"I can't find her... I can't find her!"
Zhang Lin searched the room frantically.
His eyes were red, stained with the color of pain.
His hair was disheveled from him tearing at it. No one seeing him now would remember how dapper he once was.
Ever since Zhan Mohan moved Wei Yumeng elsewhere, Zhang Lin had been unable to find any trace of her.
This feeling was driving him insane.
For him now, fame, status, and career were all gone. The only lingering thought in his heart was Wei Yumeng.
His desire to have her had never changed. He had even concocted a meticulous plan to secretly take Wei Yumeng abroad.
But now, all the twists and turns were too much for him to bear. This feeling of unrequited love was pushing him to the brink of madness.
Zhang Lin clutched his head, his expression one of extreme agony. "Why are you hiding from me? Why are you doing this to me? Everything I've done is out of love for you."
Just then, his phone rang.
"Hello?" His voice was hoarse and still trembling slightly.
"Mr. Zhang Lin, the matter you asked me to investigate has yielded results."
The caller was the private investigator Zhang Lin had hired. He had initially done so to find Wei Yumeng's whereabouts, but now his objective had changed.
Since he couldn't find Wei Yumeng, he had to find another way to make her come to him.
At this time, school had just ended.
Zhan Jinzhi waited at the school gate as usual for Zhan Shiqing, and they walked home together.
But children were young and easily distracted by playful things along the way.
"Brother, look at that toy. So many girls in our class have it! And that hairpin, it's the trendiest style right now."
Zhan Shiqing looked left and right on the way. Even though she had walked this path countless times, she still couldn't seem to get enough of looking.
Zhan Jinzhi, besides ensuring Zhan Shiqing's safety, had little else that interested him.
But at this moment, a person in a mascot costume appeared before them.
"Come and see, everyone! Our store is having a promotion today, and all participating children will receive a small gift."
As the person spoke, they showed off a toy, exactly like the one Zhan Shiqing had mentioned her classmates had, but she herself did not.
"Brother, I want that."
Zhan Jinzhi held her hand and refused, "We can get toys through other means. This kind of promotion is too suspicious."
"No, I want it now!" Zhan Shiqing, uncharacteristically, threw a small tantrum.
Zhan Jinzhi remained firm. "No."
Zhan Shiqing became angry and yanked her hand away from Zhan Jinzhi. "Brother is mean! You won't even agree to this small request!"
With that, she ran towards the mascot on her own, where many children and adults were already gathered.
Zhan Jinzhi felt a headache coming on, but there was nothing he could do. He could only follow her.
However, when Zhan Jinzhi finally pushed through the crowd, he realized that the person in the mascot costume had changed into a different outfit.
This puzzled him greatly. Why would they go to such lengths to change outfits during a promotion?
But he soon discovered that it wasn't just the mascot costume that had disappeared. Zhan Shiqing had vanished along with it.
"Shiqing! Shiqing!"
Zhan Jinzhi cried out urgently. Adults nearby quickly noticed the commotion.
"Child, are you looking for someone?"
"Auntie, I'm looking for my sister. She came to participate in the event just now, but now she's gone."
"You mean... I did see several children follow that person dressed as a bear inside. They said there weren't enough gifts."
Without a second thought, Zhan Jinzhi rushed in the direction the adult pointed.
But this was no store property. It led to the back of a dark alley, where discarded mascot costumes were strewn about.
Although Zhan Jinzhi was reluctant to admit it, it had already happened.
Someone dressed as a bear mascot had abducted Zhan Shiqing.
"Bad guy! Let me go! My mommy and daddy will find me." Zhan Shiqing's eyes were covered, and she couldn't see the person's face, but she struggled with all her might.
"Don't be afraid," Zhang Lin's voice was still gentle. After all, he had never intended to harm this child. His target had always been singular.
"I'll let you go when your mother comes to save you. Be good."
But Zhan Shiqing could not be easily persuaded, especially since this voice belonged to a creepy uncle, which only made her more frightened.
"You're waiting for my mommy? What do you want?"
Zhang Lin thought for a moment and then said, "Of course I like your mother. I want to be with her, but I can't find her, so I had to use this method to draw her out."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Shiqing bit her lower lip, thinking that no matter what, she didn't want Wei Yumeng to fall into the hands of this bad guy because of her.
"What? Shiqing is missing?" Wei Yumeng looked at Zhan Jinzhi in disbelief.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't watch my sister well," Zhan Jinzhi felt extremely guilty. If he had been more vigilant then, this might not have happened.
Wei Yumeng took a deep breath. Even at this moment, she couldn't vent her anger on the child.
Both children were still young, and Zhan Jinzhi was already doing his best as an older brother.
"This is not your fault. I'll tell your father, and we'll look for her together."
"Mom, I already called the police on my way back, but they said there are no results yet."
Wei Yumeng stroked his head. "Everything will be fine."
Following this, Wei Yumeng and Zhan Jinzhi went to the place where Zhan Shiqing had been taken.
The location was secluded, making it difficult to find clues. Fortunately, through a security camera outside a shop, they found some trace of Zhan Shiqing.
Through the video, Wei Yumeng clearly saw the face hidden behind the mascot costume.
Who else could it be but Zhang Lin? Zhang Lin even seemed to know that Wei Yumeng would find the surveillance footage, and he gave a meaningful smile at the camera.
But no matter what, to find Zhan Shiqing, they had to find Zhang Lin.
"Are you Miss Wei Yumeng?" the shop owner asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I am." Wei Yumeng was somewhat puzzled.
"It's like this. Someone asked us to help deliver this to you." Saying this, he handed Wei Yumeng a note.