"But the weather forecast says the rain won't stop until evening. Maybe we should go tomorrow?"
"No. Now."
Jiang Yu could already foresee what would happen at the Jiang residence. He wanted to dissuade him, but Cheng Yuan cut him off. "To the Jiang residence."
The driver dared not delay and turned the car toward the Jiang family home.
As Jiang Yu had predicted, the Jiang's gate was tightly shut. No matter how hard Cheng Yuan knocked, no one answered.
Jiang Yu held an umbrella and said, "President Cheng, let's go."
Cheng Yuan shoved him aside. "No. I must get in today."
"But..."
"No buts." Finding Jiang Xiao was an obsession. Even if it cost him everything, he had to find her.
The rain grew heavier, whipping in the wind. Jiang Yu shivered. "President Cheng, let's go back for now."
"No," Cheng Yuan said through chattering teeth.
"But you've been standing here for two hours. No one from the Jiang family has come. Even if you stand longer, no one will come." Jiang Yu pleaded. "Let's go back. We'll come again when the weather is better."
"No." Cheng Yuan was stubborn. "I'll wait here."
Another hour passed...
Still, no one from the Jiang family came.
His face pale, Cheng Yuan stood in the rain, letting it wash over him. Jiang Yu handed him an umbrella. "President Cheng, your arm hasn't healed. If you keep getting soaked, your body won't take it."
Cheng Yuan said coldly, "Leave me alone. Go away."
He knocked the umbrella away again.
Jiang Yu had no choice but to step aside.
Time passed from 3 to 4, then from 4 to 5.
The Jiang family remained heartless, not opening the door.
Cheng Yuan alternated between hot and cold, swaying unsteadily in the wind and rain. A moment later, he could no longer hold on and collapsed.
Jiang Yu helped him into the car and took him to the nearest hospital.
Later, when Zhou Jin, Xu Cong, and Lin Xu learned about his trip to the Jiang residence, they complained for a long time. "I think you've lost your mind. Standing in the rain for four or five hours—are you trying to kill yourself?"
Cheng Yuan wished he could trade his life for Jiang Xiao's return, but he couldn't.
"Look at you. Your arm isn't even healed, and now you've got pneumonia. I think you're just trying to die faster," Lin Xu said.
"Is Jiang Xiao really that good?" Zhou Jin said. "Can't we just stop looking?"
Cheng Yuan couldn't stand their chatter and kicked them out.
As for finding her, he wouldn't stop.
The next day, the rain stopped. Cheng Yuan went to the Jiang residence again. This time, he didn't knock rashly but simply stood outside the gate.
One hour, two hours, three hours...
He stood there for four full hours.
The Jiang household servant peeked through the peephole and went back to report to Madam Jiang. "Madam, that person from the Cheng family is here again."
Before Jiang's mother could say anything, Jiang's father said coldly, "Don't open the door for him."
Jiang Xiao had left her hometown because of him. Father Jiang was still furious.
Jiang's mother said, "Do as the master says. Don't open the door."
The servant nodded and left.
Cheng Yuan returned empty-handed again. Everyone thought he would finally give up, but he didn't.
On the third day, he went again.
For the next half month, he went every day.
Until finally, the servant let him in.
No one knew what was said. Cheng Yuan came out with a pained expression.
Jiang Yu didn't dare ask. He signaled the driver to hurry up and leave.
Jiang Yu didn't ask, but Zhou Jin and the others did. They invited Cheng Yuan to a club for drinks. When he was tipsy, Zhou Jin asked, "What did the Jiang family say?"
Cheng Yuan swirled his glass. "They don't know where she is either."
"You believe that?" Zhou Jin snorted. "Jiang Xiao is their precious daughter. How could they not know?"
Cheng Yuan didn't believe it, but he had no choice. "They don't want to say."
Zhou Jin patted his shoulder. "Don't rush. They'll tell you when the time is right."
But two years passed, and Cheng Yuan still hadn't found that opportunity.
*