Chapter 271 Husband, I'll always be with you
The ceremony ended, and the noise subsided.
The VIPs departed one after another, and seven extremely luxurious black cars slowly drove out of the Royal Academy into the night.
Lu Lie sat in the back seat of one of the Bentleys. The interior of the car was dimly lit, and his fingertips flew across the screen of his phone.
[Niannian, can I see you?]
The message was sent successfully.
He stared at the screen, time ticking by, but there was no reply.
He frowned and dialed her number directly.
Beep...beep...beep...
The phone rang for a long time until it automatically disconnected, and no one answered.
Frustrated, Lu Lie pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and the scarlet flame flickered in the darkness.
He rolled down the car window, exhaled a smoke ring, and the smoke was dispersed by the evening breeze.
Just then, another car of the same model silently glided past him.
The tint on the car windows was so dark that you couldn't see the people inside.
The car didn't stop at all, merged into the traffic, got on the highway, and sped straight towards the airport.
In the back seat of the car, a woman sat quietly.
She wore a mask and a well-tailored black suit, concealing all her emotions.
It was the person he had been longing for.
...
Hospital.
The smell of disinfectant filled the air.
The woman on the hospital bed trembled her eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes.
What met my eyes was a blinding white.
Beside her, a man was lying on the edge of the bed, holding her hand tightly, seemingly asleep.
She moved her fingers, and Fu Beichen woke up almost instantly.
He suddenly looked up and met a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.
"Niannian, you're awake."
His voice was hoarse from just waking up, but full of concern.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Honey, I have a headache."
The woman's voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of fragility.
What's wrong with me?
Fu Beichen reached out and touched her forehead; her temperature was normal.
"You suddenly fainted. The doctor examined you and there's nothing serious, don't worry."
She stretched out her arms, her eyes red-rimmed, looking utterly pitiful.
"Honey, I'm so scared. I think I saw a figure."
"Don't worry, your husband is here."
Fu Beichen felt heartbroken. He lay down on his side on the edge of the bed and carefully pulled her into his arms.
His broad, warm hands gently patted her back.
"Honey, I'll always be with you."
His gaze fell on her small, empty right earlobe.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he sprang up as if he had been electrocuted.
The movement was so exaggerated that it scared him so much that his whole body was covered in hair.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
The woman in his arms was startled by his sudden change in behavior and looked at him in fear.
Fu Beichen did not answer.
He stared intently at her, his gaze sharp as a knife, scanning her from head to toe, inch by inch.
Then, he grabbed her left hand, and on the inside of her wrist, three light-colored scars were clearly visible, and these scars were exactly the same.
His heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
"Do you remember who attacked you?" He tried to control his emotions and make his voice calm.
"No...I didn't see it." She rubbed the back of her head with one hand and shook her head gently. "My head just hurts so much."
Fu Beichen released her hand and stood up.
"You rest first, I'll go back and get you some clothes."
"Husband, don't go!"
She quickly reached out and grabbed his large hand, her voice full of dependence and coquetry.
"People are scared."
Fu Beichen lowered his eyes, looking at the face that was exactly the same as Nian Nian's, and his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.
He forcefully suppressed all his emotions, reached out and stroked her head, but his movements were somewhat stiff.
"Don't worry, the bodyguards are outside, no one will dare to hurt you."
"Honey, I'll go home and get you some clean clothes. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, ignoring her pulling, he put her hand back under the covers and helped her lie down again.
She stared at him intently, her eyes filled with grievance, and slowly closed her eyes.
Fu Beichen walked out of the ward and gently closed the door.
Outside the door, two bodyguards in black stood ramrod straight.
"Keep an eye on this place. If anything happens to your wife, report it to me immediately." His voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.
"Yes!" the two bodyguards replied in unison.
As Fu Beichen descended to the hospital ground floor, the biting night wind cleared his muddled mind somewhat.
He immediately called Lu Qinglin, and his voice trembled as soon as the call connected.
"Qinglin, Niannian has been switched."
Every word sent chills down his spine.
"Change it?" Lu Qinglin's incredulous voice came from the other end of the phone.
"They placed an exact replica of Nian Nian next to me!" Fu Beichen's voice was filled with overwhelming rage and fear. "Contact the authorities immediately and seal off all offshore routes! Airports, ports—not a single one can be spared!"
"Okay, I'll take care of it right away!"
After hanging up, he quickly dialed another number.
"Immediately track down all vehicles that entered or left the Royal Academy tonight, especially those heading to the airport and port. Pay particular attention to vehicles accompanied by young women. I need all the information, everything!"
The call ended.
Fu Beichen stood on the street late at night, watching the passing vehicles and pedestrians, and felt a sudden dizziness, his mind going blank.
His constant thoughts.
Where did his longing go?
Is she safe now?
Is she very scared right now?
At this moment, Gu Xingnian was lying on a privately chartered plane, flying towards Country S.
The cabin was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Gu Xingnian lay peacefully asleep on the luxurious chair, like a princess unaware of the ways of the world.
She was covered with a soft cashmere blanket, and her long eyelashes cast small shadows under her eyelids.
A handsome man sat beside her, his gaze deep and thoughtful, tracing the contours of her exquisite face.
So... this is the real deal.
This face looks exactly like Bingying's.
The man's thoughts were drawn back to six months ago.
He saw that face for the first time in the data on the screen.
One glance was enough to completely captivate me.
It was a kind of heart-stirring feeling that couldn't be described in words, like a ray of blazing sun suddenly shining into a barren life.
He was the one who named the girl; her name was Bingying.
He had seen her innocently squatting in the garden, giggling as a kitten amused her, her eyes filled with pure and innocent joy.
That was his favorite look.
Until that night.
With a blank expression, Master Shen carried her into the room, and then her shrill cries and screams echoed from inside.
He stood guard outside the door, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, blood and flesh a bloody mess, his heart feeling as if it had been crushed by an invisible hand, shattered completely.
But there was nothing he could do.
Later, her eyes lost their clarity, and she became a soulless substitute.
...
The night was dark when Fu Beichen suddenly reached out and flagged down a taxi.
"To the Royal Academy, quick!"
At one o'clock in the morning, he returned to that bathroom.
He carefully examined everything around him; the doors and windows were intact, with no signs of forced entry.
The restroom was small; you could see the whole thing at a glance, so there was no way to hide.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on the huge dressing mirror.
This mirror is a bit strange.
He reached out and tried to pry the frame open, but it wouldn't budge.
His eyes hardened, and he grabbed the marble vase from the sink and smashed it with all his might!
"Clang!"
The mirror shattered with a crack, shards of glass littering the ground. Behind the mirror, sure enough, was a dark hole.
Fu Beichen immediately turned on his phone's flashlight, and the beam shone inside.
In the corner, something shiny reflected the light.
He reached in and picked it up.
My heart skipped a beat.
This is one of the diamond earrings that Niannian wore last night.
So, that's where she was hidden!
They put on a brilliant switcheroo!
However, he was caught off guard and took away a fake Gu Xingnian with his own hands!
"ah--!"
He let out a suppressed growl, clutching the earring tightly in his palm, the sharp needle piercing his flesh.
The veins on the back of his hands were bulging, and his eyes were frighteningly red.
He turned around and strode out.
On his phone, he summoned all the shadow team members.
Tonight, I'm destined to be sleepless.
...
In the early morning, the phone vibrated sharply and piercingly.
Fu Beichen suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a throbbing pain in his temples.
In the morning, he leaned back on the sofa and managed to doze off for a while, his eyes bloodshot and swollen from lack of sleep.
Reach out and swipe to answer the call.
It is Lu Qinglin.
"After last night's investigation, there was no news of my sister-in-law leaving the country."
Lu Qinglin's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of gravity.
"But there was one private jet that we couldn't stop."
“I watched the airport surveillance footage. They had ten bodyguards escorting one girl when they arrived, and later they took another girl with them.”
"The direction we are flying towards is Qingcheng in Country S."
"I will personally lead a team to investigate, so don't worry too much."
"Okay." That one word exhausted all of Fu Beichen's strength.
After hanging up the phone, he felt completely dejected.
He lost her again.
This time, it happened right under his nose.
He walked to the window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.
The air was thick with smoke, but all he could clearly see in his mind was her image and her smile.
My heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, tightening and tightening until I felt like I was suffocating.
Yesterday, Shadow had thoroughly investigated the fifteen unfamiliar vehicles that entered the academy.
In the end, three vehicles were identified.
All three vehicles headed straight for the airport half an hour after the incident.
One of them must have boarded the private jet that Lu Qinglin mentioned and flown away.
Fu Beichen forced himself to calm down.
He stubbed out his cigarette and, once again, carefully analyzed the whole matter.
The other party went to such great lengths to create a fake to replace Niannian.
The goal is to keep her by my side for a long time.
As long as the fake doesn't fall apart, Niannian won't be in immediate danger.
Therefore, the woman in the hospital must not be exposed.
He still needs her to spread false information and keep the people behind him calm.
He knew very well that there must be countless eyes watching that woman.
With that thought in mind, he went into the bathroom, took a cold shower, changed into a clean set of clothes, and drove straight to the hospital.
Push open the door to the ward.
The woman was sitting on the bed eating breakfast.
Several exquisite Cantonese dim sum dishes and a bowl of piping hot meat congee were laid out on the table.
She looked up, saw Fu Beichen, and a sweet smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"Honey, you're here. Why are you so late?"
Fu Beichen's eyelids twitched heavily.
Niannian doesn't casually use the term "husband"; she always calls him by his full name, "Fu Beichen."
He tugged at the corners of his mouth, trying to force a smile that appeared to be somewhat gentle.
"I'm sorry, something came up yesterday and I was held up."
He walked over and placed a paper bag on the bedside table.
"Isn't your period coming soon? I bought you this, it's your favorite brand."
Bingying stared at the contents of the bag, clearly taken aback.
But she reacted quickly and immediately smiled again, her eyes crinkling.
"Thank you, honey, you're so thoughtful."
Have you had breakfast? Want to grab some together?
She looked up at him and asked, with an innocent and sweet expression.
But this appearance was like a knife, stabbing deeply into Fu Beichen's heart.
He missed his beloved.
He tried hard to maintain his facial expression, and his voice was extremely low and gentle.
"You eat, and I'll handle your discharge procedures."
"We'll go home in a bit."
"Mmm." She nodded obediently.
Fu Beichen turned and left the ward, going directly to the doctor's office.
He asked for her blood test report and read it page by page with great care.
Her blood type is exactly the same as Niannian's, and all her blood counts are normal.
However, Fu Beichen knew without a DNA test that their genes were definitely different.
Because she is a fake.
Finally, after completing the formalities, Fu Beichen took her back to a detached villa.
Not his and Niannian's apartment.
That place was filled with Niannian's shadow; every inch of air belonged to her.
He didn't want anyone or anything to taint it.
S Country, Qingcheng.
Gu Xingnian opened her eyes and was met with a blinding white light.
The room was completely white, the walls were completely white, and there was nothing there except the bed beneath me.
She patted her groggy head, and fragments of memories flooded back.
She's been kidnapped!
The next second, Gu Xingnian suddenly jumped out of bed, rushed to the heavy iron door, and pounded on it.
"Open the door, is anyone home?"
"Open the door, I need to see the person in charge here."
Not long after, the soft beeping of the combination lock came from outside the door.
The door opened.
A handsome but completely unfamiliar face appeared before her.
The man was tall and imposing, his military black shirt highlighting his broad shoulders and muscular chest, paired with simple jeans and military boots.
He exuded a cold aura that kept strangers at bay.
"Miss Gu, please have something to eat first," the man said, his voice icy cold.
Behind him, a maid came in carrying a tray with an exquisitely arranged breakfast.
Gu Xingnian stared at him coldly, "Is this how you treat your distinguished guests?"
Ice Wolf twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile devoid of warmth.
This woman is interesting. Even at this point, she's not afraid at all.
“Miss Gu, I advise you to face reality. You are now just a prisoner.”
After listening, Gu Xingnian looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"Whether I'm a prisoner or not is not up to you to decide."
"I want to see the person in charge here."
She never doubted her own worth.
This group went to great lengths to create an imposter to replace her; they certainly didn't intend to kill her.
They just wanted to pull off a switcheroo.
But... what if Fu Beichen discovers that the woman is a fake?
Thinking of this, her heart sank.
Ice Wolf was taken aback by her calm and composed aura, and his tone was even colder when he spoke again.
"After you finish eating, stay put. The master will summon you."
Gu Xingnian was a little hungry, but she didn't dare to eat anything here.
She replied coldly.
"Give me a different room."
"I need a comfortable living environment, otherwise, I might be in a bad mood."
She paused, a hint of defiance in her eyes, "If I'm in a bad mood, I'm afraid I won't be able to work properly for your husband in the future."
This woman is absolutely outrageous!
Ice Wolf's eyes narrowed suddenly, revealing a dangerous glint.
He stepped forward, raised his hand, and tried to grab her chin to give her a hard time and let her know who was in charge.
Unexpectedly, before his hand could even touch Gu Xingnian's skin, his wrist was gripped tightly by a slender yet strong hand.
Immediately afterwards, Gu Xingnian used a backhand grappling move, a clean and swift self-defense technique, almost breaking his hand.
Ice Wolf's eyes narrowed; he hadn't expected her to have this ability, and he had no choice but to retaliate.
He dared not use his full strength, for fear of hurting this precious woman, and only pushed her away with force.
"You've got some skills," he said in a low voice.
"Come with me." The ice wolf suddenly turned around and walked out.
Gu Xingnian straightened her clothes and followed.
As soon as she stepped outside, the scene before her eyes shocked her.
She felt like she was walking inside a giant spaceship.
A long corridor stretches as far as the eye can see, with densely packed small rooms on both sides; a rough count would reveal at least two hundred rooms.
Each room door was fitted with the same combination lock as hers, and each door was labeled with a number.
So, they've locked up a lot of people here?
Or are there many...test subjects here?
What exactly are they testing?
The two walked in silence for a full ten minutes before finally leaving the oppressive corridor.
Suddenly, a bright, blue, technologically advanced space opened up before me.
Directly opposite are about ten large laboratory rooms with completely transparent windows, through which researchers in white lab coats can be clearly seen working diligently in front of the instruments.
Before long, Gu Xingnian was led into a clean and luxurious office.
There is a huge floor-to-ceiling glass window in the office.
A man stood by the window.
He was wearing a long black coat, his back straight as a pine tree.
Outside the window is a vast, boundless sea, a deep, deep blue that stretches to the horizon.
Gu Xingnian made a judgment in her mind: this must be a secluded island.
Ice Wolf respectfully greeted, "Sir, Miss Gu has arrived."
The man slowly turned around.
He wore a gold mask that covered half of his face.
"Miss Gu, welcome."
The man's voice had been processed by a voice changer, becoming rough and deep, like the roar of a wild beast.
He had a faint fragrance about him. Others might not be able to smell it, but Gu Xingnian had undergone aromatherapy and was extremely sensitive to scents.
This scent... she had smelled it before.
Moreover, this was at an extremely close distance.
"Miss Gu, this will be your experimental base from now on."
"If you're willing to stay, I'm willing to share with you the endless wealth of this world," the man said again, his tone seductive.
Gu Xingnian suddenly made a surprising statement.
"We're all old friends, why wear a mask and speak in that voice? It makes you seem so insincere."
The man's masked face revealed no expression, but his tall, upright figure visibly stiffened for a moment.
He was deeply shaken.
How could she possibly recognize him at first glance?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com