Chen Linyun had an inexplicable gutfeel that something was off on Kang Sola"s end. Perhaps it originated from the girl"s unusual behavior that night.Chen Linyun had already been sleeping, the pregnant missus by his side, also asleep, when his phone rang. He reached for it blindly on the bedside table; however, just after two brief rings, it ended by itself.
The call was from Kang Sola.
The girl would not call without reason in the middle of the night. She would never want to bother anyone under normal circ.u.mstances.
Which meant…
Chen Linyun dressed quickly while trying to return Kang Sola"s call. It went through, but no one picked up.
Distressed, Chen Linyun hurriedly brushed his lips on the sleeping beauty"s crown before heading outside.
He knew where his sister was.
He accelerated his car towards the address he had entered into his navigation system.
Afterward, he called Mo Wenbin and his father, Chen Lingfang, for backup.
He did not want to cause a stir, so he pleaded them to act as clandestinely as possible. With his father"s connections, it was possible.
When he arrived at the place, the metal gate was closed. He parked the car by the gutter and decided to climb the devil"s gates. He fell on all fours, and the excruciating pain that shot through him would have been enough for him to stop for a few minutes and recalibrate himself, but he figured he doesn"t have that luxury at present.
Heart racing and ignoring his pain, he surged forward, alone and freakingly sacred. He chanted prayers in his head.
Sola could be in grave danger. Every minute counts.
He could not wait for the Chen Family"s reinforcements.
The place was in complete disarray. The most apparent form of intrusion was the thin layer of mud and soil and dirt on the floor – shoeprints – several of them.
He could not fathom how his racing heart could still quicken its pace. He quickened his steps, too, albeit his knees turning soft and wobbly.
"Sola."
"Sola."
Her name was on-loop inside his head. He did not dare to break the silence, for the price of it might be sky-high.
As he went cautiously, he ran several simulations inside his head.
Where could she be? Upstairs? Downstairs? Outside?
He decided to covertly search for her at the ground level first. He turned onto one side and reached the kitchen. "Not here."
"Not here."
"Not here!"
Until he arrived at the exit which led to the outdoor poolside.
He saw a hand on the ground – a girl"s fragile hand revealed behind a piece of furniture.
"Sola!" He shouted in his mind.
He staggered backward at first before he sprinted as silently as possible.
Behind the huge brown rattan recliner, there she was – Kang Sola lying on her side, one arm outstretched on the ground, without consciousness but still breathing.
His vision almost grayed out at the sight of her lying defenseless, motionless.
Without wasting any more seconds, he picked her up and departed the place in much haste.
---
Kang Sola woke up in a hospital bed, her body aching terribly, and her head competing with it. Chen Linyun told her that it was fortunate that she only incurred slight concussions and nothing else.
Since she regained consciousness, she had entertained several visits inside her private ward – mostly family members, and a handful from the authorities.
Some men in olive green windbreakers came to ask questions.
"Are they from the police?" Kang Sola weakly asked Chen Linyun by her bedside.
"En. Investigators. Just tell them what happened, Sola. They"re here to help."
Kang Sola gritted her teeth. She clutched the edge of her comforter, then pulled it up her neck and curled into a ball. "What should I do?"
"Where is he?"
"I"m so worried…"
Kang Sola grabbed Chen Linyun"s forearm. "Can we talk privately? Send them away."
Chen Linyun obliged. "Please wait outside." He said to the men.
Xue Jinxu signaled Chen Linyun that she would take care of it. "This way, gentlemen. How about a warm cup of coffee? My father-in-law must be at this floor"s reception area. Let"s join him." Her voice slowly faded as their small company left the room.
When it"s only the two of them, Chen Linyun nudged his little sister. "Sola, what is it?"
"Where is he? Did they take him away?" She answered with another question.
"Sola, who are you talking about?"
"My Fengyu-Oppa. We were… We were just chatting and enjoying the cool breeze at dinner. Then crude men – several of them – just appeared out of nowhere. Did they take him?"
"Did you find him?" She asked some more.
"Where is he?"
Kang Sola broke into tears. Her grip on Chen Linyun"s forearm tightened.
Noy knowing anything could be overwhelming too.
"…"
He sighed in exasperation. He could not answer because, with this new information, he started some speculations inside his head. "She truly cares for him. However, is it possible that it"s a self-induced escape plan he meticulously prepared to get away?"
"Perhaps he turned himself into a victim? And Sola, both a victim and a witness?"
"But what if it"s not the case?"
"And that plan will alert the police and turn their attention to him. It"s not a fool-proof plan."
Chen Linyun was lost in his thought bubble when Kang Sola tugged on his forearm. "Don"t tell those men. I don"t trust them. Can you… Please help me find him, Ge-ge. Please? I don"t have any means to search for him myself. He"s your brother, too, no matter what has transpired between you."
"Let"s search for him, please?"
"Sola, those men outside are investigators. If we want to find him, we have to get the authorities involved."
"Then, what? They will take him away, too!"
"He has to face the consequences of his actions. But first, he must be found. Do you want him found or do you not?"
"Of course, I do! That"s what I"ve been asking you!"
"At all costs?"
"En."
"Then, we should rely on those investigators."
Kang Sola cradled her aching head on her palms.
Chen Linyun did not disclose his a.s.sessment of the matter to his little sister who "adores" this despicable man. He could not comprehend where Kang Sola was coming from. How could he tell her that perhaps it was just a show? A disappearing act? Will she buy it?
Just like the infamous story of a wealthy chairman who allegedly "suffered" a heart attack while partic.i.p.ating in a triathlon. That chairman happened to be accused of plundering his company"s clients" investments on realty properties. It was so convenient to "die" after he was accused.
"But he has not been charged yet." Chen Linyun pondered.
"Sola, why do you say that those investigators will take him away when he"s found?"
"That"s what he said. If our father will drag him into his mess, he would be taken away, too… And his lawyer notified him that someone pressed charges for a.s.sault. But I think it"s just a misunderstanding in a gym. He said it wasn"t too serious."
Chen Linyun exhaled sharply as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Likely. Would he go to such lengths, though?"