The other possibilities were too low to consider.
Ye Zhi personally leaned towards the first or second scenario, as this sudden incident felt too much like the protagonist's halo activating.
"So, the surgery ultimately didn't happen?" Ye Zhi asked.
Qi Xuan nodded. "My friend has already sent people to pursue them. If there's any news, they'll inform us promptly."
Ye Zhi sighed. Chances were they wouldn't be caught. Of course, it wasn't entirely without leads.
Qi Xuan's friend held significant influence in country K. The fact that someone could snatch them from under his watch suggested a local of country K with considerable power, not an ordinary person.
Moreover, this mysterious individual likely had met Ye Qin Ya or Gu Sheng. Otherwise, why go to such lengths to save two strangers?
If they searched within this scope, they might find some clues.
"I'll tell my friend to investigate the whereabouts of Ye Qin Ya and Gu Sheng, see who they've been in contact with in country K recently, and then narrow down their location from those people," Qi Xuan continued.
Ye Zhi looked at him in surprise. They had thought of the same thing.
"But won't that trouble your friend too much?" Ye Zhi hesitated. "Even with your close friendship, he'll surely be unhappy if you keep asking for his help."
"Don't worry," Qi Xuan said. "His help actually benefits him too."
"Oh?" Ye Zhi was very surprised.
"Yes, he originally intended to use this opportunity to stir up a power struggle, which is why he's been so proactive," Qi Xuan explained.
Ye Zhi: ...
As expected of a country that still retained royalty, this reminded her of a tourist country with a royal family in her previous life, which had staged a modern, fantastical palace drama where a favored concubine was imprisoned only to be personally welcomed back by the king.
"It's getting late, and finding people takes time. Let's rest first," Ye Zhi suggested.
Qi Xuan agreed.
After Ye Zhi saw him out, she lay in bed, unable to sleep.
She had been here for nearly a year, and she had actually forgotten many of the finer details of the original plot.
After all, who could clearly remember every detail of a melodramatic novel read a year ago? Especially when she was so busy every day, her brain probably selectively forgot unimportant things.
Now was the time to meticulously recall all the details she might have forgotten or overlooked.
Ye Zhi's mind grew clearer, and she began to compare her current situation with the original plot.
Firstly, Ou Ming Han and Ye Qin Ya's child was gone. It was fine that it was gone; the child was quite unfortunate.
Ou Ming Han had registered the child under Ou Tian Tian's name. Everyone misunderstood, thinking Ou Tian Tian had seduced Ou Ming Han and given birth to the child. Ou Tian Tian's reputation was ruined, and no man dared to approach her.
Furthermore, Ou Ming Han had handed the child over to Ou Tian Tian to raise. Ou Tian Tian was somewhat unstable mentally and emotionally, and the period before the age of four was the most challenging for a child's care. Naturally, she wouldn't treat the child particularly well.
As a result, the child was raised by Ou Tian Tian similarly to herself, developing mental issues.
Recalling it now, Ou Ming Han might have done this to drive Ou Tian Tian insane, and then have his son inherit Ou Tian Tian's fortune as the heir.
Thinking of this, Ye Zhi couldn't help but gasp. Ou Ming Han truly managed to reach new lows in his scumbaggery every time.
As for Ye Qin Ya, since she was rescued, she was likely still following the original plot.
In the original plot, she returned four years later, meaning Ye Qin Ya would not be in mortal danger.
Of course, she might return earlier or later; no one could be sure.
But one thing Ye Zhi was very sure of: once Ye Qin Ya returned, regardless of whether she claimed to seek revenge against Ou Ming Han, she would side with Ou Ming Han again. After all, they had endured hardships together in the end.
If Ye Qin Ya switched sides, the mysterious person who rescued her would likely switch sides with Ye Qin Ya, fulfilling their love.
If things truly developed in this direction, Ou Ming Han might be able to continue his reign!
Ye Zhi took a deep breath. It seemed she had to continue to grow stronger and wealthier during Ye Qin Ya's absence, striving to ensure Ou Ming Han could never recover. Even if she couldn't achieve that, she had to make him completely incapable of competing with her!
With these thoughts cleared, Ye Zhi fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, she came over for breakfast next door. Qi Xuan told her that Ye Qin Ya had still not been found, an answer Ye Zhi did not find surprising.
As they were finishing their meal, the butler walked over and asked somewhat expectantly, "Miss Ye, today is the Lantern Festival. Do you have any plans?"
Ye Zhi said regretfully, "I'm going home to celebrate the festival today."
"Is that so..." The butler looked disappointed. Then, with a smile, he said, "Going home is good. You should spend more time with your parents."
Watching the butler's retreating back, Ye Zhi sighed helplessly. She knew the butler had stocked up on fireworks and must have wanted to invite her to set them off, but now, she was really not in the mood.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Qi Xuan asked softly, "Are you planning to tell your parents about her?"
"I don't know..." Ye Zhi sighed. "They have the right to know, but I don't know how to start."
"Tell them the truth," Qi Xuan said calmly. "She might not be in danger."
Ye Zhi gave a wry smile. She was also certain that Ye Qin Ya was likely not in danger. But how could she explain that?
Should she say, "Mom and Dad, even though Ye Qin Ya is missing, she'll definitely be fine. Maybe she'll be back in a few years"?
What parents would hear this and not think their child was in trouble, that these were just words of comfort from someone else?
"Continuing to hide it might not be the better option. Concealment only leads to misunderstandings. Sometimes, when misunderstandings run too deep, even if they are cleared up in the end, scars will remain," Qi Xuan advised in a low voice.
Ye Zhi bit her lip slightly. "You're right."
After breakfast, Ye Zhi returned to the Ye family residence.
It was the Lantern Festival, and the Ye family was filled with a joyful atmosphere. Ye Zhi opened her mouth several times, but hesitation inevitably arose. Should she wait until after the festival to tell them?
Time quickly passed to the evening. Liu Ling Yu cheerfully said, "There's a lantern fair at the central park tonight. Shall our family of five... cough, shall our family go for a stroll!"
Ye Zhi's eyes darkened. She couldn't keep hiding it any longer. They were also Ye Qin Ya's parents and had the right to know about her situation.
"Dad, Mom, I have something very important to tell you," Ye Zhi said solemnly.
"What is it? You're so serious," Ye Yong Xian asked with a smile.
"It's about Qin Ya."
Then, Ye Zhi told them everything: how Ou Ming Han had sent Ye Qin Ya to country K, how she had tried to rescue her, but the rescue had failed, and now Ye Qin Ya was missing.