Volume One, Chapter 23: The Lady Has Been Gone for Several Days

It was midnight when Su Wanqing finally set down her pen.

Su Wanning’s brilliance placed significant pressure on her, compelling her to race against time to catch up on the studies she had neglected over the years. Fortunately, her foundation was strong, and coupled with her innate talent, she had managed to complete a third of the various regional competition papers from the past few years in just one night.

Looking at the dozen papers spread out before her, covered in dense, handwritten answers, she stretched with satisfaction.

She had reached an agreement with Xu Jiang to join Yongfang alongside Su Wanning in five days. While Xu Qiuyun had specifically instructed her to start from the grassroots—and Xu Jiang had originally arranged for her to enter as an ordinary staff member—Su Wanqing felt that after being away from the workplace for so many years, and wishing to compete with Su Wanning on a level playing field, she would rather start as an intern.

There were five interns at Yongfang this time, with only two being selected for permanent positions after three months. However, to ensure fairness, she would not occupy an intern slot; after all, she was entering Yongfang with the title of professor and would take over a project immediately after the internship period.

Yet, this only added to the pressure. If she were only marginally better than them, how could she justify the title of professor? To avoid causing trouble for Xu Jiang and Xu Qiuyun, she had to give it her all.

Noticing the late hour, she went to Xie Kexin’s room. Seeing her daughter’s peaceful sleeping face, she leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "Goodnight, my treasure."

After preparing the household register and identification cards needed for the next day, Su Wanqing returned to her room. Just as she was about to go to sleep, her phone rang abruptly.

She glanced at the caller ID; it was the medical center where Xie Kexin had undergone her check-up. The results were in.

But at this hour... Su Wanqing’s heart sank. Nothing good ever came from a late-night call. With trembling hands, she pressed the answer button.

The voice on the other end belonged to the doctor who had examined Xie Kexin. It sounded very gentle, yet the words spoken were so terrifying that Su Wanqing dropped her phone.

She picked it up with shaking hands and stammered, "Dr. Li... is it possible there was a mistake? I took Kexin for a full physical just last year, and the doctor didn't mention any such condition... Besides... she has never shown any symptoms..."

Dr. Li replied, "This time, we conducted a comprehensive examination using the most advanced technology in the world. Generally speaking, there are no errors. Kexin is not showing symptoms now only because the trigger has yet to occur, but if we wait until she falls ill to treat her, the results will certainly not be as effective as they are now. If you are free, please come to our center; I would like to explain this to you in detail."

"All right..."

After hanging up, Su Wanqing felt ice-cold, as if her heart were being gripped by a giant hand. Tears rolled down uncontrollably, splashing onto the floor. She dialed Zheng Lu’s number while scrambling to change her clothes, racing toward the medical center as if possessed.

Zheng Lu was dazed when she first picked up, but after hearing the news, she bolted upright from her bed, panic-stricken. "Qingqing, don't panic. Even the most advanced machines can have errors. You’re not in a state to drive—take a taxi to the center. I’ll go to your house to look after Kexin. I’ll call Xu Jiang, too; he can join you and talk to the doctor. Whatever you do, don't lose your composure!"

Su Wanqing bit her lip, nodding as she listened to Zheng Lu’s instructions. She could barely speak now. A light, drizzling rain had begun to fall from the sky, and in the dim, misty night, everyone’s heart felt a different kind of heaviness.

Meanwhile, Xie Yanchen had returned to Jingyuan.

As he stepped out of his car, he instinctively looked up toward the second-floor bedroom, the one he usually shared with Su Wanqing. She was afraid of the dark, so she always left a small light on by the bedside even when she slept. Although the glow was faint, it was visible if one looked closely.

Xie Yanchen squinted. Whether it was the alcohol clouding his vision or something else, he saw no light. He tapped his finger against the car window, gesturing toward the room, and asked Wang Zhengzhen, "Is there a light in that room?"

Although Wang Zhengzhen thought it was pretentious for Xie Yanchen to stand outside acting this way when he could simply walk in and check, he was merely a secretary and could not question the CEO’s behavior. He cupped his hands around his eyes like a magnifying glass and peered upward.

One second, two seconds...

"Reporting to Mr. Xie, no light!"

His voice was loud, but he didn't realize that Xie Yanchen’s heart had sunk, his tone turning cold. "Understood. You may go."

Wang Zhengzhen scratched his head. As a personal secretary, he could sense Xie Yanchen’s displeasure immediately, though he had no idea why. Still, he obediently drove away.

Xie Yanchen entered the house. The villa was deathly quiet; there was no one to greet him. Had he not known he employed domestic staff, he would have suspected the place was vacant. He turned on the lights and prepared to change his shoes, only to find his slippers covered in a layer of dust. He couldn't even remember the last time they had been cleaned.

Seeing this, Xie Yanchen’s already foul mood worsened. He called out in a deep voice, "Housekeeper!"

A moment later, the sleepy-eyed housekeeper emerged, wrapped in a shirt, looking impatient. "Who is it? What’s all that shouting in the middle of the night?"

However, when Xie Yanchen’s laser-like gaze landed on him, his sleepiness vanished instantly. He bowed hurriedly, apologizing, "Mr. Xie! Why have you returned so suddenly? I’m sorry, I was dazed with sleep."

Xie Yanchen threw the slippers at his feet. The housekeeper immediately spotted the dust on them, and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "I-I-I am so sorry, Mr. Xie! The staff must have been careless! I’ll get you a new pair right away!"

Trembling, he fetched a fresh pair of slippers and knelt to help Xie Yanchen put them on, offering a standard, toothy, ingratiating smile.

Xie Yanchen didn't even look at him. As he began to remove his coat, he asked, "Has the Madam gone to sleep?"

The housekeeper looked confused. "Pardon? The Madam hasn't been back for several days. Wasn't she staying out with you?"