Chapter 23: He is missing!!

The Jiang Residence was in an uproar as Jiang Yan somehow managed to sneak out of the house every day. Madam Tian, who had always been suspicious of her, feared that Jiang Yan might be up to something that could threaten her and her daughter's position in the family. She decided to take action and sent some people to follow Jiang Yan in silence.

As the days went by, Madam Tian became increasingly curious about Jiang Yan's activities. She was pleased to discover that Jiang Yan would spend the whole day at a bar, but little did she know that Jiang Yan had already caught on to her scheme. To deceive those who were following her, Jiang Yan would go to the bar but leave from the backdoor and head to her office.

Madam Tian was overjoyed to see Jiang Yan getting spoiled and paid less attention to what she had been doing. She felt confident that Jiang Yan's behaviour would only serve to further discredit her in the eyes of the family. Little did she realize that her lack of attention would ultimately lead to some peaceful days for Jiang Yan in the house.

One day, as Jiang Yan was about to leave for work, Old Master Jiang came to the Jiang residence to visit her. He stopped her. "Yan Yan, where are you off to?" he asked, curious.

"I have been preparing for the university at the library, Grandfather," Jiang Yan replied, her voice steady.

Old Master Jiang looked at her thoughtfully. "You've been spending a lot of time outside the house lately. Is everything all right?"

Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment before replying. "I just need some time to myself, Grandfather. That's all."

Old Master Jiang nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, just make sure you don't overwork yourself, Yan Yan. We care about your well-being too."

Jiang Yan felt a pang of gratitude for her grandfather's kindness, and she smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Grandfather. I appreciate your concern."

As she left the room, she caught a glimpse of Aunt Chen lurking in the hallway. Jiang Yan didn't like lying to her grandfather, but she knew that Aunt Chen had been eavesdropping. She couldn't risk revealing the truth about her new company. So instead, she smiled at Aunt Chen and continued on her way, hoping that her secret would remain safe for a little while longer.

***

Jiang Yan was intently studying the files in her cabin when the door burst open and Wu Changwei barged in, looking worried. "Boss, we have a problem," he said urgently. "The consignment for the new gems we need is stuck at the capital. We need someone to go and get the paperwork cleared since our company is new."

Jiang Yan frowned, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I'll go and get it done myself," she replied determinedly.

Wu Changwei looked surprised. "Are you sure? You don't have to do it personally."

"I do," Jiang Yan insisted. "As the head of the company, it's my responsibility to ensure that everything is in order. Besides, I need to make connections and establish myself as a professional in the field. It's important for the future of our company."

With a nod of agreement, Wu Changwei happily left the room. Jiang Yan quickly booked two flight tickets for the next day, but there was one last hurdle to overcome. She needed to find an excuse to leave the Jiang residence without arousing suspicion.

Just then, Jiang Yan's assistant Ling Meili entered her cabin, bursting with excitement. "Boss, is it true that we're going to the capital together?" she asked. She had just got the ticket for the capital in her inbox from Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan smiled, "Yes, Ling Meili, we are. I've already booked your ticket."

Ling Meili clapped her hands with joy. "Thank you so much! I've never been to the capital before, I can't wait to go."

Jiang Yan nodded, "I need you to come with me so that you can learn how to handle these things. It will be a good experience for you."

Ling Meili nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes! Of course, I will learn as much as I can!"

Jiang Yan couldn't help but chuckle at Ling Meili's antics.

Ling Meili was a young and vibrant woman, full of life and energy. She had just graduated from college and landed her first job as an assistant to Jiang Yan. Despite her lack of experience, Ling Meili was determined to excel in her new role. She was always eager to learn new things and take on new challenges.

Jiang Yan had been impressed with Ling Meili's positive attitude and work ethic. She quickly recognized the young woman's potential and took her under her wing. Jiang Yan was patient with Ling Meili and spent extra time training her on the intricacies of the job.

Although Ling Meili was new to the working world, she was always willing to take on additional responsibilities. She was constantly looking for ways to improve and grow in her role. Her enthusiasm was contagious and soon, other members of the team were inspired by her energy and drive.

Ling Meili's bubbly personality made her a joy to work with. She was always quick with a smile and a kind word, even during the most stressful of times. Despite her busy schedule, she always found time to chat with her coworkers and make them feel valued.

Ling Meili was joyfully talking about how excited she is to go while Jiang Yan sat at her desk, patiently going over the final revisions to the drafts. As she concentrated on her work, she couldn't help but overhear Ling Meili's excited chatter.

Ling Meili was gushing about her favourite singer, Long Lei, whom she affectionately referred to as "hubby." Jiang Yan had heard of Long Lei before - he was one of the most popular singers in the country, with millions of fans both in China and abroad.

"He's having a concert in the capital around this time," Ling Meili continued, her eyes shining with excitement. "I wish I could go see him!"

Jiang Yan couldn't help but smile at Ling Meili's dreamy expression. She was glad that her assistant had found something to be passionate about outside of work. And then, as she listened to Ling Meili's chatter, an idea suddenly struck her.

She had been in a dilemma about what to say to the people at the Jiang residence to leave the house for a few days. She obviously couldn't let anyone, especially Madam Tian, know about her company. But now she could say that she was going to the Long Lei concert. This would be a more believable excuse for her.

"You know what, Ling Meili, why don't we go and see Long Lei's concert?" Jiang Yan said with a mischievous grin.

Ling Meili's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Can we go?" she asked excitedly.

Jiang Yan nodded. "Yes, we can go. And while we're there, we can take care of the business that needs to be done."

Ling Meili beamed with joy. "Thank you so much, Boss! I can't wait!"

Jiang Yan chuckled. "Let's get the tickets first, shall we?"

***

Du Hong frantically pacing back and forth in a dimly lit airport hallway. He is visibly distressed, biting his nails and muttering to himself. Suddenly, his phone rings and he jumps at the sound.

"Hello?" he answers, voice shaking.

"Du Hong? This is Lin Yiyun. What's going on? Where's Long Lei?"

Du Hong takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I don't know, Sister Lin. I was collecting his luggage at the airport, and when I turned around, he was gone. I've checked his apartment and villa, but he's not there."

There is a long pause on the other end of the line. Du Hong can hear Lin Yiyun's sharp intake of breath.

"This is bad, Du Hong. Really bad. If the paparazzi find out he's missing, they'll have a field day. We need to find him before they do."

"I know, I know," Du Hong says, his voice rising in panic. "But what can we do? Where could he have gone?"

"We need to think," Lin Yiyun says, her voice firm. "What was he doing before he disappeared? Was there anything out of the ordinary?"

Du Hong thinks back, trying to remember. "No, nothing. He was just his usual self, joking around and chatting with me. He even took a selfie with a fan before we left the airport."

"Did he say anything about where he was going next?"

"No, nothing specific. Just that he was looking forward to getting home and resting."

Lin Yiyun is silent for a moment, thinking. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. I'll contact his friends and family, and see if anyone knows where he might be. You go back to the airport and check the security footage. Maybe you'll see something we missed."

Du Hong nods, grateful for the direction. "Okay, I'll do that. And Sister Lin? What if we can't find him?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Lin Yiyun says firmly. "But for now, let's focus on finding him. We can't let the paparazzi get wind of this."

With that, the call ends, and Du Hong takes a deep breath before setting off to the airport, determined to find Long Lei before it's too late.

***