After a few seconds of silence, the female voice turned into a male voice: "Miss, please tell us your address, and we'll dispatch officers immediately!"
After stating her address, Gu Ranran checked her phone for the nearest flight. The earliest one wouldn't take off for another two hours.
Based on her usual wake-up time, Yang Hao should already be abroad by the time she woke up.
But today, she had "woken up" early.
Gu Ranran sat on the sofa in the room, waiting. The past scenes flashed before her eyes.
The immense sense of betrayal had stripped her bare overnight, like shedding a layer of skin.
Gu Ranran had grown up in the Gu family and had seen and heard plenty of family disputes among the wealthy. Once she woke from her dream, she found herself calmly and cruelly plotting, almost unrecognizable.
The more she had loved Yang Hao in the past, the more she hated him now that she realized it was all a deception!
Yang Hao's clumsy performances and lies replayed in her mind.
Gu Ranran let out a soft chuckle, "How stupid was I?"
The police responded swiftly. A case of absconding with two hundred million was a major incident anywhere.
Gu Ranran sat in the room, allowing the police to conduct their search.
"Miss, can you provide your boyfriend's ID number? We can conduct a network search. If he appears at any airport or station, he won't be allowed to leave Qingcheng for now."
Gu Ranran shook her head. "I can't recall it, but his name should be easy to find. His name is Yang Hao, 27 years old, with three previous criminal records, two of which were..."
The leading police officer immediately called the bureau.
"Yes, a network search. We absolutely cannot let this person leave Qingcheng!"
After asking their questions, the police officers looked at Gu Ranran with sympathy. She was so pitiful. Her boyfriend had stolen her money and fled. The girl looked stunned with anger.
After a few minutes, a black car screeched to a halt downstairs.
Gu Qichen, Gu Ranran's brother, ran upstairs and barged in with a cold expression.
Upon seeing the police officers in the room, he then spotted Gu Ranran standing in the living room.
Gu Qichen's stern face was filled with murderous intent in his eyes. He strode up to Gu Ranran.
"What happened?"
Gu Ranran looked at Gu Qichen in a daze. It was this brother, who was now concerned about her safety, who felt like her true brother.
He was completely different from the brother who had obeyed Qin He a few days ago.
Gu Ranran's voice was slightly hoarse. "I'm fine. Yang Hao ran off with the money."
Gu Qichen breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you're alright."
"Brother, how did you know something happened here?"
Gu Qichen had no intention of hiding it any longer. "My people have been around the Tingqing Street area, monitoring the situation here."
Gu Ranran was silent for a few seconds, her eyes gradually filling with tears, her eyes turning red.
"Brother, so you were acting a few days ago?"
Gu Qichen was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "We all were."
Gu Ranran's tears fell directly.
"I'm sorry, Brother."
The police recognized Gu Qichen and waited patiently while the siblings spoke.
Gu Qichen reached out and wiped her tears. "Don't cry. You'll learn from this experience."
Gu Ranran shook her head. "It's my fault. I didn't believe you. Qin He she—"
Gu Qichen glanced at the police officers. "Can we have some privacy for a few minutes?"
The police agreed and went outside.
Gu Qichen looked down at Gu Ranran. "The two hundred million we gave you was Qin He's idea, meant to make you see Yang Hao's true colors."
"Ever since she discovered you were dating Yang Hao, Qin He has been handling your affairs. My original plan was to send Yang Hao away directly, but Qin He said you wouldn't give up that way.
She wanted you to learn about human nature, to understand people, and to grow. So she cut off your funds to see what Yang Hao would be like in adversity."
Gu Ranran's eyes were teary. "Then why did you give us money again?"
Gu Qichen recounted Song Nuan finding Yang Hao.
He stroked Gu Ranran's hair and smiled. "Qin He said she didn't know what Song Nuan might do, so we couldn't wait any longer. While you might be hurt this time, you will ultimately grow."
Gu Ranran said nothing more.
She had cursed Qin He daily, insulted her, and wished her dead countless times in her heart.
But what hurt her the most was that she knew her family's personalities and character – Qin He, her brother, her mother.
Yet, when she was with Yang Hao, she had been completely blinded and had actually believed these three people would expel her from the Gu family.
She hadn't trusted them, and that was what pained Gu Ranran the most.
Just as Yang Hao had betrayed her, Gu Ranran felt like she had betrayed Qin He.
Gu Qichen explained everything. "Don't be so emotional. Qin He originally wanted a gradual transition to spare you pain. But since Song Nuan found Yang Hao, we can't be sure what she might do to you."
Gu Ranran shook her head. "Brother, I know. Please don't explain anymore."
The more Gu Qichen explained, the more ashamed she felt.
"What about calling the police?" Gu Qichen asked. "Did you call the police after Yang Hao ran off?"
Gu Ranran nodded, then shook her head.
"Brother, I watched him run."
Gu Ranran looked out the window. "I hurt too many people who loved me for him. I lost my dignity and pride, borrowing money from everywhere, pawning my bags, insulting and verbally abusing Qin He, and hurting my mother when I spoke to her—
But in his eyes, all of this was just a scheme he orchestrated. He probably thought of me as a fool."
"I could have asked you for help, or Brother Chen, or Brother Li Yan, and we could have gotten the money back and dealt with him severely. But I wasn't willing!"
Gu Ranran gritted her teeth, the ferocity in her eyes resembling Gu Qichen's when he was angry.
"I want him to pay the price. Two hundred million is enough for him to be locked up forever!"
Gu Ranran clenched her fist. "He didn't have to run. I didn't instigate anything, nor did I agree. Him running on his own was him seeking his own death."
A hint of relief flickered in Gu Qichen's eyes. "Good. I won't let him leave Qingcheng."
"He can't get away. Yang Hao's dream destination is the Maldives. I've checked the flight tickets. The closest flight to the Maldives is still an hour away. The police are already conducting a network search for him."
Gu Ranran's intelligence had returned to full capacity.
"Alright, I'll take you to cooperate with the police investigation, and then take you home."
Gu Ranran's eyes were filled with tears. "Okay."
Gu Qichen took Gu Ranran to cooperate with the police investigation, and the police also asked Gu Qichen some questions.
The two hundred million was from Gu Qichen for Gu Ranran to open a bar, and he hadn't expected Yang Hao to abscond with it.
This was indeed the truth.
The police were exceptionally serious. As Gu Qichen and Gu Ranran were about to leave, they received the latest update.
The foolish Yang Hao had indeed bought the flight ticket to the Maldives and was caught at the airport during ticket inspection.
He had abandoned his bag and fled.
The bank card was in the bag.
After receiving the call, the police officer looked at Gu Ranran. "Miss, this money cannot be returned to you for the time being. It will have to wait until the case is closed..."
Gu Ranran had not cared about the money at all from beginning to end.
"Alright, thank you."