Shu Qianzhi remained seated on the toilet, massaging her throbbing temples with a sigh. After a moment, she fished her phone from her pocket and checked the time.
To her surprise, she noticed multiple missed calls—mostly from Wan Feng, with several from the Butler too. Her phone had been on silent, leaving her completely unaware.
The sheer number of calls made it clear: her sudden disappearance had caused quite a stir among them. Given the circumstances, Ji Zechen had likely been informed by now.
Sitting there, Shu Qianzhi felt a twinge of regret.
It had been hard enough to get out this once, yet she’d vanished right under their noses for so long. Next time, escaping their watch would be far from easy.
And as for finding her mother—that hope seemed even slimmer now.
In an instant, her mind raced through countless stratagems, reviewing the entire Thirty-Six Stratagems—from Hiding the Sky and Crossing the Sea to Running Away is the Best Option. She weighed every possible method to ensure her survival.
A moment later…
Shu Qianzhi shut her eyes tight, steeled her resolve, and scraped her elbow hard against the wall, leaving a raw wound.
After much deliberation, she concluded that only the Sacrificial Strategy offered a final chance—only this could provide a plausible explanation.
She hadn’t used excessive force, just enough to break the skin and draw blood. Unexpectedly, a sharp, sudden pain shot straight to her brain, searing through her nerves. She could even feel her Temple Point throbbing intensely.
Unprepared for such an assault, Shu Qianzhi found it hard to bear. Her arm went weak, and she slumped back onto the toilet seat, disheveled. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, her delicate brows furrowing involuntarily.
It hurt—a pain second only to what she’d endured after the recent car accident, far worse than a minor scrape should be, overwhelming her.
Damn…
If she’d known a simple scrape could hurt this much, she’d never have been so reckless.
Fortunately, the sharpness of the pain faded quickly, though it took a while longer for the discomfort to fully subside. Only then did she regain enough strength to reflect on the strange, bizarre events of the past few minutes.
A minor injury like this shouldn’t have fazed her—in her previous life, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. But in this life, for some reason, her sensitivity to pain was unnaturally heightened, growing more intense each time.
She couldn’t understand why, but her rationality told her clearly: her pale complexion was proof enough.
Shu Qianzhi let out a breath, hauled her weary body up, and stepped out of the stall. At the sink, she rinsed her elbow briefly, wincing through the pain, then wrapped the wound hastily with a few tissues before leaving the restroom.
Outside, it was quieter than she’d expected. Not a single bodyguard in sight—only customers chatting and laughing as they passed by. Everything looked as if nothing had happened.
But the unexpected calm made her heart sink. Suddenly unsure where to go, a deep sense of insecurity washed over her.
A thought flashed through her mind: Had Ji Zechen, failing to find her and seeing this as a perfect chance to be rid of her, called off the guards and decided to abandon her for good?
A restless emotion churned violently within. Shu Qianzhi endured the sharp pain as she sat on a nearby chair, somewhat flustered as she picked up her phone to call Wan Feng.
Thankfully, her number hadn’t been blocked, and even better, he answered quickly.
“Hello? Where are you now, girl?” Wan Feng’s voice carried urgency, yet somehow felt reassuring.
Shu Qianzhi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She finally felt relieved, but suddenly wanted to cry.
“I’m at the restroom entrance…” Her voice unintentionally carried a sob. The pitiful tone wasn’t entirely feigned as she immediately continued, “I bumped my hand. It hurts badly.”
Hearing her voice, Wan Feng’s tone became more patient. “Don’t worry, tell me clearly which floor you’re on. I’ll send someone to find you right away.”
After giving the specific location, Shu Qianzhi put down her phone, but still felt an inexplicable sense of grievance.
Perhaps it was the constant pain wearing down her nerves that exhausted her, or perhaps she was utterly weary of this feeling of being abandoned.