"Yu Meng, Shi Qing... she's gone," Mu Linjing told Wei Yu Meng after taking a deep breath, her voice filled with apology.
Wei Yu Meng froze, her grip loosening, and her pen clattered onto the desk, rolling a few times. She abruptly stood up, her sudden movement sweeping documents to the floor.
"What? Where did Shi Qing go missing?"
"At school, during the parent-teacher conference. Shi Qing went to the restroom and then disappeared." Mu Linjing bit her lip and sighed helplessly.
"I understand, I'll be right over to help you look!" Wei Yu Meng replied hastily. She hung up the phone, grabbed her bag, and rushed out of the company.
Employees in the hallway watched Wei Yu Meng's hurried departure in confusion, automatically making way for her.
Bai Qing stood in a nearby corner, arms crossed, secretly watching Wei Yu Meng's receding figure. She curved her lips into a smile and turned away, leaving the company as well.
The parents and students at the school had already been evacuated. Only security guards and teachers remained, searching everywhere for Shi Qing's whereabouts.
Mu Linjing paced anxiously at the school entrance, holding Jin Zhi's hand tightly, afraid that in a moment of carelessness, the child beside her might also be abducted.
She spotted Wei Yu Meng's car from a distance and quickly waved.
Wei Yu Meng parked her car and ran towards Mu Linjing. She then touched Jin Zhi's face. Neither of them looked well.
"What about the surveillance footage? Did you see where Shi Qing went?" Wei Yu Meng asked directly.
"The surveillance camera was maliciously covered with chewing gum. It was the one right outside the restroom," Mu Linjing shook her head, at a loss for clues in finding Shi Qing.
"Mommy, it's my fault for not looking after my sister. I'm sorry," Jin Zhi lowered his head, his small face full of self-reproach.
"It's my fault. If I had been with Shi Qing, I would have gone with her," Mu Linjing clenched her fist by her side. As they searched for Shi Qing, she couldn't stop thinking: if only she had been with Shi Qing at that moment, perhaps Shi Qing wouldn't be lost...
"Jin Zhi, this isn't your fault. Mommy and Auntie will find Shi Qing. You go back with the housekeeper first, okay?" Wei Yu Meng looked at Jin Zhi seriously and gently stroked his little head.
Before coming, she had already notified the housekeeper to arrange for a driver to pick Jin Zhi up and take him home.
Jin Zhi nodded. A Rolls-Royce pulled up behind them. The housekeeper got out of the car and took Jin Zhi.
Wei Yu Meng finally breathed a sigh of relief. She patted Mu Linjing's shoulder, her eyes darkening slightly.
"Lin Jing, as you said, they were likely well-prepared. This outcome was unavoidable. Before we hear from them, let's focus on finding Shi Qing."
She would not give up!
Encouraged by Wei Yu Meng's words, Mu Linjing nodded heavily. They split up, heading along the main roads on either side of the school, searching meticulously.
"Shi Qing, Mommy's here. Where are you?" Wei Yu Meng shouted as she walked, anxiety filling her eyes. She carefully scanned every child who passed by, but each face was unfamiliar.
They searched every street and alley, every nook and cranny, but found not a trace of Shi Qing.
"Shi Qing?" Wei Yu Meng saw a small figure that resembled her and momentarily faltered. She stepped forward and grabbed the child's shoulder.
The child's mother immediately looked alarmed and quickly hugged her child, glaring at Wei Yu Meng defensively.
"What do you want? Are you trying to abduct children on the street?"
The child also looked frightened, burrowing into their mother's arms, peeking at Wei Yu Meng with timid eyes.
It wasn't Shi Qing.
"I'm so sorry, I thought it was my daughter. I mistook her," Wei Yu Meng said apologetically, her heart filled with desperation. She had misidentified the child in her haste. She then rushed off to the next street.
The distance from the school was increasing. Shi Qing was a good child; she wouldn't wander this far alone. She might have truly been…
The thoughts flashing through Wei Yu Meng's mind became clearer. Her brows furrowed deeply. She took out her phone. The screen was black, displaying no messages. It seemed Mu Linjing's side had no news either.
Lost in thought for a moment, Wei Yu Meng continued walking further away, her lips moving silently, constantly calling Shi Qing's name.
Some passersby looked at Wei Yu Meng curiously, but she paid them no mind. Sweat trickled down her forehead and cheeks.
A pleasant phone ringing echoed, causing a slight vibration in her bag.
Could it be that Mu Linjing had news?
Wei Yu Meng's eyes lit up. She fumbled for her phone, but the moment the name appeared on the screen, her bright eyes dimmed.
It was Zhan Mohan calling.
"Hello, husband," Wei Yu Meng's lips parted slightly.
"Wife, have you had dinner yet?" Zhan Mohan's magnetic voice came through.
Wei Yu Meng was taken aback for a moment. She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at the time on the screen. It was indeed past dinner, yet her daughter, Shi Qing, was still missing.
"Not yet..." Wei Yu Meng habitually replied to Zhan Mohan, her voice tinged with sadness. She blinked, her eyes moistening slightly.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Zhan Mohan, sensing the distress in Wei Yu Meng's tone, frowned and asked.
"Shi Qing went missing at school. Lin Jing and I have been searching for a long time, but we still can't find her." Wei Yu Meng casually wiped her eyes, trying to calm herself down. Hearing Zhan Mohan's voice, her emotions couldn't help but waver.
"This is unbelievable. I'll be back immediately." Zhan Mohan's brows were clouded with a deep chill. He comforted Wei Yu Meng, "Don't worry, Shi Qing will be found."
"Okay." Wei Yu Meng nodded. They ended the call with a few brief words.
"Brother, Shi Qing is missing?" Zhan Yichen, who had also overheard their conversation, asked Zhan Mohan.
"Yes. I'm returning to the country now. My business here is almost concluded. I'll leave the rest to you." Zhan Mohan's expression was grave. He patted Zhan Yichen's shoulder and instructed his secretary to book the fastest flight.
"Alright, Brother, you can rest assured. You must find Shi Qing!" Zhan Yichen gave Zhan Mohan a reassuring look. The least he could do for his brother now was to perfectly conclude the current business dealings.
Meanwhile, Wei Yu Meng and Mu Linjing had walked for a long time, eventually returning to where Shi Qing had first gone missing, with no success.
The school staff were also frantically searching. After pondering for a while, Wei Yu Meng went to the surveillance room. The security guard was reviewing other surveillance footage.
"Did you see Shi Qing or any suspicious individuals entering or exiting?"
Wei Yu Meng's question suddenly sparked an idea in the security guard who had been stationed at the back gate.