Lin Sihui stamped her foot in anger, glared viciously at Jiang Lai, and then followed Zhao Xiaodong to the HR department.
Seeing her furious state, Jiang Lai’s lips curved slightly. She dispersed the crowd of onlookers and walked straight toward the team leader’s private office.
As soon as she stepped inside, Gu Xingyun’s call came through. She picked up and turned on speaker.
“I’ve rearranged your position. Are you getting used to it?”
While organizing documents, Jiang Lai replied calmly, “It’s fine. Is there something you need, Big Brother?”
“Come back to Maple Lotus Villa tonight. The company was able to successfully sign the Zhuang Group project — you’ve made a great contribution.”
Gu Xingyun’s usually emotionless voice carried a hint of satisfaction.
“I’m planning a family dinner. Grandma will be there too.”
Jiang Lai was about to refuse, but when she heard that Old Madam Gu would attend, she finally nodded reluctantly.
“I understand. What time?”
“Get in my car after work.”
He hung up.
Jiang Lai put her phone aside and began handing over work with the former team leader.
After work, she rode in Gu Xingyun’s car back to Maple Lotus Villa.
When she entered the house behind him, several people looked uneasy, and the atmosphere felt strange.
Old Madam Gu immediately stood up and warmly pulled Jiang Lai to sit beside her.
“I heard everything from Xingyun about the company. If it weren’t for you securing the Zhuang project, Gu Group’s capital chain would have broken.”
She spoke proudly, her gaze sweeping over Song Qin and Gu Qianhe sitting opposite.
After a pause, Gu Qianhe forced a smile.
“My sister really is capable. Even such a difficult partner like Zhuang Group was handled by her — unlike me…”
She lowered her head further.
“I shouldn’t have gone into the entertainment industry after graduation. I should’ve worked properly in the company, then I could’ve helped more.”
“Hard to say.” Jiang Lai rested her chin on one hand, pretending to think. “Not everyone has that ability.”
Gu Qianhe opened her mouth. “I—”
She had already lowered herself so much, yet Jiang Lai still mocked her without mercy.
She must have lost her mind lately!
Old Madam Gu frowned at Gu Qianhe.
“That’s enough. Lai Lai is right — even I might not have had her capability back then. Stop being sour.”
She then turned to Gu Xingyun. “Why isn’t Nuan Nuan here yet?”
Gu Xingyun loosened his tie, looking irritated.
“I already contacted Meng Jinxia, but she hasn’t replied.”
Jiang Lai raised her eyebrows slightly.
She had heard of Meng Jinxia long ago — a famous Chinese instrumental musician and Gu Xingyun’s ex-wife. Their marriage had been purely business-related. After she gave birth to their daughter Nuan Nuan, they divorced quietly.
In her previous life, Jiang Lai had lived with the Gu family for two years but had never met them.
Old Madam Gu urged, “Call Jinxia again. I haven’t seen Nuan Nuan in so long — I miss her.”
“Alright.” Gu Xingyun lowered his head to send another message.
But when he saw the latest message, his fingers froze mid-air.
“What’s wrong?” Old Madam Gu noticed.
Gu Xingyun suddenly stood up and grabbed his suit jacket.
“Meng Jinxia said Nuan Nuan disappeared this morning!”
“What?!” Old Madam Gu nearly fainted.
Nuan Nuan was the great-granddaughter she had waited years for — sweet, obedient, and always calling her “Great-Grandma.” How could she just vanish?
“Grandma,” Jiang Lai supported her. “Did you call the police? What did they say?”
“Useless,” Gu Xingyun replied while texting Meng Jinxia. “They checked the surveillance — there’s no footage of Nuan Nuan leaving at all.”
“She vanished out of thin air.”
Song Qin trembled. “That’s impossible… how could something so bizarre happen?”
Song Yue suddenly thought of everything strange that had happened recently.
“Sister, why don’t we ask the master I met before? I feel like she really has skills.”
“Her?” Song Qin hesitated.
She didn’t fully believe in mysticism, but Ya had helped Song Yue avoid disaster and even predicted Gu Group’s capital crisis.
If normal methods failed, maybe this was their only hope.
“…Ask her.” Song Qin finally conceded.
Song Yue quickly typed on her phone.
[Master, can you help find a missing child?]
[Money is not a problem — but it has to be fast. We’re worried something will happen.]
On Jiang Lai’s second phone, messages kept popping up. She glanced down and saw Song Yue’s texts.
After a moment, she replied:
[Yes.]
She had already suspected that this disappearance involved玄门 (Mystic Sect) techniques. Even if Song Yue hadn’t contacted her, she would have told Fu Baiqing to handle it.
[I need the location of the room where the child went missing. Send it to me — I’ll send my disciple.]
Song Yue immediately showed the screen to Song Qin.
Seeing a definite “yes,” Song Qin felt slightly relieved and turned to Gu Xingyun.
“If the police can’t find her, let the master who helped Zhuang Group try.”
Gu Xingyun rubbed his temples. “Mom, at a time like this—”
Song Yue interrupted, “She really is capable. Instead of waiting uselessly, why not try? We just need to go to the room where Nuan Nuan disappeared.”
After thinking briefly, Gu Xingyun agreed.
“Fine. I’ll have the butler prepare the car to Meng’s house.”
Song Yue sent the location immediately.
Jiang Lai forwarded it to Fu Baiqing and briefly explained the situation.
Meng Family Residence
When the Gu family arrived, Fu Baiqing had just reached there as well.
Song Yue eyed him curiously. “Are you the master’s disciple?”
“Yes.” Fu Baiqing’s expression was a little dark — he glanced at Jiang Lai.
Quite clever of her to promote herself from “junior sister” to “master.”
“My master is busy and can’t come, but she explained the situation to me,” he said calmly.
“Do you have the child’s photo?”
Meng Jinxia handed him a picture.
In it, Nuan Nuan wore a red embroidered qipao, smiling sweetly with a few baby teeth showing.
Fu Baiqing placed the photo on the coffee table.
“I’m confident I can find her — but I need one of the child’s personal belongings… and her.”
He pointed directly at Jiang Lai.
Old Madam Gu immediately pulled Jiang Lai behind her protectively.
“Why does Lai Lai have to go? Will she be in danger?”