Back Then, I Adored You

Xiaowang was about to open the car door when he heard Qin Zhi’ai’s voice. Scanning right and left, he finally saw her and immediately dashed toward her direction.

With a look of surprise on his face, he asked, “Secretary Qin? Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to fly abroad at noon today?”

As he spoke, Xiaowang lifted his hand and glanced at the time. It was already 12:30 p.m. “Was the flight canceled?”

Qin Zhi’ai shook her head and before she could speak, Xiaowang noticed the redness in her eyes. “Secretary Qin, you’ve been crying? What happened?”

Her lips lifted into a weak smile. Ignoring Xiaowang’s line of questioning, she dove straight into the topic. “Where is Gu Yusheng? Is he in the room?”

“Secretary Qin, you’re looking for Master Gu?” After saying this, Xiaowang realized that Qin Zhi’ai had addressed him as “Gu Yusheng” instead of “Master Gu.” Throwing her an odd look, he proceeded to reply, “Master Gu left the hospital just a few minutes past noon, and he has yet to return…”

Not in the hospital? Qin Zhi’ai’s brows crinkled slightly.

Flashing Xiaowang a faint smile, she thanked him and left, ignoring Xiaowang calling after her and attempting to say more.

Flagging down a taxi, she hopped into the car and had the driver head toward Gu Yusheng’s company.

After the receptionist informed her that Gu Yusheng had not returned to the office that day, Qin Zhi’ai then took the taxi to Gu Yusheng’s villa. She rang the bell for some time, but there was no response.

When she was leaving his neighborhood, she stopped to check with the security guard. The guard thought for a moment before shaking his head and replying, “I haven’t seen Mr. Gu return today.”

He’s not at the hospital, not at his company, and not at home… Then where could he be?

Qin Zhi’ai thought hard and ultimately decided to head over to the Four Seasons Hotel, where Gu Yusheng was known to frequent because he rented a long-term room there.

Qin Zhi’ai knew the room number and quickly made her way there; however, just as she’d experienced at his villa, there was no response when she knocked on his door. A cleaner eventually passed by and volunteered that she had cleaned the room earlier and no one was living in it.

Xiaowang wasn’t with Gu Yusheng, so he couldn’t be out for business matters. Could he possibly be with Lu Bancheng?

As this thought crossed her mind, she fished out her phone but, before she connected with Lu Bancheng, it finally occurred to her that she hadn’t tried to call Gu Yusheng yet.

She quickly canceled her call to Lu Bancheng and called Gu Yusheng, but it rang for some time and no one answered.

Qin Zhi’ai’s brows furrowed together. Upon hanging up, she redialed Lu Bancheng. He picked up immediately, within one ring, and sounded as surprised as Xiaowang had when she ran into him.

“Xiao’ai? Aren’t you supposed to be on the plane?”

“Something… something came up and I was delayed…” Qin Zhi’ai explained briefly before cutting to the chase. “Brother Bancheng, are you with Gu Yusheng now?”

“Nope. Shouldn’t he be at the hospital now?”

“No… I called him but he didn’t pick up…”

“Do you have something urgent to discuss with him?”

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Zhi’ai replied, “Mm.”

Lu Bancheng did not question her any further. After pondering for some time, he named a few places that Gu Yusheng liked to visit when he was feeling down.