Chapter 59: Lost Contact

Shi Ye brushed aside the stray hair on his forehead, sighing with some weariness, “It’s up to you. I’m fine with anything.”

Rong Shen’s eyes were deep as he curled his thin lips, settling the matter, “Let’s do things by the book. The details can be negotiated with my assistant.”

Shi Ye’s eyes lit up, readily agreeing, “No problem. It really was my driver’s carelessness this time. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime to make amends.”

So the female driver turned out to be Rong Jiu’s assistant.

Shi Ye pondered quietly, planning to have a good chat about life and ideals with the beautiful female assistant once Rong Jiu left.

That fleeting glance had left too deep an impression on him.

He wondered if they had met somewhere before.

Shi Ye’s calculations were ticking away, but alas, fate had other plans.

Soon, another business vehicle arrived unexpectedly.

When he saw Cheng Feng step out and stride toward him, he was completely thrown off.

This assistant was no female assistant!

Cheng Feng, returning as the official assistant, stepped forward to negotiate the details of the car repairs.

Accompanying him, Ling Qi smiled and invited Rong Shen and An Tong to sit in the business car, driving off with them.

Shi Ye, his fantasy shattered: “……” He felt he’d been played.

…

Inside the business car.

An Tong turned to glance at Rong Shen, weighing how to start the conversation.

The man sat by the window, the streetlights casting his handsome face half in shadow, making his expression hard to read.

“Dr. Rong, how was the matter settled in the end?”

Rong Shen looked back, his eyes softened by the dim light. “Cheng Feng will handle it.”

An Tong pursed her lips, wanting to salvage a bit of dignity, “It was really an accident today. I’m usually a very steady driver.”

As soon as the words fell, the car body suddenly lurched.

Ling Qi carefully steadied the steering wheel, stealing a glance at An Tong in the rearview mirror, who looked perfectly serious.

Madam, your understanding of ‘steady driving’ might differ from ours…

At that moment, Rong Shen glanced at the rearview mirror, turned to face An Tong, and smiled softly, “It was indeed an accident. Don’t worry about it.”

Still so gentlemanly and reassuring, he seemed afraid she’d overthink, and added in a low voice, “It was the other driver who lost focus. It had nothing to do with you.”

An Tong breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she had at least competed on racetracks before—how could she possibly get into an accident on a road with a forty-kilometer speed limit?

It must be entirely the other party’s fault.

Back at Cloud Summit, An Tong had intended to return directly to the manor, but Dr. Rong called her to the main house’s front hall.

The two entered, sitting down one after the other. Butler Li quickly brought them warm tea.

An Tong unfastened the horn-button of her coat, revealing a fitted beige dress underneath.

She quietly sipped her tea, and the man immediately asked, “Have you packed everything you need?”

“Almost.” An Tong wrapped her hands around the teacup for warmth, answering softly, “The packed boxes—Cheng Feng already took them, three in total.”

Rong Shen lowered his eyes, blowing gently on his tea, “We set off for Zhanzhou the day after tomorrow. Is there anyone you’d like to see before leaving?”

An Tong drifted for a moment, turning her face to the window. Her tone carried a hint of melancholy, “No.”

Perhaps sensing her words seemed unconvincing, her gaze flickered as she mentioned Su Ji, “I wanted to see Su Su, but she’s still in the hospital and doesn’t want me to know…”

Last week, Aunt Ji had begun chemotherapy, and Su Ji had stopped all work to stay at the hospital with her.

Dr. Rong had found out through inquiries and told her about this.

An Tong understood well the pain and distress of such circumstances, so she didn’t press further, only seeking other ways to help Su Ji.

“After chemotherapy, the donation center will prioritize her mother for stem cell transplantation.” The man unbuttoned his cuff as he spoke, eyes fixed on An Tong. “Her luck is quite good—an appropriate match has already been found, and the donor is willing.”

“Really?” An Tong’s eyes shone, delighted beyond measure.

Rong Shen nodded calmly, though his black eyes remained locked on her face.

He’d seen An Tong smile before, but never so radiant.

Usually, she smiled without showing her teeth, reserved and a bit forced.

Yet at this moment, the girl before him had her brows curved, her lips upturned in a smile that revealed eight neat, white teeth—like spring sunshine after a storm, dazzling and bright.

Rong Shen’s breath caught, his heart pounding fiercely.

In just a brief moment, he adjusted his breathing, his voice slightly hoarse as he replied, “I promised you, so I must keep my word.”

An Tong’s smile grew even brighter. “Dr. Rong, thank you.”

Dr. Rong was a man of his word, bound by honor.

An Tong knew well: for the donation center to find such a perfect match so quickly, he must have helped a great deal.

That night, An Tong made up her mind that if Dr. Rong ever needed her help in the future, she would be duty-bound to assist.

…

The next day, the temperature was low and the sky was gray with sleet.

Moving to Zhanzhou was imminent; before dawn, An Tong left the house with an umbrella.

Everyone at Cloud Summit was still deep in sleep. She didn’t drive, instead taking buses and the subway to the distant suburbs.

Time slipped by; soon it was four in the afternoon.

Ling Qi ran to the main house study, tentatively asking, “Boss, did Madam tell you where she was going? I haven’t been able to reach her all day—the phone’s out of service.”

“Can’t reach her?” Rong Shen raised his eyes, reclining on the sofa with an air of leisure.

Ling Qi nodded hurriedly, “Yes, Old Li checked the surveillance. Madam left before six—no one was awake then, not even me.”

She glanced at Cheng Feng, signaling him to speak.

Cheng Feng stepped forward awkwardly, “Maybe Madam went to see a friend. She’s an adult, she won’t go missing. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Ling Qi puffed her cheeks and glared at him, “What if something happened to her?”

Cheng Feng gave her a chilly look, “Then call the police.”

Ling Qi: “……” Encountered a useless teammate—failed to assist.

“She has good sense, won’t wander off.” The man crossed his legs, displaying a mature stability unique to his age. “If there’s no news before dark, you two can check her usual places.”

An Tong wasn’t a reckless girl; Rong Shen wasn’t unconcerned, but was certain she had her reasons for being unreachable.

…

At the same time, in the outskirts of Xiangjiang.

At the entrance of Dairui Temple on Beinan Mountain, An Tong’s eyes were red as she bid farewell to the monk, “You don’t need to see me off. I’ll come again in some time.”

The monk pressed his palms together, then drew a peace talisman from his robe. “Master Miaoqi asked me to give this to you, wishing you a safe journey and good health.”

An Tong received it, paid her respects, and turned to descend the mountain.

This temple on Beinan Mountain was not well-known, so few pilgrims visited and incense was rare.

The mountain path to the temple was old and treacherous, winding and muddy—a round trip required at least three hours on foot.

Her slender figure, holding a black silk umbrella, receded into the distance. The monk watched her go, bowed slightly, then returned to the temple.

A gust of wind swept through, flipping several pages of the donation register beside the merit box.

The last line, written in elegant script: donation of one million, donor An Xianghuai.

Inside the merit box lay a cheque of one million.

An Tong was a regular pilgrim at Dairui Temple, coming every three months and always donating in the name of An Xianghuai.

She had never missed a visit in three years.

…

At six-thirty in the evening, An Tong navigated buses back to the outskirts.

Her phone signal gradually returned.

She glanced at the time—several missed calls and WeChat messages popped up instantly.

Opening WeChat, she saw the pinned message first, from Dr. Rong.

Rong Jiu: When you see this, call me.

Sent half an hour ago.

Without checking anything else, An Tong immediately dialed his number.

The tone barely rang before the call was answered.

Her voice hoarse, An Tong spoke first, “Sorry, Dr. Rong, my phone had no signal. I just saw your message. Is there something urgent?”

(End of this chapter)