Chapter 47: Kidnapped—Sobs and Wails

After the room had emptied, Jiang Zao sat at the edge of Zhou Lichuan’s bed, eating the tangerines Meng Qiaoyuan had brought and chatting quietly with him. The operation was scheduled for the next day, and Jiang Zao’s heart was restless with a nameless anxiety.

Lying on the wide hospital bed, Zhou Lichuan held Jiang Zao close, his voice gentle and reassuring.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured, “Shen Mushi is a prodigy. He’ll be handling the surgery personally—there’s nothing to fear.”

From beneath the covers, Jiang Zao’s voice was muffled, buzzing with concern. “Of course I trust him. But that doesn’t stop me from worrying about you.”

Zhou Lichuan smiled, kissing her softly. “Zao Zao, just the thought that tomorrow, after a nap, I’ll open my eyes and finally see you fills me with excitement. I keep imagining what you might look like—you must resemble your mother: big eyes, long hair…”

Jiang Zao tightened her arms around his waist. “Do you remember what my mother looked like? I can hardly recall anymore.”

Staring up at the ceiling, Zhou Lichuan searched the faded memories of his kindergarten days. “Your mother was beautiful—the loveliest teacher in the whole school. All the children adored her. I was a difficult kid, never admitted what I liked, always quick to anger. But she was gentle with me, always. She taught us to dance…”

Jiang Zao pushed herself up, gazing down at him from above. “Zhou Lichuan, when you wake up tomorrow, I’ll have a gift for you.”

He didn’t think much of it, readily agreeing. “I’ve never dared wear the tie clip you gave me—I’m afraid I’d lose it if I’m not careful. Once my eyes are healed, I’ll wear it every day. Whatever you give me, I’ll love.”

Jiang Zao reached out, pinching his cheek. “This gift, you’ll love it most of all. You’ll want to protect it with everything you have.”

Zhou Lichuan pulled her back under the covers, tucking the blanket in tightly, not letting a single draft in, and under the covers gave her a playful pat.

“What could be more precious than you yourself? What could be worth my lifelong protection more than you? Are you proposing to me?”

Jiang Zao bristled. “Shouldn’t you be the one proposing? Even how we got together was a muddle—no flowers, no gifts, not even a proper confession, and now I’m practically your housekeeper. If even the proposal has to be initiated by me, you’ve been a boss for so long you’ve forgotten how to be human.”

He laughed, showering her with kisses. “I’ll make it up to you. Double, triple compensation. I like you—no, I love you. Zhou Lichuan loves Jiang Zao Zao best. My dear Zao Zao, don’t be angry. Once I’m out of here, I’ll make it up to you a hundredfold. I’ll plan the grandest proposal, the most lavish wedding, and make sure you marry me in style…”

…

Late at night, the sudden ping of a phone cut through the darkness—a bombshell video had been uploaded online.

A well-known financial short video blogger exposed a shocking scandal: the “Little Drop” charity fund was suspected of money laundering and embezzlement, and listed all the shell companies operating on its behalf—each one with messy books and illegal dealings.

A single stone stirred a thousand ripples. “Little Drop,” which had been preparing to go public, collapsed overnight. Investors’ funds were trapped, vanishing in an instant.

In the middle of the night, Zhou Kuan was jolted awake by a call from Lin Rui, cold sweat soaking his body.

“What did you say? Everything was fine this afternoon! Who exposed this? Is it true, or just malicious slander?”

Lin Rui’s voice was icy and venomous. “It’s true. Every word in that exposé is true. I’ve checked—there are shell companies running this project, and the real purpose is money laundering.”

Zhou Kuan, after a lifetime of striving, was now nailed to the board by the words “money laundering.” His mind went blank, with only one phrase echoing endlessly: It’s over, it’s over.

…

The next morning, Zhou Lichuan’s head was shaved and he was wheeled into surgery.

A crowd gathered at the operating room doors; all who needed to be there had arrived, except that Jiang Zao and Meng Qiaoyuan slipped away one after the other.

Jiang Zao had been vomiting constantly since morning. As soon as Zhou Lichuan was taken in, she hurried away to the restroom, heaving until she was weak. Seeing her like this, Meng Qiaoyuan quickly went back to the ward to fetch the tangerines and water she’d brought the day before.

Just as she left the ward with these things, a dark shadow flashed by—water cup and tangerines tumbled to the floor…

Meanwhile, at the sink, Jiang Zao, her nausea momentarily eased, suddenly blacked out and collapsed to the tiles…

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Jiayan and Du Bin returned to the ward, intending to fetch some hot water for Zhou Huai and Shen Xiaonan. At the door, they saw the water cup and tangerines scattered on the floor—Du Bin broke out in a cold sweat.

“Something’s happened.”

Zhou Jiayan picked up the cup. “This is Jiang Zao’s cup—the matching one to mine, a couple’s set she insisted on taking. Why is it on the floor, along with tangerines? Though she’s been eating tangerines a lot lately…”

Du Bin’s mind raced, searching for the possible leak. Who could have come in, and where could they have gone? Was it Lin Rui or Zhou Kuan? No, Zhou Kuan had just been called away by the police this morning—he couldn’t have done it. Then it had to be Lin Rui. It must be him!

“Excuse me, are you Miss Zhou?” a young nurse approached Zhou Jiayan.

She eyed the nurse warily. “Yes, can I help you?”

“I’m from Cardiology,” the nurse replied. “Dr. Meng just called—asked me to deliver this letter to you.”

Zhou Jiayan accepted the envelope, thanked her, and exchanged a glance with Du Bin—they had a sinking feeling about its contents.

Du Bin stopped her from opening it on the spot, glanced around with caution, then pulled her into the ward before signaling her to open it.

Both Meng Qiaoyuan and Jiang Zao are in my hands. They will remain safe until Zhou Lichuan wakes up from surgery. What happens after that, naturally, is up to President Zhou.

“I’m calling the police,” Zhou Jiayan said, grabbing her coat and heading for the door.

Du Bin quickly caught her by the waist and lifted her back. “Don’t do anything rash. Let me think.”

She was furious. “What’s there to think about? Lin Rui has already been in prison once—he’s a desperate man with nothing to lose! Jiang Zao and Meng Qiaoyuan are both in his hands. If anything happens, how will we face my brother, or the Meng family?”

Du Bin gripped her sleeve, refusing to let her get carried away. “Now is not the time to panic! Lin Rui once had you followed—have you forgotten? If he dares kidnap people now, what if you get dragged in too? Leave everything to me. You must stay by my side—not a minute away!”