Tong Yang stood there in a daze, her face filled with shock.
“… Huh?”
“Who?”
“Who did you say would be scared?”
“No, who’s scared?”
“Wait, what? In my brother’s mind, is big sis this delicate little flower?”
“That doesn’t make sense!”
“Hiss… his first reaction is this?”
Tong Le walked up to her, lowering his eyes to examine her expression. He asked, “Sis, is he still alive?”
Tong Yang opened her mouth, “You… you’re not scared?”
Tong Le shook his head and then asked again, “Sis, are you hurt?”
“No.”
Tong Le immediately let out a sigh of relief, “Then we should call the police. He trespassed on private property; that’s his fault.”
Tong Yang was at a loss. She hadn’t expected such a reaction from Tong Le. She had thought she’d protected him well, never letting him see anything bad. Where had she gone wrong? Could it be after they were brought into the parallel world? But after that, Tong Le hadn’t shown any unusual behavior. She thought he hadn’t seen those terrifying things!
“Look at his leg,” Tong Yang muttered.
Following her words, Tong Le turned his head to look at the lower half of the man’s body, discovering that it was disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Sis! Is he a ghost?!” Tong Le exclaimed.
“Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter! The brother’s reaction is so cute.”
“Looks like in his heart, our Tong sis doesn’t have a good image.”
“Isn’t that obvious? He just witnessed a murder scene and stayed so calm. Not even curious how his sis took down two strong guys?”
“What now, sis?”
Tong Yang’s expression was complicated as she asked, “Are you really not scared at all?”
“As long as you’re not hurt, sis.”
Tong Yang silently stared at him for a few seconds, then stood up and pulled him back to the living room, closing the door behind them.
“Don’t worry about him for now. I’m hanging up.”
She said this in two parts: first, to Tong Le, and the second half to the members of the gossip group she’d been on a video call with. She walked to the corner, bent down, and picked up her phone to end the call.
“Sis, who were you talking to?”
“Just some friends,” Tong Yang said casually, then took him with her back to her bedroom.
“Why don’t you sleep with me tonight? Are you sleepy? We can chat,” Tong Yang offered.
Tong Le’s eyes lit up, as if afraid she would change her mind. He immediately jumped into bed, lifting the covers and lying down. Shaking his head, he said, “I’m not sleepy!”
It seemed he wasn’t bothered at all by what had just happened.
Tong Yang nodded and turned on the small lamp she’d bought earlier in the day, leaning half against the bed’s headboard.
Initially, she hadn’t intended to let him know about these things. Ideally, she wanted Tong Le to be like an ordinary kid, just studying and playing. But now she was hesitating. If she didn’t tell him the truth, would he be more likely to fall into a trap? But if she told him, what if he became scared and anxious? She didn’t want him to feel uneasy about life.
However, it now seemed like she had underestimated Tong Le. Even though he was young, he wasn’t as fragile as she thought.
“That man just now, and the other me that you saw before, they both came from a parallel world.”
“Parallel world?”
“You can think of it like a mirror. We’re on the outside, and they’re inside. But now, they want to come out of the mirror and replace the people looking into it. Do you understand what I mean?”
What Tong Yang said wasn’t hard to grasp, and Tong Le nodded.
“They have a lot of hostility toward us, and they look no different from people in the real world, so they’re hard to distinguish. For various reasons, they will gather around me. The reason I want to keep you with me is that I think you’ll be safer that way.”
Tong Le nervously grabbed her fingers, “Sis, will you be okay? Let’s call the police! Let the police uncles help you!”
Tong Yang chuckled, “You saw it yourself, right? I’m pretty capable, so I’ll be fine. I’ve already told the police, but they think I’m crazy and told me to see a psychiatrist. Only one person was willing to believe me, so I need to gather more evidence and clues before I report it again. Otherwise, I might be treated like a lunatic or a murderer and thrown in jail.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, sis,” Tong Le said glumly.
Tong Yang rubbed his head, “Don’t worry, I won’t get hurt easily. But in the future, you might also encounter danger, so you need to be cautious. Don’t trust people too easily. If someone you know starts acting strange, leave immediately and call me. Try to stay in crowded places.”
Tong Yang paused for a moment and continued, “And if you ever face real danger, no matter what, you must prioritize protecting your own life, understand?”
Tong Le nodded, “I understand, sis.”
“If someone like me shows up again…”
“Sis, I can already tell if it’s not you. I won’t follow her again.”
Tong Yang couldn’t help but laugh as she looked at his determined expression.
“In a few days, I’ll head to the capital first. You stay with Aunt Yang and behave. You’ll come over during the summer break with everyone else. I’ll go ahead and check things out. If you miss me, call me, and don’t forget to charge your watch.”
“Okay! Got it! Sis, make sure to take care of yourself! I’ll call you every night!”
“Alright, now sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the amusement park.”
“Mm…” Tong Le yawned and slowly closed his eyes, looking completely unaffected by the earlier events.
On Sunday, Tong Yang took him to the amusement park. After dinner in the evening, they returned home, and Tong Yang urged him to take a bath while she went to his room to pack up his things.
She had already made arrangements with Yang Lin’s mom to send Tong Le over tonight.
Tong Yang packed some of his favorite clothes and books. When she left the old district, she’d likely only take these things with her.
As for the furniture and appliances in the house, since the place would no longer be theirs after the demolition, most of the items were old and didn’t need to be taken. Even if she wanted to take them, there was no space, so she would sell what could be sold, give what couldn’t be sold to the old granny downstairs, or just throw it away.
When Tong Le finished his bath and came out, Tong Yang had almost finished packing up his room.
“Can’t I leave tomorrow, sis?” Tong Le pouted.
“No time tomorrow. Go with Linlin,” Tong Yang replied.
Before long, Yang Lin’s mom arrived with Yang Lin and Chu Shiyu at Dongyang Community.
Seeing the single suitcase and two boxes of items Tong Yang had packed for Tong Le, Chu Shiyu was surprised, “Lele’s only got this much stuff? I was going to help pack.”
“Missy, you already know my situation. It’s parasite level.”
Chu Shiyu’s face stiffened, glancing at her little aunt’s sharp gaze. She muttered softly, “I never said you were.”
“It’s fine. Lin’s mom has already prepared everything Lele needs,” Yang Lin raised his head, “Tong Yang sis, come stay at our place tonight.”
Tong Yang shook her head, “Thanks, but I need to finish packing the rest of the stuff tonight.”
Yang Lin’s mom asked, “Will you be alright on your own? Let Shiyu stay and help you. I heard Shiyu made it into the province’s top ten thanks to you. Her parents are very grateful.”
“Auntie, it had nothing to do with me. Chu Shiyu’s grades were already excellent,” Tong Yang said, bowing slightly as she held onto Tong Le, “Auntie, I’ll be relying on you to take care of Tong Le for a while.”
Initially, Chu Shiyu planned to leave with her, but for safety reasons and to prevent similar incidents from happening again, they had agreed she would stay in the old district for now, keeping an eye on the two kids.
After seeing them off, Tong Yang returned home alone and continued tidying up the room.
She packed up everything she didn’t need and planned to throw it away tomorrow. By the time she was done cleaning, it was already ten at night. Gazing at the now-empty, clean room, Tong Yang couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed.
Once she left this place, she didn’t plan to return, so she had no choice but to make enough money to find a new place to settle down.
After a quick shower before the power cut, Tong Yang fell asleep, exhausted.
The next day, Tong Yang threw away everything unnecessary, calling a scrap collector to sell off the rest.
That evening, she took the little luggage she had left and caught a ride to Yaocang City, then took the subway to Yaocang Airport.
Her flight was scheduled for two a.m. on Tuesday. Even though it was her first time flying, she had prepared thoroughly before setting out, so no unexpected situations occurred. After passing through security, she entered the waiting area.
Despite the early morning hour, the airport was still crowded.
Dragging her old suitcase, Tong Yang found a random seat and checked the message Tong Le had sent her not long ago, reminding her to check in with him after his dorm inspection.
Tong Yang replied with a simple “Okay.”
She grabbed a quick bite on the plane, and by the time she retrieved her luggage at the capital’s airport, it was nearly 6:30 a.m.
The morning temperature was low, so she put on her black jacket, pulled her baseball cap down, and followed the other passengers out of the terminal.
She was taller than the average girl, dressed entirely in black, making her stand out in the crowd. People kept glancing at her curiously.
It was her first time in the bustling city, walking through the bright and spacious capital airport. The other passengers were dressed in elegant, stylish clothes, but Tong Yang felt no discomfort, remaining someone who easily caught the eye, despite not caring about that at all.
In the distance, she saw a few people holding signs with her name written on them. She lifted her head slightly, realizing they must be the teachers sent to pick her up.
“Where is she? Why hasn’t she come out yet?”
“Maybe she can’t find the exit? This is her first time traveling far, and she’s alone.”
“I hope she didn’t get lost. I should’ve gone to Yaocang to pick her up!”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go? She didn’t let you! Now the deans are all eager to snatch her up! With her grades, she could go to any college she wants, and they’re all waiting for her to choose a major.”
“Thank goodness we got her! If she’d gone to Tsinghua, the principal and professors would’ve cursed me to death!”
“Exactly! We got her and a potential future star! Last year, Tsinghua stole one, and they had the nerve to rub it in our faces. This year, we’ve finally gotten the upper hand!”
…
As they were chatting, a man and a woman suddenly felt someone tapping on their shoulders from behind. They turned around, puzzled.
Standing behind them was a tall girl in a black trench coat, wearing a baseball cap. She lifted her head slightly, revealing a pale cheek as she asked, “Are you here to pick me up?”
They shook their heads instinctively, “No, we’re waiting for someone else.”
The girl looked confused, “You’re not here for Tong Yang?”
The two teachers exchanged glances, then widened their eyes in shock, exclaiming in unison, “You’re Tong Yang?!”
Tong Yang was speechless. She took off her cap and ran a hand through her messy hair, “Do I look that different from my picture?”
The two teachers were stunned. Different? That was an understatement. In the photo, she looked like an innocent, harmless girl. They’d even discussed how to make her feel comfortable and not restricted!
But now? Seeing Tong Yang in person, they realized she was nothing like the bookish girl they’d imagined. Although her face was the same, if not more beautiful, she didn’t exude a “good girl” vibe at all. In fact, there was a hint of indifference in her eyes, as if nothing fazed her.
And there was none of the unease or awkwardness they’d expected from her. On the contrary, she carried herself with calm composure.
“Oh, oh… You were wearing a cap, so we didn’t recognize you.”
Tong Yang nodded, “Let’s go then.”
“Oh… right.”
They took her to the parking lot and got into the car. The female teacher sat in the back with her and asked how she was feeling today.
Tong Yang replied that she felt a bit cold.
The teacher then asked if she was hungry, but Tong Yang said she wasn’t.
The airport wasn’t close to the school, and the trip would take about an hour and a half. After a bit of small talk, the teacher suggested she rest for a while.
When they arrived near the school, they brought her to a hotel where a room had already been booked.
Since the dorm wasn’t ready yet, she would be staying there temporarily, with the school covering the cost.
“Tong Yang, you must be tired after the trip. Get some rest first. When you wake up, give me a call. I’m just at the school, ten minutes away. I’ll take you out for a meal and show you around the campus,” the female teacher said as she dropped Tong Yang off at her room.
“Thank you. I got it.”
After seeing off the teacher, Tong Yang entered the room alone and locked the door from the inside.
She sent a message to Tong Le and Aunt Yang to let them know she was safe, then took a shower.
By the time she got out, Aunt Yang had already replied, telling her to stay safe and suggesting that she check in on Yang Lin and Chu Shiyu’s grandma if she had time.
Tong Yang responded with a “Okay.” Aunt Yang seemed to really like her and Tong Le, always showing great concern for their well-being. Although she didn’t know why Tong Yang had come to school early, she still mentioned her to Grandma Yang, asking her to keep an eye on her.
Tong Yang hadn’t told them the real reason for coming early. Since Tong Le might be coming over later, she needed to understand the situation here first. Moreover, she was worried that if she stayed in the old district any longer, more incidents might occur.
After all, all the sudden changes in the old district were somehow connected to her. She also wanted to check if there had been any incidents related to the parallel world in the capital.
After drying her hair, Tong Yang slept soundly, even in the unfamiliar setting. She woke up refreshed around 2 p.m.
Afterward, Teacher Tan took her to the school cafeteria for a meal, and they strolled around the campus.
Beijing University’s campus was much larger than she had imagined, with grand buildings exuding a strong academic atmosphere.
The school hadn’t yet gone on summer break, so there were still students hurrying between the teaching buildings. Some walked briskly, while others, including quite a few foreign students with blonde hair and blue eyes, chatted animatedly with their peers.
To be honest, it was much better than Tong Yang had expected.
Compared to the intense academic atmosphere of middle and high school, university seemed freer and more interesting.
“How is it, Tong Yang? The campus is nice, isn’t it? Should we go check out the dorms? Although the rooms are shared by four, they have private bathrooms. If you continue with a combined bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program, you can apply for a single room in your second year. Normally, only PhD students get single rooms,” Teacher Tan explained.
“Thanks, this place is great. No need to visit the dorms. You can go ahead and get busy, Teacher Tan. I’ll just wander around and head back to the hotel later.”
Teacher Tan didn’t insist, as she had already received several phone calls during their time together, “Alright then, but make sure to reach out if you have any problems!”
“I will.”
“For the next few days, stay at the hotel. There are some nice restaurants around. You’ll be able to move into the dorms in a few days.”
“Thank you.”
After saying goodbye to the teacher, Tong Yang wandered around the campus a bit more, taking some photos to send to Tong Le. After some thought, she sent them to Chu Shiyu as well.
[Have you arrived? How does it feel?]
[It’s alright. The cafeteria food is good.]
[So jealous! When they go on break, I’ll bring them over early.]
[I heard from Linlin that your brother’s been feeling down at school these days. It’s his first time being away from you, so stay in touch with him.]
Chu Shiyu sent a long reply, and Tong Yang simply responded before ending the conversation.
She had already told Tong Le about not being able to return to Dongyang Community, and while he hadn’t shown much reaction, his bad mood was probably just from not being used to it. She’d have to call him tonight.
Not wanting to wander around campus for too long, Tong Yang returned to the hotel. On the way, she checked with the gossip group to see if there had been any strange occurrences in the capital recently.
[Sis Tong, you won’t believe this, but something did happen!]
[On July 8th, a wealthy man’s youngest son mysteriously disappeared in a place full of surveillance cameras. He vanished into thin air, and no matter how much the police searched, they couldn’t find any clues. The wealthy guy has offered a reward of millions for any leads, but so far, no one’s found him. His status is unknown.]
[What?]
[How much is the reward?]
[Here! 17 million!]
[Apparently, the wealthy family only has two sons. The eldest has a heart condition, so they put a lot of emphasis on grooming the younger son. And then the younger son disappeared just like that.]
[That’s not all! The reward has gone up to over 100 million later on! They’re willing to pay for any leads.]
[What?? Over 100 million? I’ll never make that much in my life!]
[Hey, check out the details about this rich guy.]
[Tong Sis has an idea?]
[Are we going to make some serious cash?]
[If the youngest son is in the parallel world, what are the chances of finding him?]
[Tong Sis, don’t be rash. It’s a lot of money, but…]
[(Rubbing hands) 17 million! And if we wait, it’ll turn into 100 million! Wow! Instant wealth!]
[We can’t wait too long, and it’s unclear if the youngest son was pulled into the parallel world. With a family like theirs, they’re bound to have plenty of enemies.]
[It’s July 2nd here. We still have five days before the youngest son disappears. Even if he’s kidnapped by enemies, there’s a chance to change things.]
[So, what’s your plan?]
[Are you going to warn the wealthy guy that his son’s in danger?]
[Do you think he’ll believe you? He might think you’re the criminal.]
[Good point. Tong Sis, you might want to think this over.]
Tong Yang thought for a moment and replied: [I’ll check out the situation first. What’s the rich guy’s name?]
She didn’t have much to do in the next couple of days anyway. Initially, she had planned to observe the situation ahead of time, and now it seemed something truly significant had happened.
17 million… Even if she had to split it in half, if she could get that money, she and Tong Le wouldn’t have to worry about living expenses for the foreseeable future.
[Ye Tianlin, chairman of Baima Group, with a net worth in the billions.]
[They say he and his wife are a perfect match, both coming from wealthy families. The eldest son has a heart condition but receives top-tier medical care, so it’s not life-threatening. The youngest son excels academically and has shown impressive business talent from a young age.]
[Both Ye Tianlin and his wife are very attractive.]
[Sigh, what a tragedy. Two sons: one with a serious illness and the other missing. How unfortunate.]
[Where do they live?]
[???]
[What are you planning, Tong Sis?]
[Don’t do anything rash!]
[I’m just going to check for anything unusual around their area.]
[Be cautious. They definitely have professional security, and as long as they have gun licenses, they can legally carry firearms!]
[But you need to find a way to get your message to them.]
[True. Normally, there’s no way Tong Sis could get a meeting with them.]
[So what now? You can’t find their address online, and even if you could, they probably live in a highly secured neighborhood where even food deliveries need special access.]
[Wait! Isn’t the youngest son’s school public info?]
[Yeah, yeah! He disappeared from school!]
After a minute, they sent her the address: Hailin International School in Shuangbo District, the capital.
Tong Yang copied the address and searched it online. It was a famous international school in the capital, where many aristocratic families from both China and abroad sent their children. The annual tuition was nearly 300,000 yuan, and the parents had to meet special requirements, including owning a property worth at least 10 million within the city’s second ring, to prove they could afford to send their children to this school.
Staring at the astronomical numbers on the screen, Tong Yang was speechless. 300,000 yuan a year in tuition? And a 10-million-yuan home requirement? Clearly, the world of the rich was completely different from theirs.
Given the high tuition, the school must have strict supervision. If the Ye family’s youngest son had disappeared under such conditions, without being caught on surveillance, there were only two possibilities: either the culprit could walk through walls, or the boy had been pulled into the parallel world.
It didn’t take much thought to conclude that the Ye family’s youngest son had most likely entered the parallel world.
[I’ll scout things out first, then get in touch.]
For the sake of the money, Tong Yang had to check it out. Besides, those things might target her at any moment, and she didn’t want to sit back and wait. The only option was to strike first.
Since the number of them entering the real world was still limited, she planned to kill them off one by one.
Seeing that the trip would take about an hour by subway, Tong Yang decided to take action tomorrow.
The timing seemed right, as Tong Le would be done with his fourth class of the day. Tong Yang dialed his number.
The phone rang for a few seconds before it was answered, and a cheerful voice came through, “Sis!”
Tong Yang leaned back on the bed, her voice naturally softening, “Finished with school?”
“Mm! I’m in the hallway now, heading to the cafeteria for dinner!”
The background noise was loud, likely because class had just ended.
“You’re by yourself?”
“No, I’m with Yang Lin.”
Then Yang Lin’s voice came through, “Hello, Sister Tong Yang. We’re heading to the cafeteria now.”
“And what about you, sis? What’s for dinner?” Tong Le asked.
“Not sure. I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”
“Alright. What are you doing now?”
“Just lying in bed.”
“In the school dorm?”
“No, in a nearby hotel.”
“What are you going to do next?”
“I don’t know. Maybe wander around?”
Hearing this, Tong Le couldn’t help but complain, “Why’d you go early then? School doesn’t start until September.”
“Wanted to get used to it early and maybe find some money-making opportunities. I heard the capital’s streets are paved with gold. Who knows, I might pick up a couple.”
Tong Le laughed at that. No matter what, he knew his sister had her reasons for doing things.
“Sis, I dreamed about you last night.”
“What did you dream?”
“I dreamed that you didn’t eat properly and got really sick.”
“What should I do?”
“You need to eat well! Even dinner! Don’t worry about not having money. I can earn some!”
“Alright, I’ll eat well. Go eat now.”
“Okay… Bye, sis.”
“Bye, Sister Tong Yang!” Yang Lin added.
After hanging up, Tong Yang went downstairs and bought a cup of instant noodles to fill her stomach.
The next day, Wednesday, during school hours.
After breakfast, Tong Yang set out, planning to visit Hailin International School to see what she could find.
As always, she was up early, and by the time she reached the subway station, it was just 7 a.m. Despite the early hour, the station was already filled with people rushing to work.
As she waited for the train, she checked the photo of the Ye family’s youngest son that the gossip group had sent her. He was a boy with thick eyebrows and large eyes, looking a bit younger than Tong Le, probably around five or six, in the first grade.
Arriving at the school gate around his drop-off time might give her a chance to see him.
When the train arrived, a small crowd of seven or eight people had gathered behind her, and they all moved together into the car. There were no empty seats, so she found a place to stand.
Luckily, there were no transfers needed. After an hour or so, Tong Yang arrived at the subway station closest to Hailin International School.
After exiting the station, she still had to walk about 1.5 kilometers, which Tong Yang decided to treat as a morning stroll.
This place was completely different from the old district, exuding wealth at every corner. From the cake shops to the clothing stores displaying mannequin models, she guessed that a single outfit probably cost her and Tong Le’s living expenses for several months.
Signs urging vehicles to slow down lined the streets, and every now and then, a gleaming car would pass by. She barely recognized the brands, as most were luxury models she’d never seen in person.
The pedestrians here were also different from the hurried commuters in the subway. They walked leisurely, dressed in stylish clothes, casually entering shops they liked without hesitation.
As the sun began to rise, Tong Yang stretched, noting that she was still about 800 meters from Hailin International School.
Passing by a cake shop, she glanced through the window at the beautifully arranged pastries on the trays.
Tong Yang looked up at the street sign and was about to cross the road when a black SUV suddenly pulled up beside the cake shop. A man in a suit got out from the passenger seat, then opened the rear door.
Tong Yang intended to walk around them, but a little boy in a blue school uniform jumped out of the car, tripped over his own feet, and fell flat on his face, immediately bursting into tears.
The man’s face changed instantly, and he hurriedly picked the boy up.
“Xiaowen, are you okay?” The suited man asked with a fawning smile, clearly terrified of being blamed by the boy.
“Are you blind? Didn’t you see me getting out of the car? Why didn’t you help me?” The little boy, voice thick with tears, scolded as he kicked the man.
Tong Yang, who had planned to walk away, stopped in her tracks, leaning casually against a street sign to watch the scene unfold with interest.
She thought she’d gotten lucky. She hadn’t expected to run into the Ye family’s youngest son before even reaching the school, and here he was, tripping and falling flat on his face.
Being a bodyguard for the rich must be tough. The kid was the one in a hurry and not paying attention, but he was blaming someone else.
“What are you looking at?”
The little boy, clearly embarrassed, noticed Tong Yang standing nearby. His face flushed with anger as he glared at her, his eyes still wet with tears.
The bodyguard was clearly anxious, glancing back at her with a warning look.
Was Tong Yang this brat’s bodyguard? No.
Had she been paid by his parents yet? Maybe in the future, but not now.
So why should she cater to him?
Because he was a kid? Tong Yang wasn’t one to spoil the young or respect the old unnecessarily.
“I’m watching a joke,” Tong Yang said innocently.
The little boy’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn’t comprehend that someone would dare say such a thing to him.
“You… you…” The little boy trembled with rage, tears streaming down his face.
The bodyguard was visibly upset and shot Tong Yang a glare, “What are you saying?”
The rear door of the SUV had been closed, and though the windows were tinted black, Tong Yang suspected there were others inside.
There wasn’t much to say to this unreasonable Ye family brat. But since this was a rare opportunity, there was a good chance his parents were in the car too.
“You’re the joke! Your whole family’s a joke!” The little boy yelled, fuming with anger.
Tong Yang walked toward the SUV. The boy, thinking she was coming for him, hid behind the bodyguard, trying to act tough as he said, “What… what are you doing? If you hit me, you’ll have to pay!”
Tong Yang glanced at him. No wonder people said this kid showed early signs of business acumen. He was just like her—money, money, money.
The bodyguard frowned as he watched her approach. While she wasn’t armed, her sudden approach to the employer’s vehicle was still concerning. He was about to stop her when he saw a hand signal from someone inside the car. He immediately lowered his head and said nothing.
Tong Yang walked up to the car and raised her hand to knock on the window.
The little boy thought she was going to hit him, and he shrank back in fear. Just then, the rear window slowly rolled down, revealing a pale side profile.
Tong Yang raised an eyebrow, surprised. Inside was a young man dressed in a blue shirt, leaning against the seat. His features were somewhat similar to the Ye family’s youngest son, but his complexion was overly pale, giving him a cold and distant aura.
This must be the Ye family’s eldest son, the one with the heart condition.
No wonder the gossip group mentioned that the Ye couple was attractive. Even Tong Yang, who was “money-obsessed,” had to admit that the eldest son was rather good-looking.
He was handsome, but his gaze was so cold it bordered on being harsh. He didn’t seem like someone easy to get along with.
“Apologize,” the young man said, his pale lips moving slightly. His voice was just as cold as his demeanor.
Tong Yang hadn’t even reacted when the little boy behind the bodyguard visibly trembled, his eyes filling with tears as he walked up to Tong Yang, bowing slightly and choking out, “S-sorry.”
Tong Yang was a bit surprised. Given the Ye family’s status, she had expected the youngest son to be completely spoiled, but here he was, clearly afraid of his older brother.
“I didn’t hear you. Say it again,” the young man ordered.
Both the little boy and the bodyguard looked up at Tong Yang, their faces filled with disbelief.
The little boy glanced at his older brother, who still wore an expressionless face. Resigned, he repeated his apology, “Sorry!”
“Alright, be more polite next time,” Tong Yang said.
“And what else?” the young man added.
The little boy, looking even more wronged, turned to the bodyguard and bowed at a seventy-degree angle, “Sorry.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the bodyguard waved his hands, not daring to act tough like Tong Yang.
“You can go now,” the young man said.
“Oh,” the little boy replied, walking into the cake shop with the bodyguard.
Realizing that Tong Yang hadn’t left, the young man glanced at her with his cool, pale eyes, “Is there something else?”
“Yes,” Tong Yang nodded.
The young man frowned slightly, “What is it?”
“Has your brother met anyone strange recently?” Tong Yang asked seriously.
The young man responded, “Do you count?”
“I don’t.”
“Then no.”
Tong Yang pondered for a moment. She couldn’t just come out and tell him that his brother would disappear on July 8th. If she did, she’d be the prime suspect, and the blame would fall on her.
“I did a divination. Your brother is in danger soon,” Tong Yang came up with an excuse.
The young man lowered his eyes and asked, “Really? And how do we fix it?”
Tong Yang was momentarily taken aback by his response.
“There’s no way to fix it.”
That was the truth. If he was pulled into the parallel world, being prepared in advance wouldn’t change much.
“Do you have a pen and paper?”
The young man seemed puzzled, unsure of what Tong Yang was getting at, but perhaps out of courtesy, he signaled the driver to hand over a pen and paper.
Tong Yang took the items and wrote down her phone number on the paper, “I can help you save him, but it’ll cost money. Call me if you’re interested.”
“What’s the probability of something happening?”
“Ninety-nine percent.”
The young man let out a soft laugh, “So, one hundred percent.”
“Pretty much.”
The young man took the paper from her, looking at the number. His tone was indifferent as he said, “I’ll contact you if necessary.”
At that moment, the bodyguard emerged from the cake shop, carrying two boxes of pastries, with the little boy trailing behind him.
Seeing that Tong Yang hadn’t left, the little boy immediately put on a scowl.
Tong Yang deliberately said, “Also, I can tutor him if you need.”
“No! I don’t need it!” The little brat puffed up his cheeks in defiance.
The young man’s lips twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
After the little brat got into the car, the young man nodded slightly toward Tong Yang, “Goodbye.”
The car then drove off.
Tong Yang watched the vehicle leave, deep in thought. They probably thought she was a scammer.
But she had given them a pretty direct warning. Whether they believed it or not was up to them.
