"Posting a notice in the newspaper?"
Li Fen's crying stopped abruptly, and she didn't immediately grasp her meaning.
Ruan Jiqu smiled, her sweet dimples appearing on her face, making people trust her instinctively.
"My elder brother is the editor-in-chief of the People's Daily. People often post missing person notices in the newspaper. You could try that too."
Li Fen and Yuan Yongguo exchanged a glance. So, this young lady thought their granddaughter was missing.
Her aged face drooped, and she explained tiredly, "No need, dear. Our granddaughter wasn't kidnapped. We know where she is."
Ruan Jiqu asked, puzzled, "If you know where she is, why aren't you going to get her?"
Li Fen covered her mouth and wept. Her hair had turned white overnight, making her look even more desolate.
"The people who adopted her refuse to return the child to us. It's a tragedy for us, the elderly, to see our children go first, having lost both sons. Now, we can't even get our granddaughter back. When I'm gone, how will I face my sons!"
Ruan Jiqu's face showed anger. These two elders were so miserable, and that person still wouldn't return their granddaughter.
How heartless!
"Do you two have any interest in having my elder brother's newspaper interview you and publish a report to make these matters public?"
A righteous spirit surged within Ruan Jiqu. If the troupe leader knew she had done a good deed, she would surely be given the lead role in the next stage play.
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiqu eagerly pulled the two of them to the People's Daily office.
She frequented the place and, without announcement, walked directly into her brother's office.
Ruan Tianyang knew it was her without even looking up and said with some helplessness, "Jiqu, can you knock next time you come in?"
Ruan Jiqu didn't have time to pay attention to him and quickly motioned for the two behind her to sit down.
"Brother, look at the big news I've brought you!"
Ruan Tianyang finally looked up at her. "What news?"
Ruan Jiqu pointed at the people behind her. "Help them find their child! They're very pitiful. Please help them."
With her saying this, Ruan Tianyang had no reason to refuse.
Many people posted missing person notices here. If they could genuinely help find the child, it would be a meritorious deed.
"Please tell me everything, you two. I'll see which section is appropriate to publish it in."
Yuan Yongguo's heart was pounding. After all, it was Cheng You who had taken their child. Could publishing a notice really help them get Zhenzhen back?
He was a little worried about a backlash.
However, Li Fen, too preoccupied to worry, began speaking to Ruan Tianyang directly.
From her narration, Ruan Jiqu learned that the child had been taken by Cheng You.
Speaking of Cheng You, Ruan Jiqu didn't actually know her but had heard about her many times.
Cheng You was famous in the military compound, firstly because a village girl married into the Qi family, and secondly, for her beauty.
Ruan Jiqu was the most beautiful comrade in the entire cultural troupe, with a slender waist that many envied.
It wasn't until Cheng You arrived that Ruan Jiqu heard the troupe leader personally praise her, "It's a pity this girl never learned to dance, otherwise I'd really want to recruit her. I've never seen such a proper young woman in my life."
That sentence was etched in Ruan Jiqu's heart.
Later, she secretly went to see the legendary Cheng You, wanting to know if she was truly that beautiful.
After seeing her, her heart felt even more pained.
Beauty was given by parents; she couldn't change that. She was just glad that Cheng You never learned to dance.
Already harboring prejudice, Ruan Jiqu's heart immediately sided with Li Fen upon hearing her tale of woe.
Righteously indignant, she cursed, "I can't believe she's that kind of person! It's too much! Brother, you must condemn her severely in the newspaper!"
Ruan Tianyang glanced at her. "Aren't you supposed to be practicing? There's a慰问演出 (comfort performance) in a few days."
Ruan Jiqu pouted. "Let me listen a bit longer."
"What's there to listen to? You'll see it in the newspaper when it's out."
Ruan Jiqu had no choice but to leave. She was indeed very busy lately.
After the comfort performance, she would have to prepare for the National Day performance. She had to work hard to get the lead role.
On the way back to the cultural troupe, Ruan Jiqu deliberately passed by Cheng You's house.
The door was open. She glanced inside and saw Cheng You tending to the vegetable patch.
Her hands were covered in mud, and her face was smudged with sweat, yet it didn't diminish her beauty.
Ruan Jiqu scoffed. "As expected of a country bumpkin, growing vegetables in the compound."
Her scoff made Cheng You turn her head and meet her gaze.
Cheng You clearly saw the disdain in her eyes and found it strange.
She didn't recall having any interaction with Ruan Jiqu.
Ruan Jiqu mumbled, "Nothing special."
Then she walked forward, strutting like a proud peacock.
Cheng You rolled her eyes. "Crazy."
Qi Chengyan happened to be walking in from outside and heard her words, asking, "Youyou, what's wrong?"
Cheng You lifted her small face, her expression stern. "Did you go around flirting with other women again?"
Qi Chengyan was bewildered. He walked to the side and drew water to wash his face in the courtyard.
"Besides you, what other flower is there?"
Cheng You said imperiously, "That Ruan Jiqu!"
"Who is Ruan Jiqu?"
Cheng You walked over with a curious expression. "You don't know her? She's the pride of the cultural troupe, very beautiful."
Qi Chengyan extended his long arm, embraced her waist, and lifted her with one hand, making her taller than him.
He looked up at her delicate, small chin, his voice deep. "No matter how beautiful someone else is, they're not as beautiful as you."
The man's features were sculpted and handsome, his voice magnetic, making one's ears tingle. When he spoke sweet nothings, he was particularly captivating.
Cheng You couldn't suppress the corners of her lips, slightly pouting her red lips. "Then it's strange. If it's not because of you, why would she hate me?"
"I'm not sure, but I do know..."
"Know what?"
Qi Chengyan smiled faintly. "I know that anyone who dislikes you must have poor taste."
Cheng You's face bloomed with a smile. "Qi Chengyan, did you eat sugar? Why are you so sweet-mouthed?"
"You haven't tasted it, so how do you know it's sweet?"
Cheng You's face flushed. He was usually quiet and rarely spoke sweet words.
"Stop messing around. I still need to pick up Zhenzhen from your parents."
Qi Chengyan said softly, "Mom said to let Zhenzhen stay there."
Cheng You was taken aback. "Why?"
Qi Chengyan carried her inside and turned on the fan.
The cool breeze dispersed the heat from her body.
"She said she wants to experience being a grandmother in advance."
Cheng You: "..." Another indirect push for children.
"It's out of order. Zhenzhen is like my sister. She has to call your mom Auntie."
Qi Chengyan hummed. What she was called didn't matter.
Suddenly, he thought that if they had a daughter, one as adorable as Cheng You, it wouldn't be bad.