Shen Peichuan wasn’t sure what had happened but he rushed over right after Sang Yu called him.
Now, he was also in a panic.
“Time is of the essence, we need to go back now,” Shen Peichuan asserted.
“What’s going on?” Lin Xinyan sensed that something urgent had come up despite not hearing what Shen Peichuan had whispered to Zong Jinghao.
“Let’s go home first,” Zong Jinghao instructed.
Lin Xinyan nodded. Her face was slightly pale and looked exceptionally haggard. The last few days since Zong Qifeng passed away, she hardly ate or slept. Hence, she looked terrible.
When they were descending the steps, she suddenly lost her balance due to the slippery ground caused by the rain. The moment she slipped, her body fell forward. Luckily, Zong Jinghao was alert and caught her quickly, saving her from the fall.
She had a rude shock and felt her vision fade for a brief moment. “I’m alright.”
She rubbed her forehead to regain her senses.
After that, Zong Jinghao held her waist as they walked out of the cemetery.
“Su Zhan, Qin Ya.”
Zong Jinghao looked at both of them, “Please take them back to the villa on my behalf.”
“Where are you going?” Lin Xinyan wound down the windows.
“Peichuan and I have something to do.” Zong Jinghao’s expression was calm. “I’m afraid you might be too emotional at home, so it’s better to stay at the villa for two days.”
Lin Xinyan replied, “The baby is still at home. I’m worried about him.”
She wanted to go back instead.
Zong Jinghao clenched his fist as fury raged within him. However, he did not show any of it on his face. “Just go to the villa first.”
Just as he spoke, he didn’t give Lin Xinyan time to respond. “Let the two kids rest properly. Qin Ya, sorry for the trouble.”
“Don’t worry.” Qin Ya entered the car..
Su Zhan asked, “Where are you going? I’ll come with you…”
“You should head to the villa too.” Zong Jinghao was worried as there were only women and children there. Hence, he preferred that Su Zhan was there with them.
Su Zhan replied, “Alright.”
After they left, Zong Jinghao and Shen Peichuan rushed home.
Meanwhile, Sang Yu was crying in panic while pacing around the living hall.
When she saw them return, she rushed towards them and apologized. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“Now is not the time for apologies. How did the baby disappear?” Shen Peichuan reached out to wipe her tears.
“I was upstairs the whole time watching over the baby. No one else came by. And then, about an hour ago, I came down to get some water. When I went back up, the baby was gone,” Sang Yu explained frantically.
“Think carefully, is there no one else that came by?” Shen Peichuan questioned.
He was worried that Sang Yu missed something in her panic.
Sang Yu was close to having a nervous breakdown. She was watching the baby and now that it was gone, she held herself accountable. If the baby couldn’t be found, how was she going to face Lin Xinyan and Zong Jinghao?
“N-No…” Sang Yu didn’t see anyone come by.
When Zong Jinghao glanced at Sang Yu, he knew that she wasn’t able to give any meaningful answers in her panic. Therefore, he headed into his study to check the security footage from the camera overlooking the main entrance. He knew he would be able to see if anyone came in or out.
Once he turned on the computer, the monitor was all dark. It was obvious that someone had sabotaged it.
Standing beside him, Shen Peichuan saw what happened. “It seems it’s likely someone close to you.” The camera at the house was well hidden and not visible to anyone other than those who came by often. “Jinghao, I’m sorry.”
As he and Sang Yu were husband and wife, he felt that it was also his responsibility that the baby had disappeared.
Ignoring what Shen Peichuan said, Zong Jinghao squinted his eyes as he stared at the blank screen. Speculating in his mind, he believed Zong Yungan’s sudden appearance had something to do with the baby’s disappearance. Zong Yungan must have taken advantage of the fact that he was distracted by the funeral.
When he whipped up his phone and was about to make a call, Sang Yu suddenly barged in.
“In the afternoon, the driver came by and saw the baby.” Earlier, she didn’t think much about it. After all, he had followed Zong Jinghao from the villa to this house, hence he must be someone trusted by Zong Jinghao. Now that I think of it, why did he come upstairs?
Zong Jinghao’s hand that was holding his phone jolted momentarily. He asked, “Roughly when was it?”
“Just today,” Sang Yu spoke from memory. “About two something. At that time, he said that you instructed him to come back and check on the baby.”
Zong Jinghao had not done any such thing.
“I’ll look for him.” The man who was both Zong Jinghao’s driver and bodyguard was now being suspected.
Shen Peichuan was furious. “If it was really him, I’ll kill him myself!”
It was the first time Sang Yu saw Shen Peichuan’s violent side. Subconsciously, she gulped in response.
Zong Jinghao didn’t stop him as they needed to find the driver as he was the only clue.
Right when Shen Peichuan walked towards the main door and opened it, he saw the driver heading over. Shen Peichuan was caught by surprise. If he had done it, how dare he show his face now?
“I want to see Mr. Zong.” The driver walked towards Shen Peichuan.
Shen Peichuan didn’t say a word as he led him to the study.
As the study room door wasn’t shut tight, Shen Peichuan pushed it open without knocking. Meanwhile, Zong Jinghao was on the phone. When he heard the noise, looked up and saw the driver, his eyes were filled with malice.
“You and I both share the surname Zong. Your grandfather and mine were born from the same womb. What gives you the right to own eighty percent of Wanyue while I only have twenty? If you want your son, it’s simple, give me the rest of the shares and I will return your son to you.”
Previously, Zong Yungan didn’t dare to make a move as he was afraid of Zong Qifeng. Times were now different as he was dead.
“I’ll give you what you want.” Zong Jinghao replied without hesitation.
In his heart, his son was more important than anything else.
“Good, I’ll give you one day to make the arrangements and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Zong Jinghao ended the call.
The moment Shen Peichuan went out, the phone rang and it was just as Zong Jinghao had expected.
It was clear that Zong Yungan was behind his son’s disappearance.
“Mr. Zong.” The driver knelt in front of the table, crying like a baby despite his burly built. “I didn’t have a choice. They kidnapped my wife and child to threaten me. If I didn’t do it, my family would die.”
After he had exchanged the baby for his wife and child, he could have hidden or run away. However, he did neither and returned to confess his crimes to Zong Jinghao.
When he was down in the dumps, it was Zong Jinghao that gave him his opportunity, thus allowing him to have a comfortable life with his family in the city. He knew that he should be grateful. But now, his family was in mortal danger and he had no choice.
The staff that Zong Jinghao allowed to be at his house were those that he deeply trusted. They were all well provided for and he never mistreated them.
But today, to have someone so close betray him, rage consumed his rational mind.
“Why didn’t you tell me that someone threatened you?” He was furious. “Do you think that I won’t help?”
“I-I dare not tell you because if I did, my wife and child would be killed.” The driver knelt on the floor and bowed in apology.
Zong Jinghao asked in a grim voice, “The day my father died, were you the one who informed him?”
“Yes.” The driver didn’t dare lift his head. “He asked me to watch all of you and to let him know if something happened.”
