Chapter 23: The Vanishing Act

The night was alive with laughter and flashing lights, but Liyana felt none of it.

Something was off.

A presence. A shadow that lingered just outside her vision.

She had sensed it before, subtle at first, but now—it was undeniable. She was being followed.

Liyana's gaze swept over the amusement park, acting as if she were simply taking in the sights. The crowd was still thick, families and couples lost in their joy, but somewhere within that sea of faces… was someone watching her.

Her heart didn't race. She wasn't scared.

She was… calculating.

"Think, Liyana."

Meilin tugged at her sleeve, oblivious. "Jiejie! Let's go to the arcade before we leave!"

Yuhan groaned. "Again? You already won a hundred tickets."

Meilin stuck her tongue out. "That's because I'm good at it."

Liyana exhaled lightly. They can't know.

She smiled. "Go ahead. I need to take a call. I'll meet you inside."

Yuhan raised a brow. "You sure?"

She nodded. "I won't be long."

Meilin grabbed Yuhan's hand, already dragging him toward the arcade. "Come on, Gege!"

The moment they disappeared inside, Liyana's expression turned cold.

Now… she could act.

She turned on her heel and walked toward a quieter part of the park. Deliberate. Unhurried.

She needed to be sure.

Footsteps.

Her ears caught the subtle shift of movement. There were more than one.

A darkened alleyway loomed ahead, just past the side of a closed food stall. A perfect place to confirm her suspicions.

She stepped inside, the lights of the park dimming behind her.

Silence.

Then—a figure emerged.

Tall. Broad shoulders. A scar down his left cheek.

And behind him… more.

Three. Four. Five.

Liyana's lips curled slightly. "Impressive. You needed an entire group to follow me?"

The scarred man—Lin Hao—grinned. "Not taking chances."

Liyana crossed her arms. "Then you know who I am."

"Oh, we do." Lin Hao stepped forward, eyes gleaming under the dim light. "That's why this is going to be very simple, Miss Xu."

Liyana's stance didn't change. "Enlighten me."

Lin Hao chuckled. "You come with us. Or… your little companions get hurt."

A flicker of ice slid through her veins.

Meilin. Yuhan.

Liyana's expression didn't betray the surge of rage beneath her skin. "You're bluffing."

Lin Hao tilted his head. "Am I?"

One of his men pulled out a phone. The screen lit up with a photo—a live capture of Meilin and Yuhan inside the arcade.

Liyana's fingers twitched.

They weren't just watching her.

They had planned this.

Lin Hao's smirk widened. "Smart girl like you wouldn't risk them, would you?"

Liyana inhaled slowly. Control. Stay calm.

"Fine," she said coolly. "Lead the way."

Lin Hao's smile sharpened. "That's more like it."

One of his men stepped behind her. She didn't flinch when he reached for her wrist, gripping it firmly.

As they moved deeper into the shadows, Liyana didn't look back.

She had walked into the lion's den.

And she didn't even know just how deep the trap was.

Meanwhile, inside the arcade—

Meilin and Yuhan were battling it out in a racing game.

"Ha! You're losing, Gege!" Meilin cheered.

"Damn it—this controller is broken!" Yuhan protested.

Meilin rolled her eyes. "Excuses—"

Her phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen.

Liyana: Unreachable.

Meilin frowned.

"Jiejie should be done by now," she mumbled.

Yuhan didn't look away from the game. "She's probably on a business call."

Meilin tried again.

Still unreachable.

Her stomach tightened.

Liyana never ignored her calls.

She turned to Yuhan, unease creeping into her voice. "Gege… something's wrong."

Yuhan finally looked at her. "What do you mean?"

Meilin held up her phone. "She's not answering."

Yuhan's easygoing expression shifted.

Liyana was never unreachable.

Without another word, he grabbed his own phone and dialed.

Straight to voicemail.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Meilin's fingers curled around her phone.

"Gege…" she whispered. "Where's Jiejie?"

Yuhan's jaw clenched.

He didn't know.

But one thing was clear—

Liyana was missing.