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Chapter 27: Accident
After driving for a while on the road, the sky gradually darkened. Neon lights, traffic, crowds… The desires that slept during the day in this city awakened as the night approached, and everything became immersed in the bustling brilliance of lights. Beneath such hustle and bustle, there was inevitably a heart that remained cold and quiet.
Guan Xi finally parked her car in the parking lot of a beauty salon. With one hand on the steering wheel, she listened to the constant complaints of Lang Ningyi through her earphones.
“Oh, it hurts a bit, but fortunately, the fifth generation is a bit more comfortable than the fourth generation… Oh, I still need to apply a face mask. They told me the custom-made mask I ordered last time is used up. I only used it a few times… Hey, where are you? Hurry up.”
Looking at the surrounding vehicles, Guan Xi fell silent for a moment and said, “I’m downstairs, coming up.”
“Okay, waiting for you.”
Guan Xi felt as if Lang Ningyi’s lengthy phone call had rescued her from her confusion. After coming down from Guan Xinghao’s office, she was completely at a loss.
“I think you’ve already forgotten which one is your real daughter.”
Real daughter…
Yes, real daughter.
Originally, she thought she could be open-minded and always held herself in high regard, thinking that nothing could bring her down. But, hearing her mother speak her true thoughts and seeing a slight dislike from the person she most wanted to be close to and liked the most easily brought her down. In an instant, she felt isolated and helpless, as if nowhere was right to go…
Guan Xi took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and then got out of the car.
This beauty salon was a place where Guan Xi and her group of wealthy young ladies often came. She was a super VIP here, and someone came to greet her as soon as she entered. Guan Xi waved her hand, indicating that she was just here to find someone and had no intention of having any treatments.
So the staff took her to Lang Ningyi’s private room. When she entered, Lang Ningyi was lying on the bed with a one-time-use, genetically customized “gold-embedded” face mask that cost 3 million for a single application.
Guan Xi sat down on the small sofa next to her without saying a word.
Lang Ningyi still heard the door opening, and only then did she realize that Guan Xi had arrived: “Oh my god—what are you doing? Why didn’t you make any noise?!”
Guan Xi, looking a bit listless, asked, “How much longer do you need to keep it on?”
Lang Ningyi replied, “It just started.”
“Oh.”
“Aren’t you doing it?”
“No.”
Lang Ningyi wondered, “Then why did you come? Just to wait for me?”
Guan Xi remained silent for a while before saying, “Ningyi, I want to move out of my house.”
Lang Ningyi gasped, almost sitting up, but remembering the expensive stuff on her face, she held back, “Move out? Why? It’s not a good time to move out now. You’re at the center of attention. The directors at your company, those people outside, they are all watching you. If you move out, others will misunderstand that the Guan family can’t accommodate you—”
“I feel like maybe they can’t tolerate me anymore.”
Lang Ningyi frowned, “Guan Xi, don’t talk nonsense.”
Hugging a pillow, Guan Xi, who had never considered retreat even when she knew she was adopted, today, for the first time in her life, felt the urge to retreat. She suddenly felt meaningless.
“I don’t want to prove anything anymore.”
“…”
Guan Xi continued, “Do you know, today, after my dad handed over the project to me, my mom threw a tantrum in his office. She thinks this should have been given to Guan Ying.”
Lang Ningyi said, “But isn’t Guan Ying just getting started? Can she handle it?”
“She can’t,” Guan Xi said, “But what’s important is that she needs it, not whether she can handle it or not.”
At first, she thought that by doing better than Guan Ying, seizing more power, bringing more benefits to the family, her presence at home would be stronger, and her mom would like her more, considering her more important. But she was wrong from the beginning. Her identity was not right, and her competitiveness was useless. It only made people feel that she had become a stumbling block for the biological daughter.
“No, even if your mom thinks that way, your dad won’t.” Lang Ningyi said, “Look, your dad loves you so much, how could he bear to see you being wronged? He won’t agree to you moving out.”
Guan Xi’s nose tingled. When it came to her dad, she really couldn’t bear it. She felt he was the person who loved her the most in the world.
“But I’m not happy…”
“Xi Xi, don’t overthink it. Even if your mom really can’t tolerate you, so what? Adopted children also have legal rights. When did you become so hesitant? If you say you want to move, just move.”
Guan Xi sighed. She couldn’t express that feeling. The thing she had longed for since childhood was shattered before her eyes, and she couldn’t handle it. Seeing her like this, Lang Ningyi comforted, “Take a moment to calm down and don’t act impulsively. At least, don’t move out for now. Finish the current task on your hands and don’t let your dad down.”
**
Regarding her dad, Guan Xi felt that what Lang Ningyi said made sense. Her mom might not like her anymore, but she couldn’t transfer that anger to her dad, who had always been good to her. Her dad entrusted her with important matters, and she had to do well to not disappoint him. Moving out wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem, but since that day, Guan Xi didn’t know how to face Wei Shaomin. She reduced her time at home, almost focusing entirely on her work at the company.
On this day, she took files and her laptop, preparing for a short business trip.
“Yang Qing, I’m driving to meet Mr. Liu in Wenan City now. Take care of the company’s affairs.”
Yang Qing said, “Miss Guan, should I go instead?”
“No need, I want to go and see for myself.”
Discussing the cooperation with European hotels with Mr. Liu wasn’t a big deal, and she could delegate it to her subordinates. However, Guan Xi had been restless these past few days. She thought that going on a business trip to another city would allow her to avoid going home, which seemed like a good idea.
Wenan City was not far from the capital, and it would take about two and a half hours by car. Guan Xi didn’t bring a driver; this business trip, for her, was more like a leisurely drive. Initially, she took the expressway, but after an hour, Guan Xi exited the highway.
Not long after, the phone rang. Guan Xi answered, and Jiang Suizhou’s voice came through the car’s speakers.
“Where are you?”
Jiang Suizhou had been on a business trip these days, quite busy, and the two of them hadn’t contacted each other much. This was their first call in recent days.
Guan Xi replied, “On a business trip.”
Jiang Suizhou was somewhat surprised, “Business trip? You?”
“What’s wrong? Can’t I go on a business trip?”
“Where to?”
Guan Xi said, “Wenan City, about an hour and a half away.”
Jiang Suizhou was stunned, “Quite a coincidence.”
“What’s coincidental?”
“I’ve been in Wenan these past few days, but I’m on my way back now.”
Guan Xi sighed, “Brother, that’s called unfortunate.”
“Oh, when will you be back?”
It had rained earlier in the day, and although there weren’t many vehicles, the road after exiting the highway was a bit challenging. Guan Xi looked ahead and said, “Not sure, anyway, once the matter is settled, I’ll come back. Mr. Liu should be reasonable…”
Before she could finish speaking, unexpectedly, a vehicle from behind suddenly overtook aggressively, as if it were rushing to meet the King of Hell!
Guan Xi exclaimed, “Damn!”
Jiang Suizhou asked, “Guan Xi?”
The incident happened in the blink of an eye. Guan Xi didn’t even have time to turn the steering wheel, but she forcefully swerved! The screeching sound of brakes echoed as Guan Xi, propelled forward by inertia, was pulled back by the seatbelt.
“………………”
“Guan Xi?!” Jiang Suizhou’s voice suddenly deepened.
Guan Xi touched her head, slowly raised her gaze, and when she saw the scene in front of her, she froze. The car she drove today was a large SUV, sturdy enough that there was no significant damage. However, the small sedan in front of her had a large dent.
“Guan Xi? What’s wrong?”
Guan Xi took a deep breath, “I, I’ve had a car accident.”
Jiang Suizhou’s voice sank abruptly, “What? Are you okay? Where are you now?”
Guan Xi nervously looked at the motionless car in front, “I’m fine, but the person in front seems to be in trouble… Did I… Did I hit him to death? No, he rushed forward; it wasn’t intentional…”
Considering it involved a potential fatality, Guan Xi’s tone changed out of fear.
“First, make sure you’re okay, don’t panic.”
“I’m really okay…”
“Good, check if there are any signs or markers nearby, then call the emergency services.”
“Okay… Okay!”
Guan Xi took a deep breath, got out of the car, feeling extremely nervous. She was afraid that the person she hit might be seriously injured or worse. After getting out of the car, she glanced around. This remote area was surrounded by mountains and fields, with nothing much nearby.
Trembling slightly, Guan Xi dialed 110. At the same time, she approached the other car. The impact was on the rear passenger door, and upon closer inspection, there were no visible signs of impact on the driver’s seat.
She sighed in relief, “Sir? Are you okay?”
The driver’s window wasn’t closed, and the person leaning on the steering wheel wore a hat, making their face invisible. She only heard him say, “…I’m fine.”
Guan Xi breathed a sigh of relief and dialed 110. But at that moment, the person in the driver’s seat suddenly reached out, with an attitude and posture that clearly indicated an attempt to snatch the phone.
In the corner of Guan Xi’s eye, she instinctively pulled back the hand holding the phone, “???”
The person grabbed at empty air, but their movement was swift, and they immediately went to open the car door. Guan Xi was stunned for two seconds, too surprised to react. Her first instinctive move was to turn around and run!
Regardless of what the person intended to do, Guan Xi, being a wealthy and attractive individual, had a heightened sense of alertness after the initial shock and belatedly emerged from her daze!
The man in the car didn’t expect her to run so suddenly and hurriedly got out of the car to chase her. Guan Xi ran to her own car, opened the door—
But before she could close it, the door was already held shut!
At that moment, her hairs stood on end!
Guan Xi’s whole body stiffened, and she only saw the person outside the car fiercely grabbing her arm, saying, “Come over—”
**
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t reach Guan Xi’s phone. He thought she would definitely call back after reporting to the police, but there was no response. Trying again, it turned out to be switched off?!
A chill ran through Jiang Suizhou’s heart, and he immediately called his assistant. A few seconds later, Zhou Hao answered, “Mr. Jiang.”
“Locate Guan Xi’s phone!”
“Alright.” After Zhou Hao replied out of habit, he paused and asked, “What’s going on?”
Jiang Suizhou tightly gripped the steering wheel, speeding along the road, “She must be in trouble. On the way from the capital to Wen’an City, approximately an hour from the capital, immediately call the police and bring people over.”
Jiang Suizhou’s voice was somewhat sharp, and Zhou Hao knew the situation was serious, quickly responding, “Yes!”
If Guan Xi was okay, the route Jiang Suizhou was currently taking was the one she was supposed to take. They were supposed to meet on this road. But obviously, that wasn’t possible now. After a while, Zhou Hao replied to the call. The previous location of Guan Xi’s phone showed it was on National Road 164, then took a turn at a junction along the national road. The road was quite remote, rarely traveled by people. If she went that way, it most likely led to the direction of the Changsong Ridge primitive forest…
“I got it. Get your people there as soon as possible.”
“Alright!”
On the other side, Guan Xi, who had been knocked unconscious, finally woke up groggily. Her head was pounding, and in a daze, she opened her eyes to find herself being carried on someone’s back. Moreover, both her wrists were tied. The person carrying her sensed her awakening almost immediately, and at that moment, he practically threw her off his back.
“Ah—”
“Don’t move! Otherwise, I can kill you right now!”
Guan Xi hit the ground hard, in intense pain. Was this a kidnapping?! She stared at the person in front of her; his face was covered, revealing only his eyes, resembling the kidnappers in movies.
Guan Xi’s heart pounded erratically. In over twenty years of her life, this was the first time she had been kidnapped. She forced herself to calm down, glanced around, and saw dense weeds and tall, sturdy trees—a forest setting.
“Where is this? What do you want?”
The man stood in front of her, looking down at her with a superior attitude, “Kidnapping, can’t you tell?”
Guan Xi: “…I can tell.”
The man snorted coldly, “Guan Xi, behave yourself and don’t play any tricks.”
“Do you know me?”
“What if I do?”
“What’s your purpose? How much money do you want? Look, you can call my family right now; they will prepare it for you as long as you don’t act impulsively.”
“Money?” The man sneered, “That money isn’t yours, why are you being arrogant?”
So he’s calm about money… does that mean he doesn’t want money? Could it be a crime of passion?
Guan Xi became even more nervous, “You’re a tall and strong man, finding a girlfriend and having a normal relationship should be easy for you. You don’t need to do this!”
“What are you thinking?” the man asked.
Guan Xi warned, “If you touch me, you’ll regret it!”
The man paused, then took a step back, “What nonsense are you talking about! I’m chaste! I’m not some casual person!”
Guan Xi: “…………”
“So, this is how you view men. You’re really not a good person.”
Guan Xi’s mouth twitched. Is this guy still a virgin?!
“What do you want to do then? There must be a reason for kidnapping me, right?”
The man remained silent for a while, then said, “There has to be a reason for bringing you here… Fine, let me come up with one.”
“Then, then it’s for money.”
Indeed, it’s about money.
Guan Xi asked, “How much, tell me.”
The man smirked, extending one finger, “Ten million!!”
Guan Xi: “…………?”
“Ten million, how about it? Will your family easily come up with such a huge sum for their adopted daughter?”
Guan Xi looked at him, her expression turning strange, then it became outright unpleasant.
“Say that again?”
The man smiled triumphantly. Although her family was wealthy, ten million was a astronomical figure, and it wouldn’t be easy to come up with. He thought using this number would scare her.
“Ten million, I’m telling you, not a penny less.”
Guan Xi stared at the “kidnapper” in front of her and felt a mix of shame and anger. Damn! This guy not only is a pure virgin but also a fool!
Ten million?! She, Guan Xi, is only worth ten million!!!
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