Lu Cong twitched the corner of his mouth, inexplicably feeling his smile was ill-intentioned.
He shivered, "Brother Xiu's house doesn't have a key, and someone is watching the door. But if I go, I can usually get in with just a nod..."
"Then take me with you?"
Lu Cong silently looked up at him, "What do you want to do at Brother Xiu's house?"
"Of course, it's to see the imposter. Don't you want to go? Don't you think it's funny to see her flustered and pretending?"
Lu Cong thought he had a point, he nodded, "Alright, I'll take you."
Chang Qin stood up, "I won't mess around with you guys anymore. I'm going home. Call me if you need any help."
"Go on, go on."
Nightwing slung an arm around his shoulders, "Let's go, I'll drive you."
When the car reached the front of Xiushui Mountain Villa, Xiaobai thought he was mistaken.
He rolled down the car window, "Young Master Lu San?"
Lu Cong poked his head out, "It's me. Open the door. I've brought a friend today, and they know your young madam too."
Xiaobai grumbled inwardly. He certainly knew this person, and it was precisely because he knew him that he hesitated...
He tactfully said, "Our young master is not home today."
Lu Cong frowned, "What, Brother Xiu isn't home, and I still can't enter his house?"
"No, no, no, of course not," Xiaobai shook his head frantically, sighed, and reached for the gate opener, "Please, Young Master San."
"That's better," Lu Cong rolled up the car window. "When you see the imposter later, don't be too rough. It won't be good if you scare her."
Nightwing chuckled, "Are you afraid I'll be too rough with her and you'll feel bad? As far as I know, the imposter is your brother's sister."
Lu Cong shuddered, "Forget it, I don't like black-hearted people."
The two parked the car, and Lu Cong led Nightwing into the living room.
Jiang Mian had just come downstairs and was somewhat taken aback to see them on the sofa.
She paused, "Lu Cong? Nightwing?"
Nightwing said casually, "I came to see you."
Lu Cong shouted quickly, "Sister-in-law, I came to see Brother Xiu."
Jiang Mian walked to the bar, "Knowing Zhi Xiu isn't home, would you like something to drink?"
Nightwing raised an eyebrow, "A glass of orange juice."
Lu Cong followed, "Me too!"
After saying that, he lowered his voice, "He's really treating this like his own home."
"People are here, keep your voice down," Nightwing reminded him.
Jiang Mian brought two glasses of orange juice and sat opposite them, "Please enjoy. CEO Ye, why did you think of coming to see me today?"
Nightwing took the juice, "Sister Ning said you've been resting at home recently and haven't taken any business, so I wanted to see how you're doing."
Jiang Mian smiled, "I find it very pleasant and comfortable at home, and I have more time to spend with Zhi Xiu. Is there something Lu Cong needs Zhi Xiu for?"
Lu Cong drank his orange juice in one gulp and put down the cup, "Nothing. Since he's not here, that's fine. I'll stay and wait for him."
Jiang Mian nodded, "Then would you two stay for lunch?"
Before Lu Cong could refuse, he heard Nightwing say, "Sure. I'd like to have spicy chicken. Can your cook make it?"
"Yes, no problem. What about Lu Cong?"
Lu Cong meekly said, "I've been having an upset stomach recently, I can't eat spicy food. Just get me two light dishes, like papaya stewed with snow frog, or fungus stewed with snow pear..."
Jiang Mian's mouth twitched, but she still kindly nodded, "Okay, I'll ask Aunt Song to make it later. But, it's tremella stewed with snow pear, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it's tremella stewed with snow pear."
...
At this moment, on Jiang Mian's side.
After receiving a positive answer, Jiang Mian's heart settled.
No matter what, Ji Zhi Xiu would find her.
However, by the afternoon, she had landed.
Jiang Mian had no recollection of this island at all. Unlike Weizhou Island, which was densely populated and even had a lively and joyful atmosphere.
This island was the complete opposite of Weizhou Island.
Upon landing, Jiang Mian hadn't seen a single person.
Two men led Jiang Mian through the jungle.
Jiang Mian walked slowly, partly because she couldn't keep up with the stamina of two big men, and partly because she intentionally wanted to delay.
The older one impatiently looked back, "Hurry up and keep up."
Jiang Mian timidly asked, "Where are we going?"
"To sell you!" the man grunted and laughed.
The second one smacked his lips, "Let me tell you the truth, the boss told us to sell you. We've contacted a family, and we're taking you there now."
Sell her?!
Jiang Mian was a little stunned, and her feet stumbled, causing her to fall.
The older one stopped and looked back, "Where is she?"
In the silent undergrowth, Jiang Mian's small figure was perfectly hidden.
The second one threw away his cigarette butt, his tone uncertain, "Boss, she seems to have hidden!"
"What are you standing around for? Find her!"
The two men immediately began searching in the patch of bushes.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mian stared at their figures, slowly retreating. Once she judged the distance was sufficient, Jiang Mian took off running.
She was still holding the phone she had taken from the older man. She guessed he had forgotten to ask for it back, or perhaps it wasn't time yet.
Jiang Mian ran aimlessly through the forest, not daring to stop, nor able to stop.
Only when she was sure no one was chasing her did Jiang Mian stop.
She leaned against a tree trunk to catch her breath for a moment, then continued forward.
Eventually, she saw a house ahead. Jiang Mian gathered her strength and ran towards it. She gently knocked on the yard gate, "Is anyone home?"
The house wasn't large, it was a wooden cabin. The yard was clean, with some flowers and grass Jiang Mian didn't recognize.
She called out softly a couple of times, but there was no answer. Jiang Mian couldn't help but push open the yard gate.
Just as she was surveying her surroundings, someone gently patted her on the back.
Startled, Jiang Mian quickly turned her head. Behind her stood a boy of seventeen or eighteen.
He was tall, well-built, with regular features. He chuckled at Jiang Mian twice.
Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief and tentatively asked, "Is this your home?"
The boy continued to smile foolishly.
Jiang Mian quickly repeated her question in English, still getting no response.
Jiang Mian belatedly realized they couldn't communicate.
Perhaps sensing she was hungry, the boy led Jiang Mian into the house.
He took out some bread slices and offered them to Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian was indeed hungry. She didn't stand on ceremony, patted his head, "Thank you."
As night fell, a third person arrived at the wooden cabin.
It was a middle-aged woman, who appeared to be the boy's mother. She had a pair of sharp, upward-slanted eyes.
When she entered, she was quite surprised to see Jiang Mian. Then Jiang Mian heard the mother and son say something she couldn't understand.
However, the woman quickly sneered and said in English, "I didn't expect Boli to not reject you."
Jiang Mian was surprised not only that she could speak English but also by what she said.
She knew clearly that this was by no means a friendly smile.
But since she could speak English, things became much easier.
Jiang Mian immediately told her that she had gotten lost accidentally and wanted to stay for a few nights.
The woman laughed a couple of times, "You can, but you have to help me take care of Boli."
Jiang Mian understood. The Boli she mentioned was the somewhat foolish-looking boy, her son.
She nodded in agreement.
The woman smiled, "What I mean by 'taking care of him' is not as simple as it looks."
Soon, Jiang Mian understood what she meant.
The woman made up a room and called Jiang Mian over, "How old are you this year?"
Jiang Mian found the question rather odd, but she still answered truthfully.
The woman scrutinized her for a few moments, seemingly not satisfied, "Have you had your period this month?"
This question immediately stunned Jiang Mian.
Yes... her period...
It seemed she hadn't had it for a long time...
She had been taken away for about two months. At first, she didn't pay it any mind, thinking it was just a change in environment.
Until the woman's words reminded her, and her last time with Ji Zhi Xiu hadn't been protected.
Could there already be a little life in her womb?
Jiang Mian felt a mix of surprise and bewilderment.
Seeing her silence, the woman repeated her question with a hint of displeasure.
Jiang Mian quickly hid the joy in her eyes and told her she had irregular periods.
The woman was clearly even more displeased, but ultimately said nothing. She called Boli in and said, "You'll sleep with Boli tonight."
Boli clapped his hands, smiling happily, like a child, speaking words Jiang Mian couldn't understand.
Jiang Mian was shocked, "I'll sleep with him?"
"Of course? Otherwise, why would I let you stay?"
Jiang Mian finally understood. No wonder she had asked so many detailed questions, and no wonder she had agreed to let her stay.
It turned out she simply wanted her to bear her son's lineage!
Jiang Mian quickly calmed down and indifferently agreed, "Okay."
Seeing her agreement, the woman said no more.
After she left, Jiang Mian looked at the bed and gestured for Boli to get on it.
Boli looked a bit confused and asked her with his eyes, "And you?"
Jiang Mian held up her index finger to him and made a "shush" gesture, then took the blanket and spread it on the floor.
She couldn't bring herself to share a bed with Boli, even though Boli now seemed to have the mental capacity of a five or six-year-old child.
So, she had to let Boli make do with this arrangement.
Boli was very well-behaved. He got on the bed and lay down obediently.
Jiang Mian slept on the floor for a while, then got up and tried to twist the doorknob.
The door was firmly locked from the outside.
Jiang Mian frowned. It seemed the woman was determined to make them sleep together.
No, she had to escape. She absolutely had to escape.
She couldn't possibly stay here to be a child bride.
Jiang Mian took out her phone. It had twenty percent battery left.
This was why she had resisted using it all day.
She wanted to send a message to Ji Zhi Xiu, but when she opened it, she discovered there was no signal here at all.
Jiang Mian shook her phone, feeling a bit dejected.
Then she turned the screen brightness down to the lowest setting. There was no signal here, she would look for one tomorrow!
She needed to conserve her energy to sleep.
The next morning, when she woke up, Jiang Mian, before the woman came, placed the blanket on the bed, creating the illusion that they had slept together.
But soon, Jiang Mian realized something was wrong.
Because Boli had a fever.
Jiang Mian felt a bit guilty. She guessed it was because she hadn't given Boli a blanket last night that he had a fever today.
The woman quickly opened the door, came in to check, and immediately noticed that Boli wasn't well.