Spellbound Hearts - Chapter 38 - Superficiality

The messages from the unknown sender were laced with warnings in every word.

Ji Xuan pressed her lips into a thin line and replied: Why should I believe you’re telling the truth?

The reply came swiftly: Was your father wearing a blue jacket the day he left?

Ji Xuan: …

It was as if a long-buried memory had suddenly resurfaced.

The scene of Father Ji leaving that day flashed through her mind.

He had indeed been wearing a blue jacket that day.

Just like any other morning, Father Ji had his briefcase in hand, and his driver was waiting at the door. Before leaving, he hugged Mother Ji as usual, then crouched down to give Ji Xuan a kiss.

Everything about that morning had been perfectly ordinary, showing no signs of anything amiss.

If it hadn’t been for the phone call Father Ji made to Mother Ji later, and if Ji Xuan hadn’t overheard it by chance, she might have doubted whether Father Ji had fled with embezzled funds or if he had been kidnapped.

That day, not long after Father Ji left, he called Mother Ji.

On the phone, he told her that the company was in deep debt and on the brink of bankruptcy. The pressure was too much for him to bear, so he had to go into hiding for a while. He reassured her not to worry and urged her to take Ji Xuan and return to her parents’ home immediately.

Mother Ji, who had lived a life of luxury as a wealthy housewife, didn’t think of running with Ji Xuan upon hearing this. Instead, her first reaction was to break down in tears.

By the time she had cried enough, the company’s creditors had already come knocking and dragged both mother and daughter to the company.

Ji Xuan was lost in her memories when her phone suddenly rang in her hand.

She glanced down and saw Wu Shu’s name on the screen. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the answer button. “Hello, Wu Shu.”

Unlike Ji Xuan, Wu Shu’s voice carried a cheerful tone. “I’ve sorted things out with my cousin. When do you have time? I’ll arrange for you two to meet.”

Ji Xuan’s mind was elsewhere. “I’m busy today. Tomorrow.”

Wu Shu responded, “Alright, tomorrow evening then.”

Ji Xuan agreed, “Okay.”

After hanging up with Wu Shu, Ji Xuan sent another message to the unknown number: I don’t care what game you’re playing. If this happens again, I’ll go to the police.

The other party didn’t reply.

Ji Xuan waited for a while, then swiped her finger across the screen to block the number.

After pondering for a few minutes, she sent a message to Mother Ji: Mom, have you heard anything about Dad?

Mother Ji replied almost instantly: No.

Ji Xuan knew her mother was timid and decided not to mention what had happened today. She replied: I was just asking. Take good care of yourself.

Mother Ji: You’re the one who needs to take care of yourself out there.

After a brief exchange with her mother, Ji Xuan closed her phone, got up, and poured herself a cup of coffee. She then began preparing the contract for her meeting with the Song Group tomorrow.

It wasn’t that Ji Xuan didn’t want to report today’s incident to the police; she simply had too many concerns.

First, she worried that the person might actually know something about Father Ji.

Second, ever since she had arrived at Wansheng, she had already stirred up a lot of trouble. Although she had been the victim in all these situations, human nature is shallow. People only see the surface and rarely dig deeper.

They would form a preconceived notion: you’re a troublemaker.

The Song Group contract was particularly tricky. While Song Zhaoli had approved the feasibility plan, many details still needed to be ironed out.

By the time the contract was finalized and double-checked, it was already late afternoon.

Ji Xuan grabbed a quick bite of fast food to stave off her hunger. Glancing at her phone, she noted there were still thirty minutes left until the end of the workday.