Cheng Yuan didn't hesitate. He pushed open the Bentley door and ran over.
"Jiang Xiao! Jiang Xiao! Where are you?"
"Come out! Come out now!"
He struggled to open the back door and found no one.
Then he wrenched open the passenger door. No one either.
The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, his forehead covered in blood. He asked weakly, "Who are you?"
"Where is she?" Cheng Yuan asked. "Why are you alone?"
The driver panted lightly. "I was alone all along."
Cheng Yuan's mind went blank. He froze for a few seconds, then grabbed the driver's collar. "Say that again."
"I was... alone all along," the driver said. "There was never anyone else."
Cheng Yuan let go and stepped back. He reached into his pocket, fumbled for his phone with trembling hands, and dialed.
The prompt said the phone was off.
Jiang Yu walked over with something. "President Cheng, Madam's phone."
Cheng Yuan took it and turned on the screen. It showed Jiang Xiao's selfie. It really was her phone.
She had intentionally left her phone in the car to mislead him into looking for her.
"Where is she? Where is Jiang Xiao?" Cheng Yuan roared.
Jiang Yu lowered his head. "I just had someone check. Madam has already left Jingbei by plane."
"..."
Cheng Yuan slammed his hand heavily on the car. Blood instantly streamed from his hand, a shocking sight.
In the night, Cheng Yuan's face was paler than paper. "She actually left like this! How dare she!"
Jiang Yu stayed behind to handle the aftermath—sending the Mercedes driver to the hospital and paying a hefty compensation.
As for Cheng Yuan, he drove himself straight to the outskirts.
All of this was orchestrated by Zhang Rong. He was going to confront her.
*
Twenty minutes earlier.
Right after Jiang Xiao ended the call with Cheng Yuan, she called Zhang Rong. She got straight to the point. "I know you don't like me, and I know you won't really let me leave. How about we make a deal?"
"You let me go, and I'll help you keep Cheng Yuan in check. Within five years, I'll secure you a seat in the Cheng Group."
"You?" Zhang Rong didn't believe her at all. "How could you?"
"I can't alone, but with my parents' support, I can," Jiang Xiao said. "The Jiang Group has the strength."
"The Jiang Group can barely save itself. How can it help me?"
"Aside from your investment, the Jiang Group has other backers. I believe it will recover soon. When it does, you'll benefit too."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because we have a common enemy. You hate Cheng Yuan too, don't you?"
Zhang Rong had hated Cheng Yuan from the very first day he entered the Cheng family. She had played the role of a loving mother for all these years, but she was tired of pretending.
"Fine, I agree," Zhang Rong said. "But don't forget what you promised me."
"I've already mailed the agreement. You should receive it within five minutes." The moment Jiang Xiao finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
Jiang Xiao: "So? Satisfied?"
Zhang Rong: "Happy cooperation."
And so, Jiang Xiao had dodged the bullet.
Finally, she left a message for Cheng Yuan from an unknown number.
—Cheng Yuan, those ten years—I consider them feeding a dog.
—Never see you again!
*
Jiang Xiao left without a trace, but the Cheng family was turned upside down.
As soon as Cheng Yuan entered the house, he started hitting people. Everyone he saw, he hit.
Those people were bodyguards kept by Zhang Rong. They were skilled. Cheng Yuan fought several at once and didn't come out on top. He took a few heavy blows.
With a bruised and purplish face, he appeared before Zhang Rong and demanded, "Where did you send Jiang Xiao?"
This was the first time Zhang Rong had looked at this "son" properly. She raised her head and studied him, finding that his features did bear some resemblance to Cheng Lin.
His almond-shaped eyes were both deep and ruthless.
"If your father knew you looked like this, he'd be very pleased," she said.