Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Following Gu Yushengâs order, Xiaowang got a cup of ginger tea from the kitchen for Qin Zhiâai.
Xiaowang had not seen her in the banquet hall so, assuming she was still in the lounge, he headed straight to the second floor.
He knocked on the lounge door several times, but no one answered so he returned to the first floor.
The crowd had mostly dispersed from the banquet hall, so coming out of the elevator Xiaowang immediately saw Lu Bancheng and Xu Wennuan sitting at the table in the middle of the third row looking at their respective phones.
Xiaowang easily made his way over to them. Xu Wennuan was playing games, while Lu Bancheng was watching a video.
âHello, Mr. Lu.â Xiaowang greeted Lu Bancheng first and then turned to Xu Wennuan. âExcuse me, Miss Xu. Have you seen Secretary Qin?â
âXiaoâai? She went to the bathroom.â Xu Wennuan continued playing her game.
âOh.â Xiaowang bent down slightly, put the ginger tea on the table next to Xu Wennuan, and said, âWhen Secretary Qin comes back, please tell her that Master Gu asked me to get this for her. Thank you, Miss Xu.â
âOkay,â Xu Wennuan answered. At that moment, she was killed in the game. She pouted and then tossed her phone on the table. She turned to look at Qin Zhiâaiâs seat beside her and frowned. âHey, Xiaoâai hasnât come back yet? How long has it been?â
Lu Bancheng took his eyes off his video and glanced at his phone. âAbout ten minutes.â
âTen minutes? Whatâs taking her so long?â Xu Wennuan stood up and said, âIâm going to the bathroom. Iâll see if sheâs still there.â
When she got there, Xu Wennuan looked around the entire bathroom but didnât find Qin Zhiâai. Assuming Qin Zhiâai had already left and returned to their table, she didnât think too much about it. She used the bathroom and then returned to their table in the hall.
When she returned, Lu Bancheng and Xiaowang were still sitting at table as sheâd left them. Noting her hands were still wet from washing them, she muttered something and found a tissue in her purse to dry them. As she wiped her hands, she said down asking, âXiaoâaiâs not back yet?â
âYou didnât see her?â Lu Bancheng put down his phone and turned to look at Xu Wennuan, with his eyes expressing concern.
âShe wasnât in the bathroom, so I thought sheâd already gotten back.â Xu Wennuan then suddenly realized what Lu Bancheng was thinking. âSo, you mean, Xiaoâai hasnât gotten back yet?â
âYeah.â Lu Bancheng nodded calmly.
âWhere is that girl! She wouldnât leave without telling us, would she?â Xu Wennuan pulled out her phone and called Qin Zhiâai.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Xu Wennuan heard a pleasant ringing, which made her frown. She turned toward where the sound was coming from and finally noticed Qin Zhiâaiâs phone on the table. âHer bag and phone are still here, so she couldnât have just left. But sheâs definitely not in the bathroom...â
Lu Bancheng then asked, âMaybe sheâs in the second-floor lounge?â
âSecretary Qin? I just got back from the lounge. She isnât there.â Xiaowang said quickly.
Lu Bancheng became immediately serious. âShe isnât there?â