At this point in the story, Mrs. Zhou, also known as Lin Yuanyuan, choked up several times, as if she were back in that lonely, helpless situation again. Her lover had disappeared, her family had fallen out, and the future they had once promised her would never return.

Another childhood sweetheart, who had grown up with Zhou Zhi, had already accepted the family heir test and gone abroad to develop his career long before Zhou Zhi was kidnapped for the first time. When Zhou Zhi was kidnapped the first time, he was worried and mobilized his connections to help rescue him, but in the end he could not make it back to share their suffering.

After Zhou Zhi was rescued, Grandpa Jing came back to visit him. Worried about his condition, he often called him. But Zhou Zhi, in that state, could still speak to Lin Yuanyuan. Over the phone line, even though the person on the other end was his childhood playmate and older brother, he didn't know what to say. Or perhaps it was because the person on the other end was someone he trusted that he could allow himself to remain silent.

Mr. Jing understood, but he wasn't a very patient person, and the succession test was a bit tricky, so gradually, his contact with Zhou Zhi became less frequent. However, whenever they did contact, the tacit understanding between the two remained the same.

When Zhou Zhi was kidnapped for the second time, it happened to be the time for the succession test of Mr. Jing. No one from the Jing family, Lin family, or Zhou family took the initiative to inform him about Zhou Zhi's situation.

By the time he finally passed the successor test, Zhou Zhi had been missing for a long time, and the mastermind behind his kidnapping had been apprehended. All he could do was offer comfort, but he also had his own family to protect and his own career to strive for, so his concern for Lin Yuanyuan was limited.

Later, the Lin and Zhou families went to court over Zhou Zhi's inheritance. As mutual friends, he and the Jing family, whether out of personal feelings or personal gain, were reluctant to get involved and could only remain spectators. Furthermore, Lin Yuanyuan had become somewhat paranoid and obsessive after Zhou Zhi's disappearance.

After the kidnapper's confession, Lin Yuanyuan hired several people to assist the police in the search. They brought in professional search and rescue teams, mercenaries, trained bodyguards, and more—everything Lin Yuanyuan could think of, but to no avail. Zhou Zhi's whereabouts were nowhere to be found, not even his mutilated body.

Unable to find him, the police withdrew a large number of personnel, leaving only a few "enthusiastic" people to continue the search with the people hired by Lin Yuanyuan. But Zhou Zhi seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth and could not be found.

Gradually, the number of "enthusiastic" police officers dwindled, until they only occasionally contacted Lin Yuanyuan's people by phone. Those hired by Lin Yuanyuan, despite the high bounty, did diligently search for her, but their search proved fruitless, and they inevitably became complacent.

The bosses couldn't just accept the money despite their employees' slacking off. They also didn't want their employees to think the money was easy to earn. After all, it was a demanding job; even a slight slackness could put them in danger. So, after a private discussion, the bosses of several companies all approached Lin Yuanyuan and canceled their partnership. Lin Yuanyuan knew she was being unreasonable, but ultimately, reason overcame emotion and she canceled the deal.

After that, there was no more extensive search, only occasionally hiring a group of professionals to spend a month or so looking for the servant. Then, Zhou's father took out Zhou Zhi's "suicide note" and sued Lin Yuanyuan in court, asking the judge to declare Zhou Zhi dead in order to seize Zhou Zhi's inheritance.

For a time, Lin Yuanyuan was deserted by her friends and family. Her inner resilience allowed her to appear at ease, but secretly, she inevitably felt exhausted. Around this time, Lin Yuanyuan "accidentally" met Bo Xingzhou, a man who claimed to be a "feng shui master."

No one knew Bo Xingzhou's origins or his background, but it was as if, one day, he suddenly became a prominent figure in Jiangcheng's upper-crust circles. He was a rising star in the business world, and his company's projects were innovative and promising. He was admired by both his younger peers and seasoned business veterans.

It's not that no one has investigated his background, but each attempt has been met with much fanfare and little action. It's as if some mysterious force prevents anyone from delving into Bo Xingzhou's past. Consequently, everyone assumes there must be someone "higher-ups" behind Bo Xingzhou, someone they can't afford to offend. Those who admire him admire him even more, those who once looked down on him now have awe, and even strangers who haven't had much contact with him have no ill feelings towards him.

Lin Yuanyuan and Bo Xingzhou met at a government-organized charity auction. They both fell in love with a particular item, leading to a somewhat romantic battle for it. The two bidders went back and forth several times, and just as one bid nearly reached Lin Yuanyuan's maximum, Bo Xingzhou gave up the offer, raised his glass, and toasted Lin Yuanyuan from afar with a smile, a truly gentlemanly one.

Lin Yuanyuan was not fascinated by him, but everyone around her had a good impression of Bo Xingzhou. They thought he was a gentleman, knew when to act, and had a gentle smile that could really touch the hearts of young girls.

Lin Yuanyuan: “…” So I’m not moved because I’m not a girl?

Lin Yuanyuan wasn't in the mood to listen to or chat about gossip at the time. She grumbled inwardly and put the matter behind her. But she didn't expect Bo Xingzhou to approach her at the cocktail party after the auction and start, "I know the approximate location of the person you're looking for."

Lin Yuanyuan initially thought he was a con man or an accomplice of the kidnappers. But with a sliver of hope, she patiently prepared to listen to a stranger's lengthy speech. But Bo Xingzhou then said only one sentence: "I'm a feng shui master and can tell fortunes." He handed Lin Yuanyuan his business card and turned to chat with someone else.

Lin Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, then continued chatting and socializing as if nothing had happened. It wasn't until she returned home that she recollected everything that had happened that day. They always say that people are most easily deceived when they are in desperate situations.

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