Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Chen Wan Makes Trouble Chutang opened the driver's door and sat down, fastened her seatbelt, and took out her phone to make a call. "Help me pull up the internal business registration files for the Gu Group." Ruan Chutang's eyes were cold and clear, her fair, slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. "Also, find a reliable private investigator. I want to look into Gu Zechuan." "Yes, Miss." After hanging up, Chutang casually tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, pressed the accelerator, and the car drove off. Dusk settled, and the city lights began to flicker on. It was rush hour, and the roads were clogged to a standstill. The black Rolls-Royce Phantom was hidden among the endless line of traffic that stretched as far as the eye could see. The traffic jam was enough to fray anyone's nerves. Just then, the phone rang. Ruan Chutang picked it up and glanced at the screen. It was Jiang Shixu. After the breakup, Ruan Chutang had kept Jiang Shixu's number, but it had been a long time since it had appeared in her call log. She initially didn't want to answer his call, but on second thought, he might be calling about Jiaojiao. Chutang hesitated for a moment, then answered. Her tone was cold and distant. "Hello, is there something?" "The police just called. They said they're already coordinating with the authorities in Country A to formulate a plan to rescue Jiaojiao." Chutang's heart trembled, and her breathing quickened. "Are they confident?" Jiang Shixu paused for a moment, his clear, cool voice coming through the phone. "On that point, the police can't give any guarantees." Didn't Ruan Chutang know that? But since it concerned her sister's life, she couldn't help but ask. After a moment of silence, Ruan Chutang asked again, "Is there anything else?" Jiang Shixu was quiet for a beat, then his slightly hoarse voice came through the phone. "Tangtang, I..." Ruan Chutang instinctively sensed that what Jiang Shixu was about to say had nothing to do with Ruan Jiaojiao, so she spoke up. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up." "Wait." Jiang Shixu quickly spoke. "Tangtang, I'm sorry. About what my grandmother said to you earlier at my house, I apologize on her behalf. I'm sorry." Ruan Chutang was silent. She looked up through the windshield at the endless line of cars ahead, her gaze unfocused. If she said Elder Mrs. Jiang's words hadn't affected her at all, she wouldn't even believe it herself. The person on the other end of the line fell silent too. As if waiting for her reply. The air felt stifling. Chutang lowered the car window a little to let the air circulate. The cold wind from outside rushed in, and only then could her chest, which had been tight and suffocating, finally breathe normally. A moment later, Ruan Chutang heard her own voice, feigning lightness and indifference. "No need. It's not like I ever planned to marry you anyway." With that, before Jiang Shixu could say anything, she hung up directly. He didn't call back. ... By the time she arrived at the Ruan family villa, it was already nine in the evening. Ruan Shaodong was at the hospital accompanying Yang Xuelian, and Ruan Jiaojiao wasn't there either. The sprawling Ruan family villa felt cold and empty. The Rolls-Royce Phantom drove into the underground garage. Chutang parked the car, took her keys, and took the elevator up to the first-floor living room. The live-in housekeeper was mopping the floor in the living room. Seeing Ruan Chutang return, she smiled and greeted her. "Miss Ruan, you're back. Have you had dinner?" Chutang nodded, then remembering Yang Xuelian in the hospital, asked, "Has Auntie Yang had dinner? Has anyone brought her food?" The housekeeper replied, "Yes. The master specially hired a cook to prepare meals at the hospital." "Mm." Chutang turned and headed upstairs. "Auntie, you should get some rest early too." Back in her room, Chutang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window for a while, letting her mind go blank. Thinking of her sister's current situation, Chutang felt a dull ache and heaviness in her chest. Jiang Shixu had said the police were already working on a plan to rescue Jiaojiao. She wanted to call and ask about the situation, but she checked the time and held back. The police were probably off duty and resting at this hour. Chutang stood there in a daze, then suddenly thought of something. Her heart stirred, and she opened a storage box. Inside was a painting. Ruan Chutang's eyes ached with pain as she reached out with trembling hands to take the painting. It was a painting Ruan Jiaojiao had drawn. In it was their happy family of four. Ruan Shaodong and Yang Xuelian stood on either side, with Ruan Chutang and Ruan Jiaojiao in the middle. The four of them held hands, happy and harmonious. Chutang's fair, slender fingers gently traced over the painting, her fingertips coming to rest on Ruan Jiaojiao's figure. Almost instantly, tears welled up in Chutang's eyes. "Jiaojiao... little sister..." A tear fell. Plip. It landed on the painting. This painting was something Ruan Jiaojiao had given her when Ruan Chutang had just returned from Haicheng. Back then, she had still been cold and indifferent to this clingy little sister. But her sister hadn't distanced herself because of Chutang's attitude. Instead, she became even clingier, even more obedient and sensible. Her sister was the best, cutest, most well-behaved child in the world. Ruan Chutang's eyes grew moist, her eye sockets reddening. Earlier today at the Jiang residence, she had tried her utmost to control her emotions. Now that she was home, she no longer had to hold back. Her heart ached with sharp, stabbing pain, and tears fell like beads from a broken string, impossible to stop. Chu Tang covered her face with both hands, lowering her head in anguish. "Jiaojiao..." ... Gu Zechuan had spoken with Xu Jingxuan on the phone and realized he had been used—that he had nearly caused Ruan Chutang's death indirectly. Regret flooded him, along with pain and self-reproach. He called Ruan Chutang several times, but she didn't answer a single one. Chen Wan noticed his low spirits and came over to comfort him, only to be shoved away. In Gu Zechuan's office. Chen Wan fell to the floor, her gaze lowered to a fixed point on the ground, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Ruan Chutang, you forced me to do this. ... That evening, Chen Wan logged into her account on a short-video platform and started a livestream. Chen Wan had been posting videos of herself playing the piano on the platform from time to time, and had gained quite a following. By the time she first returned to the country, her account already had over a million followers. During this period, Chen Wan had been filming a series of short videos titled "My Sweet Daily Life with My CEO Boyfriend," which had won her another wave of fans. In her recent videos, she would often show glimpses of Gu Zechuan's luxury car and villa, a corner of his expensive bespoke suit, his slender, well-defined hands, or his tall, straight silhouette from behind... And every time she appeared on camera, she showed her face—flawlessly made up, dressed head to toe in luxury brands, carrying designer handbags, the whole look of a wealthy socialite. Netizens ate it up. Every time she posted a video, plenty of netizens would leave comments underneath. "A thunderclap from the sky—your humble servant has arrived in style!" "Phone daddy, where have you taken me? Switch back to the countryside channel." "Now I finally understand why the villain wanted to destroy the world." Accompanied by a lifeless-looking meme. "Love flows to those who lack nothing, and money flows to those who lack nothing either." "Don't force your way into circles you can't fit into.—To my phone." "Sign me up—next life I want this script too." "The dividing line in life is the amniotic fluid." "Cyberbullying—this is the real cyberbullying!" "Miss, are you still looking for a dog?" "Oh my god, she's so beautiful—what kind of earthly goddess is this? Nüwa, I need to have a talk with you." "I'm going to take out a loan to sue my face!" "Even though your CEO boyfriend never shows his face, I can tell he's super handsome—just his back and hands have me completely mesmerized. Babe, you eat well." "So sweet, so happy—wishing you 99!" "Maybe your boyfriend is still looking for a girlfriend?" Comments like these could scroll for a day and a night without end. Nearly every video showing off her love life and luxurious lifestyle racked up hundreds of thousands, even millions, of likes and comments. Chen Wan loved the feeling of being adored. Every time she scrolled through the comments, her vanity was thoroughly gratified. By hitching herself to Gu Zechuan, showing off her romance and wealth, Chen Wan's follower count had already surpassed five million. Tonight, less than five minutes after Chen Wan started her livestream, the live audience had already exceeded ten thousand. In the stream, Chen Wan, with her delicate makeup, was crying pitifully, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in rain. Many viewers sent bullet comments asking what was wrong. Chen Wan gently bit her lower lip, casting an innocent, pitiable look at the camera. "Good evening, everyone. Lately I've been really drained, because there's been a problem in my relationship with Mr. Gu..." "Between us... a third party has stepped in..."