Volume 1, Chapter 170: Wail

Song Qingyu slowly withdrew the hand she had just reached out.

"Little Xi has her own natural blessedness and will be fine."

Ever since Gu Chenxi went missing, Pei Jingmo had remained in a state of high stress and self-blame.

He knew that Little Xi running away from home was largely because of Gu Chengde, but he himself could not escape responsibility.

"It's all my fault. That day Little Xi asked me to take her away, but I heartlessly left her at home. She must have been heartbroken and didn't want anything to do with me, which is why she didn't come to me."

Song Qingyu knew she shouldn't meddle in other people's business, especially since she and Pei Jingmo were close to getting a divorce.

Yet Little Xi was innocent.

"That day, what happened?"

"I..."

His cell phone suddenly rang. Pei Jingmo took it out and saw it was a call from Guo Rang, "Boss, we've found Little Xi's wallet and phone."

"I'll be right there."

Hanging up, Pei Jingmo looked deeply at Song Qingyu, "Qingqing, once we find Little Xi, if you're willing to listen, I'll tell you everything."

"There's news about Little Xi?"

"Yes, I'm heading over now. Remember to eat properly."

Seeing that Pei Jingmo was about to leave, Song Qingyu spoke without thinking, "Should... should I go with you?"

She was afraid that if anything happened to Little Xi, Pei Jingmo wouldn't be able to bear it.

"The location is a bit far. You get carsick, so you shouldn't go. As soon as there's news, I'll call you."

He quickly kissed Song Qingyu on the forehead, "Be a good girl~"

Song Qingyu: "..."

Inside the noodle shop.

When Pei Jingmo arrived, a man was lying on the ground, his face as pale as paper, devoid of all color, already unconscious.

"Boss, he was the last person to see the young miss. The young miss's wallet and phone were both found in his shop."

Pei Jingmo was dressed in a black woolen overcoat, looking like a grim reaper come straight from hell to claim a life, "Wake him up."

A bucket of ice water was poured onto the man's face. He gasped with his mouth wide open and opened his eyes in agony.

As soon as he regained consciousness, the pain racked his entire body, especially his sensitive lower parts, which felt excruciatingly painful.

Meeting Pei Jingmo's cold and terrifying gaze, he was badly frightened, "Who... who are you?"

Pei Jingmo produced Gu Chenxi's bag, "How did this bag and her phone end up here with you?"

The boss took one look and his expression changed drastically, "Th-this was left behind by a young girl who came to my noodle shop to eat. I don't know where she is!"

At a single glance from Pei Jingmo, Guo Rang subjected the boss to a flurry of punches and kicks. His blows were no lighter than Lu Yuan's.

The boss curled up on the ground, letting out agonizing wails.

He hadn't even recovered from two beatings, and any more would kill him.

"I'll talk... I'll talk..."

The boss managed to speak with great difficulty, "She came here to eat, and seeing that she had quite a bit of money in her bag, I grabbed her wallet and phone, and then chased her out."

Pei Jingmo grabbed the man by the collar, his gaze sharp and sinister, "Chased out? How did you get the injuries on your face? And your lower body—it looks like someone crippled it, doesn't it?"

Remembering the ordeal of the previous night, the man trembled like a sieve.

"Speak! Or you'll die an even more miserable death!"

The boss was scared to the point of pissing himself, and Pei Jingmo pushed him away in disgust.

"I... I saw that the girl was pretty and had evil intentions. Later, a man riding a motorcycle took her away, and the injuries on my body were all inflicted by that man."

The mere phrase "evil intentions" was enough to arouse a killing intent in Pei Jingmo, "Did you see that person's face?"

"N-no, I didn't. He was wearing a helmet, and besides, I was knocked out shortly after."

There was news, but the trail had gone cold again.

Pei Jingmo glanced at Guo Rang, "Don't let him die, but don't let him live comfortably either. Since he's crippled in the front, make sure the back still works. Since he loves having evil intentions so much, let him taste what it's like to have people harbor evil intentions toward him continuously."

"Yes!"

Pei Jingmo's methods of torture were no less cruel than Bai Yinian's. For years he had been reined in by the military, but now, scumbags who dared to harm his family would wish they were dead.

The New Year was approaching, and the streets were decked with lanterns and colorful banners, looking very lively. Pei Jingmo looked at the alleys surrounded by the warmth of fireworks, feeling extremely anxious inside, "Little Xi, where on earth are you?"

The internet and news outlets were broadcasting the news of Gu Chenxi's disappearance, complete with a bounty notice.

As long as someone found Gu Chenxi, the Gu family would offer a hefty reward.

When Gu Chenxi saw it, she quietly went into hiding. She wanted her father to worry, but she didn't want her older brother to fret.

When Song Qingyu came home from work, the security guard was handing out Spring Festival couplets, and she claimed a pair.

It was the New Year, yet she couldn't feel a shred of happiness.

Arriving at her doorstep, she saw an envelope tucked into the doorknob.

She opened the envelope and her eyes widened bit by bit. Without time to overthink, she immediately called Pei Jingmo.

Pei Jingmo arrived very quickly, and Song Qingyu handed him the letter, "Take a look and see if this is Little Xi's handwriting."

Gu Chenxi's handwriting was very cute and impossible for others to imitate.

"It's hers!"

Pei Jingmo glanced at the contents.

"Older Brother, Sister-in-law, I'm fine. Don't worry about me, and don't look for me anymore.

I just don't want to go home and want to spend some time outside. If you don't look for me, I'll go back in a few days. If you keep looking for me, I'll keep hiding and won't go back.

Also, Aunt Tang, please tell her for me. I'm afraid of her crying all the time. She's getting old, and crying frequently is bad for her eyes.

Older Brother, I love you. I know I can't help you with anything; I only hope you and Sister-in-law can be happy together, and I will always bless you."

At the end, Gu Chenxi had even drawn the smiley face she frequently drew.

Pei Jingmo looked at it with moist eyes. He had known all along that Little Xi's running away from home was on his account.

Song Qingyu didn't know how to comfort him, "The fact that Little Xi was able to send a letter means she really is safe."

"Yeah."

"Then... are we still looking?"

Gu Chenxi was usually very obedient and well-behaved, but on many occasions, she could be quite stubborn and headstrong. If she truly wanted to hide, she wouldn't be easy to find.

"We still have to look, but not with a huge fanfare."

Understanding, Song Qingyu nodded.

"Then... I'll be leaving..."

Watching Pei Jingmo's retreating back, Song Qingyu felt a pang of sorrow in her heart, "Wait—"

She couldn't help calling out to him, "Where have you been staying these past few days?"

Pei Jingmo didn't have a good relationship with Gu Chengde and certainly wouldn't return to the Gu residence; otherwise, Little Xi wouldn't have run away.

Yunqi Gardens was a place he had let her stay, so as for himself—

"I've been staying at Hanzi's place, but he's returning to the Fu family for the New Year."

Doesn't that mean he would be spending the New Year alone?

Song Qingyu bit her lip, "Your room is still empty. Would you like to stay here before the divorce?"

Pei Jingmo naturally wished for nothing more, "I'm afraid it might make you uncomfortable."

"There's nothing uncomfortable about it. Besides, it's the New Year, and Dingding needs your company too."

Pei Jingmo stepped back into the house, "Alright."

Pei Jingmo made a phone call to Aunt Tang, and sure enough, Aunt Tang was still crying.

Upon learning that there was news of Little Xi, Aunt Tang said excitedly, "Then where is she? Should we go pick her up and bring her back?"

"She doesn't want to come home for now. Don't worry, I'll bring her back after some time."

"But it's the New Year. Can she eat well and sleep well out there? What if she gets bullied?"

After comforting her for a long time, Pei Jingmo finally managed to soothe Aunt Tang.

Gu Chengde sat on the sofa and overheard the phone call. Without a word, he returned to his room, took out a photograph of his beloved wife, and covered his face with his hands, "Shishi, did I really do something wrong?"