Chapter 1427: Chapter 1427: Acting Goes Live (5)

Su Hongxing was amused by Ye Qilan’s resentful tone, but as soon as she thought of Qiao Qiao’s disappearance, her smile quickly faded, and she couldn’t bring herself to laugh anymore.

The waiting was the hardest part. It wasn’t until three in the afternoon that Ye Qilan received feedback from his subordinates. They had finally uncovered some information about Ye Shiqing, confirming that he had taken Qiao Qiao out of Taicheng. As for where they’d gone after leaving Taicheng, further investigation was necessary.

When Su Hongxing heard the news, her heart sank. If they’d stayed in Taicheng, the area was small, and perhaps it would be easier to find them. But now that Ye Shiqing wasn’t in Taicheng, the vast world outside made it almost impossible to know where to start searching.

It was just like the last time she was kidnapped—Ye Qilan couldn’t find her either. It was the same reasoning.

“Wife, my people will keep looking. Don’t be upset just yet.” Ye Qilan’s heart ached unbearably as he saw Su Hongxing looking frail and despondent.

“It’s pointless. Even if they’re found eventually, it will already be too late; the outcome will be irreversible.” Su Hongxing’s voice was filled with despair. She felt sad for Qiao Qiao but powerless to help, and this feeling was utterly terrible.

“Maybe we’re imagining the worst case scenario. In any case, I’ll continue searching for her and will find Qiao Qiao as quickly as possible. Trust me.” Ye Qilan said firmly.

Su Hongxing looked at Ye Qilan and said, “This matter is making things hard for you. It’s not even your problem; it’s Ye Shiqing’s obsessive behavior. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. If I had warned Xiaoqiao earlier, none of this would’ve happened.”

She was most worried about how Qiao Qiao’s father and mother would react if they couldn’t find Xiaoqiao. The news might hit them like a ton of bricks.

Therefore, the immediate priority was coming up with an excuse to reassure Qiao Qiao’s aging parents.

Later, Su Hongxing called Qiao Qiao’s mother, claiming that Xiaoqiao had met an old classmate and gone on a trip, saying she had left Taicheng. She explained that the sudden plans had meant Xiaoqiao couldn’t notify them personally.

Qiao Qiao’s mother had always trusted Su Hongxing, so she didn’t doubt the authenticity of the explanation.

Feeling dejected, Su Hongxing’s mood was visibly low. When Ye Qilan saw her in this state, he decided to leave work early and take her home.

Xiao Ji saw Su Hongxing return and immediately stepped forward to greet her but quickly noticed something was off about her expression. “Amou, what’s wrong?” he asked.

Su Hongxing forced herself to perk up and replied, “Nothing. I’m just feeling a bit tired. I’ll head upstairs first. Not hungry tonight, so I won’t eat.”

Xiao Ji wanted to follow her upstairs to find out more, but Ye Qilan stopped him. “She needs some quiet time. Don’t bother her—you can see she’s not looking well.”

After speaking, Ye Qilan went to the kitchen and instructed the housekeeper to prepare some dishes that might stimulate her appetite. Once everything was ready, he carried the food into the bedroom.

Su Hongxing was sighing deeply in the room. When she saw Ye Qilan come in, she sat up from the sofa. “I don’t feel like eating.”

“Alright, just eat a little bit.” Ye Qilan studied her sharp chin closely and said, “I liked it better when you were chubby and round. You’ve gotten too thin now.”

His ultimate goal was to nurture her into a little plump bundle of joy—but, alas, life didn’t cooperate with his plans.

Under Ye Qilan’s insistence, Su Hongxing eventually ate half a bowl of rice and drank a bowl of soup.

“You should go eat your dinner. Don’t let me affect you,” Su Hongxing said worriedly when she realized Ye Qilan hadn’t gone downstairs to eat his own meal.

“I’m not hungry yet—I’ll keep you company for now. Just pretend I’m invisible.” Ye Qilan didn’t confess that seeing her upset made him feel far worse than she did.

His greatest wish across multiple lifetimes was simply for her to live freely, without worries, pain, or suffering.

At first glance, it seemed like such a simple aspiration, but achieving it proved to be incredibly challenging.

Su Hongxing looked at Ye Qilan and leaned against his shoulder. “I’ve made you worry again, haven’t I?”