Witch Hunt.
Qiao Tan Yuan for a moment succ.u.mbed to Gu Jiao Wu’s intoxicating kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and their tongues soaked in the taste they craved. A moment later her head won the battle over her heart, her hands moved to his chest and pushed him away.
‘Are you done?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Let go.’
Gu Jiao Wu heard his and Qiao Tan Yuan’s uneven breaths. He remembered she was still upset with him, and let her go. She took a step back, and composed herself. He took a step forward, and held her hand.
‘It’s been this long and you still don’t want to understand,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Understand what?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘About us,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I have no intention of ever getting back together with you now or in the future,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘If you don’t let go, I don’t mind calling other guests to come and make you let go.’
Most of the party guests were Gu Jiao Wu’s and Qiao Tan Yuan’s acquaintances. But it was the adamant look in her eyes that made him let go and leave.
The way Gu Jiao Wu’s cape straightened after he turned around made Qiao Tan Yuan sensed loneliness from him. She wondered if he dressed like a wizard because he knew about her witch costume. She shook her head to clear thoughts about him, and she walked back to the function room.
On the dance floor, the power ranger couple swayed together to match the song’s rhythm. But Hu Zui Ren the Shrek was the star on the dance floor. Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t lost in the lively atmosphere, she felt someone staring at her. She looked around the room, and spotted Gu Jiao Wu in the distance holding a wine gla.s.s while his eyes were zoomed in on where she was standing. His stare made her face turn red, and she looked away so he couldn’t see how much his presence affected her.
Shen Cheng the vampire walked to Qiao Tan Yuan, and put his hand out in front of her.
‘I looked for you outside the bathroom but I didn’t see you,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘Now that I found you, will you dance one song with me?’
Qiao Tan Yuan was worried Shen Cheng saw Gu Jiao Wu kissing her outside the bathroom.
‘Have you forgotten you’re my dance partner tonight?’ Shen Cheng asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan accepted Shen Cheng’s offered hand, and followed him to the dance floor.
Gu Jiao Wu gripped his wine gla.s.s. He wanted to take Qiao Tan Yuan away from Shen Cheng’s arms.
‘I didn’t think you’ll come,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘Not only did you come, but you’re in costume too.’
‘I had some free time so I came,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Really?’ Du Lei Xin asked. ‘Upstairs, I keep some vintage wine bottles. Big brother, do you want to open a bottle, and drink with me upstairs?’
Du Lei Xin followed Gu Jiao Wu’s murderous gaze on Shen Cheng dancing happily with Qiao Tan Yuan, and he understood Gu Jiao Wu’s reluctance to go upstairs.
‘Big brother, it’s Zui Ren’s birthday,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘Don’t be a party p.o.o.per.’
Gu Jiao Wu nodded, and walked upstairs with Du Lei Xin.
Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t feel Gu Jiao Wu’s staring at her back anymore. She turned her head around, Gu Jiao Wu had disappeared. When she looked back at Shen Cheng, she accidently stepped on his foot.
‘If you care about him, why don’t you want to get back together with him?’ Shen Cheng asked.
‘I don’t understand what you’re saying,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘You don’t have to act like you can’t see the truth,’ Shen Cheng said.
Shen Cheng stopped forcing Qiao Tan Yuan to admit the truth, and they danced the rest of the song. After the song ended, she left the dance floor and sat on a chair. He picked up two gla.s.ses of juice from a waiter’s tray, pa.s.sed her a gla.s.s and sat next to her.
‘If you’re tired, take a long rest,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I’m not a weakling,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘You on the other hand are turning into a nagging mum by the day.’
‘Are you making fun of me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘If you’re not injured, I wouldn’t pay attention to you.’
A simple jest made Shen Cheng accept Qiao Tan Yuan spent time with him because he was injured. He thought it was meaningless to keep her by his side because of his injuries.
‘I’m surprised Qiao Jie didn’t attend the party,’ Shen Cheng. ‘This kind of celebration is right up his alley way. You and your little brother are complete opposites.’
‘Qiao Jie and I have always been different from each other,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Shen Cheng’s attentions made Qiao Tan Yuan feel awkward, she looked away and drank the gla.s.s of juice.
Shen Cheng grabbed Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand to force her to look at him.
‘Shen Cheng, don’t be like this,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
When Shen Cheng was travelling, he wished Qiao Tan Yuan was with him to see the beautiful landscapes. He knew she saw him as a friend, but he still hoped one day she would see him as more than a friend.
‘If you’re with big brother, I would have given up,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘But you’re not with big brother so I still have a chance. I can say the man who loves you the most in the world is me.’
Qiao Tan Yuan believed Shen Cheng was the man who loved her the most in the world. But believing in someone’s love, and accepting their love were two different things.
‘Shen Cheng, I’m sorry,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. If she didn’t want to be with Gu Jiao Wu then she wanted to stay single. ‘Even if I’m not with Gu Jiao Wu, I won’t be with you either because it’s not fair for you.’
‘What if I don’t need fairness?’ Shen Cheng asked.
‘Shen Cheng, I’m serious,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Don’t be like this.’
Shen Cheng let go of Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand.
‘OK,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘I won’t pressure you anymore. But don’t run away every time you see me, because we’re still friends.’
‘Friends,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I’m happy to be your friend.’
‘Thank you,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘How about another dance with me?’
‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan put the empty gla.s.s of juice on a waiter’s tray, and walked to the bathroom. She was grateful toward Shen Cheng, but she didn’t want to give him hope again.
Qiao Tan Yuan washed her hands, and checked her witch makeup in the bathroom. When she walked outside the bathroom, someone struck the back of her neck and she fell unconscious.
Upstairs, Du Lei Xin looked closely at Gu Jiao Wu’s wizard costume, and he smiled.
‘I didn’t know you liked wizards,’ Du Lei Xin said.
‘Why did you ask me to come upstairs?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I was scared if you stayed downstairs, you would give Shen Cheng a beating,’ Du Lei Xin said.
‘Nonsense,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He was embarra.s.sed Du Lei Xin saw the truth. ‘I don’t want to give Shen Cheng a beating.’
‘Really?’ Du Lei Xin asked.
‘If you’re this free, why don’t you go look for Jiao Mai?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Lately she’s been cooped up in the lab.’
‘It’s impossible for her and me to be together,’ Du Lei Xin said.
‘Why not?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Won’t you two good not long ago?’
‘Things were good until one of the female employees at work was sick,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘I took the employee to the hospital for a check-up, Jiao Mai saw us together and misunderstood. After all this time, why won’t Jiao Mai believe me?’
Gu Jiao Wu finally understood why lately Gu Jiao Mai became a workaholic.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘If Jiao Mai didn’t care about you then she wouldn’t be jealous.’
‘Really?’ Du Lei Xin asked.
‘Yes,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Jiao Mai has always been indifferent toward outsiders. If she’s upset with you, because she saw you take another woman to the hospital in the middle of night, it means she cares about you. It’ll be strange if she doesn’t misunderstand.’
‘True,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘No wonder you look like you want to kill Shen Cheng when he’s dancing with Tan Yuan.’
‘Nonsense,’ Gu Jiao Wu denied.
‘Can you say you’re not jealous?’ Du Lei Xin asked. ‘If you want to preach to me then you need to convince Tan Yuan to believe you’re sincere first.’
Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t going to give up on Qiao Tan Yuan. Unless he died, he wouldn’t let her be with another man.
‘We should return to the party otherwise we’ll upset the birthday man,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu and Du Lei Xin walked downstairs. Hu Zui Ren was cutting the Shrek birthday cake on stage.
Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t interested in desserts. He looked over at Shen Cheng, but he didn’t see Qiao Tan Yuan next to Shen Cheng.
‘Big brother, are you looking for Tan Yuan?’ Tan Pan Ting asked Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Um,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I haven’t seen Tan Yuan since she stopped dancing,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Go ask Shen Cheng where she is.’
‘No need,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu believed Qiao Tan Yuan would show up soon to eat cake. He noticed her tastebuds changed after Xiao Bao was born, she liked to eat sweets.
After all the cake pieces were given out, Gu Jiao Wu was worried why he didn’t see Qiao Tan Yuan and he walked to Shen Cheng.
‘Where’s Qiao Tan Yuan?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked Shen Cheng.
Shen Cheng didn’t see Qiao Tan Yuan since she went to the bathroom, he a.s.sumed she went home.
‘She went home to be with Xiao Bao,’ Shen Cheng said. He resented Gu Jiao Wu for mistreating Qiao Tan Yuan. Yet Gu Jiao Wu suddenly decided to be with her, and wouldn’t let her go. So he wanted to taunt Gu Jiao Wu. ‘Because she didn’t want to see you.’
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t care if Qiao Tan Yuan went home to be with their daughter, and avoid him. If she believed she could escape him then she was too naive.
Hu Zui Ren invited everyone to the after party at Du Lei Xin’s place, but Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t interested and went home to sleep.
In the morning, Gu Jiao Wu drove to the Qiao Mansion to see Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao.
‘Aunty, what did you say?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Tan Yuan didn’t come home last night?’
‘Yes,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘I thought Tan Yuan was with you.’
‘No,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘If Tan Yuan’s with me, I would have taken her home this morning. What about her phone? Did aunty ring her phone?’
‘I called but she didn’t pick up,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘Do you think something happened to her…’
‘What about Shen Cheng?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Why didn’t Shen Cheng take Tan Yuan home?’
‘I asked Shen Cheng if he saw Tan Yuan,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘He said after she went to the bathroom, he didn’t see her again. Jiao Wu, tell me nothing happened to Tan Yuan.’
‘Nothing will happen to Tan Yuan,’ Gu Jiao Wu promised. ‘Aunty, don’t’ worry. I’ll ask some people to look for Tan Yuan, and I’ll bring Tan Yuan home.’
Mrs Qiao nodded her head.
‘Aunty, I’ll have someone come here to trace your phone calls,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘If anyone calls, stall them on the phone for as long as you can.’
Gu Jiao Wu strode to his car, and he called an a.s.sistant.
‘You have one hour to find Qiao Tan Yuan,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and hung up.
Gu Jiao Wu called the Gu Household’s security, and instructed them to go to the Qiao Mansion and monitor all incoming phone calls.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, where are you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked himself.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know why someone kidnapped Qiao Tan Yuan. Was the kidnapper motivated by money or to take revenge on him?
Far away from the Qiao Mansion, Qiao Tan Yuan opened her eyes. She didn’t recognise her surroundings. She couldn’t move, her hands and legs were tied up by a rope and tape covered her mouth. The room she was held captive in looked like a male’s bedroom. There was a bed, a cupboard, two sofas and a coffee table. The bed was occupied by her. Who kidnapped her? She looked outside the window, it was morning and she calmed herself to remember what happened last night. She remembered she left Shen Cheng to go to the bathroom then she blacked out.
Qiao Tan Yuan looked carefully at her surroundings. The sofas were made from Italian leather. So she deduced her kidnapper didn’t kidnap her for money. She immediately thought of Gu Jiao Wu. Did he kidnap her to force her to marry him again? She wanted to kill him! How dare he tie her up?
Someone opened the door, and walked to the bed.
‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan mumbled through her taped mouth.
End of Chapter 106