Chapter 276: Wait for Me to Return

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Ji Nuan nodded.

She suddenly felt that the words Mo Jingshen spoke were more than ever before.

“Where are you going this time? The United States or Japan?” she couldn’t help but ask.

He rubbed at her hair and whispered gently, “You’ll know when you see the local specialty I bring to you.”

…

Several days later, Ji Nuan received a phone call from Ji Hongwen.

Ji Mengran had been missing for ten days, and Ji Hongwen’s voice sounded smaller and older than before. He didn’t sound depressed, but Ji Nuan knew he hadn’t been eating or sleeping well these days.

Today was the death anniversary of Ji Nuan’s mother. It had been so many years, and time had diluted the sadness. Ji Nuan habitually looked at the sky for a long time that day, when she received a call from Ji Hongwen.

“Nuan Nuan, I know you don’t ask me about your biological father because of what happened to Mengran. I had planned to keep these truths from you for the rest of my life. You will always be my daughter, and I’m not going to tell you the truth till I die.”

“I won’t force you if you don’t feel like telling me,” Ji Nuan said. “I never planned to find my biological father. You are already worried about Mengran, so you don’t have to…”

“It’s all right. At this point, deliberate concealment can only hurt. Your mother has been gone for many years. I’m sorry I fail to hide what she told me. I just didn’t expect Mengran would find out about it and tell you about it as a tool against you.” Ji Hongwen sighed. “Before your mother married me, she had a sad past. She didn’t love your biological father. Back then, I was a young man who was crazy in love, so even though your mother had been pregnant, without any hesitation, I still married her, protected her, and promised her I would take you as my own daughter. Nuan Nuan, you were brought up by me. To me, you and Mengran are both my daughters. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I do, Dad.” Ji Nuan didn’t expect for Ji Hongwen to tell her the truth after keeping silent for days. She was suddenly relieved. At least now she was not the only one who was kept in the dark.

“As for who your biological father is, maybe you will never meet him in your life. Even if you do, he may never know your existence. I’m not going to retell too many of those old stories. After all, all this happened over 20 years ago, and it’s all about your mother not about you. Nuan Nuan, except blood ties, we are just like any other father and daughter. Now Mengran is still missing, and I hope you still take the Ji family as your family after you come back to Hai City. No matter what happens, the Ji family will always be behind you.”

Ji Nuan almost cried. “Dad, I have never denied you as my father. We are the same as before. I will not change, and you will not change either, will you?”

“Yes.” Ji Hongwen’s voice was hoarse with emotion. “Good girl. I know Mengran was wrong. She was really wrong in many ways. I have never shown partiality to any of you, but now I haven’t heard from her. Dad’s mood is inevitably affected, but I never mean to ignore you or give you the cold shoulder. You’ve always been my favorite daughter.”

“I know.” A lump stuck on Ji Nuan’s throat. She lifted her hand and rubbed her nose, trying not to sob.

She knew Ji Hongwen specially chose this day to talk to her. Fortunately, they had never been estranged with each other. The worst way of communication was no communication.

Ji Hongwen said some more words before hanging up. Ji Nuan held the cell phone and stood at the window, looking out for a long time.

Who was her biological father…? She may never meet him in her life.

Even if she did, he didn’t know her existence?

Her mother was a very quiet and gentle woman when she was young. She was too young to know much about her mother’s past, but she couldn’t understand how she could have been forced before she got married to Dad.

Under what kind of pressure was she living? Was she imprisoned or forced into a marriage by her elders? Or, what else might it be?

Ji Hongwen obviously didn’t want to mention those things. He just called her to reassure her and tell her nothing would change between them.

He wanted to keep this daughter, and she also wanted to keep the home she had depended on since childhood.

—

Professor Lin’s program only lasted for three months. This class finished before the graduation season of T University. Unlike the common four-year programs, it only had three months, but at least Ji Nuan had made a friend who was Bai Wei.

On the eve of parting, the students in professor Lin’s class had a rare dinner together. Although Feng Ling was a transfer student, she went with them too.

Ji Nuan didn’t drink but just sat on the sofa and talked a lot with Bai Wei about what they had experienced these three months, and the possible cooperation with Bai Wei’s company. Feng Ling had never attended such an occasion before. During the dinner, she just looked at her cell phone and then at Ji Nuan to prevent her from drinking.

This class started simply and ended simply, but the process was quite wonderful.

Ling Feifei had been avoiding Ji Nuan and sat far away from her. Feng Ling deliberately raised her eyebrows and glanced at Ling Feifei from time to time, intimidating her with her stare. Ling Feifei was so scared by her that she left early with the excuse that she was not feeling well, not daring to stay longer.

—

Ji Nuan left T University with the results of her last test, and the next day packed up her apartment with Feng Ling.

Mo Jingshen said that he would come to pick her up and send her to Hai City today, but she didn’t know whether he will fly directly to T City from abroad or return to Hai City first and then come over.

Although Ji Nuan didn’t have much luggage, it still took her a long time to pack up. However, she waited from dawn until afternoon, but Mo Jingshen hadn’t shown up.

And she didn’t receive his call either.

“What time is it?” Ji Nuan locked both of her suitcases, clapped her hands, and asked Feng Ling in the living room as she straightened up.

“It’s after 5:00 p.m.,” Feng Ling answered.

She then noticed the time, looked up at the sky outside, and turned to pick up her cell phone. There were only text messages from Xia Tian and Xiao Ba, asking her whether she would come back to Hai City today or tomorrow and saying that they would treat her to a welcome dinner.

Her cell phone kept buzzing. Many people sent her messages but not Mo Jingshen.

Time passed by little by little

It was 6:00 p.m.

But Mo Jingshen still hadn’t shown up or called her.

At seven o’clock, Mo Jingshen was still missing.

At ten o’clock in the evening, her cell phone was quiet, and no one opened the door.

During this period, Ji Nuan had called Mo Jingshen, only to hear a cold mechanical female voice warning that the other party was not in the service area and could not be connected.

Chapter 277: Mo Jingshen Never Breaks His Promise

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

If Mo Jingshen was too busy these two days to fly over, she could fly back to Hai City with Feng Ling.

But why didn’t he even call her?

There was no news of him even at twelve o’clock in the evening. She thought he might be on a flight home from abroad that took more time than usual.

After not getting his call or seeing him showing up, she took a shower and went to sleep.

At six o’clock the next morning, Feng Ling’s cell phone suddenly rang.

As soon as Ji Nuan heard the ringtone, she jumped up from the bed although it was not her cell phone ringing.

Feng Ling was sleeping in the guest room next door. When Ji Nuan pushed the door open, Feng Ling was already answering the call. She looked solemn.

Feng Ling who was usually expressionless rarely had such an expression.

In an instant, Ji Nuan had a hunch that something terrible happened!

After talking, Feng Ling put down her cell phone and turned her eyes to Ji Nuan who was standing at the door.

“Mrs. Mo, why did you get up so early?” Feng Ling gazed at her and asked her calmly after two seconds.

“I couldn’t fall asleep, so I came to have a look when I heard your cell phone ringing.” Ji Nuan walked in and pulled the curtains open for her while asking her in a deliberately casual tone, “Who called you so early in the morning?”

“A buddy in XI base.” Under the light of dawn, the look on Feng Ling’s face couldn’t be seen. She took a look at the time. “I don’t think President Mo will come over. He must have something urgent to tend to. Let’s go to the airport ourselves and go back to Hai City today.”

Ji Nuan’s hand rested on the curtain. After a short pause, she looked at Feng Ling.

“Feng Ling, tell me if anything is wrong?”

Not answering her, Feng Ling pushed back the quilt and got off the bed. “Let’s have breakfast first. Mr. Mo has told me to make sure you have each meal on time every day. Shall we order takeout or call a housekeeping aunt over to cook for us? I can’t cook. Even if I do, I don’ think you can bear the food I make.”

“Just tell me what happened to him. No matter what has happened, you shouldn’t keep it from me.” Ji Nuan stared at Feng Ling’s back and raised her voice, not giving her a chance to change the topic.

Feng Ling stopped, turned around, and looked at Ji Nuan. “Mrs. Mo, I believe Mr. Mo will come back. What you should do now is to go back to Hai City safe and sound.”

“What happened to him?”

When Ji Nuan heard that she said, ‘I believe Mr. Mo will come back,’ her heart sank.

Feng Ling wouldn’t easily say these sorts of words.

Knowing Ji Nuan wouldn’t give up until she told her the truth, Feng Ling gazed at her, saying, “Mr. Mo flew to Cambodia some days ago, where it is recently not peaceful. There are also gangs lurking around in Cambodia that became enemies with us in the United States. Mr. Mo is currently out of contact with our men, and we can’t find his location or receive any signal from him. What we know is only that a group of arms dealers active at the China-Cambodian border went to that area too. We don’t know if they ran into each other…”

Ji Nuan gazed at Feng Ling calmly. It had been quite a while before she understood what Feng Ling told her. She repeated to herself what Feng Ling just said word by word in her heart.

“The gangs who became enemies with you in the United States? Mo Jingshen is from the Mo Family. With such a powerful background, he didn’t have to get his hands dirty when he developed his business, nor did he need to contact the underworld to get their support. What on earth was he up to when he was in the US? Why did he suddenly go to Cambodia? That’s a dangerous country where gang violence is rampant, and land mines are almost everywhere, which is something known to the whole world! Why did he go there?”

“Sorry, Mrs. Mo. Only Mr. Mo can answer your question after he comes back. I can’t tell you too much,” Feng Ling said gently. “But please believe me, just as you said, Mr. Mo’s hands have always been clean. He hasn’t done anything illegal. As for what happened in the US back then, well, it is complicated. Although he has nothing to do with the underworld, in the eyes of the gangsters and the competitors of the XI base, his life is worth ten billion yuan. They won’t kill him, but if they ambush him and capture him, they won’t release him easily…”

“So, you mean he can’t be back because he has been kidnapped…?”

Feng Ling paused and looked at her. “Mr. Mo is missing, and the people in the base have all gone to search for him, but nobody knows what exactly happened to him. He had cut off the contact signal before he went missing…”

“What? That’s impossible. He said he just went abroad on business.” Ji Nuan suddenly turned around to run into her bedroom and picked her cell phone to call Mo Jingshen.

“Sorry, the number you have just dialed is unavailable right now. Please try again later.”

Ji Nuan slightly frowned and continued to try other numbers of Mo Jingshen.

Work phone number, personal phone number, and the infrequently used phone number. She tried each of them.

But the voice prompted that the phone was powered off, unable to connect or out of service.

Seeing Ji Nuan still trying to call Mo Jingshen, Feng Ling came up to her. “Our men have gone to search for him. Mr. Mo will come back safely, for sure. Mrs. Mo, let’s go back to Hai City first and I’ll company you back.”

Trying to calm down, Ji Nuan looked at her. “He asked me to wait for him to come back, and he promised to take me to the airport when he comes back to China. Mo Jingshen never breaks his promise. I’ll stay here, waiting for him. Perhaps he is right on a plane for China or has landed at the airport. I must wait for him here.”

Feng Ling wanted to comfort her, but obviously, Ji Nuan was on the verge of collapse and she shouldn’t push her too hard, so she merely said, “Okay, then let’s wait for him here. I’ll stay with you.”

Ji Nuan didn’t speak anymore but sat down on the couch with her cell phone in her hand and her eyes staring at the door.

Half an hour later, there was suddenly some noise outside the door, and the doorbell rang. Ji Nuan lunged to her feet and rushed up to the door. She looked really excited when she swung the door open. However, to her disappointment, a strange middle-aged man was standing outside.

“Young lady, this is the takeout you just ordered.” The middle-aged man smiled at her politely and handed her two bags with meal boxes inside.

The smile on Ji Nuan’s face immediately froze.

Feng Ling hurriedly walked out, took over the takeout, and paid for it. Then she pulled Ji Nuan into the room and closed the door.

“This is the takeout I just ordered. Mrs. Mo, you can wait here, but you must have some food.”

“I’m not hungry. You can eat it.” Ji Nuan walked back to the couch and sat down.

“But Mr. Mo said you have to eat breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry…”

“Mrs. Mo, if Mr. Mo finds out that you don’t have your meals on time, he will fire me when he comes back. You know, I don’t want to go back to the US. It will be hard for a female bodyguard like me to find a job in China if I get fired.”

Henyee Translations Henyee Translations

Ji Nuan looked at her and got up, went to the table, and sat down.

Feng Ling opened the bag and took out the soy milk and steamed buns in the meal box. “I know you probably don’t have much of an appetite, so I bought two kinds of steamed buns with different fillings, one with beef and onions and the other with eggs and zucchini. Do have some food.”

Without a word, Ji Nuan drank a mouthful of soy milk, then picked up a steamed stuffed bun and took a bite.

As soon as she took a bite, the delicious and strong smell of beef filled her mouth, and for no reason, Ji Nuan suddenly felt sick. She jumped up, rushed into the bathroom, and retched against the toilet.

“Mrs. Mo?” Feng Ling was worried. She put down her chopsticks and followed her out; Ji Nuan retched for quite a while but didn’t throw up anything. Her stomach seemed to have something wrong, and she kept retching. Seeing this scene, Feng Ling hurriedly poured a cup of water for her and handed it to her when she finally stopped retching and stood up.

“Why did you suddenly throw up? What’s wrong with you? Do you need to see a doctor?” Feng Ling stared at her with care.

“I’m fine. I had a lot of stomach trouble when I just came to T City. Maybe I was too nervous just now.” Ji Nuan rinsed her mouth and washed her face with cold water. She went back to the dining table, looked at the steamed buns, and had no appetite. The beef filling smelled disgusting. Although the beef was clean and looked delicious, she just felt it was disgusting.

She didn’t want to eat the steamed buns of vegetable fillings either. In the end, she just took half a glass of soy milk, but soon she covered her twitching stomach with her hands, saying, “I can’t drink it anymore. I’m going to throw up again if I drink some more.”

Since she obviously had no appetite and had already finished half a glass of soy milk, Feng Ling didn’t force her to continue to eat. “Go to your bedroom and take a nap. Shall I buy you some stomach medicine?”

“No, I’ll be all right in a moment. Let’s deal with it when we go back to Hai City.” Ji Nuan walked to the couch and sat down. Where she sat was right opposite to the door. She sat stubbornly there, looking at the door.

From morning to afternoon, Mo Jingshen didn’t show up.

She leaned back on the couch, held the pillow in her arms, and picked up her cell phone, trying to call Mo Jingshen again.

His cell phone was still powered off, and nobody answered the call.

She took a deep breath and looked at the quiet door.

“Mrs. Mo, do you feel better now?” Feng Ling sat down beside her and asked her gently, carefully avoiding mentioning Mo Jingshen.

Ji Nuan didn’t answer. After a long silence, Ji Nuan said calmly, “Feng Ling, let’s go back to Hai City.”

Feng Ling paused, looked at Ji Nuan’s seemingly calm look and nodded. “Okay, I’m going to order the tickets.”

Ji Nuan didn’t speak anymore. She leaned on the couch and looked up at the apartment she’d lived in for three months.

—-

From the apartment to the airport, and from boarding to landing in Hai City, Ji Nuan had been silent.

When they walked out of Hai City Airport, a silver-gray Porsche was parked outside, which had apparently come to pick her up. Ji Nuan didn’t call a car, nor tell the Ji family and the Mo Family about her flight number. Why was there a car to pick her up?

She cast a questioning glance at Feng Ling, and the latter said, “It’s not convenient to inform the Mo Family of what happened to Mr. Mo, so I called Dr. Qin before boarding and told him you had stomach troubles this morning. I was worried that you might be airsick today, so I asked him if he could come to pick you up. Since he happened to be free today, he came here.”

Qin Siting?

Ji Nuan paused and didn’t speak. As soon as she walked to the car, the door beside the driver’s seat was opened. Qin Siting was not wearing his doctor’s gown but a light-colored shirt and trousers instead. He got out of the car and took a look at her. With that idle smile on his face, Qin Siting raised his eyebrow at her. “Wow, Mrs. Mo, you look different from before. As the saying goes, wisdom in hold, elegance in mold. You look like a corporate executive now. I’m afraid those old men in my family won’t be able to compete with your studio in the future.”