Chapter 33: Missing

Chapter 33: Disappearance

Qin Yan and Su Zhiyu wove through the bustling banquet hall. With his exceptional eloquence and his status as the Second Young Master of the Qin family, he became the center of attention for everyone in the hall.

Most people were willing to engage him in conversation.

But every time they chatted, the conversation would inevitably drift, always finding a way to circle back to Su Zhiyu.

It was impossible not to notice this quiet, aloof young man.

He was at an age when most were brash and reckless, yet he stood like a solitary iceberg amid the clamor.

His youthful face held an extraordinary poise and gravitas, and his every move seemed to carry the natural air of someone born to lead.

Especially those eyes, deep as a still pool—when his gaze swept over calmly, it always held a depth that belied his age.

When he did speak, he often hit the nail on the head, cutting straight to the core.

Yet another executive found himself unable to look at this exceptional young man without a newfound respect.

After working the room, Su Zhiyu had been introduced to numerous business bigwigs by Qin Yan—people he'd never normally get to meet.

Today—today alone, he'd seen so many at once. Maybe his big break was finally getting closer.

Su Zhiyu was a little happy, and he couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Watching the charming, rakish Qin Yan beside him, it felt like some corner of his heart was quietly caving in and falling.

"Qin Yan."

Su Zhiyu called out softly.

Qin Yan turned to look at him, one eyebrow arched in slight confusion: "Hm? What's wrong?"

"Thank you."

Thank you for bringing me into this glittering world, and thank you for unintentionally giving me a precious opportunity to change my life.

Whether you realize it or not.

Qin Yan seemed confused by the sudden remark, his brows furrowing: "What's with the sudden thanks? Hooked on me dragging you around? You got a kink for that?"

"..."

He should've known better than to change his opinion of someone like Qin Yan!

Su Zhiyu pressed his lips together, said nothing, and quickened his pace. Qin Yan watched him from behind, a smirk playing on his lips, and only once Su Zhiyu was a few meters ahead did he quicken his pace to catch up.

Bang.

Someone came running from Su Zhiyu's side, clutching their stomach, and slammed right into him. The red wine he was carrying splashed all over him, instantly staining the white suit a deep red.

The guy who ran into him looked like he was only in his early twenties, sweat pouring down his forehead as he apologized over and over: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I have a stomachache, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry..."

Su Zhiyu looked down at his suit. He didn't care about it himself, but this suit was provided by the Qin family.

He instinctively looked back at Qin Yan, who had just witnessed the whole thing from behind.

The guy who'd bumped into him really did seem to be in agonizing stomach pain—his face bright red, one hand clutching his stomach, legs squeezed together, and now his other hand reaching back to cover his ass, with big beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I, I'll compensate you when I come out later. I need to go to the bathroom first, going to the bathroom first."

After stammering that out, the guy didn't even wait for a reply before scurrying off toward the bathroom in a weird, stilted gait.

"..."

Su Zhiyu tugged at his clothes in resignation: "Sorry, I got the clothes Mr. Qin had prepared dirty. I'll pay for them."

"It's just clothes."

Qin Yan stared at the big wine stain on his chest and flagged down a server: "Go get a spare set of clothes and take this gentleman to change."

"Certainly, please follow me."

It's probably soaked through underneath too.

Qin Yan didn't trust Su Zhiyu to go alone, so he followed along.

Su Zhiyu looked at him, taken aback: "You—you don't need to come. I'm not gonna run off."

Since when was this about running off?

Qin Yan clicked his tongue in annoyance: "Cut the crap. I'm doing this because I want to, and I'm afraid you'll slip away. You're changing right under my nose."

"No need."

"I said it's needed, so it's needed. You're not allowed out of my sight for even a second. Cut the crap and hurry up—keep stalling and the clothes'll be dry by the time you change."

If he caught a cold, he'd be laid up for days again.

Su Zhiyu had no choice but to give in. Whatever.

Last time he'd seen Qin Yan change; this time he'd just consider it even.

The two followed the server to a guest room: "This is an empty room with spare clean clothes inside. I'll go attend to my duties now."

"Alright, thank you."

Su Zhiyu stepped forward, with Qin Yan following unhurriedly behind, until he turned the doorknob.

"Qin Yan." Su Zhiyu still couldn't get past that hurdle in his mind. He mustered his courage and looked at Qin Yan. "Can you wait outside for me? I promise I'll be quick."

Qin Yan was about to say no, but his mind had just automatically conjured up an image of Su Zhiyu's bare body, and it nearly made his legs buckle on the spot.

"Mm, fine."

He rubbed his nose, avoiding Su Zhiyu's eyes, and idly kicked at the ground—childish and baffling behavior.

Su Zhiyu breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the door open, going inside.

"Three minutes, that's it!"

Qin Yan called out after him.

No response came from inside—either he hadn't heard, or the guy just didn't want to answer.

Qin Yan leaned against the wall and started counting down the seconds.

"177, 178, 179, 180."

Time's up already.

Qin Yan immediately straightened up, glanced at the door—still nothing—then stepped up and knocked. "Su Zhiyu, are you done yet?"

Still nothing from inside.

"?"

"Su Zhiyu?"

Still nothing.

Still not done?

Qin Yan gritted his teeth and started counting again. When he finished counting another 180 seconds, Su Zhiyu still hadn't come out.

"Su Zhiyu!"

Qin Yan pounded on the door heavily. The door didn't budge, and there wasn't a sound from inside.

His face changed, and panic suddenly gripped him. "Su Zhiyu, if you don't answer me, I'm kicking this door down!"

"..."

Still no answer.

The unease in Qin Yan's chest grew stronger. He gritted his teeth, backed up a few steps, charged, and kicked the door open with everything he had.

The wooden door swung open with a creak. Qin Yan shoved it all the way open and stepped in. The room was indeed an ordinary lounge—a bed, a table, and a full-length mirror.

Beside the mirror stood a clothing rack, and hanging on it was Su Zhiyu's soaked suit jacket.

Red liquid dripped slowly from it, hitting the floor with an eerie sound in the silence. The guy who should've been standing here changing was nowhere to be seen.

"Su Zhiyu! Su Zhiyu? Su Zhiyu?"

Qin Yan's shouts got louder each time, but the hollow echoes only told him one thing—in this room... he was alone.

Where was Su Zhiyu?

He'd walked in right under his nose. In the time it took to change, how could a whole person just vanish?

Qin Yan was breathing ragged, desperate. Like a headless chicken, he tore through the room, frantically turning over every corner with rough, reckless movements.

Nothing.

Still nothing.

Where the hell is he?

"Fuck. Goddamn it."

Qin Yan cursed in frustration and viciously kicked the table over.

The table flipped over and crashed to the ground.

Then, suddenly, Qin Yan's eyes locked onto something. He stared hard in one direction, stomped down to snap off a table leg, then picked up two broken pieces, gripping them tight.