Yan Xi was seeing Mr. Yao's true face for the first time, yet he was such a ruthless person.
Yan Xi knew very well that Mr. Yao must have some unspeakable secret that he was afraid of being exposed, which was why he resorted to murder.
But what was this secret he was so afraid of?
Yan Xi desperately wanted to know, but she couldn't even protect herself. If only Fu Yan Ting were here; he would surely find a way to save her.
Yan Xi didn't understand why she always thought of Fu Yan Ting when she encountered problems, but she truly wished to see him now.
Yan Xi was locked in a secluded room in the Yao residence. There was no light, nothing. Yan Xi was trapped in utter darkness and dampness, a creeping sense of terror engulfing her.
Yan Xi curled up in a corner, hugging her shoulders for warmth.
Mr. Yao had never expected Yao Wan Qi to take a stranger to the backyard. In the past, when Yao Wan Qi was lucid, she used to visit the backyard and make wishes at the large tree. But ever since she became deranged, she had never gone back.
Mr. Yao thought Yao Wan Qi had forgotten that place, which was why he buried the voice recorder there.
As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest.
With so many people coming and going from the Yao residence daily, no one would ever suspect that Mr. Yao would bury his secret there.
But today, Mr. Yao never imagined that Yao Wan Qi would take Yan Xi to the backyard, and that Yan Xi would discover the voice recorder.
Mr. Yao had no idea what Yan Xi had heard.
He hadn't wanted to kill anyone, but fate willed it so.
"Sir, I've locked up Yan Xi as you instructed," a bodyguard entered, reporting respectfully while Mr. Yao was lost in thought.
"Pass this information to Yan Xiao. Let her tell Fu Yan Ting. That way, we can clear our names," Mr. Yao said indifferently, narrowing his eyes.
Although Yan Xiao hadn't lived at the Yao residence for long, Mr. Yao could tell she was a foolish person with no brains. With her involved, Fu Yan Ting would never suspect them, or if he did, it would be due to their relationship, not anything else.
Mr. Yao never anticipated that the daughter Yao Wan Qi had given birth to over twenty years ago could be useful in deflecting all suspicion.
This child wasn't entirely useless after all. Thinking this, Mr. Yao revealed a bloodthirsty smile.
In the hospital, Yan Xiao was in high spirits upon hearing about Yan Xi's predicament. Even with her wrist still bandaged, it didn't dampen her good mood.
Yan Xiao looked at Fu Yan Ting and said with a cold laugh, "Fu Yan Ting, I told you long ago, if you had stayed with me obediently, we would have let Yan Xi go. Now look, you've successfully angered my grandfather. Yan Xi is just waiting to die."
The moment Yan Xiao finished speaking, Fu Yan Ting stepped forward, grabbed her by the neck, and asked coldly, "What did you do to Xi Xi?"
"How would I know? If you really want to know, then go ask my grandfather."
"You will all regret this." Fu Yan Ting released Yan Xiao, his face full of disgust. He asked a nurse to get him alcohol to disinfect his hands, then took out his phone and dialed a number, giving a cold command, "You can proceed with what I instructed." He then left the room without looking back.
Yan Xiao had no idea what Fu Yan Ting was planning, but a sense of unease gnawed at her. She tried to reassure herself, telling herself not to be afraid. She had powerful backing now. She couldn't believe Fu Yan Ting would go against the Yao family for Yan Xi. He was a businessman, he knew how to secure his own interests, and besides, his marriage to Yan Xi was never voluntary. How could he do anything for Yan Xi? Thinking this, Yan Xiao felt a little more at ease, a slight smile gracing her lips.
Fu Yan Ting returned to the Yao residence. Mr. Yao was calm, as if nothing had happened. He greeted Fu Yan Ting as usual.
Fu Yan Ting was in no mood for pleasantries. He asked indifferently, "Where is Yan Xi?"
"Yan Ting, what do you mean by that? Miss Yan is a grown woman with hands and feet. She can go wherever she wants. Are we going to stop her?" Mr. Yao seemed displeased with Fu Yan Ting's attitude.
Fu Yan Ting frowned. Mr. Yao's words were not unreasonable, but thinking of Yan Xiao's words, a sense of unease settled in his heart. He had a feeling something had happened to Yan Xi.
Yao Wan Qi, who had been eavesdropping outside, emerged stealthily after Fu Yan Ting left Mr. Yao's room. She grabbed Fu Yan Ting and pulled him aside. Fu Yan Ting could have dodged, but he didn't, and went with Yao Wan Qi to a corner.
Yao Wan Qi cried, "Bad man, save my sister. They took her away. They are all bad people."
Fu Yan Ting knew Yao Wan Qi was deranged. She didn't know Yan Xi's name, so her "sister" must refer to Yan Xi. From Yan Xiao's words, Fu Yan Ting had already realized things were not simple. Now, hearing Yao Wan Qi say this, he was even more convinced that Yan Xi hadn't left the Yao residence but had been captured by Mr. Yao.
Fu Yan Ting dared not speak too loudly, fearing he would scare Yao Wan Qi into silence. He patiently coaxed her, "Do you know where they took your sister?"
Yao Wan Qi nodded vigorously, but then, as if remembering something, she looked panicked and quickly shook her head. Fu Yan Ting knew Yao Wan Qi actually knew, but she was unwilling or afraid to tell him.
As Fu Yan Ting was talking to Yao Wan Qi, Mr. Yao emerged from the room. The bodyguards stepped forward to attend to him. Mr. Yao asked coldly, "Have you found Miss?" The bodyguards shook their heads. Mr. Yao, enraged, cursed, "A bunch of useless fools! You can't even find a madwoman. What good are you?"
"Sir, Miss is not of sound mind. Regarding the matter of us taking Miss Yan, she surely doesn't understand what's happening. Even if she did, no normal person would believe the words of a madwoman." Mr. Yao frowned. He also felt he was overthinking things. How could Fu Yan Ting believe a madwoman? He was too anxious and had become overly worried.
"What about Yan Xiao?" Mr. Yao asked indifferently.
Yao Wan Qi stood there, unsteady, almost falling. Although Fu Yan Ting quickly caught her, they still made a noise, alerting Mr. Yao.