Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 189 Discovery! [1 more]

Chapter 189: 189 Discovery! [1 more]

These past few days, Madam Fang had been feeling that Fang Qingya was acting sneakily, disappearing from sight every now and then.

"I, I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately, feeling very anxious, and wanted to go relax deep in the mountains and forests," Fang Qingya pursed her lips, "but I was also afraid of danger, so I planned to ask some friends to go with me."

"That’s out of the question!" Madam Fang’s voice was stern, "Don’t you know how dangerous those places can be? What if there are wild beasts like wolves and bears—you wouldn’t stand a chance if you came face to face with them!"

It was precisely the danger she wanted.

That’s what Fang Qingya thought to herself, but she said, "Mom, don’t worry, I definitely won’t go. In a couple of days, could you and dad take me abroad for a trip?"

"We’ll talk about that later," Madam Fang looked at her deeply, "Xiao Ya, you’d better not have any more contact with Sheng Yunyi."

"I know," Fang Qingya agreed readily, but didn’t take it seriously.

If it weren’t for Sheng Yunyi’s advice, she wouldn’t have thought of such a good way to get rid of Cheng Qingli.

With the Cheng Family taking action, she could stay hidden perfectly in the background.

**

The next day, at Jiangcheng No.7 Middle School.

After more than a week’s absence, Ye Wanlan finally arrived at school.

"Ah Lan, where have you been?" Su Xueqing lowered her voice, "You have no idea what kind of rumors those people from Class 2 have been spreading these days. They even said you’ve dropped out again."

"I went to Yunjing to settle some matters, and now that they’re resolved, I’ve returned," said Ye Wanlan, "There’s no need to mind others. Mouths are on their faces; why bother with them?"

Su Xueqing shook her head, "Who has nothing better to do than to constantly harbor malice towards others? It’s just because they can’t outdo you and are jealous of you that’s all."

During the long break, Ye Wanlan received a call from Cheng Qingli’s assistant.

"Hello?"

"Chairman Ye, there’s been an accident!" The voice on the other end was panicked, "General Manager Cheng is missing! She asked for leave and left the company at four pm yesterday to go to the hospital, and I haven’t been able to contact her since. She hasn’t shown up for work today either."

Cheng Qingli was a workaholic, although she complained every day about wanting to retire and lie down, she always arrived punctually at the office to start work before nine, come rain or shine.

"To the hospital?" Ye Wanlan asked, "Did Qingli say what for?"

"I heard it seemed like a family member was seriously ill and wanted to see Sister Qingli for the last time," the assistant said urgently, "I don’t know who it was, but since General Manager Cheng left, she never came back and her phone has been off. I suspect she’s been kidnapped by her family to forcibly take her dowry money!"

"The Cheng Family." Ye Wanlan’s eyes gradually sharpened, and she slowly nodded, "I understand."

She had known Cheng Qingli for barely over three months, and rarely heard Cheng Qingli mention her own family.

Only through bits and pieces did she learn that Cheng Qingli had an extremely poor birth family, with both an older brother and a younger brother, which forced her to quit school early to work.

After reaching adulthood, Cheng Qingli had escaped from the Cheng Family and drifted in Jiangcheng.

The Cheng Family was frustrated but helpless.

Why would they suddenly think of luring Cheng Qingli away?

It must be about more than just dowry money.

"Xueqing, help me ask the teacher for leave; not sure how long it’ll be before I can return," Ye Wanlan got up, "I have an urgent matter to attend to."

Su Xueqing was taken aback but quickly responded, "Okay, you go."

Ye Wanlan left Class 3 (1) and was preparing to go downstairs when she met Jiang Zhengxue.

"Sister Lan!" Jiang Zhengxue called out to her, "Where are you going?"

Ye Wanlan turned around, nonchalantly saying, "I might need to beat someone up."

At those words, Jiang Zhengxue’s eyes lit up, volunteering eagerly, "I’ll go with you. Fighting, right? I’m the best at that."

"All right," Ye Wanlan did not refuse, "Let’s go."

The two figures disappeared, a scene that caught the eyes of the students in Class 3 (2).

It had been half a month since classes started for Grade 3, but Ye Wanlan had not only missed almost ten days of classes but also an exam.

"Tsk tsk, a certain transfer student is asking for leave again. It’s a mystery what else a student could be busy with all day besides studying."

"She has privilege, you know. Good at studying and has connections—whom else would the principal indulge if not her?"

"To this day, no one knows who her connections are. Speaking of really strong backgrounds, shouldn’t it be our God Su and Yiwei? They’re both brought up by the Capital Circle families."

Su Xubai and Xue Yiwei didn’t join in the discussion; one was practicing calligraphy, the other was working on problems.

But as Yiwei did more problems, she became increasingly irritable.

The thought of Ye Wanlan securing a spot in the finals of this year’s physics competition made her feel as terrible as if she had swallowed a fly.

Last month she challenged Ye Wanlan to outdo her in exams, yet Ye Wanlan avoided the battle by taking leave for almost half a month.

Was she so afraid to face her head-on?

Xue Yiwei put down her pen, "Xubai, did your family tell you? Just the day before yesterday, Curator Xiang was kidnapped, but then he was rescued. It’s said that it was the people of Lin Family who saved him—I wonder if it was Miss Shiyuan."

"Mhm." Su Xubai nodded slightly, "I also heard that at the auction, someone snatched Miss Shiyuan’s zither."

Although their family backgrounds were unattainable to ordinary people...

The status of Lin Shiyuan in the Capital Circle was something they could not catch up with in several lifetimes.

Xue Yiwei felt no jealousy towards Lin Shiyuan, for she knew she was in no position to compare herself to Lin Shiyuan, not in terms of family background or personal capabilities.

"Who knows who had the audacity," Xue Yiwei said in surprise, "to dare to rob Miss Shiyuan’s possession—it’s like they don’t want to mix in Yunjing anymore."

"Hmm, we still don’t know," Su Xubai said indifferently, "the Lin Family won’t tell the Su Family everything."

Xue Yiwei wanted to continue asking, but ultimately she closed her mouth.

She then opened the second test paper and began to work on the problems.

She was determined to surpass Ye Wanlan.

**

At this very moment, in a private hospital in the north of Jiangcheng.

"Chairman Ye, it’s this hospital," the assistant said, "Bed number 609, I definitely didn’t hear it wrong!"

However, when the three of them arrived at bed number 609, the room was empty.

Ye Wanlan went to the nurse’s station and asked, "Where is the person from bed 609? Have they already left?"

The nurse flipped through the record book, "Yes, they checked out yesterday."

"Chairman Ye, I told you, it must be the Cheng Family faking illness to deceive her!" the assistant said angrily, "What on earth do they want to do?"

Ye Wanlan was very calm. She took out her phone and started checking the surveillance of the nearby streets.

Soon, she confirmed that last night at seven, a man and a woman took Cheng Qingli with them onto a van.

Based on their appearances, these two people were indeed Father Cheng and Mother Cheng.

"To the Cheng Family," Ye Wanlan pocketed her phone, "Qingli was drugged by them."

It had been almost sixteen hours now, and the situation was very critical.

The Cheng Family was not in Jiangcheng, but in a small city next to Jiangcheng—Sand City.

Over the years, the Cheng Family had been running some small businesses in Sand City, but business had been bad.

Having lost money again a few months prior, Father Cheng had no choice but to keep asking Cheng Qingli for money, but without success.

Mother Cheng had just returned from buying vegetables at the market. When she pushed open the door, she was so frightened that she nearly stumbled and fell, "Who are you? How did you get in? This is my house!"

Two figures had appeared in the living room, and a girl sitting on a chair now turned her head, "Where is Qingli?"

"Are you Qingli’s friends?" Although Mother Cheng was still on guard, "Qingli hasn’t been home for a long time. She’s in a fight with her dad, and we don’t know where she has gone."

Ye Wanlan stood up and, in a flurry faster than a bolt of lighting, quickly subdued Mother Cheng, again inquiring, "Where is Qingli?"

Mother Cheng looked terrified, "You, you..."

Ye Wanlan didn’t show any mercy because of Mother Cheng’s fear. On the contrary, she tightened her grip on Mother Cheng’s fingers, "I want to hear the truth."

Mother Cheng was a native of Sand City, having rarely even visited Jiangcheng, where had she ever seen such a spectacle?

"I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!" Almost instantly, Mother Cheng’s resolve crumbled, "Miss Fang arranged for someone. Her father and brother took her to Songshui Village early this morning!"

"Miss Fang?"

"Miss Fang Qingya of the Fang Family of Jiangcheng! I swear I’m telling the truth."

Once Ye Wanlan confirmed that Mother Cheng was indeed not lying, she loosened her grip, "Zheng Xue, you keep an eye on her, I’m going to Songshui Village."

Jiang Zhengxue confidently assured her, "Sister Lan, you can count on me."

**

Songshui Village was so remote it wasn’t even marked on the map; it truly lay deep within the mountains and forests.

"Dad, are we really selling this girl?" Cheng Yaozu wiped off sweat, "What kind of grievance does that Miss Fang have with her? This is a ruthless move."

"Just mind your own business, why so many questions?" Father Cheng rebuked him, "Once this is over, Miss Fang will give us three million. Then neither you nor your brother will have to worry in the future."

Cheng Yaozu grinned ear to ear, "It indeed is a good deal. Who would have thought this girl could fetch us so much money?"

He had never really had any affection for this sister of his.

Since she wasn’t their own flesh and blood, why keep her around?

"I’m going to meet with the contact," Father Cheng lit a cigarette, "You stay here and wait. Don’t let that girl wake up and run away."

Cheng Yaozu nodded and gave the sack at his feet a kick.

Unconscious, Cheng Qingli was completely unaware of her surroundings.

"Little sis, if you’re to blame anyone, blame your own bad temper for offending Miss Fang," Cheng Yaozu sighed, "But helping your brother out, you’re still—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a strong force hit him, and he fell flat on the ground.

"Who is it?!" Struggling to get up, Cheng Yaozu shouted, "Who the heck is there?"

"No need to yell now," Ye Wanlan, grabbing his shoulder from behind, said coolly, "Save your energy to scream later."

"What will I be screaming for?" Cheng Yaozu struggled fiercely, his face turning red, "Let me go, what the hell do you want? Who are you?"

Ye Wanlan stated flatly, "To beg for mercy."