Chen Tong shook his head, looking at Old Master He's hopeful gaze. "Didn't you hear what I just said? This medicinal ingredient is quite difficult to procure. If you want it, it might not be easy to find. You can ask that girl if she has any more in stock. Take it for a few days, and after I'm done with my current tasks, I'll go see her to find out what the situation really is!"
Old Master He's eyes gradually dimmed. "Since you've said so, how can I have any objections? Alright, my wife is waiting for me at home, so I won't chat with you any longer. I'll be going back now."
Chen Tong watched Old Master He's hasty departure with some helplessness, shaking his head. "Okay, we'll keep in touch by phone."
The next day.
Yang Zhiguo had her stay in this room, then indeed sent people to guard her. There were four of them, completely securing the front and back entrances of the hotel, giving her no chance to leave.
Zhang Wan'er tried calling Yang Zhiguo, but the call wouldn't go through. So, she could only cast a pleading gaze towards the guards at the door. She clasped her hands together and begged, "Brothers, could you please contact Chief Yang for me and ask him to come over? I have something important to tell him!"
One of the guards, feeling a pang of guilt, reminded her, "Miss Zhang, I'm really sorry. Chief Yang is a bit busy these past couple of days. He mentioned he's going on a business trip, so we can't contact him. Perhaps you could try calling him again later?"
Zhang Wan'er's eyes widened, and she asked incredulously, "What? A business trip?! Did he say when he'll be back?"
The guards shook their heads in unison. Zhang Wan'er dejectedly tugged at her hair. Forget days, she couldn't even wait a few hours. If she didn't make an appearance before the He family elders again, this plan would fail once more. When would she finally be able to truly have Gu Xingdong?
Thinking of this, Zhang Wan'er immediately darkened her expression and said sharply, "As a chief, doesn't he know this behavior is illegal? And you're still going along with his nonsense! I have important matters to attend to now. All of you, get out of my way and stop blocking the entrance. Otherwise, believe it or not, I'll note down your numbers and report you to the higher-ups?"
Hearing Zhang Wan'er's words, the guards exchanged helpless glances. Then, one of them stepped forward and said, "Miss Zhang, we are just following orders. Could you please not make things difficult for us? If you really want to go out, you can contact him. You're his niece, so feel free to make any requests. But we are merely his subordinates, and it's truly difficult for us to make decisions on our own. What do you think of my suggestion?"
Zhang Wan'er said with a cold face, "Why are you all so rigid? Can you let me go out for two hours? Don't worry, I promise you here that I'll be back within two hours. I absolutely won't make things difficult for you. Let's just meet each other halfway."
Seeing Zhang Wan'er's persistence on this matter, the guards found themselves in a difficult position. However, they could only stand tall, their gazes fixed straight ahead, treating Zhang Wan'er as if she were invisible.
When Zhang Wan'er saw that they were ignoring her, she stomped her foot in anger. She bit her lower lip tightly, then, in a fit of rage, took out her phone and sent Yang Zhiguo a message: "If you don't let me leave now, do you believe I'll jump from the fifth floor of this hotel?"
After sending the message, a long time passed without any reply. Just as Zhang Wan'er was considering finding another way to escape from this place, a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.
"What are you doing here? It's quite cold outside, aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhang Wan'er's eyes lit up. She excitedly stood up from the ground. "Brother Zhe Ming, you're here? Uncle actually imprisoned me in this place and won't let me leave the hotel. Please help me get out, I want to see Xing Dong!"
Li Zhe Ming looked at the delicate person before him with a complicated expression. Then, he placed a hand on her shoulder and gently patted it. "You want to go out so badly? Uncle must have his reasons for doing this. Why don't you just stay in the hotel obediently and don't run around? You can go out when he comes back."
Zhang Wan'er shook her head, her hands tightly gripping Li Zhe Ming's clothes. "No, Uncle won't let me be with Xing Dong no matter what. I think he won't be back for at least ten days or half a month on this business trip. I have a great opportunity to be with Gu Xing Dong right now, and I don't want to miss it. I also don't want to be in a situation months later where the child's father is uncertain, and I feel powerless!"
When Li Zhe Ming heard Zhang Wan'er mention the child, his mind went blank. At that moment, he couldn't hear anything; he could only see Zhang Wan'er's lips moving.
"Brother Zhe Ming, are you even listening to me? Please, just take me out. I beg you. If you don't let me out today, do you believe I'll die right in front of you? I just want to pursue my love, why must you all stop me?" Zhang Wan'er said, weeping dramatically.
The guards nearby, hearing Zhang Wan'er's words, showed a hint of disdain in their eyes. Everyone in the military said Zhang Wan'er was an obedient and independent woman with her own opinions. She never expected that she would be a woman who couldn't live without a man behind closed doors. Most importantly, the man she was after was rather peculiar, insisting on seducing someone who was already married, which was utterly absurd!
Feeling Zhang Wan'er's struggle, Li Zhe Ming finally snapped back to attention. He gripped her shoulders, gradually increasing the pressure, and then asked eagerly, "You said you're pregnant, is that true? You're not lying to me, are you?"
"I might be pregnant, but the exact result won't be known until I have a check-up at the hospital in three months. Brother Zhe Ming, pregnancy is something that can't be kept hidden forever. Don't you want people to see me with a bulging belly, not knowing who the father of the child is?" After saying this, Zhang Wan'er looked at Li Zhe Ming with pitiful eyes.
Li Zhe Ming couldn't help but swallow. He knew very well who the father of the child was. However, how could he reveal the truth of this matter to Zhang Wan'er? Whether she could accept it was still a question. Thinking of this, the light in Li Zhe Ming's eyes completely dimmed.