When Yu Shan heard that Zheng Lin had come to visit, she was somewhat relieved. Zheng Lin must still care about Yu Chan to have come all this way, right? This cold war didn't seem to be a solution. The two of them should talk things out face to face. However, Yu Shan couldn't see him, so she sent Chang Yue to tell him that Yu Chan was at Baozhen Tower.
However, not long after, Chang Yue returned, her face full of worry. "Young Master Zheng said he just came from Baozhen Tower. The Second Miss wasn't there. He also went to Young Master Su's house, but she wasn't there either."
"How could that be? Didn't I ask Yun Song to deliver Yu Chan to Bao Zhen Lou?" Yu Shan exclaimed in surprise, immediately calling Yun Song in to answer.
Yun Song truthfully replied, "When I escorted the Second Miss to the vicinity of Baozhen Tower, I saw a pineapple cake vendor by the roadside when we were just one intersection away. I thought Chang Yue liked to eat them, so I wanted to bring her some."
However, there wasn't much stock left, only a few boxes, and someone was still waiting. So, I asked the second young lady to wait for me a while, and that I would see her off after I finished shopping. But she said that Baozhenlou was just at the next intersection, very close by, and that there was no need for me to see her off, so she left alone.
In other words, Yun Song did not personally escort her to Baozhen Tower. Yu Chan did not know anyone else in the capital. Where else could she go besides her two elder brothers' homes?
Yu Shan became increasingly anxious, wondering if something had happened to her sister.
Just as she was getting anxious, Hongli returned. Yushan quickly recounted the incident briefly and begged Hongli to help her find Yuchan.
Just as Hongli returned to the mansion, he saw Zheng Lin at the gate.
Whenever Hongli saw this person, he would recall the past and feel uneasy. Zheng Lin did not want Hongli to misunderstand anything, so he took the initiative to tell him that he had come to see Yu Chan.
Hongli gave a curt reply, but did not speak further to him or invite him in. He went straight into the mansion.
Only when Yu Shan told him did he realize that Yu Chan had gone missing!
Upon learning the reason, Hongli glared at Yunsong, "Yushan entrusted you with a task, and you dare to be perfunctory? Is she more important than pineapple cakes?"
Yu Shan only wanted Hongli to help find someone, not for him to reprimand Yun Song. To avoid Yun Song being punished, Yu Shan didn't tell the truth, only saying that she wanted to eat pineapple cakes, so she asked Yun Song to buy some on the way.
"No one expected Yu Chan to get into trouble. The most urgent thing is to find Yu Chan, not to assign blame."
Yu Shan gently persuaded him, and Hongli then stopped pursuing the matter of Yun Song's responsibility.
Yun Song breathed a sigh of relief and secretly thanked Su Gege for speaking up for him; otherwise, the Fourth Master would certainly not have let him off easily.
Hongli then ordered Yunsong and others to go out and search. Yushan was a little worried and wanted to go too, but Hongli said it would be inconvenient for her to go to the market and the guards would have to protect her safety so they couldn't concentrate on finding people. So Yushan didn't go and caused trouble, and waited for news at the mansion.
Today, Su Jiafeng happened to be off work and at home. Upon learning that his sister was missing, he, Zheng Lin, and the guards from the Fourth Master's mansion split up to search for her in the vicinity.
Yun Song said that the place he left was only one intersection away from Baozhenlou, so the group went from shop to shop in the vicinity to ask for his whereabouts.
After searching around without success, Zheng Lin grew increasingly anxious, worried that something might have happened to Yu Chan.
Su Jiafeng couldn't help but wonder, "Could Yu Chan have already gone home?"
Zheng Lin shook his head. "She shouldn't have gone back. I told the servant to go home and wait, and if he saw Yu Chan go back, to come and report back immediately."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the opera house. Zheng Lin stopped there. "Have you searched the opera house?"
Su Jiafeng had just passed by this place, but did not go in to check. "There are more male customers and very few female customers here. Yu Chan is timid, she certainly wouldn't go to the theater alone."
Given Yu Chan's personality, she indeed dared not go in alone, but Zheng Lin suddenly remembered something, "Yu Chan once told me that she wanted to come and listen to the opera. I promised to bring her when I had time, but I haven't had the chance yet."
Zheng Lin had searched almost every shop, but he hadn't gone into the opera house. He couldn't help but wonder if Yu Chan had gone to the opera house.
After discussing it, the two decided to go in and try their luck.
The theater was packed with guests. On stage, the performers were singing "The Legend of the White Snake," while the guests below were either enjoying tea and fruit or chatting, making quite a racket.
Zheng Lin looked around carefully, searching for Yu Chan's figure in the crowd.
Su Jiafeng felt that his sister was unlikely to be here, but to his surprise, there seemed to be a familiar figure in the crowd ahead!
Shocked, Su Jiafeng quickly tugged at Zheng Lin, "Hey---look at that back view, it looks like Yu Chan!"
Just as Su Jiafeng had predicted, the person was indeed Yu Chan.
She was listening to the opera, and was quite peaceful at first, but ever since a man sat down next to her, he'd been staring at her with a very lewd gaze and even trying to strike up a conversation. Yu Chan was thoroughly annoyed and got up to leave, but the man blocked her way, refusing to let her go.
"Where does the young lady live? Why don't you take a ride in my carriage? I'll give you a ride."
"No need, excuse me!" Yu Chan ignored him. He had even stopped listening to the play and followed her directly, even reaching out to pull at her. Yu Chan immediately broke free, turning her head away with annoyance.
"Stay away from me! If you dare to act recklessly again, I'll report you to the authorities!"
"I saw you were listening to the opera alone, young lady, without anyone to keep you company. I was worried you'd be lonely, wasn't I?" As he spoke, the man grinned and moved closer.
"If you find this boring, young lady, you may come to my villa to admire the flowers."
He was talking and laughing when he was suddenly punched hard by someone rushing straight from the side!
The punch came so suddenly that, clutching his throbbing cheek, the man was enraged and humiliated. "Who the hell are you? How dare you lay a hand on me?"
Zheng Lin glared at him, head held high, declaring her ownership, "I am her man!"
The man assumed the young woman's husband was away, which was why she had come to the opera alone. He hadn't expected her to be nearby! But the young woman had a cold expression, seemingly uninterested in her husband's affection. Suspicious, the man asked in a low voice...
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
