Chapter 6: Fear and Dread (Part 2)

  "Xiao Li!"

  At an altitude of thirty thousand feet, the passengers were dozing off, and the entire cabin was quiet, with only the sound of the passengers' regular breathing and the hum of the plane's engines remaining. Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from inside the first-class cabin, startling the flight attendant on duty, who hastily walked into the first-class cabin to check on the situation.

  Although it was the peak season for air transportation, there were only three passengers in first class. The flight attendant quietly walked over to check on each of them, until she reached the front and saw a 13 or 14-year-old boy sitting alone, his furrowed brow illuminated by the dim light. Perhaps due to the lighting, he seemed to be shrouded in a hint of melancholy.

  Her delicate features made the flight attendant secretly admire her.

  The profile was deeply and handsomely etched in the pale yellow light, with facial lines that remained sharp and aristocratically cold even under the gentle caress of the lamp, while long and slender fingers lightly tapped on the armrest, producing a rhythmic "tap tap" sound.

  What should she call him?

  Sir? It seems like he's being called too old.

  Little brother? I'm afraid you're treating him like a child again.

  At that moment, the flight attendant seemed to have forgotten that a young man who was capable of sitting in first class and traveling alone didn't care about what he was called. Because in his heart, there were more important things.

  The young man sensed that someone seemed to be standing beside him, and had no intention of leaving. He slowly turned his head and glanced at the flight attendant. Those deep amber eyes appeared mysterious and inscrutable under the light.

  The flight attendant felt as if she had plunged into an icy sea, a chill running through her entire body. She suddenly regretted staring at him for too long without immediately walking away, this young man made her feel dangerous and hard to get close to, although it was a bit exaggerated, but the flight attendant still turned around wanting to flee in panic.

  "Wait a minute." The cold voice nailed her in place like a nail.

  The flight attendant's body trembled slightly, she slowly turned around, forcing out the most professional smile, looking at that young man. Such a handsome and noble face always made people overlook the strong and fierce hidden beneath - cold-blooded cruelty and icy indifference. So, she dazedly said in a soft voice, "Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

  A hint of impatience flashed in his deep, dark eyes, and his slightly pursed lips seemed to hold a faint, elegant smile. The young man said calmly, "Please get me a glass of iced water, thank you." [Ye Zi] [You You]

  "Okay, please wait a moment." The flight attendant replied with her head down and then hastily left the first class cabin, busily pouring a glass of ice water and sending it over before leaving as if she was escaping.

  Under the heavy pressure, the young man picked up the glass cup and took a shallow sip. The icy water moistened his tongue and gums, flowed through his dry throat, and for a moment, his anxious and restless mood seemed to shatter, only to slowly disappear with the water. "Dreams are just dreams, after all, they have nothing to do with reality."

  The scene in the dream, however, made the young man's heart skip a beat and even feel timid. The soft memory was like a cotton candy-like younger sister, fluttering like a butterfly with broken wings, drawing beautiful arcs in the air until it fell and disappeared. The blood spread out under her body, like a charming flower.

  Dreams are just dreams, the young man kept repeating in his heart. But he couldn't help but think, why did his sister have to say sorry? With parents still alive, yet she had to live under someone else's roof, why did she have to apologize to him, a brother who was studying abroad and not even doing a good job of it?

  Actually, the Gu family is used to being apart. The four members of the family are scattered all over the world, and it's not like they can get together once a year. If it weren't for their blood ties and legal familial relationships, perhaps they would be even more estranged than strangers.

  So, the young man was indifferent to his parents and younger sister. From the moment he was born, his future path was predetermined, let alone with his mother's weak body, it was impossible for her to get pregnant again. This is also good, at least no one will compete with him for the company's operating rights. As for his sister, she was just a proof of his parents' complete family and happy marriage. She also had a predetermined path to follow, this is what we call fate.

  Kidnapping...

  It also means demanding ransom.

  The young man calculated all the available funds in his hands, hoping to satisfy the kidnapper's greedy appetite. He didn't want to bother his busy father or disturb his mother who was recuperating in a nursing home. If he could resolve this matter, why would he need to alarm everyone?

  Four hours later, a black Bentley slowly left the airport on a quiet and dark night, like a ferocious and bloodthirsty black panther lurking in the darkness, or like a gentle and warm summer breeze stirring up lazy ripples on a silent night.

  "Young master, the car abandoned by the kidnapper has been found and investigated. The owner of the car has been cleared of suspicion." The driver said in a low voice while driving.

  The young man's hands were casually placed on his knees, and he slowly said, "Have the fingerprints on the steering wheel been collected? Has anyone from the Public Security Bureau been asked to compare them? Are there any bloodstains or other obvious marks in the car?"

  The driver raised his head in surprise, glancing at the young master he had served for many years through the rearview mirror. In YZUU's impression, the young master was always cold and distant to his family members. But at this moment, the eerie and icy killing intent emanating from the young master made him shiver. The driver quickly lowered his head, carefully driving the car, thinking to himself: This is the future patriarch of the Gu family!

  The Gu family's business is not only the leader in the domestic business community, but also a renowned and respected family. The reason why the Gu family has such a high reputation and status is not only due to the excellent leadership of the previous leaders of the Gu family enterprise, but also because of the current head of the Gu family, Gu Hanjing's accurate investment vision for real estate.

  Six years ago, it was because Gu Hanqing acquired a piece of land in the city center and invested heavily to build it into a commercial street that integrates high-end business, commerce, residence, entertainment and other functions, which once pushed the development of Gu's enterprise onto an internationalized road.

  Six years ago, Gu Hanqing's wife, Lin Yiran, suddenly fell seriously ill and did not recover despite taking medication for a long time. No matter how many medical experts were invited or how much medicine was taken, there was no improvement. It wasn't until after she had surgery that Gu Hanqing sent her to a sanatorium in Italy to rest, where she gradually showed some signs of recovery. Last year, she was finally able to leave the sanatorium and return to their villa in Provence to recuperate. However, Lin Yiran's weak body could not withstand long flights, so the family of four has been separated across the globe.

  "Master, don't worry, the young lady is a lucky person with a good destiny, she will definitely be safe and sound." The driver hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but advise, "The old master and mistress are looking for her, and they have already reported to the police. I believe those policemen will rescue the young lady soon."

  Police?

  The young man's thin lips curled up in a cold smile, "Has the kidnapper ever made an extortion call?"

  "They robbed us twice. The first time, they took 3 million. The second time was two hours later, and the price went up to 6 million, and..." The driver paused, unsure of how to continue with the shocking and infuriating words.

  "Go on." The young man said lightly, but his tone carried a kind of icy oppressive feeling.

  "And the extra three million is used to buy Miss's chastity." The driver quickly finished these nineteen words, trying his best to suppress his racing heart, putting all his attention on the steering wheel, as if he was controlling not a car, but his lifeline.

  "Really?" The young man didn't have the furious anger that the driver had imagined, instead, his lips curled up slightly with a faint smile, and only his gentle tone and sharp gaze formed a thick sense of danger.

  However, it was this calm attitude that made the driver even more terrified, but he didn't dare say another word, and he stepped on the accelerator, speeding towards Chu's villa.

  The young man slowly leaned his body back against the chair, lost in thought. Six million is not a small number, and Uncle and Auntie's hands can indeed take out so much money, but will they be willing to do so? Over the years, they have been taking care of Xiaoli, and it's reasonable to say that there has been no hardship without hard work. But are they really taking good care of her with all their heart?

  Be careful...

  The young man sneered in his heart, even his own brother had never shown concern and love for him, what right did he have to demand that they treat Xiaolong like their own daughter.

  His mind kept echoing the driver's words, although he knew he had to calm down now, but as soon as he thought of the harm his young sister might have suffered, the boy couldn't suppress the hatred churning in his heart. In the past, his father always taught him to put the interests of the Gu family first. He could even determine that if such a thing really happened, his father would only say indifferently, "The threshold of the Gu family was ruined by my sister."

  So he had no reason and no need to ask his father for help.

  The young man struggled to control the trembling of his hands. Revenge, as they say, is something that must be done after being hurt and when there's no turning back. Before that, there are still many things that need to be done, it's not too late, it's definitely not too late. "After sending me to my aunt's house, go inform He Muyang, tell him not to come looking for me at the Chu's house, and instead follow up on Xiaoli's situation."

  "Yes."

  The young man looked down at his watch on his wrist, and it would soon be dawn. He knew that the 24 hours after disappearance was the golden time to find clues and traces, if there were no discoveries, perhaps he had to accept the impending tragedy. However, he could not be timid, nor could he be flustered, because only his neglected sister had the qualification to be timid and flustered.

  The one who should apologize is him.

  Early in the morning, the first ray of sunlight passed through the car window glass, jumping and drilling in. A sharp dizziness followed closely. The driver opened the door and asked the young man to get off.

  Is this where Xiaoli lives? The sunlight turned into fine needles, scattered in all directions, and in the thin gray mist, it was particularly eye-catching and dazzling. It came to him in waves, covering the sky and earth, impossible to avoid. The young man looked at the unfamiliar house in front of him, and in his heart, there was a different kind of stirring, like a turbulent ocean, or a vast and boundless tide.

  Just then, someone rushed towards him and jumped onto his body, shouting in a soft and sweet voice, "Tianxi Gege, you're really back!"

  "You are..." The youth's eyes flickered with a faint ripple, and after the morning breeze passed, they gradually calmed down again. He knew that this little girl was absolutely not his sister, because she didn't have the sweet scent of pastries on her body. Moreover, the people in the Gu family were inherently cold and distant, and such physical contact was simply impossible among them.

  Chu Lianyou pouted and said, "Tian Xi gege, have you forgotten? I'm your cousin Chu Lianyou!"

  "It's late now, stop bothering Tianxi." Gu Quanjuan stood still for a moment before scolding her daughter, then smiled apologetically at the young man. "You must be very tired from taking a night flight to rush back, go inside and rest first."

  The boy nodded and called out softly, "Auntie."

  Why did her mother always look at her with disapproval, she was just being a bit more affectionate, wasn't that right! Chu Lian raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed up at the legendary older cousin, stunned by his good looks and aloof demeanor, something she had never seen before.

  "Don't worry." Gu Qiujuan patted the young man's shoulder with her hand, saying softly, "Your uncle has already gone to the company to raise money. Although the amount is not particularly large, those kidnappers insist on unmarked cash, so it's a bit more troublesome."

  The young man looked at Gu Quan and said sincerely, "Thank you for the money. I will transfer it to Uncle's account later."

  "Silly child, this amount of money is nothing compared to Huanli's safety. It's not even worth mentioning." Gu Quanjuan showed a bitter smile, her tone filled with infinite apology and regret. "Actually, I don't even have the face to see you now, let alone call Brother to tell him that Huanli has been kidnapped... You entrusted her to me, but I didn't take good care of her..."

  Chu Lian stretched out her hand, gently pulling at the young man's hem, and said sweetly, "Tian Xi brother, come in quickly and sit down, Ah Ling has already prepared breakfast, it's delicious!"

  "Call me Brother Ge. Of course, you can also call me Gu Tianxi directly." The young man gently pushed away Chu Lianyou's hand, ignoring her fleeting hurt gaze, and said lightly, "Because the only one in the world who can call me brother is Xiaoli."