"Found him!?" Ji Nian exclaimed loudly.
Her voice immediately caught the attention of Ji Tingzhou over there.
Feeling her father's glance, Ji Nian coughed and turned her back, whispering, "Really?"
"Yes. Someone towed his car away to dismantle and sell it. They know about Chen Mo's situation."
Ji Nian quickly went upstairs to change her clothes. When she came downstairs, Ji Tingzhou said nothing but jerked his chin, indicating that she should take Wei Yang with her.
Ji Nian hadn't asked him to help find Chen Mo, and naturally, Ji Tingzhou wouldn't stop her from going.
"Go. If you're in danger, let Wei Yang step in."
She smiled at Ji Tingzhou, gave him a gentle hug, and as she was leaving, Zhiliao hung a pre - prepared bag on her.
Ji Nian originally planned to take the family car, but before she could walk out, she heard Lu Jinghuai say, "I'm outside the door, ready to go at any time."
Unexpectedly, he had come. Ji Nian rushed outside with Wei Yang. Sure enough, she saw Lu Jinghuai's car.
The car door slid open slowly. Inside, Lu Jinghuai, with his hair half - tied up and wearing a black mountaineering suit, sat there and smiled at Ji Nian, "Get in quickly."
Wei Yang beside her couldn't help but click his tongue.
Who is he trying to seduce, this guy.
After Ji Nian got in the car, Lu Jinghuai handed her the prepared information.
After Ji Nian finished reading it, he slowly said, "The car thief said that on the second day after the car stopped, there was a heavy rain on the mountain, which caused a landslide."
"Mr. Chen didn't mean not to come back."
"He had an accident."
Ji Nian's heart sank suddenly.
"I see."
No wonder the killer group and No. 1 and No. 2 couldn't find him. Chen Mo's car had been towed away, and he'd had an accident. With the landslide and the rain washing away everything, there was no evidence left. How could they find him?
It wasn't that they were not capable; it was just bad luck.
Just as the car thief was dealing with the car, he was reported and arrested.
Just as she was thinking.
Suddenly, a hand covered her hand. The warm touch made her realize that her hand was ice - cold at the moment, and she came back to her senses.
Right in front of her, Lu Jinghuai's thumb gently stroked the back of her hand. From the side, it looked as if he had almost embraced Ji Nian in his arms.
"Don't be afraid. He'll be okay."
Ji Nian looked into his kind and tolerant silver - gray eyes and moved her lips.
There came a loud cough, a stomping sound, and a sharp look from the side.
Lu Jinghuai withdrew his hand in time.
Ji Nian glanced at Wei Yang, who was full of dissatisfaction, with his muscles tensed, looking like he wanted to punch Lu Jinghuai. Then she turned to Lu Jinghuai and said, "I also think he'll be okay."
Chen Mo was indeed okay.
When he woke up, he found himself lying in bed, and his whole body ached badly.
Where was this?
He remembered that he had driven out to get some fresh air. Without paying attention, he had driven to this desolate and remote place. After getting out of the car, he found that the stars were especially bright when looking up, so he decided to stay here for a while to digest the big news he had just learned.
He just couldn't face the thought of his niece taking care of him when he was young and often touching his tail.
The rain came suddenly. The tree shadows swayed wildly, and the whole mountain seemed to turn into a man - eating beast, roaring. He immediately decided to go down the mountain.
However, the wind got stronger and stronger, and it became difficult for him to move. The strong wind blew something that hit his head, and then he lost consciousness.
"Is the young man awake?"
As Chen Mo, who was wondering how many days he had been asleep, sat up clutching his splitting head, a hoarse old voice suddenly rang out.
Chen Mo looked over warily.
An old man in a blue gown was standing there, leaning on a cane and looking at him. His gray beard hung down to his chest.
"Old man, did you save me?" Chen Mo asked. As he opened his mouth, he found his throat was extremely dry and hoarse.
"You were washed up on the riverbank, so I brought you back," the old man replied.
It was really lucky for Chen Mo. Despite the big accident he had been through, apart from a blow to the head, all his limbs were intact, and he only had some non - life - threatening flesh wounds.
Chen Mo was very grateful to the old man.
"Old man, could you tell me how many days I've been sleeping? And could you lend me your phone?"
The old man told him a number, and Chen Mo's face turned a bit pale.
It was likely that people outside were going crazy looking for him.
He staggered to his feet and, guided by the old man, walked outside, planning to borrow a phone from the so - called village head.
Just as he stepped out of the door, he heard a child shouting excitedly outside, "Grandpa! There's a really good - looking foreigner coming to our house!!!"
Chen Mo stopped in his tracks and saw a young man walking in with a snot - nosed kid.
It was a blond young man in a black mountaineering suit, with a very noticeable earring in the light. He had long arms and legs.
Meeting Chen Mo's somewhat surprised gaze, Lu Jinghuai tilted his head with a smile and said, "Mr. Chen."
Chen Mo managed to compose himself.
"Did you bring any money?"
Lu Jinghuai didn't expect this to be his first words. He took out his wallet and asked, "How much do you need?"
"All of it."
He took out a stack of red banknotes.
Chen Mo took them and stuffed them into the little boy's pocket, who looked completely confused. Then he turned around and walked unsteadily inside. He thanked the old man who had saved him and said that he would come back to thank him again after he sorted things out.
Then he followed Lu Jinghuai away.
When he learned that Ji Nian had also come, Chen Mo paused for a moment.
Lu Jinghuai squinted his eyes sharply and asked, "Did you two have a fight?"
There was a strange tone in his voice. Chen Mo gave him a sidelong glance.
At this look, he suddenly realized that the young prince from Country O didn't seem as gentle and easy - going to everyone as Ji Nian had described.
At least, he didn't see any kindness on Lu Jinghuai's face. Instead, there was a faint sense of coldness.
Chen Mo thought it made sense.
After all, his subordinates had tortured Lu Jinghuai like that back then. It was not surprising that he held a grudge against him.
"I'll pay you back the money when we get back."
"Also, although it's a bit late, what happened back then was indeed related to me. I'm sorry for letting you suffer like that."
Lu Jinghuai tilted his head, and a golden strand of hair like silk slipped down.
It took Lu Jinghuai a while to realize what he was talking about.
"The wrongdoer should be held accountable."
The real culprit back then was secretly transferred to the Lu family by Princess Feia. His mother gently placed a shiny blade in his still - bandaged hand and whispered to him, "Let out your hatred to your heart's content."
Lu Jinghuai didn't hesitate and tortured the culprit to death. Or rather, he had been looking forward to it for a long time.
The enemy was already dead, so there was nothing left to hate.
Thinking that Lu Jinghuai didn't want to accept his apology, Chen Mo forced a smile.
Forget it. If Lu Jinghuai continued to be cold to him, it would at least ease his guilt.
Just as he was thinking this...
On the other end, Ji Nian, who had split up with Wei Yang and Lu Jinghuai to investigate another village, rushed over immediately after receiving Lu Jinghuai's call.
From a distance, she spotted Chen Mo's slender figure and quickened her pace. As she reached him, she grabbed his wrist firmly.
Beside them, Lu Jinghuai averted his gaze indifferently.
He didn’t want to look.
If he kept watching, he might regret it.
"Chen Mo, what kind of uncle are you?! Running off so far without saying a word!"
Lu Jinghuai’s lowered lashes suddenly lifted, and when he turned his head, his silver-gray eyes grew brighter.
Seeing Ji Nian anxiously checking Chen Mo for injuries, the latter—despite the awkwardness of the child being his former caretaker—lowered his head, looking every bit the guilty party.
"Sorry, Nian Nian. My mistake. I worried you."
Mid-sentence, he coughed violently, his vision darkening as his body swayed forward.
A pair of hands steadied him just in time. Chen Mo turned his head and met Lu Jinghuai’s furrowed brows and concerned gaze.
The golden-haired youth spoke softly, "Uncle, no need for words. Let’s get you to the hospital first."
A stark contrast to the cold, distant Lu Jinghuai from moments ago.
Chen Mo: ?
