It's been a week.
A week since Qin Ningyi lost all news of Huo Rou.
Huo Rou's sharpness had indeed exceeded his imagination. Gu Yan's people had been guarding all the entrances and exits of the Jiang family, with cars coming and going from all of them at night.
Gu Yan's people felt something was amiss and only sent a few to follow, while the rest remained in place to continue their stakeout. Sure enough, during the day, another wave of cars exited from different entrances and exits.
In the end, not a single one of them was the right person.
When Gu Yan reported this, Qin Ningyi knew that Huo Rou must have discovered them the moment she left the Qin family's premises. Going to Old Man Jiang's was merely a tactic to escape.
He searched everywhere related to her, but Huo Rou seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.
The people guarding Daolin Village did not wait for anyone. Those stationed at Meicheng Yunfu also did not see anyone enter Huo Rou's home. Even the martyr's cemetery in Taichuan City had been under surveillance, but nothing came of it.
Finally, the group following Wang Haozhu lost her after a few attempts.
Huo Rou was gone.
She left decisively and completely, disappearing without a trace.
She had only taken An An and Shen Feng with her.
Qin Ningyi sat by Old Master Qin's bedside, staring blankly at the beeping monitoring equipment.
"Grandpa," he called out softly, but received no response.
Su Nianzhu helped Grandma Liu in. "Ningyi, go back and rest for a bit. We'll stay here."
Grandma Liu looked at the stubble on Qin Ningyi's chin and his tired, bloodshot eyes, feeling immense heartache. "Ningyi, you must go back quickly. I've already sent people to look for the Liu family; Xiao Rou will be fine, don't worry."
Her grandson had finally found someone he cared for again.
How could it have come to this?
She sighed, looking at the unconscious Old Master Qin in bed. "The specialists from another hospital will arrive this afternoon. Go home and rest, and come back later."
After seeing Qin Ningyi off, Grandma Liu sat by Old Master Qin's bedside, lost in thought as she looked at his white hair.
Su Nianzhu peeled a piece of fruit and offered it to her. Grandma Liu met Su Nianzhu's gaze. "Nianzhu, don't blame Xiao Rou."
Su Nianzhu was startled. She hadn't even noticed when Grandma Liu took the fruit from her hand.
Grandma Liu continued, "Old Qin's health was already poor; this cannot be blamed on Xiao Rou. That child has had a difficult life; don't be too harsh on her."
No matter how this situation developed, she recognized Huo Rou as her granddaughter-in-law. Therefore, she had to resolve any potential issues beforehand. If Huo Rou returned, she would find a harmonious family that truly cared for her.
Although Old Master Qin was stern, he never made things difficult for the daughters-in-law in the family. Su Nianzhu, having lost her father, feared Old Master Qin but respected and loved him. She was afraid this incident would make her fall into a deeper state of distress.
Qin Nishui and Qin Xingzhou had returned midway to help care for a few days, and she had said the same thing to both brothers.
"Yes, I understand," Su Nianzhu nodded.
Grandma Liu looked at Old Master Qin again. "Old Qin ah."
She said softly, "Wake up quickly. I don't know much about what happened back then, and we still need you to clear up the doubts for the children. Our family needs you!"
Unfortunately, Old Master Qin, lying in the hospital bed, did not stir.
Only the continuous beeping of the instruments reminded them that he was still here.
Back at home, Qin Ningyi couldn't sleep at all.
Huo Rou didn't want him anymore.
She didn't even want him to know where she was or if she was alright.
He looked at the contact saved as "Little Calico" in his phone; he had tried countless times, but it was always busy.
Even An An, who had cunningly smiled and acted as a little informant for him, hadn't contacted him.
"A Rou..."
"Are you doing well?"
Qin Ningyi murmured to himself.