Chapter 311: Chapter 309 Someone is Impersonating
"Madam, you’re putting me in a tough spot!"
Jian Xi clutched his shoulders, her eyes brimming with a frantic desperation. "Yan Qing, you are utterly loyal to Si Yuhuan. I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Murder is a crime, but my son is gone. I have to find him, or else I’d rather go to hell with all of you."
Yan Qing was shaken by the Jian Xi before him. He couldn’t help but swallow hard.
"Director Si didn’t take..."
"I want to know everyone he has met in these past three months!"
Yan Qing sighed helplessly. "It doesn’t hurt to tell you."
「Half an hour later.」
Jian Xi staggered out, her gaze hollow and lifeless. She spoke faintly, "Brother Wu, let everyone go."
"No, I..."
"They’re all Si Yuhuan’s men, not the masterminds. What could they possibly know? Besides, most of these bodyguards are local hires; it’s pointless to keep them."
Jian Yanjun wasn’t convinced. "That Yan Qing must still be able to tell us something."
"It’s not necessary. I already know what to do."
Jian Xi waved her hand, listless and unwilling to say another word. Her sorrowful silhouette was pitiable to behold.
"Alright then."
Jian Yanjun didn’t want to let them go, but since his little sister had spoken, there was no use in keeping them.
He personally went in and untied the ropes binding Yan Qing.
"Get out."
Yan Qing kept looking back as he retreated, then quickly vanished into the night.
None of them noticed Wan Yu silently following him.
「In a deserted, secluded corner.」
Yan Qing glanced behind him. "Miss Wan, come out."
Wan Yu glared at him angrily. "You knew all along I was following you?"
Yan Qing touched his nose. His body was covered in bruises, and it was quite painful. These people really didn’t hold back!
"As soon as I left, I changed directions a few times, and you kept right on my heels. You must have some questions for me."
Wan Yu nodded. "Don’t worry. Murder requires a life for a life. Even abroad, I wouldn’t go as far as killing you."
Yan Qing asked, "Do you also want to know if Director Si really stole the child?"
"If not him, then who could it be?" Wan Yu retorted.
Yan Qing hesitated for a moment. "This..."
He was in charge of all intelligence gathering. Recently, Saint Seymour had indeed been his key focus, but...
"An enemy!"
Wan Yu scoffed coldly, anger flaring in her heart. She growled, "Besides Si Yuhuan, what other enemies could Xixi have? She’s the esteemed eldest daughter of the Jian Family!"
Yan Qing broke out in a sweat from her shouting. "Could it be someone else? You all could think about it more carefully."
"Get lost!"
Wan Yu exploded with rage. If she could have thought of anyone else, would she have needed to follow him here to ask?
Yan Qing sulked, pursing his lips. "You’ll regret this!"
"Regret it? My ass!" Wan Yu raised her fist, and Yan Qing immediately turned and fled.
Damned scoundrel!
"If I find even the slightest clue, I’ll chop both you and your master to pieces!"
Wan Yu stormed back to the hospital. She pushed the door open and saw Jian Xi.
"Well? Did you get anything out of him?"
"That guy insists it wasn’t Si Yuhuan. He’s so loyal I wanted to crack his skull open and take a look."
Jian Xi sat down on the bed, disappointed. "Maybe he doesn’t know anything. Si Yuhuan could be manipulating everything himself. A man as devious as him... even those close to him might not be fully in his confidence."
"That Si Yuhuan is too cunning and calculating."
That night, Jian Xi tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Wan Yu’s heart ached for her but she was helpless. She could only advise her to try and relax, assuring her that they would find a way.
「The next morning.」
The group set off on their journey back to China.
Hilda and Zhang Yaxuan came personally to see them off.
"I’m sorry I can’t return with you; my painting is at a critical stage," Zhang Yaxuan said, his voice full of regret.
Jian Xi could tell that he genuinely cared about her, though, of course, only as a friend.
"You focus on your work. It’s fine. I have my brothers with me, so I’ll be very safe. As for the marriage certificate..."
"There’s no rush. I’ll get it when I return to China."
Although the two were discussing something as important as marriage, they spoke as casually as if they were discussing the weather.
Wan Yu, standing nearby, felt the corner of her mouth twitch.
"Goodbye, Xixi!"
The helicopter landed smoothly on the nearby grass.
Jian Xi departed without any hesitation.
Her slender back conveyed utter determination.
「China.」
Si Yuhuan returned injured and was lying in a hospital bed receiving treatment.
The doctors couldn’t help but sigh.
"You keep getting injured time and again. Even an iron man couldn’t withstand being patched up so much!"
Si Yuhuan let their words go in one ear and out the other.
All he could think about was the image of Jian Xi, her voice hoarse with desperate, grief-stricken cries.
Yan Qing suddenly called.
"Director Si, I’m back in the country."
Si Yuhuan was slightly surprised.
"The Madam didn’t give me too much trouble. She let me go after I recounted your itinerary for the past three months word for word. As for those bodyguards, they were released too," Yan Qing said, a note of worry in his voice. "You even fought Fifth Master Jian despite your injuries. Are you alright?"
"In the hospital," Si Yuhuan said indifferently.
By now, he had almost become a regular at the hospital. It was time to consider establishing a dedicated hospital for his own medical care, lest he be spotted by reporters one day and become sensationalized news.
"The Madam insists that you stole her son. There must be some misunderstanding. I’ll immediately investigate what has actually happened in Saint Seymour recently. One thing is certain: someone has been impersonating you. They’re clearly targeting you."
"Mm."
Si Yuhuan pinched the bridge of his nose and waved his hand dismissively.
The doctor hurriedly excused himself.
"I also found out from Miss Wan that Miss Jian’s health is very poor right now; she’s deficient in both qi and blood," Yan Qing continued. "You see..."
"Her life or death has nothing to do with me," Si Yuhuan stated, his voice icy and detached.
This merciless woman! Threatening to break my arms and legs! No one has ever dared to treat me like this! She’s truly lost her mind!
"Oh! Then... are we still going to investigate this?"
"Nonsense!" Si Yuhuan roared.
Yan Qing quickly said, "Please, calm your anger, Director Si. Not for the Madam’s sake, but for your own reputation and status, this matter must be investigated."
After hanging up the phone, Si Yuhuan clenched his fists. That damned woman! When I find the real mastermind, I’ll force you to apologize to me! It’s only been a few months, but her temper has gotten much worse, and her capabilities have grown more formidable too!
BANG!
The door was suddenly flung open.
Old Master Si, supported by Housekeeper Qi, walked in. When he saw Si Yuhuan lying on the hospital bed, his chest and arms stained with blood, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"You scoundrel! Who injured you like this?"
Si Yuhuan immediately rose to support him. "Grandfather, why are you here?"
Who’s been gossiping!
Old Master Si trembled with anger. "If I hadn’t come, you might have been beaten to death! Who would dare to strike you so heavily? Are they trying to make an enemy of the entire Si Family?"
Before Si Yuhuan could say anything, Housekeeper Qi interjected with a sniff, "It was none other than Miss Jian Xi who struck so heavily."
"What did you say? It was Xixi?"
Old Master Si was stunned.