Chapter 67

Shen Chutang asked, “So, you went traveling during the summer vacation?”

Xie Tong nodded silently. “They wanted me to start learning during the summer vacation, but I didn’t want to, so I ran away.”

“I wish I could be an adult like you.”

Shen Chutang pinched her cheek. “You will be an adult too.”

“I think you should have a good talk with your parents. Escaping won’t solve the problem.”

Xie Tong sighed. “I know, but I don’t know how to talk to them. And after seeing the scenery outside, I don’t want to take over the family business anymore.”

Shen Chutang saw her frowning and laughed. “You have times when you’re worried?”

They had known each other for four or five years, and Shen Chutang had almost never seen her unhappy. She always had a smile on her face, as if she had never had a worry in her life.

“Of course. That’s why you’re so lucky, Tangtang. You have three brothers. You don’t have to worry about anything and you get money. I want a brother too.”

“Okay, everyone has their own good things. Things will always work out. Frowning isn’t your style, Xie Tong. Cheer up. Maybe you’ll find a brother on the road someday.”

The school bell rang. Shen Chutang patted her shoulder and pulled her up.

Shen Chutang didn’t know if she had found a brother, but not long after, Xie An called her to say that Xie Tong had disappeared.

The peaceful weekend was instantly shattered.

Shen Chutang quickly took out her phone and called her, but no one answered.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.” Shi Chengyu came over to comfort her. “I’ll have Shulang send some people out to look for her.”

Shen Chutang was so anxious that tears were welling up in her eyes. “It’s all my fault. I should have comforted her more last time. Where could she have gone?”

The only thing she was thankful for was that Xie Tong had enough money and wouldn’t suffer. But the problem was also that she had money, so no one knew where she went.

Since she couldn’t get in touch with her, Shen Chutang went to the Xie family first.

When she arrived, Xie Tong’s mother was crying with red and swollen eyes. She was still arguing with Xie An. “It’s all your fault! Why are you forcing your child? Now she’s run away. Are you satisfied?”

Xie An was also filled with guilt. “It’s my fault. Don’t cry. Finding our daughter is the most important thing now.”

“Miss Shen, Mr. Shi, thank you for coming. Did Xie Tong contact you?”

Shen Chutang shook her head. “No, she was fine after school yesterday.”

She even said she would bring her delicious food on Monday. But now she’s gone.

“Tongtong didn’t come back last night…” Liang Ying cried, her voice choked.

Shen Chutang was shocked. Her voice also increased. “She didn’t come back last night?!”

“It’s my fault.” Xie An wiped the corner of his eye. “I called her after school yesterday and said a few more words. I didn’t expect, I didn’t expect…”

They thought she had disappeared today. Shen Chutang wasn’t as worried. Now that she knew Xie Tong had disappeared yesterday, her tears instantly fell. She was anxious and distraught.

“Where could she have gone?” Shen Chutang looked at Shi Chengyu. “Ask second brother to send people to look for her too.”

“Okay, don’t worry. I already had Shulang call the police before we came.” Shi Chengyu stroked her back. “Xie Tong isn’t as fragile as we think. She’ll be fine.”

Shen Chutang nodded and stood up from her chair. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Yes, yes, now is not the time to cry. I want to go out and find Xie Tong.”

In the past, kidnappings of relatives of wealthy businessmen happened frequently. There were also cases where the kidnappers didn’t get the ransom and killed the hostages. It had been much better in recent years.

Those people kidnapped for money. If she had been kidnapped, they would have contacted them for money by now. But they hadn’t received any news, and the police hadn’t received any reports.

But at this moment, no news was the best news.

Besides bars, internet cafes, and clubs, which were difficult to check, they had checked all the big and small hotels and guesthouses in Beijing. There was no record of Xie Tong’s check-in. The people at the airport also said they had no news.

She wasn’t staying anywhere, and she hadn’t left Beijing. Where could Xie Tong have gone? The sky was getting darker, and Shen Chutang’s heart sank.

She had never thought she would encounter such a thing. She didn’t want to imagine things going in a bad direction, but she couldn’t control it. The images that came out of those fantasies pushed her to the brink of collapse, tearing at her taut nerves.

The two of them came out of a small motel, still with nothing. They hadn’t seen her, they didn’t know. Shen Chutang had heard those words countless times today. She grabbed Shi Chengyu’s sleeve, her voice trembling slightly. “Shi Chengyu… I’m a little scared.”

Shi Chengyu held her trembling hand and pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay. Maybe she’s hiding somewhere that everyone can’t find. Don’t be afraid. She’ll be fine.”

“Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a while?”

Shen Chutang shook her head and got out of his arms. She was very tired. She felt like she had never walked so much before. Her feet hurt, her legs ached, but Xie Tong hadn’t been found yet.

Shi Chengyu felt sorry for her, but there was nothing he could do. Shen Chutang was as stubborn as he was. Xie Tong was her good friend. He couldn’t persuade her to give up now. All he could do was accompany her. He held her hand and looked for her together.

“Brother Chengyu, let’s go to that restaurant in the west city and look for her.” The evening wind was a little chilly. Shen Chutang sniffed, her nose red from the wind.

“Okay.” Shi Chengyu agreed, taking her hand and getting in the car.

The west city was an old district with a few old-style restaurants that had been open for many years. Xie Tong had taken her there once. That time, they went out for a long time and got lost in the alleyways. In the end, Xie Tong took her to flip a coin. Heads to the left, tails to the right. Maybe she was lucky, and they finally got out. Then, Xie Tong pulled her to squat on the side of the road to eat fire cakes.

It felt like yesterday. It had been so long.

Shen Chutang couldn’t help but shed tears. She had told herself so many times today not to cry, but whenever she thought about what had happened with Xie Tong before, she couldn’t help it.

Shi Chengyu wiped her tears with a heart filled with heartache, then hugged her and comforted her. There was nothing he could do now. He could only pray that they would find Xie Tong soon.

“Tangtang, eat something. You’ll have the energy to look for her after you’re full.”

Shen Chutang stopped crying when she heard this. She took the sandwich and started to eat. She ate half of it and couldn’t eat anymore. “Brother Chengyu, do you think Xie Tong has food to eat now?”

Shi Chengyu was choked by her question. He looked at her red eyes and couldn’t speak.

Shen Chutang refused to eat anymore. Shi Chengyu took it and finished the rest.

The car ride was an hour long. If it had been a normal day, Shen Chutang would have already fallen asleep. But now, she wouldn’t even close her eyes.

The old city was remote, and even the streetlights were dim, flickering on and off.

As soon as Shen Chutang got out of the car, the soreness in her calf made her stumble. She quickly grabbed Shi Chengyu’s arm to regain her balance.

“Let’s look for her one last time. You need to rest, even if you don’t want to.” Shi Chengyu’s voice was stern, with an irresistible tone.

Shen Chutang also felt that her strength was reaching its limit. She nodded.