Chapter 551: 554: Fear

Qiao Zui couldn’t bear to look and took Xiao Shumiao from Gu Chi into his arms, “Don’t worry, little cousin, don’t be afraid. See, didn’t Daddy bring Mummy back? Come on, cousin will take you to wash your face. By the time you’ve washed up, Mummy will be awake.”

Ye Xingbei’s face was covered by Gu Junzhu’s clothes, Xiao Shumiao couldn’t see it.

But since Daddy and big cousin both said Mummy was sleeping, he sort of believed it.

Mummy and Liao Qing left the hotel at noon.

They didn’t return even after waiting for over twenty minutes.

Xueno and Yu Nuo knew Liao Qing.

They didn’t suspect Liao Qing or any of the Ye family members would harm Ye Xingbei, they just thought Ye Xingbei had been talking with Ye Wuwei and Ye Zhitong for a long time, which was why she hadn’t come back yet.

The Gu family bodyguards didn’t know Liao Qing well and their trust in him was limited.

As Ye Xingbei didn’t return, they became worried. They dialed Ye Xingbei’s mobile number to check on her safety.

Ye Xingbei’s phone was turned off.

Feeling uneasy, they rushed upstairs to search for her.

They found Liao Qing.

Liao Qing, looking surprised, told them Ye Xingbei had chatted with the Ye couple and had left their room after only a few minutes.

Upon calculating, Ye Xingbei had been away for over ten minutes.

The two bodyguards rushed to check the hotel’s surveillance footage, only to find the cameras were broken.

Their sense of unease deepened, and they promptly called Gu Junzhu to report.

Despite their frantic searching upstairs and downstairs, the two bodyguards couldn’t find Ye Xingbei for over ten minutes, frightening Xiao Shumiao. His tears fell like a broken string of pearls.

Even though the bodyguards kept the news of Ye Xingbei’s disappearance from him and Lingyue, claiming she was away on business, he knew that his mother was lost.

Ever since he became aware of his surroundings, his mother had often told him, “Baby, stay close to mother when we go out. Don’t get caught by kidnappers. If you get lost, your mother won’t be able to live.”

He was not lost, but his mother was. He felt like he couldn’t go on without her.

He wandered aimlessly, crying and calling for his mother.

Lingyue followed him, keeping him company no matter where he ran off to.

Fearing for their safety, Xueno and Yu Nuo followed them.

He failed to find his mother despite searching the entire hotel.

Later, he was taken back to the manor by someone his father sent.

The manor was still as beautiful as ever, but he no longer liked it.

All he wanted was his mother.

Over the phone, his father told him that he would bring his mother back.

So he sat at the door and waited.

Indeed, his father didn’t lie to him. Daddy brought Mummy back.

When Qiao Zui wanted to take him to wash his face, he refused, struggling to get down and followed Gu Junzhu. He stopped crying and shouting, obediently followed Gu Junzhu into the bedroom.

Gu Junzhu scornfully glanced at the sheet covering Ye Xingbei under his clothes, and turned back to Xiao Shumiao, “Darling, wait here. Daddy’s going to give Mummy a bath.”

Tears welled up in Xiao Shumiao’s eyes, as he nodded eagerly.

Mummy could still take a bath, which means Mummy was still alive.

He nodded in agreement, “Daddy, take your time washing Mummy. Xiao Shu will be good.”

“Good boy!” Gu Junzhu coaxed him, took Ye Xingbei into the bathroom and locked the door.

Stripping the sheet and gauze from Ye Xingbei, a dozen of reddish whip marks crisscrossed her fair skin were exposed.

Gu Junzhu held Ye Xingbei’s hands tightly, his eyes were filled with an intensified chilling look.