Before Xu Shixin could stop, one foot had already stepped into the dark doorway.
He realized what was happening and tried to back away, but his arm was suddenly grabbed. Before he could react, he was dragged into the bottomless darkness.
The stone walls were then closed, and the villa returned to a deathly silence.
The sun sets early on the mountain, and the light filtering through the gaps in the dense forest treetops has lost its warmth.
Xu Shixin's driver checked the time; the master had been inside for over an hour.
The driver peeked out and saw that the villa gate was still wide open.
He got out of the car and couldn't hear anything coming from inside.
Just as I was hesitating whether to go over and take a look, the villa gate suddenly closed slowly, but I couldn't see the person closing the gate at all.
A bad feeling rose in the driver's heart. He took a wrench from the trunk, held it in his hand, and walked into the courtyard.
He stepped through the overgrown courtyard and climbed a few steps to reach the gate.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The driver pounded on the door a few times, but there was no response.
He pressed his ear against the door to listen, but there was still no sound.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The driver pounded on the door a few more times with his fist, but as he expected, no one answered.
He broke out in a cold sweat and quickly grabbed his phone to call Xu Shixin.
The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable...
Unable to reach him by phone?! The driver sensed something was wrong, jumped down the stairs in three quick steps, ran to the villa, and climbed onto the windowsill.
The windows were covered with gauze curtains, so you couldn't see clearly inside, but you could still tell that it was empty and there wasn't a soul in sight.
The driver took a wrench and smashed the glass repeatedly, using a lot of force, but only managed to create a few short cracks.
This house actually uses bulletproof glass?!
The surrounding temperature suddenly turned chilly, and the driver realized with a start that the sun had set.
A gentle breeze swept by, causing the weeds in the villa's yard to sway eerily.
The desolate courtyard, empty of everyone, lies deep in the mountains and dense forests...
The driver was so frightened by his surroundings that he lost his focus and fell from the windowsill to the ground.
He grimaced, his back aching from the impact, but dared not linger, stumbling and rushing out of the courtyard.
The driver hurriedly got into the car, closed the door, and quickly locked it. He wanted to call for help first, but looking at the darkened surroundings and the eerie courtyard, he quickly started the car and drove away.
The car drove towards the Xu family's old residence. When it passed the police station, the driver paused, hesitating whether to call the police first or go back to report to Xu Shixin's assistant and wife.
Considering Xu Shixin's usual behavior, calling the police might actually get the old man into trouble instead.
He started the car again and continued driving.
"Madam!" The driver was eager to see Ye Juan as soon as he entered the Xu family's old house.
Upon hearing that the master had disappeared, the butler skipped the need to report or ask for instructions and quickly led the driver to the restaurant.
Ye Juan was sitting alone at the large dining table. Her son and daughter were both in prison, and her husband was never home. She sat there every day with this table of food, but no matter how good the food tasted, she couldn't enjoy it.
She picked up a couple of bites with little interest, and then couldn't eat anymore.
Suddenly, the butler and driver rushed in, disregarding all etiquette.
"Madam! The master is missing!" the butler shouted, quickly pushing the driver forward to report.
The driver stammered as he recounted what had happened to Ye Juan.
After saying the last word, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, his legs so weak that he had to lean against the wall for support.
Ye Juan frowned slightly and stared at the driver for a while. She noticed that his forehead was covered in sweat in this season, and the fear and tension on his face didn't seem to be faked.
"You mean the master disappeared after entering the Nanshan Villa?" she asked.
“Yes!” The driver reached out and held onto the wall to straighten himself up. “Looking through the window, there’s no one there.”
"Didn't you see Xu Zhe either?" she asked again.
"Yes! The door is locked, and the glass can't be broken!"
"The master's phone is also unreachable?"
"Yes!" the driver said, then took out his phone and dialed Xu Shixin's number.
The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable...
The mechanical beeping sounded again, echoing throughout the restaurant.
"You didn't call the police?" Ye Juan asked to confirm.
The driver quickly waved his hand: "No, no! I've been with the master for so many years, and I know there are many things he can't let the police know, so I didn't dare to call the police!"
Ye Juan nodded: "Yes, you did the right thing."
The housekeeper, however, was not as calm as she was and hurriedly asked, "Madam, we should quickly notify the master's assistant and have him handle it immediately!"
Ye Juan didn't move her head, only glancing at the butler: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
The butler was taken aback, and anger quickly appeared on his face, but he lowered his head and dared not speak out.
“This matter involves Xu Zhe, and it’s not something that his assistant alone can handle.” Ye Juan’s gaze was icy as she looked at the butler.
"Butler Xu, I will discuss this matter with the eldest son of the Xu family. After you leave, you are not allowed to utter a single word to anyone. Otherwise, I may spare you, but Xu Zhengxi will not!"
The driver nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, madam, I absolutely won't tell!"
Ye Juan was very satisfied with him and gestured for him to go back and take a few days off.
The housekeeper, however, was still standing there, which greatly displeased her.
"Steward Xu, is there anything else?" Ye Juan slowly picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it on the small plate in front of her.
The butler clenched his fist: "Madam, the master has disappeared. We should inform the assistant. The eldest young master might not be able to help the master."
Ye Juan slammed her chopsticks down on the table with a soft "thud," which was neither too loud nor too soft, yet remarkably clear in the spacious and quiet restaurant.
"What does Butler Xu mean by this? Are my wife and young master less important than an assistant when it comes to the master's affairs?!"
The butler gritted his teeth and swallowed hard: "Madam, everyone in the Xu family knows that the eldest young master and the master are at odds. Why would he really go to save the master?!"
"And what about me, the wife?! In your opinion, would I also harm my own husband?!" Ye Juan's eyes were cold and fierce as she stared directly at the housekeeper.
"That's not what I meant!" the butler protested.
Although this woman only entered the Xu family because she had given birth to a child, and the master usually didn't even bother to look at her, her status was undeniable. No matter how much the steward looked down on her, he didn't dare to openly disobey her.
Besides, the second young master isn't going to stay away forever just because he's inside working on the sewing machine. When her son and daughter come back, the Xu family will eventually be ruled by her children.
Seeing him lower his head and show weakness, Ye Juan picked up her chopsticks again and added some food: "Go down now, and remember to watch what you eat!"
Butler Xu clenched his fist again after it had loosened: "Yes, Madam."
After everyone had left, Ye Juan started eating, and her appetite inexplicably improved.
The meal lasted a full half hour; she hadn't eaten this much in a long time.
After dinner, Ye Juan went to the pavilion in the backyard to digest her food. After dismissing the servants, she dialed Xu Shixin's number.
The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable...
Ye Juan smiled.
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