"President, I will closely monitor this news and ensure you're notified as soon as there's any update. As for you, how long has it been since you last rested?" Fan Cheng asked with concern.
"Look at the exhaustion in your eyes. If Madam were here, she definitely wouldn't want to see you like this. Madam also wants you to return to the old house for dinner tonight, so you should rest first. Work isn't that urgent."
Ji Zhi Xiu paused, "You don't understand."
Only when he was busy did he have no time to think.
He dared not close his eyes, fearing that all he would see were memories of Jiang Mian.
"I do understand, how could I not! Your feelings for Madam are something others may not grasp, but I understand them best."
Only he knew how long the President had been searching for Madam.
Ever since he took over Ji Shi, he had been sending people to Jiangnan every year to search for her whereabouts.
Finally, after the two met, he could only cautiously keep her by his side.
Under the guise of legality, he indulged in all matters of love.
He had never seen the President behave this way towards anyone; in this world, only Madam could drive the President to such madness.
"Please, just listen to me, President. Take a day to rest, and the company won't collapse," Fan Cheng pleaded earnestly.
Ji Zhi Xiu knew Fan Cheng cared about him. He raised a hand to interrupt him, "I know, I'll go to the lounge to rest for a bit. If there's anything you can't resolve, come and ask me."
It was a relief that he was willing to rest. Fan Cheng didn't care whether he went home or not.
He nodded repeatedly, "Understood, President. Please go and rest."
Ji Zhi Xiu pushed open the door to the lounge in his office.
Almost simultaneously, his heart began to ache.
He still remembered the last time he brought Jiang Mian here, the young lady had rolled around on his bed.
Her lively and energetic appearance was still vivid in his mind.
He mechanically lay down on the bed and held Jiang Mian's phone to his chest.
At the same time, he placed his own phone on the bedside table.
He didn't silence his phone, ensuring that he would receive any message from Jiang Mian immediately.
...
Paris.
Ye San had just flown in today to accompany him.
Ye Yi pondered, "Do you think we've been looking in the wrong direction? Perhaps she's no longer in Paris."
Ye San remained expressionless, "I only know you haven't slept for two days."
The moment he arrived at the hotel, he saw Ye Yi in a state of obsession.
Ye Yi felt it made sense, "Right, if she has left Paris, I shouldn't be focusing solely on Paris."
Ye San paused, "I can't stay here with you for long; I need to return to China."
Ye Yi looked at him earnestly, "Didn't you used to work in the organization? Do you have any underworld connections that can help me find her?"
Ye San felt a surge of frustration; it seemed this gentleman hadn't been listening at all.
"What are you saying?" he urged.
Ye San was speechless, "It's possible, but I can't guarantee we'll find her."
Their line of work naturally had its methods for finding people, but he had retired from the organization years ago.
Finding her now wouldn't be easy; he would have to seek help from his old associates.
Ye Yi breathed a sigh of relief, finally some good news, "As long as there's a way, then hurry and do it. I'll wait for you."
Ye San stood still and glanced at him, "And you?"
"Me? What about me?"
"How long have you been awake? I'm afraid before Jiang Mian is found, you'll die of exhaustion. Then you'll only be able to watch Jiang Mian and Ji Zhi Xiu live happily ever after as a ghost."
Ye Yi froze for a second, rubbed his chin, and looked at him suspiciously, "When did you start telling bad jokes?"
Ye San: "It's the truth."
Ye Yi shrugged, "Alright, I'll go to sleep now. I hope to wake up to your good news."
Ye San felt a sense of relief; he was truly afraid Ye Yi would stubbornly refuse to sleep.
As he was about to leave, he remembered Jing Yi Yi had been waiting outside his house for many days and was about to mention it to him.
Then he heard Ye Yi say, "I'm going to sleep now."
The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed. He nodded, "Sleep well."
As his spirits finally relaxed, Ye Yi realized how truly exhausted he was.
He slept for a long time. When he woke up, Ye San was sitting on the carpet in front of him, eating.
Ye Yi frowned, "What time is it?"
Ye San: "Eight in the morning."
Ye Yi was astonished, "I slept all night? Why didn't you wake me?"
Ye San was puzzled, "Why should I wake you?" It was rare for him to sleep so well.
Ye Yi was exasperated, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this. Any news?"
"No," he answered quickly. "How could it be so fast?"
Ye Yi threw off the covers and got up.
Ye San stared at him, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to look for her myself."
Ye San didn't know what to say, "Can you stop being crazy first thing in the morning? Where are you going to look? Besides, Ji Zhi Xiu is already handling this."
Ye Yi didn't listen. He washed up, changed his clothes, and was about to leave.
He didn't know where to look, he only knew he couldn't just wait like this.
Ye San put down his food and called out, "Ye Yi!"
Ye Yi turned, "What?"
"I'm returning to China this afternoon. Why don't you come back with me?"
Ye Yi didn't hesitate for a moment, "Not going back."
"What's the use of you staying here? The search has already been arranged. Are you planning to look for her yourself? Do you even know where to look?" Ye San asked with a cold expression.
"Furthermore, what if these people have already brought Jiang Mian back to China?"
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Ye San knew he had taken it in.
"Waiting here is useless. Let's go back together and see if there are any clues."
He couldn't rule out the possibility Ye Yi mentioned. Ye Yi conceded, "Then let's book tickets and go back now."
"Fine."
The two bought tickets for the soonest flight back to Kyoto.
Ye San drove Ye Yi home.
As they entered the villa complex, the car's high beams illuminated a figure at the front gate.
Jing Yi Yi was squatting by the gate, hugging her knees.
Since Ye Yi had spoken so definitively last time, she had been heartbroken and in a state of despair for a long time.
But perhaps this was what it meant to love someone; no matter how harsh their words, one would still deceive oneself with comfort.
She was willing to take a step back, not demanding that Ye Yi be with her.
Her liking him was her own business.
She just wanted to be by his side, and that was enough.
But she hadn't expected this man to be so heartless; after that layer of window paper was pierced, he began to openly avoid her.
Thinking of this, Jing Yi Yi bit her lip, feeling a little sad.
She had been squatting outside Ye Yi's house for many days and hadn't seen him.
It seemed he was determined to avoid her.
She pushed herself up by her knees, about to leave, when she saw a car driving in.
Her eyes lit up.
Ye San stopped the car and glanced over, "It's Jing Yi Yi."
Ye Yi showed no expression. He opened the car door and got out.
Jing Yi Yi rushed towards him like a bird, her voice full of joy, "It really is you! Where have you been all these days? I've been waiting for you for so long." She paused, then said cautiously, "No, no, no, I absolutely don't blame you... I just..."
Ye Yi opened the fingerprint lock, interrupting her, "Come in."
Jing Yi Yi was stunned, almost disbelieving, "Me?"
Ye Yi glanced at her without a word.
Jing Yi Yi immediately followed, unable to suppress her delight, and secretly smiled. Did this mean he had feelings for her too?
Ye Yi turned on the lights, poured a glass of water, and handed it to her, "Drink."
Jing Yi Yi didn't mind his lack of words, nor did she notice that Ye Yi was in a bad mood.
She held the cup and took small sips. The thought of this being water poured by Ye Yi made it taste sweeter than honey water.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard Ye Yi say, "Go home after you finish drinking."
Jing Yi Yi's face flushed, and she said softly, "I didn't intend to stay the night either."
"Don't come again next time," the man's words were colder than the winter wind.
It was like a basin of cold water instantly extinguishing Jing Yi Yi's joy.
She couldn't help but look up, "Ye Yi! Do you hate me that much? If you hate me, why did you let me in?"
By the end of her sentence, her voice had become choked with sobs.
Without waiting for his reply, she put down the cup heavily, "Fine, I'm leaving!"
Ye Yi's words, "I don't hate you," got stuck in his throat.
Jing Yi Yi turned and walked out the door.
The light stretched her shadow.
She walked two quick steps in anger, but then couldn't help but slow down.
As long as he called her, she would stay.
But until she was out the door, there was no sound from behind her.
Outside the gate, Jing Yi Yi wiped the tears from her face and said quietly, "What's so great about that?"
Ye San got out of the car and stood in front of her, "I'll drive you back, Miss Jing, it's so late."
Jing Yi Yi looked up, feeling a little embarrassed, "I don't want to. You're his person. He doesn't even want anything to do with me, so why are you coming over?"
Ye San said calmly, "He's in a bad mood and said some unpleasant things. Don't take it to heart."
Jing Yi Yi eagerly asked, "What's wrong with him?" She wiped her eyes, "You can drive me back!"
She quickly got into the car.
Ye San glanced at her retreating figure, shook his head, and followed.
Jing Yi Yi urged, "What exactly is wrong with him?"
Ye San turned the steering wheel, "The person he cares about the most is missing."
Jing Yi Yi was stunned. The words "the person he cares about the most" pierced her heart.
"Is it Jiang Mian...?" she asked instinctively.
Ye San nodded, "Yes."
He thought that saying this would make Jing Yi Yi give up and stop bothering Ye Yi.
Who knew that the next second, Jing Yi Yi asked, "What exactly happened? Did you call the police? Who is the other party? Is there anything I can help with?"
He glanced at her, "Logically speaking, Jiang Mian should be your love rival. Why are you still concerned about her?"
Emotions were so complex.
Jing Yi Yi pouted, "What kind of love rival is this? I'm not stupid. Jiang Mian doesn't like him. Besides, Jiang Mian and Ji Zhi Xiu are a couple; the whole world knows that."
She only understood when she saw the trending searches, no wonder Ji Zhi Xiu wasn't willing to go on blind dates.
It turned out he already had someone he loved.
A surge of sourness welled up in her heart.
To have both brothers under her control, this Jiang Mian was quite something.
Ye San shook his head, "She went missing in Paris. She disappeared shortly after separating from Ye Yi. I spent a lot of effort persuading him to come back today."
Jing Yi Yi ignored the sourness in her heart, "No wonder he's in a bad mood..."
"Aren't you angry that he treated you like this?"
Jing Yi Yi looked out the window at the rapidly receding scenery, "I am. But I've already forgiven him."
She had a hundred reasons to blame Ye Yi, and a thousand reasons to forgive him.
Ye San didn't understand but remained silent.
The car became quiet.
After safely dropping Jing Yi Yi off at home, Ye San called Ye Yi, "She's been sent back."
Ye Yi responded indifferently.
Ye San asked, "You don't like her, so why did you ask me to drive her home?"
Ye Yi retorted, "Do these two things need to be connected?"
Ye San: "They don't?"
Ye Yi stated firmly, "No."
He just felt that seeing Jing Yi Yi squatting at the door made her resemble a lost puppy.
Nothing more.
So he let her in for a cup of water.
Besides, it was so late, and it wouldn't be safe for a girl like her to go home alone.
He knew clearly that he couldn't give Jing Yi Yi what she wanted, so he preferred to be cruel and shatter all her illusions.
Ye San shook his head and spoke the truth, "I don't understand you guys."
These two, in a sense, were quite well-matched; both were stubbornly persistent.
They wouldn't turn back until they hit a wall, and even after hitting it, they'd continue to push forward.
Ye Yi snorted, "It's better if you don't understand."
If you understood, you'd have to suffer the pain of love.
It was better not to understand.
"Get some sleep early. Come to the company tomorrow if you have time. Ning Jie is looking for you," Ye San reminded him.
Ye Yi responded absentmindedly, "Got it."
He had slept so much on the plane; how could he sleep now?
After hanging up the phone, he opened his laptop and was still repeatedly reviewing the surveillance footage.