Call them now

Guan Ting watched the way her brows became perpetually furrowed, like his words were anything but comforting. Sensing that his attempts at drawing up a peace treaty with the woman was going up in shambles, he decided to shut his mouth.

But a while later, he realized that the warm cup of noodles in his hand was still untouched and ignored, so he tried offering it up again, opening her hand and putting the cup in it.

"Eat something. Boss would kill me if I let you starve."

She responded by glancing up at him. But this time, she didn't ignore the food, and instead lifted the cup to her lips to sip on it. The warm liquid eased her throat. She didn't realize how thirsty and hungry she was until she started drinking the noodle soup, and in no time, she managed to empty it out.

Seeing that his job was done, Guan Ting stood up to make a call. But then, the sound of her voice stopped him.

"Thank you."

The words were so faint that he thought for a moment he mustn't have heard it right. But when he was about to take a step away, there it was again.

"Thank you for saving us. If you hadn't arrived, we would have both been killed -- Huangjin, especially." Ying Yue lowered her head. They say that even the strongest have moments of helplessness. Earlier, that was perhaps the most helpless she'd ever been.

Guan Ting looked away. "It's my duty to protect the young master and the young madame." He'd made an oath to protect Fei Huangjin in front of all his brothers at Dragon Club, and even in front of Fei Yangcheng and the Old Master. Moreover, he'd signed the oath with his blood, on his own insistence. It would be on him if anything happened to Fei Huangjin. "But I hope you don't put him in that much danger again. Even if it is for your brother."

She froze. Your brother-- "Ying Shen…"

Ying Yue abruptly stood up, and the expression on her face was like ink spreading through water. Her eyes gradually widened and her hands became fisted on each side of her. "Guan Ting, are any of our men left in the building?"

The change in her startled him slightly. "Yeah, a few."

"Call them. Call them now! Tell them to look for a man hiding behind the bushes by the back gate. He has black hair and-- and light brown eyes! He's got a turtleneck on and he's about your height." Ying Yue gulped, swallowing back the fear she was feeling. She'd completely forgotten to return to Song Yinan like she said she would do. "Is the helicopter still around? I probably have to go back!"

Guan Ting didn't like what he was hearing. "The helicopter's still on the pod, but I don't think that's a good idea. Young madame, you can't go back." He said the words so matter-of-factly that Ying Yue couldn't help cringing.

He was right. Fei Huangjin hadn't even finished his operation yet. And she'd never be able to forgive herself if she left right now.

"Call them now. I need to talk to the men over there." Ying Yue started pacing as the gears in her brain started to turn. Nothing must've happened to Song Yinan, right? He probably stayed there as per her instructions, right?

After a moment, Guan Ting handed the phone to her.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end was calm. "Young madame."

"Have you found anyone hiding behind the bushes lining the back gate? He's got brown eyes and he's wearing a turtleneck. He has scars on his neck!" She bit her lip in anticipation.

The man on the phone seemed to ask the others he was with before speaking back to her. "No, madame. The bushes were empty and there are no bodies with a turtleneck on."

Her chest constricted slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, madame."

"Please check again," She wasn't willing to give up just yet. "Search every room in the building, and include the back forest if that's possible. Report to me in an hour."

"Yes, madame."

Ying Yue had a strange look on her face. If Song Yinan wasn't found, either he left on his own, or someone had taken him away. But judging by his personality, it was more likely the latter. Someone must have gotten him. But who?

She suddenly recalled something that Song Yinan had said to her back there -- that he was on his way to meet Su Jianjun when he blacked out and instead woke up in that place.

No way, she thought.

Could Su Jianjun actually be involved in all of this? She had a bad feeling that the answer to that question was yes.