pondered for a moment before slowly beginning, "Yiyang is missing. However, Rong Shaoze had someone send a letter over, take a look."
He handed the letter to her, and Lin Xinlan hurriedly took it and opened it.
Inside was just one sentence: "Tonight at eight, meet at Nansha Seaside, or face the consequences."
"What... what does this mean?" she asked in surprise and confusion.
Rong Mingyan, leaning against the sofa, said in a grave voice, "I suspect Yiyang has been taken by Rong Shaoze, and he wants me to exchange you for him."
Lin Xinlan’s hand trembled, and the letter dropped to the floor.
"Miss Lin, I know your feelings are complicated right now. You don’t want to go back to Rong Shaoze, but Yiyang’s life will be in danger if we don’t hand you over."
Lin Xinlan tightened her fists, seeking confirmation, "Can we call the police? Rong Shaoze is committing kidnapping, we could report him..."
Rong Mingyan couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, "We have no evidence to prove Yiyang is in her hands."
"But it clearly says here..."
"It doesn’t say anything there."
Yes, it only said, face the consequences if you don’t come. As for what the consequences were, they had no idea.
Lin Xinlan felt a severe headache coming on. Why did Rong Shaoze have to be like a fly, incessantly buzzing around her?
Rong Mingyan didn’t speak; he was waiting for her response, her decision.
After thinking for a while, Lin Xinlan hesitated before asking, "If I don’t show up, will he really hurt Qiao Yiyang?"
Rong Mingyan shifted slightly, settling into a more comfortable position.
He crossed his hands over his abdomen, his gaze deep and insightful.
"Let me put it this way," he said, "Rong Shaoze practically rules B City with an iron fist. Do you have any idea how many lives he’s responsible for?"
Lin Xinlan shook her head gravely.
"I don’t know how many lives he’s responsible for either, but I’ve heard of an incident.
It is said that five years ago, the leader of the Flying Tiger Gang angered him, and then, overnight, the entire gang was wiped out.