The atmosphere had been peaceful in the office. Mu Shengchen was busy scanning over his documents when someone had pushed himself into the office. Glancing at Ye Xi's panting figure, a bad feeling stirred in his chest. "What's the matter?" he called out.
"Young Master," he panted out. "The property owner called. He said someone found Young Mistress's bag in the hallway."
The man immediately staggered from his seat before falling back onto the wheelchair. His fingers fidgeted as thoughts soared through his mind. Did something happen to her? No...
"What happened?" he asked, trying his best to keep himself as controlled as possible.
"No–nobody knows what's going on. We just know that the Young Mistress has disappeared." Ye Xi bowed his head, not really knowing what to do about it all.
"Let's go back," Mu Shengchen ordered.
"Yes, Sir." Ye Xi immediately took Mu Shengchen's suit off the hanger and pushed his wheelchair out of the office.
Just as they were about to leave the building, they bumped into Mu Zhengsheng. The old man wouldn't have said anything until he saw they were heading towards the exit. He pursed his lips.
"Shengchen, where are you going?" he called out. "The meeting's about to start."
Mu Shengchen ignored his words, and a light flashed across his eyes. 'If you want to compromise yourself in this position, then so be it,' Mu Zhengsheng thought to himself. 'Nobody can say that I've sabotaged you.'
He walked towards his office. However, just as he was about to relax in his seat, someone whispered into his ear.
His face turned extremely pale, and he could feel his legs trembling from the words. "What did you just say?" Sweat beaded down his forehead as he struggled to steady himself.
Even his assistant had to hold him. "Vice President, this matter..."
"Remove all the traces." Mu Zhengsheng said, obviously agitated.
"Understood, Sir." The younger man didn't need to be told twice as he sprinted right out of the office.
"Fuck," Mu Zhengsheng breathed out in panic as he looked at his surroundings. It was only when he had ensured that nobody heard him did he finally step back into the office, acting as if nothing had happened.
Ye Xi hurriedly pushed Mu Shengchen into the Haoyuan District Property office. They couldn't mask the panic and concern painted across their faces as they did so. Even the office quieted down upon their entrance.
"What's going on?"
The property manager immediately came over to explain the situation, "Someone found a bag in the corridor and brought it to our office. When we checked in, we saw that it was Young Madame's." There was a short pause before he murmured, "We couldn't contact her, so I had to inform you."
When Mu Shengchen saw the bag in his hand, his gaze immediately turned cold. It was impossible she'd leave it there if she was going to work, but just in case...He looked up at Ye Xi.
"Ask around if Qianyu had gone to the hospital or the research institute."
"Understood."
Within a few seconds, they received news that Ning Qianyu hadn't gone to the hospital or the research institute. In fact, there had been no sightings of her besides from her bag.
Mu Shengchen said coldly, "Show me the surveillance data."
"Yes, Sir." His clammy hands immediately slammed against the table as he called out for his subordinates. "Bring the data over!"
Only then did he receive the news that all their servers have been wiped.
"Mr. Mu," the manager slowly said. His voice trembled as he bowed his head. "All the surveillance data in the residential area had disappeared."
It was far too much of a coincidence!
Immediately, the entire atmosphere in the office had dropped by a thousand degrees. Even the manager couldn't help but shiver in fear. All he could see was Mu Shengchen's terrifying gaze.
"Find her as soon as possible," he said immediately.
"Yes, Sir." Young Master was normally very expressionless when it comes to these things. However, Ning Qianyu was his bottom line. Anyone who would dare touch her was already signing their death warrant.
No matter who he was, Ye Xi could already foresee his miserable outcome.
Ning Qianyu was lying on the bed in Mu Jinbo's apartment.
She looked peaceful, he noticed. There was a certain serenity as he admired her long eyelashes and plump lips. Not being able to help himself, he reached out and started to unbutton her shirt.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang from outside. Mu Jinbo's hand stopped, and he immediately released his hold on her in panic.
"Jinbo?" Weng Bisa's voice came from the other end of the room.
"Mom?" Glancing at the younger woman on his bed, he stood up and walked to the door.
Opening it, he could see Weng Bisa standing in front of him with a few other bodyguards.
"Mom, why are you here?"
"Where is Ning Qianyu?" She didn't even answer his question as she stepped forward.
Hearing her words, Mu Jinbo could already feel his heart sinking. How the hell did she know about that? He pretended to be calm as he took another, deep breath. "What did you say? Why would she be here?"
"Do you honestly think that you could take her away in secret? When there are surveillance cameras all over the building you've taken her from?" Weng Bisa stared at him for a long time before searching all the rooms one by one. Finally, she saw the unconscious woman lying on the bed.
She slowly covered her with a blanket before waving at the two bodyguards. "Hurry up, and send her away."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Just as they're about to head out of the room, Mu Jinbo blocked their way. He was going to pry Ning Qianyu out of their hands when the other two bodyguards grabbed a hold of his arms. "What are you doing?" he yelled out in panic. "Put her down!"
In the end, he could only watch as his love was being taken away.
"Where are you going to send her?" he asked anxiously. "Are you taking her back? Don't take her back!"
"Do you think Mu Shengchen doesn't exist? That the entire Mu Family wouldn't rattle around as they try to find out who had done this?" Weng Bisa snapped, finally having it with her son. "Look, she could go missing, but there must be no trace of her ever going into your home."
"But...I–I love her." Eyes filled with dejection, he knelt on the ground and bowed his head.
"You're the one who didn't want her then." She glared.
"And I regret it, Mom," Mu Jinbo cried. "I just want her back."
Weng Bisa could feel her heart aching at the sight. Immediately, her face softened as she tried to assuage her son's fears. "Look, you can get anything you want, but you'll have to pay the price," she slowly said. "Mu Shengchen owns Ning Qianyu, just as he owned the General Manager Position. He'll soon take over the Mu's one day. Do you want her? Then we have to take control of the Mu's first."
As soon as her words echoed across the room, Mu Jinbo slowly lifted his head. The dispirited look in his eyes vanished right after. It was soon replaced with determination.
"I know just what to do," he said, nodding understandingly. "I made you worry."
"Good." Weng Bisa straightened her back, returning to her normal graceful demeanor. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and her smile became strained. "Does she know that you've kidnapped her?"
His face darkened. "I used Ether to knock her out. She doesn't know if it was me."
"Good." She nodded, stepping back. "You'll be staying in Haoyuan District for the next few days, all right? Leave the rest to me."
"Thank you, Mom."
Weng Bisa and Mu Jinbo didn't know that they've already struck a match for war. Mu Shengchen was already in over his head with anger as he called up all his connections in the City.
B City was Mu Shengchen's birthplace, so it was obvious that all his deep-rooted connections were there. However, City A was the place where he had grown up. It was impossible for him not to have any connections there either.
Ye Xi made several phone calls around City A to look for her. At the same time, Mu Shengchen even asked him to call the police station.
Young Mistress from the Mu Family had disappeared. It was expected that the entire city would panic. Even the city bureau had been alerted. The city council immediately ordered all of their officers to move out and find the woman as soon as possible.