Huo Family Villa.
Zhao Wuyan sat on the sofa, looking at the trending searches on Weibo. Her brow furrowed, and she tilted her head to look at her brother, who was reading the news beside her, "Brother..."
"Hmm?"
Huo Xiaohua glanced up at Zhao Wuyan, "What's wrong?"
"You say, if Qing Muye is back, will Tang Si also be back with him?"
Three months ago, Tang Si and Shi Ran had vanished without a trace. Since then, no matter how much Zhao Wuyan searched, she couldn't find them. It was as if they had disappeared completely. But Zhao Wuyan knew that Tang Si was definitely still alive. However, precisely because she knew Tang Si was alive, and Shi Ran must also be unharmed, their simultaneous disappearance gave her a sense of crisis. She had prepared for the worst, assuming they might have eloped and gotten together in secret. Zhao Wuyan simply couldn't accept it.
Huo Xiaohua lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Highly likely." He analyzed carefully, "Tang Si, Han Yu, Lu Yanming, and Qing Muye – the four are best brothers. If Qing Muye returns alive, Tang Si will definitely come back when he hears the news. There's another possibility, which is that Qing Muye's death was orchestrated by Tang Si himself. In that case, he should also be here."
Listening to her brother's analysis, Zhao Wuyan couldn't sit still. She immediately got up, "No, I have to go find him." Three months of no news, Zhao Wuyan didn't know how she had managed to hold on. She had to find Tang Si as quickly as possible, ask for clarification, and ask him if he was really with Shi Ran.
"Wait."
Seeing Zhao Wuyan get up and head towards the living room with her bag, Huo Xiaohua called out, "Have you considered how you'll face him if Tang Si is indeed with Shi Ran? Will you still rush up and beat Shi Ran like last time?" He mused, "You should know that Tang Si hates unreasonable women the most." As Zhao Wuyan's brother, Huo Xiaohua offered a friendly reminder, afraid she would repeat her mistakes.
"I..."
Zhao Wuyan was stunned. She recalled that the last time she had beaten Shi Ran, Tang Si had been extremely disgusted with her and had ignored her for a long time. This made Zhao Wuyan feel flustered. She stood there, frozen for a few seconds. Seemingly without any good solution, she turned dejectedly and walked up to Huo Xiaohua, tossing her bag aside. She snorted coldly, crossing her arms, "Shi Ran, that vixen, I don't know what love potion she gave Tang Si to make him so infatuated with her." Zhao Wuyan was jealous of Shi Ran. Whether it was background, education, appearance, or capability, she was far inferior to Shi Ran, yet Tang Si inexplicably liked Shi Ran. "Is there really such a absurd story as a Prince Charming falling for Cinderella?" Zhao Wuyan thought it was all nonsense. All love, she believed, was built on 'matching social status' or 'benefits.'
"I think Tang Si has genuine feelings for Shi Ran."
Huo Xiaohua picked up his coffee from the table and took a sip, his eyes narrowed. After a long period of contemplation, he said, "Grandfather thinks highly of you and Tang Si. If Tang Si truly doesn't turn back, I think... you could consider taking special measures."
"Special measures?"
Zhao Wuyan's brow furrowed, and a hint of displeasure and intense unwillingness appeared on her face. She was unwilling to lose to Shi Ran.
"What, you're not willing?" he asked.
Zhao Wuyan didn't speak, implicitly agreeing.
"You have two choices. Either, you let Shi Ran and Tang Si be together; or, you..."
"No, I'm willing!"
Zhao Wuyan hesitated for a second before readily agreeing. She suddenly straightened her back, "Why should I lose to Shi Ran? Tang Si was originally my man. That bitch hooked up with Tang Si and bewitched him."