"Young Master, Miss Lin requests an audience!" Xue Song announced upon entering.
Yan Jin Chao did not even lift his head, coldly stating, "Do not see her."
He had previously purchased a residence for the little one, which had angered her greatly. This time, he decided not to meet Lin Shishu. The favors he owed her had already been repaid.
Hearing the refusal, a flicker of disappointment crossed Lin Shishu's eyes. She should have known that the residence he had arranged for her and her father was merely repayment of a debt.
Now that the debt was settled, what reason did she have to see him again?
Moreover, she was nothing at present.
As she turned and took a step, she was enveloped in a sack. She struggled, and an endless darkness descended.
She did not have time to cry out.
"Father, I've brought Mother to have lunch with you."
Yan Jin Chao looked up and saw the little one leading Xue Zining over. The child winked at him.
"Xingchen, do not speak carelessly," Xue Zining said, crouching down with a stern expression.
Before Yan Jin Chao recovered his memories, she did not wish to keep him through such means.
He had been by her side for so many years, protecting her for so long. She hoped that this time he could choose for himself. Regardless of whether he ultimately chose her or not, she would respect his decision.
Xue Xingchen walked forward and took Yan Jin Chao's hand. At this moment, he felt complete. Father, Mother, if only Xingyue were here too.
"Young Master, something has happened..." A servant from the manor hurried in.
Yan Jin Chao looked up, his expression cool. "Wait until after the meal to discuss anything."
"Lord Lin requests an audience!" The servant did not retreat but finished speaking.
Yan Jin Chao's gaze turned cold as he looked at the servant. The servant faltered, "Young... Young Master."
"Since it is important, you should go!" Xue Zining spoke.
Yan Jin Chao looked at the child, who nodded. "Father, go quickly and return soon."
Yan Jin Chao rose, his gaze lingering on Xue Zining for a moment before he withdrew and left.
Xue Zining's hand, which was reaching for a dish, stopped. "Mother doesn't want Father to go. I'll call Father back."
"Sit down," Xue Zining said, her voice unusually cold for the first time.
Xue Xingchen was startled and obediently sat on the chair. Xue Zining looked at him with a stern face and said, "I plan to return to the capital tonight. Are you coming with me?"
"Is Father going back?" Xue Xingchen asked.
Xue Zining's gaze paused. After a long moment, she said, "He probably won't."
"Mother, are you going to save sister?"
"Yes," Xue Zining nodded.
"I'll stay to accompany Father, so Mother can go save sister without any worries," Xue Xingchen said.
"Have you thought it through?" Xue Zining asked again.
Xue Xingchen nodded. "Yes. If I go back, Mother can't go save sister without any worries. It's better for me to stay. Father will protect me."
"Since you've made up your mind, I respect your decision. I will have Aunt Xue stay to protect you," Xue Zining said.
"Mother, what about you going alone?" Xue Xingchen asked, concerned.
Xue Zining reached out and stroked his head. "Don't worry, Mother has help."
Xue Xingchen blinked and asked, "Won't Mother say goodbye to Father?"
Xue Zining looked in the direction Yan Jin Chao had left and shook her head. "It's not necessary."
In the study, Yan Jin Chao helped Lin Feng, who was about to kneel, and asked with a frown, "Lord Lin, what is the meaning of this?"
Lin Feng grabbed his arm, his voice urgent, "My daughter is missing."
Yan Jin Chao was slightly stunned. "Miss Lin is missing?"
Lin Feng nodded, his eyes already red. "This morning, she said she wanted to thank Young Master Yan. It's already noon, and she hasn't returned. I was worried. I searched along the way and couldn't find my daughter. I came to ask your household staff, and they said my daughter should have returned home long ago."
"Lord Lin, don't rush. I'll send people to look for her," Yan Jin Chao said.
"Young Master Yan, I apologize for the trouble," Lin Feng said with guilt.
"Lord Lin, you are being too polite."
Yan Jin Chao gave the order, dispatching people to search for Lin Shishu.
Lin Shishu awoke to find herself in an unfamiliar room, her hands and feet bound, wearing a red wedding gown.
"Where... where is this?" Lin Shishu struggled, but her bound limbs made it impossible for her to move.
Footsteps sounded outside the door. The door opened, and a figure walked in, also dressed in red.
"You're awake?"
Lin Shishu was startled. The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Looking closely, she realized the person was somewhat familiar.
"Lin Shishu." He walked closer.
Lin Shishu trembled, her face changing drastically. "You... you... Murong Bo..."
Murong Bo laughed heartily, his smile somewhat sinister. He approached and grabbed her collar. "Yes, it's me, Murong Bo. Lin Shishu, you never expected to fall into my hands one day, did you?"
"Let go of me, Murong Bo, let go of me!" Lin Shishu struggled.
"After all the effort to bring you back, how could I let you go? Lin Shishu, you ultimately belong to me, to me..." Murong Bo was somewhat deranged.
Lin Shishu looked at Murong Bo, a sense of fear rising in her heart. "What... what do you want to do?"
"Do? Can't you see? Of course, it's to get married," Murong Bo replied with a smile.
"I will not marry you. Give up that idea," Lin Shishu said through gritted teeth.
"Whether you wish to or not, tonight is our wedding night. Today, you are my wife, Murong Bo's wife," Murong Bo said with a smile.
"You're a madman, you're a madman! Let go of me!" Lin Shishu resisted with all her might.
Suddenly, a slap landed on her. Murong Bo, without any tenderness, said coldly, "Lin Shishu, do you still think you are the Prefect's daughter? You had better recognize reality. You are nothing now. You are an ordinary person. No... you are not even an ordinary person. You don't know yet, the Min family is still looking for you.
You can either marry a fool or marry me..."
"I will marry neither," Lin Shishu said through gritted teeth.
Murong Bo smiled, a sinister look appearing on his face. "Is that so? Then I'm afraid it won't be as you wish, because tonight you will be mine."
Lin Shishu trembled all over. "I will not marry you, not even in death."
"This is not something you can decide, Lin Shishu. You will surely marry me tonight."
"Yan Jin Chao will not let you go," Lin Shishu said, gritting her teeth, word by word.
Murong Bo burst into laughter. "By then, you'll already be Murong Bo's person."
Lin Shishu bit her lower lip tightly, so hard she didn't feel the pain of it bleeding. Why was fate so unfair to her?
The one she liked didn't like her, and the one she didn't like insisted on marrying her?
"You see the time," Murong Bo said, then walked towards her step by step.
"I'd rather die than marry you," Lin Shishu said resolutely, intending to bite her tongue to end her life. Suddenly, someone grabbed her.
A handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth, preventing her from biting her tongue.
She shook her head, whimpering for help.
Murong Bo stepped forward, picked her up, and walked towards the bed.