Chapter 13: The First Encounter with Jiang Zeyu

Fu Yanchen’s eyes were bloodshot as he clutched the phone he had found as if it were his last hope. Upon seeing Shen Mengxia’s phone wallpaper, his emotions erupted uncontrollably. He roared, “Everyone, search for her! Inch by inch, dig three feet deep if you have to. If you can’t find her in a week, search for a month. If a month isn’t enough, search for a year. Whether alive or dead, we must find her.”

His voice thundered through the air like a bolt of lightning, rattling the eardrums of everyone present. The fury and determination in his words left no doubt about his unwavering resolve to achieve his goal at any cost.

For a moment, the entire scene fell into a heavy silence. Everyone was stunned by his intense reaction, heads bowed, too intimidated to speak.

The wallpaper on her phone was a striking profile photo of Fu Yanchen himself—no one knew when this little girl had secretly taken it.

Old Master Fu was in poor health, and Fu Yanchen, along with Ye Huaiting, had kept it hidden from him.

Ye Huaiting had also been tirelessly searching day and night these past few days. Qiao Wanwan watched all this with growing resentment, repeatedly urging Ye Huaiting to rest, but to no avail.

People only learn to cherish what they have once it’s gone.

These days, with Shen Mengxia missing, Ye Huaiting was consumed with anxiety. Though he had Qiao Wanwan, his idealized love, by his side, his mind played back endless memories of Shen Mengxia as if on a film reel.

He recalled how every time he got drunk, it was Shen Mengxia who came to pick him up and cared for him through the night. She had even tried to get her driver’s license for him, though she never passed.

Every birthday, Shen Mengxia would prepare surprises well in advance—handmade keychains, hand-knitted scarves—yet Ye Huaiting always dismissed them, complaining so much that she long ago lost track of where those gifts ended up.

“Hey, wake up, are you okay?” Shen Mengxia’s eyes fluttered open, blurry at first, and she saw a handsome, sunlit face filled with concern staring down at her.

Only then did she remember that after turning off her phone, she had hidden behind the curtains. But perhaps the motion of switching off the phone had alerted the assassin, who began searching the entire room.

Seeing the assassin approaching the curtains, she had instinctively slipped behind a wooden chest hidden there, accidentally dropping her phone. Luckily, the assassin was distracted by a noise outside and hastily left.

Looking around her surroundings, Shen Mengxia began to piece things together. Someone must have moved the chest, and she had come along with it.

Embarrassed, she cleared her throat awkwardly. “Hello, my name is Shen Mengxia. Nice to meet you. May I ask where this place is?”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. “You’re quite an interesting girl, hiding in a chest like that.”

He stepped forward two paces and looked down at the awkward figure nervously picking at her fingers inside the chest.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on his handsome face, outlining his deep, resolute features. His sharp brows framed bright eyes, a strong nose, and his crisp police uniform lent him an air of authority and heroic charm.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Jiang Zeyu, a detective with the Criminal Investigation Unit of Binhai City Public Security Bureau.”

“Now, come out and explain what’s going on here. Don’t try any tricks,” he said, raising an eyebrow with a commanding, no-nonsense gaze.

“I’m not a bad person. I was forced to hide in the chest to avoid some bad guys. Later, somehow the chest got sealed. I was too scared to make any noise and don’t know how I ended up here,” Shen Mengxia blurted out.

“I’m Qing University in Haijing City, a second-year graduate student in Computer Science. You can check with my school if you don’t believe me,” she added all at once, already feeling awkward, only for her stomach to suddenly rumble loudly.

“Hungry? I don’t have much good food here, but how about some instant noodles?” Jiang Zeyu said, turning to fetch some.

In no time, the noodles were ready. Watching the girl in branded clothes and expensive jewelry devour them ravenously, Jiang Zeyu realized there was more to her than met the eye.

“I know you’re probably hiding something, but I’m not in a hurry. When you’re ready, you’ll tell me. I’ll verify your story. This is my home, so stay here for now. I have to go to work. If anything comes up, I’ll be back,” Jiang Zeyu said as he put on his shoes, preparing to leave.

“Are you not afraid I’ll empty your place out?” Shen Mengxia blinked her big eyes cutely, voicing her doubt.

“Come on, with your outfit, you empty my place?” he chuckled.