A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 236: Lost Contact_1

Leaving the villa, the car drove onto New York Avenue. The night scene in the wealthy district was bustling.

Shen Jing tentatively sent a text message to Zhuang Ming but received no reply.

She sent a second one: "Mr. Bodyguard."

By the time she returned to the farmhouse, there was still no word.

As indifferent as Zhuang Ming usually was, he would normally respond with a cold, three-word, "What’s up?"

She could imagine.

When Zhou Luchen left, he was in an administrative motorcade accompanied by bodyguards. He shouldn’t be out of contact.

Given Zhuang Ming’s caution and constant presence, he should be safe, she thought, praying silently.

At this time, Xie Qinyang had just woken up in Beijing. Yawning, he replied, "Zhuang Ming, that guy, is a retired battalion commander from the military, with a monthly salary in the millions. The people United Bank assigns to him aren’t that incompetent."

"His old man has already retired. If something happened to Zhou Luchen, United Bank would practically collapse. It won’t be that easy for something to happen to him."

Naturally, before this, Xie Qinyang had also dialed Zhou Luchen’s number, but mysteriously, the phone was turned off.

Shen Jing, looking at her phone, countered, "Think about it from another perspective. If his misfortune could cause United Bank to collapse, what if it’s a political rival whose interests he’s encroached upon, someone who wants something to happen to him?"

"I haven’t heard about him having any enemies," Xie Qinyang said after a moment’s thought. "You might as well ask the Zhou Family. They adore him the most; they can’t bear for anything to happen to him."

"I’m not familiar with the Zhou Family," Shen Jing said quietly, brushing past the statement.

Xie Qinyang was always optimistic. "He has good luck, you don’t need to worry. Death won’t find him. Zhuang Ming dotes on him. In the past, whenever anyone got near Achen, Zhuang Ming would stare them down, afraid that someone indiscreet would reveal his young master’s scandals."

Her depressed mood lightened somewhat, and Shen Jing laughed out loud. "Zhuang Ming has a high salary."

Xie Qinyang got up to brush his teeth and wash his face. "Have you bought your ticket back yet? I’ll pick you up at the airport."

"I should arrive in Beijing the evening after tomorrow."

"Alright."

After hanging up, Shen Jing went back to her room to take a shower.

Standing under the showerhead, steam blurred the mirror, her face indistinct.

Unwilling to give up, she dried her hands, grabbed her phone, and dialed Zhou Luchen’s number.

Temporarily unreachable.

She turned off the shower, put on a bathrobe, and went out.

She opened her computer and browsed USA Today. Nothing was different from usual; the South was still the same South.

As the night wore on, Shen Jing went to the garage to get her car but never got to witness the grandeur of the Long Island estate.

The white residential area of Long Island’s top-tier villas wasn’t easily accessible to her.

She wasn’t even allowed to get close; the gatekeeper was armed.

No matter how Shen Jing explained, showing Zhou Luchen’s picture and saying she knew him.

"He’s my ex. This is him. I know him. I’m going in to find him."

The security guard, likely mistaking her for someone connected to a past affair, silently signaled for her to leave quickly.

By the side of the highway, Shen Jing sat in her car, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. Then, she turned around and left. What’s it to me? He’s not my responsibility. Everyone knows your life is valuable; why should I be the one to care?

「Downtown Manhattan at 11 p.m.」

The car reached Broadway Avenue.

At this hour, an Audi motorcade emerging from Central Park with hazard lights flashing was unheard of.

Shen Jing took a detour and headed back to the farmhouse.

She parked in the yard and played with her phone. Her work was finished, and though she might have felt a sense of relief, she didn’t want to go back to her room to sleep.

She hadn’t received a reply from Zhuang Ming, and even Blaire couldn’t find Zhou Luchen. It was said that armed vehicles had already arrived in the South, which was quite eerie. There were discussions online, but she had no mind to pay attention to this country’s affairs.

Quietly standing by the window, Sun Qiyan watched the car drive into the farm without shifting his gaze, merely sipping the warm water by his hand, his expression impassive.

Shen Jing didn’t get out of the car. She turned the steering wheel and, within five minutes, turned around and left the farm, decisive and resolute.

Sun Qiyan quickly put down his water cup, grabbed the coat from the couch, and followed her out. In just two or three minutes, her taillights had disappeared down the winding rural road.

Sun Qiyan got into another car. As he drove, he dialed Shen Jing’s number, but she didn’t pick up.

A surge of anger rose inexplicably. Sun Qiyan threw his phone onto the passenger seat, stepped on the gas, and sped up, chasing along the route Shen Jing might take.

She was actually heading for Interstate 80, toward Chicago.

Sun Qiyan overtook other cars at high speed and stopped in front of her.

How could Shen Jing not have noticed Sun Qiyan following her? She braked to a stop and didn’t move.

As she watched Sun Qiyan get out of the car and walk over, she realized this was the first time she had ever seen him angry.

"Are you insane? He has bodyguards! What’s it to you? Can you even make it to Chicago driving like this?!"

Shen Jing rested her forehead on her hand and said flatly, "The embassy is closed."

Sun Qiyan opened her car door, reached past her, and took the car keys from the center console. "Do you even realize it’s the middle of the night? Let’s figure something out after dawn."

Shen Jing watched Sun Qiyan take the car keys without resisting. "Zhou Luchen seems to have gotten into trouble," she said.

Her words were disjointed; she clearly wasn’t herself. Sun Qiyan stiffened, his gaze shifting to Shen Jing. She was very quiet, not smiling, looking at him woodenly.

"We’re going back home tomorrow," Sun Qiyan said, changing the subject, his tone as gentle and soothing as usual. "Get out of the car and let’s go home first."

With that, Sun Qiyan opened her car door fully.

Dazed, Shen Jing followed Sun Qiyan’s instructions.

Sun Qiyan slammed the car door shut. "Even if he’s dead, it’s none of your business! Is he your boyfriend? Who is he to you?"

Shen Jing walked ahead. "He’s nobody to me," she stated simply.

Sun Qiyan continued, "It’s chaotic in the South right now. Another wealthy person also ran into trouble there. What good would it do if you went? Zhou Luchen has plenty of bodyguards, and his citizenship is still valid; nothing serious can happen to him. The Zhou Family, United Bank, EMEAP—none of them would just stand by and watch something happen to him."

Eventually, he managed to calm her down and brought her back to the farm.

Sometimes, Sun Qiyan wondered if Shen Jing would be this anxious if he were the one in trouble.

「It was already past midnight.」

They might as well stay up.

Seeing her sitting on the balcony scrolling through her phone, clearly distracted, Sun Qiyan cooked some congee and placed it by her side.

Seeing her unhappy, Sun Qiyan teased, "Our Ajing’s thoughts are all preoccupied with Zhou Luchen again, aren’t they?"

Shen Jing finally managed a slight smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Don’t overthink it. Take care of yourself first. He wouldn’t necessarily want you to risk going to the South for him. When you’re being impulsive, can you please think about yourself first?"

"Even if you could attend the summit because of him, did he trade his life for it? It was just a casual favor on his part. This will pass. Be patient and wait for news."

Shen Jing bowed her head. "I know."

Sun Qiyan sat beside her. "I’ve asked around for you. His recent schedule is all related to the New York summit. Security is tight, and not many people know the details. Even his confidants at United Bank aren’t involved in his private schedule."

Shen Jing leaned back in the rocking chair. "I’ve troubled you so much with these private matters. You should get some rest. Don’t worry too much about me."

"Trouble? Not at all." Sun Qiyan chuckled, his words belying his true feelings. "You’re worried about Zhou Luchen; why would I worry about you? Look at you, so heartless."

Although he spoke lightly, Shen Jing didn’t say much, merely smiling.

"Boss Sun, Boss Sun," Shen Jing said, "let’s pack up and go home. If he’s gone, he’s gone."