Volume 1, Chapter 59: No Trace of Me

Bo Bingqian was actually investigating Zhiyi behind the scenes.

Back in their university days, the two of them had a massive falling out over a scientific research project, causing quite a public spectacle. They were notorious for being at odds, utterly disdainful of each other.

For Bo Bingqian to be secretly investigating Zhiyi at a time like this was deeply suspicious.

"Have someone follow him and find out what he's really up to."

"The Second Young Master's men are all thoroughly trained experts. I'm afraid ordinary operatives would be detected before long. Won't that alert the enemy?"

Li Shuo had only found out after sending people to tail him.

The people surrounding Bo Bingqian were elite professionals, and conventional operatives couldn't last long without being exposed. The fact that Bo Bingqian was guarded by such skilled individuals spoke volumes about his ambition.

Bo Congnan said in a deep voice, "Find some professionals. Cost is no object."

After ending the call, Bo Congnan stood by the window, holding a heavily creased share transfer agreement in his hand.

He lowered his gaze, his voice softening. "Zhiyi, just wait a little longer for me. Once I handle these matters, I'll come pick you up and bring you home."

He spoke with utmost sincerity, his tone laced with a deep and lingering yearning for me.

I stood right beside him, my eyes resting on the snow-covered rooftop across the way.

Bo Congnan, when will you ever realize that I can never go home again?

Bo Congnan went to Elder Bo's courtyard early in the morning to wait on him, and thanks to that, I was able to see Grandpa as well.

I had to admit, Bo Bingqian was much better at taking care of people than I had expected.

Grandpa's complexion was rosy, and the wound on the back of his hand had healed significantly. He looked much more spirited than before.

"Grandpa, are you feeling better?"

As Bo Congnan approached, the heavy stench of alcohol washed over the room, and Elder Bo visibly frowned.

He had gotten dead drunk last night, and this morning he had rushed over to the courtyard to keep tabs on Bo Bingqian. His ulterior motives were painfully obvious.

Consequently, the moment Elder Bo laid eyes on him, his brow remained tightly furrowed, his gaze filled with undisguised disgust.

In stark contrast, Bo Bingqian appeared completely calm, sitting leisurely to the side and sipping tea.

Knowing that Grandpa was still blaming him for driving Zhiyi away, Bo Congnan received no warm reception.

"Ever since returning to the country, Second Brother seems to have a lot of free time, lingering by Grandpa's side day in and day out."

Once core interests were involved, Bo Congnan lost his previous timidity, every word laden with insinuation.

How could someone as astute as Bo Bingqian fail to catch his meaning? The corners of his lips curved up in an imperceptible smile.

"If you aren't going to Country M to fetch your wife, isn't running all the way over here making you even more idle?"

Bo Bingqian's eyes crinkled with a smile as he pinched a teacup between two fingers and brought it to his lips for a light sip.

"Once Grandpa's health improves, I will naturally go look for Zhiyi. My family affairs do not require Second Brother's concern."

"Oh? Is that so?" The amusement in Bo Bingqian's eyes deepened as his slender fingers toyed with the teacup. "I heard that Country M has released a blacklist, listing dignitaries who traffic in children and women. Those victims are supposedly locked away in a place called Devil's Island."

"I also heard that Miss Shen possesses heavenly beauty, unforgettable to anyone who lays eyes on her. If those people were to catch sight of her, do you suppose..."

Bo Bingqian left the sentence unfinished, but Bo Congnan understood immediately.

Something had happened in Country M.

Zhiyi was still in Titan's hands, and given Titan's utterly depraved nature, what if he really offered Zhiyi as a plaything to those powerful and influential figures?

If that happened...

Bo Congnan didn't dare to dwell on it, his face turning instantly pale.

This news must have just broken; even he hadn't heard of it.

How on earth did Bo Bingqian find out?

Could it be that over the years, his influence in Country M had grown to such a terrifying extent?

He was even able to unearth such aristocratic secrets.

Bo Congnan's mind was instantly thrown into turmoil. If he had known, he should have gone to bring Zhiyi home much sooner.

If anything were to happen to Zhiyi, if she were to be tormented by those monsters, how could he possibly swallow this rage?!

This time, Bo Congnan didn't dare to delay any further, hastily dispatching men to Country M to gather intelligence.

"Boss, the blacklist matter has already spread among the upper echelons in Country M. The truth matches what you said almost entirely, and furthermore..."

Li Shuo caught his breath. "We've lost contact with Titan."

"What?!"

Bo Congnan's heart, already hanging by a thread, began to hammer wildly.

It had only been a few days; how could things have come to this?

If he couldn't contact Titan, where on earth was he supposed to look for Zhiyi?

Country M was vast; even if he turned it upside down, it would take him quite some time.

Yet, rumors held that Devil's Island was perilous beyond measure. If Zhiyi were dragged onto that island, given her appearance, she wouldn't last a few days before being tortured to death by those demons.

Just thinking about it made Bo Congnan's entire body turn cold, a chill sweat breaking out across his back as a cold gust of wind blew in through the window, causing him to shudder involuntarily.

"Contact the underground organizations in Country M. Have them help search for traces of Zhiyi on Devil's Island. Those people only care about money—name any amount, and I'll pay it."

Bo Congnan's heart had never been in such a panic. A wave of remorse surged from the depths of his soul, gripping his heart so tightly that even breathing sent sharp stabs of pain through his chest.

In his eyes, Zhiyi was someone raised in the lap of luxury, always living in a pristine world untouched by the darkness of reality.

Those beasts didn't even deserve to brush against a single finger of hers!

Right now, he felt an urge to blow that island straight to smithereens and make those people vanish from this world forever!

The blacklist incident spread rapidly, dominating the headlines in all the media.

Naturally, the Shen family learned of it as well.

Shen Yikang had someone invite Bo Congnan to the hospital.

The moment Bo Congnan stepped through the door, Shen Yikang asked with a face full of anxiety, "Have you contacted Zhiyi yet? When is she coming back?"

Looking at Shen Yikang's worried expression, Bo Congnan found himself inexplicably unable to voice the words hovering on his lips.

Yet if he said nothing, and something happened to Zhiyi, he would become the ultimate sinner.

"Actually, I haven't been able to reach Zhiyi. With the blacklist scandal blowing up these past two days, my people have lost her location entirely."

"What?!"

"How... how could this happen..." Shen Yikang stumbled backward, almost collapsing into a nearby chair, his expression steeped in dread.

Suddenly, he jerked his head up, strode forward in two or three rapid steps, grabbed Bo Congnan by the collar, and demanded in a cold, harsh voice, "Didn't you say you'd already made contact with Zhiyi and would bring her home in a couple of days? Didn't you say she was coming back?!"

Shen Yikang gasped for air, his eyes bloodshot, staring daggers straight at Bo Congnan.

A sudden flash of bitter regret pierced his heart. Back when Bo Congnan abandoned Zhiyi on their wedding day, he should have just let Zhiyi divorce him.

Then Zhiyi wouldn't have run away from home, and she wouldn't have plunged into such a perilous situation.

Bo Congnan's complexion looked grim as well, his lips pressed tightly together in silence.

Seeing this, Fang Lanru hurried forward to pull the two men apart, turning to scold Shen Yikang instead. "What are you panicking for? There's no news yet, isn't there? In times like this, no news is good news. Besides, it wasn't Congnan who made that girl run off to Country M; it was her own stubbornness that made her go. Why blame Congnan?"

I lowered my gaze, pressing my pale lips together.

That's right.

It was all my fault.

Bo Congnan did nothing wrong, Meng Xiangyi did nothing wrong, and the Shen family did nothing wrong.

From beginning to end, the only one in the wrong was me.

I genuinely cannot understand—Mother, you raised me for thirteen years, and I called you Mother for over twenty.

Why could you never show me even a shred of partiality, just once?