"The factory manager can't be reached, all phones are off. Could our phones be malfunctioning? We have no signal at home. How is that possible?"
Xiang Wan tried to comfort herself.
"Bring me the car keys. Let's drive to the factory and see."
The two were too anxious to even change their clothes, rushing downstairs in their home wear and slippers.
Along the way, Xiang Wan asked other staff to call the factory personnel. The responses were all the same: unable to connect, phones off.
Everyone started to understand what was happening and asked her worriedly.
"Sister Wan, they wouldn't have absconded with the funds, would they? Should we report it to the police?"
When Xiang Wan arrived at the factory entrance, the gate was locked.
She banged on it a few times, trying to call out for security to open the door.
But the usually amiable old man at the security booth, who was always so enthusiastic to see them, was nowhere to be found.
"Report it."
What else could they do at this point but report it?
The group was called in for questioning, from the initial contact to all business dealings and fund flows.
After the entire process, over three hours had passed.
The police told Xiang Wan.
Although she had ample evidence, it was clear that the other party was better prepared.
The account she transferred money to was an overseas account, untraceable within China.
And even if it could be traced, due to regional and various other issues, they had no authority or means to investigate further.
The factory was rented, and the legal representative's name was not the one Xiang Wan knew.
All the names Xiang Wan provided were fake, and their information couldn't be found online.
Therefore, this was a well-planned, organized, and premeditated large-scale scam.
The rapid development of online live streaming in recent years had allowed some criminals to exploit loopholes before industry regulations were established.
Many businesses had encountered similar situations by taking advantage of fast order fulfillment, urgent delivery times, and the lack of real-name verification.
"We will compare it with other cases to see if it's the same group. But it might take some time."
Xiang Wan felt dizzy.
"How long will that take? Our order volume is huge, and the delivery deadline is tight. I don't have any more money to invest."
"If the raw materials can't be found quickly and processed by other manufacturers, our livestream channel will be finished."
The staff could only offer sympathy.
"It's your fault for not being professional enough back then and not checking their qualifications and filings with the Administration for Industry and Commerce when finding a production manufacturer."
"Learn from your mistakes. Rushing won't help in this situation."
Learn from mistakes again.
Lu Mingzhe had already helped her cover millions for the fire incident.
Now, having to learn from mistakes again, Xiang Wan was going crazy!
However, this was not a place for her to lose her temper.
She walked out dejected, everyone watching her, waiting for her instructions on what to do next.
Should the livestream channel continue? Should orders still be accepted?
Xiang Wan was also lost.
She truly had no spare money to invest further.
Products needed to be pre-sold. The pre-sale period, shipping time, and feedback time could take up to three months in total.
She would have to wait three months to receive the funds back gradually.
If she didn't continue, stopping the livestream channel for three months would be tantamount to suicide.
But if she continued, she would have to invest money…
Her heart felt heavy, and her first thought was of Lu Mingzhe.
Fortunately, she had a shoulder to lean on.
She took out her phone to check. So much time had passed, and Lu Mingzhe still hadn't come home or called her.
This was not the time to be stubborn; professional matters should be handled by professionals.
Didn't he know Zhan Bei Jue?
Didn't Zhan Corporation have a powerful legal team?
Xiang Wan needed his help.
She called Lu Mingzhe.
But at this critical moment, Lu Mingzhe's phone was also unreachable.
One call, unreachable. Two calls, unreachable.
She suspected her phone was really malfunctioning.
She borrowed someone else's phone to call, and it was also unreachable.
Her colleague comforted her.
"Maybe there's no signal? Look at the prompt tone, 'not in service area'."
"It's not turned off, nor has she blocked you, just no signal."
"Could he be in the garage or an elevator? Why don't you go home and check?"
Xiang Wan said she would rest for today and give everyone an answer tomorrow.
She and Xiang Yang hurried home.
From the basement garage, through the elevator, all the way home, Lu Mingzhe was not there.
If she couldn't figure out the problem today and come up with a solution, she wouldn't be able to sleep.
Her efforts over the past decade, all her hard work, could not just go to waste.
She asked Xiang Yang for the car keys.
"I'll go to his house to find him."
"Sister, you're not in good condition. Let me accompany you."
Xiang Wan's meeting with Mrs. Lu and the unpleasant incident were known only to the two of them.
Before, she didn't want to put Lu Mingzhe in a difficult position by being caught in the middle, and today she didn't want Xiang Yang to endure the awkwardness with her.
So she ordered Xiang Yang.
"Wait for the staff's call at home, and also go over the chain of evidence again. If both of us focus on the same thing, isn't that a waste of resources?"
Lu Mingzhe had not hidden his home address from her.
Xiang Wan had mentally recited the location many times.
Sometimes when she passed by, she would deliberately glance at it.
But she had never dared to go in.
Today, she had mustered her courage, but self-doubt still prevailed.
Her heart was pounding, and her hands trembled on the steering wheel.
One thing after another seemed to tell her that Mrs. Lu was right.
She couldn't help Lu Mingzhe with anything except being a burden.
She was attracted to Lu Mingzhe for his wealth and status.
If she didn't accept his help, it was one thing, but once she did, no matter how innocent she was, it would be hard to explain.
Today, she would inevitably be lectured by her again.
This was not an ordinary place; the guards at the entrance were proof of that.
Xiang Wan drove to the entrance of the residential complex and was immediately stopped and asked for a pass.
"Pass? I'm just going in to find someone, or you can help me make a call. I don't have a pass."
"No one without a pass is allowed to approach."
The person was very serious and held a weapon.
"I'm sorry, please come over after you get a pass. Hurry up and drive the car away, parking is not allowed here."
Only now did she realize how vast the gap between her and Lu Mingzhe was.
The place where he grew up, where he could come and go freely, she didn't even have the right to approach.
The gatekeeper wouldn't let her in, and Lu Mingzhe's phone was unreachable.
Xiang Wan could only place her last hope on waiting.
She parked the car in a spot that wouldn't obstruct traffic and stood across the road, gazing at the entrance, waiting.
From time to time, people came out, and every time a car's headlights lit up, she would look eagerly.
But each time, her hope was dashed.
Just as her back and legs ached from waiting and her emotions were about to break down,
Zhou Jinbei's eyes moved, and she saw her across the road.
"Jiaojiao, look over there."