Xiang Jing Chen had spent a significant amount of time interacting with Yao Wan Qi, and he understood her character well.
Hearing Yan Xi's question, he silently wondered if Yan Xi had misunderstood Yao Wan Qi.
Xiang Jing Chen did not respond to Yan Xi. He merely shook his head faintly and said softly, "I don't know."
Upon hearing Xiang Jing Chen's words, Yan Xi knew she couldn't get any information from him.
Although curious about Yao Wan Qi's true nature, Yan Xi was now certain that Yao Wan Qi was not truly insane. Perhaps she could visit Yao Wan Qi, and once Yao Wan Qi was out of danger, Yan Xi could ask her directly. Yao Wan Qi might even provide her with an answer.
With this thought, Yan Xi turned and walked inside. Xiang Jing Chen watched her retreating back, his brow furrowing involuntarily.
Yan Xi reached Yao Wan Qi's hospital room and suddenly stopped. She hesitated to enter, unsure of how to begin this conversation with Yao Wan Qi.
Xiang Jing Chen, observing Yan Xi's every move, walked up to her and examined her. He inquired, "Sister, did something happen? You've seemed a bit off since leaving the Yao family today."
Hearing Xiang Jing Chen's question, Yan Xi instinctively wanted to keep him from knowing what had transpired.
It wasn't that Yan Xi didn't trust Xiang Jing Chen; it was that she didn't know how to explain everything to him.
Moreover, in the current situation, Yan Xi felt that the fewer people who knew, the safer it would be.
Therefore, Yan Xi did not tell Xiang Jing Chen the reason.
Xiang Jing Chen understood that Yan Xi was unwilling to confide in him.
He also knew when to stop probing and did not press further.
Yan Xi took a deep breath and gently pushed open the hospital room door. The moment she stood at the threshold and opened the door, she froze. The spacious room was empty; Yao Wan Qi was nowhere to be seen.
Yan Xi's heart fluttered with panic.
Yao Wan Qi was not yet out of danger; how could she have gotten up and left on her own?
Xiang Jing Chen followed Yan Xi into the room. Upon seeing that Yao Wan Qi was gone, his expression turned extremely grim.
He looked at Yan Xi and asked, "Sister, where is my aunt? Why isn't she in the room?"
Yan Xi had only just entered herself. If Xiang Jing Chen didn't know, how could Yan Xi possibly know?
"We'll split up and search for her. We must find my mother today, or I fear she will be in danger."
Yan Xi's voice trembled as she spoke, though she didn't seem to notice it herself.
After speaking, Yan Xi, without waiting for Xiang Jing Chen, pushed the door open to leave. Xiang Jing Chen grabbed her hand.
This was the first time in their long acquaintance that Xiang Jing Chen had held Yan Xi's hand so roughly.
Yan Xi, confused, turned to look at Xiang Jing Chen. Yao Wan Qi was missing, yet Xiang Jing Chen was so calmly preventing her from searching for her whereabouts.
Did Xiang Jing Chen know something?
Or was Yao Wan Qi's disappearance somehow related to Xiang Jing Chen?
"Yan Xi, you should know how important my aunt is to me."
Yan Xi stared at Xiang Jing Chen in shock. What did he mean?
Xiang Jing Chen decided to be direct. He looked at Yan Xi and, for the first time, called her by her full name.
Xiang Jing Chen said, word by word, "You had better tell me everything that happened at the Yao family's home these past two days, and what that question you asked at the hospital entrance earlier has to do with my aunt. Otherwise, I won't let anyone off the hook."
The "anyone" in Xiang Jing Chen's words naturally included Yan Xi.
Yan Xi assessed Xiang Jing Chen. After a moment of thought, she decided to tell him. Now that Yao Wan Qi was in trouble, if something were to happen to Yan Xi, at least someone would know the truth and could bring down Mr. Yao.
Yan Xi closed the hospital room door, ensuring there was no one else in the room and no surveillance cameras. She leaned close to Xiang Jing Chen's ear and whispered the entire story to him.
Yan Xi's proximity to Xiang Jing Chen's ear created an intimate pose.
Fu Yan Ting entered from outside. As he reached the doorway, he saw Yan Xi and Xiang Jing Chen closing the hospital room door tightly and leaning close together in such a familiar manner.
Fu Yan Ting was so angry he wanted to tie Yan Xi up with a rope. He hadn't even dealt with Mu Jing Chen yet.
Now Yan Xi was entangled with Xiang Jing Chen.
Although Mu Jing Chen was an illegitimate son of the Mu family and had a daughter with a third-rate actress, he was at least unmarried.
This Xiang Jing Chen clearly already had a wife, and Yan Xi was truly not picky about the men she chose.
Fu Yan Ting was unaware of the true nature of Yan Xi and Xiang Jing Chen's relationship. Seeing their intimate interaction, his eyes gradually turned cold.
Then, without a word, he turned and left.
After Fu Yan Ting departed, Yan Xi finished revealing the secret. She moved away from Xiang Jing Chen and stood up straight. Xiang Jing Chen's expression became very grim.
He looked at Yan Xi and finally understood why she had reacted so strongly when leaving the Yao family.
Anyone would find this news unbearable, especially a young woman like Yan Xi.
Xiang Jing Chen studied Yan Xi and asked, "Sister, if your news is true, I believe my aunt is likely in grave danger. You shouldn't go alone. Before the bodyguards protect us, you and I should go and retrieve the surveillance footage. Let's see who took my aunt away, or if she left on her own, and where she went. Once we have all this, we can decide on our next steps."
Yan Xi nodded and went with Xiang Jing Chen to retrieve the surveillance footage.
This was a hospital, with many people entering and exiting daily.
Yan Xi and Xiang Jing Chen wanted to know where Yao Wan Qi had gone and who had taken her, which was quite difficult.
Furthermore, the hospital had regulations that prohibited the casual retrieval of surveillance footage.
Xiang Jing Chen pulled many strings, and finally, the hospital agreed to let them view the day's surveillance recordings.
The two watched the footage in the monitoring room with extreme concentration.
Suddenly, several men in black appeared in Yao Wan Qi's room. Yao Wan Qi was still unconscious. They removed her oxygen mask and IV needle, then took Yao Wan Qi away.
These individuals wore masks and uniforms of plain black, concealing themselves thoroughly.
Jing Chen's sharp eyes noticed a tattoo on the arm of one of the men in black. That tattoo was a mark that all members of their assassination organization had to possess.