In the same city, within an equally resplendent palace, there was no trace of festivity. The house, stripped of its red decorations, appeared unusually somber.
A man stood on the rooftop, surveying the various activities below. Every person's action was clear to him.
"Is that woman returning the day after tomorrow?"
The man's voice was devoid of emotion, carrying an ingrained chill, his gaze never leaving the scene beneath.
The bodyguard immediately bowed respectfully. "Sir, according to their reply, there is no information regarding any scheduled arrangements."
"Useless!"
The man spun around abruptly, his eyes, sharp as a viper's, piercing the person before him.
"If you can't handle this, and can't find the person, what use are you all?!"
He had expected news swiftly, but never imagined receiving no useful information! How could someone with such distinctive features simply vanish?!
The bodyguard lowered his head even further, his expression unchanged. "Sir, our people have not found anyone unusual or special, which is why we have been slow to locate that person."
The information from Black Cat must be correct; they simply hadn't found her yet! Could she have gone to another city? Or perhaps on the way back when Black Cat returned? Or had someone discovered her and hidden her away?
The man narrowed his eyes, concealing the ferocity within, and spoke to the bodyguard, word by word:
"Increase the search efforts around S City, and scour carefully along the route Black Cat returned. If you still can't find her, none of you need to come back, understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Although the bodyguard felt wronged, he could only follow his employer's orders. He could only hope this time would be smoother, allowing him to return home to his family.
"Also... in a while, find a way to send Black Cat to S City again. If you fail to take good care of the young master again, you will be left for it!"
He planned to have Black Cat taste some fresh blood in the next couple of days, to feed it well, and then... things would be easier!
No scheduled arrangements...
That might not be the case.
...
At the same time, on the second floor below, in a room, a man was leisurely lounging in a chair, basking in the sun. A bodyguard in black knelt on the ground, his face filled with urgency, not daring to look up at the man.
"Young Master, our two strongholds in S City have been compromised!"
The man immediately sat up, his expression instantly turning grim. He grabbed the bodyguard's chin with his large hand, the bones creaking. "Say that again!"
His previous exposure had cost him many men. Now he was being told that two locations had been discovered? Had all his years of effort been in vain?!
Moreover, he had told his father that this was a good opportunity to do many things, yet his father had no other plans!
"Young Master... Xuan Mohan's decline was a facade. After discovering our actions, he ruthlessly retaliated against us, and his methods were not small. He also suffered significant losses..."
"Bang~"
The man kicked him down forcefully, then stepped on him, crushing him twice. "Can his losses compare to mine? I truly don't know how capable he is. Perhaps I should throw you over there to try, hmm?"
The bodyguard shook his head violently, unable to control his expression, pleading desperately, "Young Master, I misspoke. What are they? They are merely rabbits pushed to desperation by us!"
The man lifted his foot, but showed no sign of pleasure. With a wave of his hand, the cups and wine bottles on the table crashed to the floor.
"Xuan Mohan is unhappy, so on this joyous day, he wants to make us unhappy too! I will laugh anyway. It's not me who lost my beloved, after all. He must be in great pain today, hmm? Hahaha!"
After laughing for a while, the man stopped and immediately said to the person behind him, "Go, decorate the house. We'll celebrate their festival too and share some joy!"
"Yes!"
The bodyguard responded and immediately went to prepare. Fortunately, he had spent a few years in S City and understood some of their customs.
After the bodyguard left, the man took out a hairpin from the drawer. Since Xuan Mohan had lost his beloved, he would witness Xuan Mohan's disarray with his little girl later!
...
At the Xia family residence far away in S City, Xia Han stared blankly at the food on the table.
"Hanhan, what's wrong? Have you encountered something recently? Tell your father and mother, don't keep it bottled up."
Mother Xia asked with concern as Xia Han did not touch her chopsticks. In fact, she had been watching her daughter for a long time. Her daughter's state had been too abnormal lately. Once, she had cried so hard that her and her father could hear it from a distance.
They thought Xia Han had broken up with someone; otherwise, why wouldn't that man come to their house?
They didn't dare to say too much to Xia Han, only accompanying her every day. Even Old Xia, who was so busy, managed to make time, which was significant given how busy he was at the end of the year.
They just didn't expect this breakup to have such a big impact, and she still hadn't recovered at all.
When Xia Han heard her mother's concerned words, she couldn't hold back any longer and began to cry loudly.
Everyone else was happily reuniting with their families, but Qianqian didn't even know where she was, let alone have anyone care for her. Aunt Tong was also gone. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, losing her appetite for the food before her.
Her father and mother immediately comforted her with heartache.
Seeing that her daughter's crying showed no sign of stopping, Father Xia angrily stood up. "Xia Han, tell me who that man is, and I'll make sure his whole family is unhappy today!"
If Xia Han was unhappy, then their entire family would be unhappy. They shouldn't be allowed to have a good time either! Did they really think his daughter was so easily bullied? Anyone could just push her around!
Father Xia didn't expect Xia Han to stop crying instantly. With her tear-filled eyes, she asked, "What man?" She was clearly upset about Qianqian, so why did it suddenly involve a man?
"Don't try to cover for him. Isn't it your recent boyfriend? Did he break up with you first? Tell me, I'll break his legs!"
"Pfft~"
Xia Han couldn't help but laugh, then quickly suppressed her smile. "How did you know I have a boyfriend?" And you suspect we broke up? Truly disheartening.
"Don't ask us how we know. First, tell me where he lives, and I'll take people there now!" Strangely, when he sent people to investigate, there was no news at all; this person was completely untraceable!
Xia Han smiled again, supporting her face with her hands. "Go and hit someone, can you beat him?" It wasn't that she was bragging; Lu Haoran alone could beat them all!
Father Xia turned his head left and right, finding nothing. He casually grabbed an ashtray. "Today, I have to cripple him. Besides, don't I still have my men? Why don't you trust your dad?"
That wasn't a matter of not trusting him; it was a matter of overwhelming strength. Their family was simply not on the same level as that person.
However, Xia Han didn't plan to say too much. She needed to discuss this with Lu Haoran. Because of Qianqian's uncertain fate, she hadn't wanted to think about her own matters, nor did she have the mood for it.
So, she directly came clean with her parents. "I do have a boyfriend, but we haven't broken up, and there are no problems. Let's eat first, and I'll accompany you today, okay?"
Mother and Father Xia picked up their chopsticks with doubt and belief.