Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin-Chapter 78 - Disappeared

Chapter 78: Disappeared

Chapter 78: Disappeared

“Chen Zhu, are you here to pick up Mr. Shang?”

Wen Zhi wasn’t surprised to see Chen Jinhai approaching her. Even though Shang Hexing had said it was his private trip to Jingci Temple, his assistant and secretary couldn’t possibly be unaware of his itinerary!

“Miss Wen, I’m very sorry to disturb you,” said Chen Jinhai, somewhat out of breath from rushing, his face showing great anxiety, “I indeed came to pick up Mr. Shang, but now I can’t even get in touch with him.”

Wen Zhi asked, “Isn’t anyone answering his mobile phone?”

Chen Jinhai nodded. “That’s right, I’ve called many times, but Mr. Shang’s phone has been unreachable.”

Which meant he was out of contact.

Wen Zhi calmly told Chen Jinhai, “Mr. Shang is staying at Dormitory House, which is the part of the temple closest to the back mountain, where the signal is often poor. I’ve experienced it myself, so it’s quite normal to not reach someone for a while. Don’t worry, let me take you to the Dormitory House to find him.”

“That would be very kind of you, Miss Wen,” said Chen Jinhai gratefully.

Wen Zhi turned around. “Follow me.”

Chen Jinhai immediately followed her.

In fact, since returning from the back mountain, Wen Zhi hadn’t seen Shang Hexing again. She assumed he was in the Dormitory House because she hadn’t seen him leave the temple that afternoon.

But it was only upon reaching the Dormitory House that she learned he wasn’t there.

The room he was staying in was just like what Wen Zhi had glimpsed that morning: neat and empty.

“Miss Wen, I don’t mean to question you, but just to confirm, does Mr. Shang really stay here?”

Chen Jinhai’s question came from behind her.

Wen Zhi was also somewhat perplexed. “He does stay here, because he and I are…”

Chen Jinhai asked, “Are what?”

Wen Zhi pointed to her room. “Neighbors. But I moved in here first; originally, this place belonged to Meng Fan.”

Chen Jinhai seemed to understand but then became worried again. “If Mr. Shang isn’t in the Dormitory House, where else could he have gone?”

Wen Zhi naturally didn’t know Shang Hexing’s whereabouts either, so she could only suggest, “Let’s keep looking. Jingci Temple is very large, and there are several revered monks. Perhaps Mr. Shang went to seek advice from one of them.”

Chen Jinhai was troubled.

Seeing this, Wen Zhi asked softly, “Is it because you don’t have enough people?”

Chen Jinhai candidly informed Wen Zhi, “This trip to Lin City, being Mr. Shang’s private journey and not a public mission, only Secretary Xu and I discreetly accompanied him.”

Wen Zhi asked, “Then where is Secretary Xu?”

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“Secretary Xu is in the car outside the temple.”

Wen Zhi then said, “Chen Zhu, you first bring Secretary Xu in, and let’s search for him together. I’m familiar with the temple grounds; I’ll go to the Guest Hall and ask around there.”

Chen Jinhai nodded. “Thanks for your help, Miss Wen.”

“No problem.”

As Chen Jinhai turned to leave, Wen Zhi immediately went back to her room to get her phone.

She called Shang Hexing, finding the same situation as Chen Jinhai had described—the call couldn’t be connected at the moment.

Wen Zhi dialed a few more times, still unable to connect.

Her expression anxious, after several unsuccessful attempts, she hurriedly made her way to the Guest Hall.

She questioned every monk she encountered, but no one had seen Shang Hexing that afternoon.

As her inquiry came to an end, a shadow of confusion that wouldn’t disperse covered Wen Zhi’s delicate brows. She couldn’t understand why Shang Hexing would suddenly be out of contact. Suddenly, a terrifying thought surfaced in her mind.

Occupying a high position, there were those who scrutinized his right and wrong, and those who had their sights on his life.

Could it be that his private itinerary had been exposed?

Once this idea took root, it was hard not to think further into darkness.

Outside the courtyard.

Kong Ci, carrying a broom, came to sweep the floor, and upon looking up, saw Wen Zhi coming down the stairs with an anxious expression. He approached her with the broom and asked, “Are you looking for the benefactor staying opposite to you?”

When Wen Zhi heard Kong Ci’s words, she snapped back to her senses, her eyes filled with hope: “Have you seen him?”

She had asked roughly a dozen monks throughout the afternoon, none of whom had seen Shang Hexing. Now that Kong Ci was asking her proactively, Wen Zhi thought he had seen him!

However—

Kong Ci shook his head and said, “I haven’t seen that benefactor this afternoon.”

Wen Zhi was visibly disheartened: “Then where could he have gone…”

Kong Ci said, “I saw him this morning.”

Wen Zhi pursed her lips slightly, showing little reaction, because she had also seen Shang Hexing that morning.

But then Kong Ci added, “This morning that benefactor asked me about your whereabouts. After I informed him, he went to the back mountain to find you. Later, I saw you come back but he did not.”

Wen Zhi was stunned, “…He hasn’t come back from the back mountain?”

Kong Ci put down the broom, leaning on one hand, then looked up at the sky: “It’s already so late now, I think he should have returned by now, it’s just that I haven’t seen him return with my own eyes, maybe he is now… Eh? Where are you going?”

Before Kong Ci could finish, Wen Zhi had already walked far away, leaving only a lingering shadow.

Kong Ci also noticed that the direction Wen Zhi took was towards the back mountain.

–

Dusk hung low, and all things in sight were shrouded in greyness.

On her way to the back mountain, Wen Zhi was stopped by a monk: “Benefactor, it is already very late, it is not advisable to go to the back mountain.”

Wen Zhi, anxious, said: “I’m looking for someone, my friend. He went to the back mountain and hasn’t returned.”

The monk first tried to calm Wen Zhi’s anxious mood, then asked, “When did the benefactor’s friend go up the mountain?”

Wen Zhi recalled the time: “…Around eleven o’clock in the morning.”

Upon hearing it was in the morning, the monk said to Wen Zhi, “If it was in the morning, your friend must have already left the back mountain and gone home.”

“But I can’t reach him, and his friends can’t reach him either.” Wen Zhi looked anxiously in the direction of the back mountain.

The monk still blocked Wen Zhi from going to the back mountain: “Benefactor, it’s dangerous for you to go to the back mountain alone. Let me first report this matter to the abbot and let him decide.”

Sending someone to search on such an important matter could only be authorized by the abbot.

But Wen Zhi couldn’t wait even a moment longer.

Just then, Chen Jinhai came rushing over with Secretary Xu.

Secretary Xu wore black-rimmed glasses and was dressed in a smart suit, looking quite stylish. Chen Zhu, walking beside him, looked more like his subordinate instead.

After Secretary Xu arrived and glanced at Wen Zhi without saying anything, Chen Jinhai, seeing her anxious expression, immediately comforted her, “Miss Wen, don’t worry. Mr. Shang won’t be in any trouble.”

Wen Zhi inhaled deeply, “He went to the back mountain this morning. If he hasn’t returned by now, then he might now…”

Chen Jinhai had naturally considered that too, and he said with a serious face, “Please wait here for reinforcements, Miss Wen. Secretary Xu and I will go to the back mountain first.”

Wen Zhi immediately said, “I’m coming too!”

Chen Jinhai shook his head, his tone grave, “No, Miss Wen. Now that Mr. Shang is not here, we need to ensure your safety.”

Wen Zhi pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

While Chen Jinhai turned to communicate and negotiate with the monks, Wen Zhi’s figure silently disappeared into the night.

Secretary Xu, with his sharp eyes, noticed Wen Zhi’s departure, but he did not stop her or utter a word. When Chen Jinhai finished negotiating and turned back to find Wen Zhi gone, he questioned why Secretary Xu hadn’t kept an eye on her; Secretary Xu, however, said nothing, his expression enigmatic.

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