As Zuri got into the car, a message notification sounded.
Kaden: [I'm sorry about last time. Are you free tomorrow? My treat.]
Since parting at the Fu residence before the new year, Kaden's phone had been off, and no one knew where he had gone. The promised thank-you meal for the next day never happened.
Zuri: [Are you okay?]
Kaden: [I'm fine.]
Zuri: [I'm available tomorrow. You pick the time and place. I'll treat this time.]
The people he had sent to secretly look after Siyuan were diligent, reporting Siyuan's situation to her regularly. It would be improper to let him pay for the meal.
Kaden: [Alright. 7 PM at Sunshine Island. See you there.]
The Lin Family Residence
Upon Zuri's return, Saira, who had been shut in her room for days, appeared in the courtyard, sitting with Dalia. From a distance, the two women looked remarkably alike in demeanor and gestures. Though their faces were different, their mannerisms and aura were strikingly similar. Was this the result of spending time together?
As Zuri approached, Saira said something to Dalia, then stood and walked over to Zuri.
"Sister," Saira greeted her.
Zuri turned her head, her gaze cold. "What's the matter?"
Saira leaned in and lowered her voice, "That incident... you planned it, didn't you? You drugged me with hallucinogens."
Even when drunk, she would never lose control, let alone do something like that with Christian. In this house, the only person who would target her was Zuri; there was no one else.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Weren't you the one who got drunk and lost control?" Zuri retorted. "Unless you've actually fallen for Christian?"
"You're talking nonsense! He's my brother," Saira gritted her teeth.
No matter how low she stooped, she would never fall for her brother, even if only in name.
Zuri chuckled, "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean he feels the same. I distinctly remember seeing Christian reluctant to let go of your kiss that day."
"You..."
Fuming, Saira watched Zuri walk away, clutching a recording pen tightly in her pocket. She had hoped to extract a confession, but Zuri's words were watertight, leaving her feeling humiliated.
"Zuri!" Saira muttered through clenched teeth.
The Next Day
Sunshine Island Green Restaurant, an eco-friendly establishment promoting harmony between humans and nature, had become one of the hottest dining spots in Oceanic City since opening six months ago. Securing a table there was nearly impossible. Entering the restaurant felt like stepping into a forest park, with each table surrounded by greenery, creating private spaces. Streams trickled through the undergrowth, and colorful fish swam freely.
As Zuri walked in, the lush, green decor did not surprise her. In her past life, Rhea loved dining here, and she often brought her along. She was very familiar with the place.
After giving the room number, a host led her to a central pavilion surrounded by purple curtains, creating a dreamy, fairy-tale atmosphere.
Kaden was already waiting. As soon as Zuri arrived, he stood up.
"Long time no see."
Zuri smiled at the young man before her, noting that he seemed more hardened than before, the youthful arrogance and naivety gone, replaced by a more mature demeanor.
"What do you like to eat?" Kaden handed her the menu.
"I'm treating, so you should order. Pick what you like," Zuri said, returning the menu.
A waiter nearby, seeing them politely decline back and forth, suggested, "Why not try our signature dishes? They're all very popular."
Kaden waved a hand. "Sure, bring us all your signature dishes."
The waiter hesitated, "We have eighteen signature dishes. For two people, you might want to choose four. If that's not enough, you can order more later."
Zuri, disliking waste, said, "Two dishes and a soup. That should be enough."
"I've heard good things about the food here. Let's see if it's true. The environment is nice, at least."
"It is nice."
Kaden was preoccupied, wondering how to answer if she asked where he'd been. Should he be honest, or lie? Honesty might upset her; after all, what he had been involved in wasn't suitable for her to know. But lying could damage her trust if she found out later.
As they chatted, Zuri suddenly noticed a tense atmosphere around them. She glanced at Kaden, who had been lively a moment ago, now looking troubled.
"What's wrong?"
Just as she asked, her phone rang. It was Xiaojing, the person Kaden had sent to watch over Siyuan.
As soon as she answered, Xiaojing's urgent voice came through. "Zuri, there's trouble. Siyuan has been taken by some people from a casino. I couldn't stop them. They looked dangerous, and I'm worried something bad might happen."
Zuri stood up abruptly. "Where are you now?"
"I'm at the western outskirts. They've already left. I can't reach the boss, and I don't know who these people are."
Kaden also stood up.
After ending the call, Kaden quickly asked, "What happened?"
"Siyuan's been taken by some people from a casino. Can you find out who they are?"
"Got it."
They hurried out, only to be stopped halfway by a waiter.
"Excuse me, you haven't paid your bill."
Kaden pulled out a wad of cash from his bag, handed several bills to the waiter, and said, "Keep the change."
They hurriedly walked out, followed at a distance by a middle-aged couple who exchanged a glance before trailing them.
"Liu Da, find out which group went to the shantytown area today. Quickly."
Zuri thought of two possible locations, places Siyuan's father frequented. As they got into the car, Kaden started the engine. Just as they began to move, someone suddenly ran into the car and fell to the ground. Before they could react, a middle-aged woman approached the window, angrily pounding on it.
"Get out of the car! You hit my husband, get out!"
Kaden and Zuri got out to find a middle-aged man clutching his leg in front of the car, groaning in pain.
"My leg! Ah, my leg must be broken!"
Kaden and Zuri could tell at a glance that the man was faking it, but they didn't have time to deal with it.
Kaden straightforwardly asked, "How much do you want?"
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