Cave (1)

Qin Zhufeng was sitting in the study of his hotel room, typing up work emails on his computer. It was the Chinese New Year, but their foreign customers were not celebrating it and business was still very busy.

It took him half a day to finish the important emails accumulated throughout the day. When he was finally done, he exited the study.

Wei Qinglian had also left the bedroom. The baby had been taken out and could not be left alone, and it was a lot of work to look after and feed her.

Qin Zhufeng looked into the living room. “Why is Xiao-Siquan not back yet?”

In the neighboring suite, Mu Wanli had finished her bath, looked up at the clock, and wondered in her heart: What time is it now? Even if Mu Mu and Qin Yuan are playing outside, how come Xiao-Zhuang is still not back even after being taken out?

On the coffee table, Mu Mu and Qin Yuan’s cell phones were placed side by side as they had to change into special protective clothing to go skiing. Neither had their phones with them, so now there was no way to get in touch with them.

Over here, Wei Qinglian poured a cup of tea and casually said, “Xiao-Quan and Miao Miao are taking pictures outside. I told them to eat midnight snacks at the small restaurant if they’re hungry.”

Qin Zhufeng furrowed his brows. “Call my phone number. Xiao-Quan took my phone.”

Wei Qinglian agreed and called the phone, but she put it down after a while. “It’s off. They must’ve used the flashlight to take pictures at night, so the battery is all used up.”

Qin Zhufeng thought it over for a moment. “Then, call to ask Mu-jie. Could they be out there playing with the brothers?”

As they were talking, the landline phone rang in the living room and Mu Wanli asked politely, “President Qin, I’m sorry, is Xiao-Zhuang at your place? And is our family’s Mu Mu there too?”

Qin Zhufeng froze in place. “No, ah. These several children aren’t here. I thought they were at your place?”

As he was talking, Old Yan cautiously knocked on the door and came in. “President Qin, is Miao Miao playing in Xiao-Quan’s room?”

Qin Zhufeng turned his head to look at Wei Qinglian sternly. “Why didn’t you tell the bodyguards to follow Xiao-Siquan and the others as they were taking pictures?”

Wei Qinglian was also slightly confused. “They said they didn’t like having bodyguards around and would return after taking pictures at the aquarium.”

There usually would have bodyguards following them, but they had already arrived at the hotel. As the photo trip was only a few steps away and surrounded by people, she didn’t insist on having bodyguards go with them. She was in her bedroom taking care of her little girl, so how could she bother herself over such matters?

Old Yan hurried to say, “I will take people to look outside. Maybe they are in the restaurant or somewhere at the fountain. I know it’s beautiful spot to take pictures.”

Pretty soon, Old Yan’s phone call also came and his voice was tense. “President Qin, they’re nowhere to be seen. I’ve asked the customer service staff, but nobody’s seen them!”

At this point, the adults all became anxious. Mu Wanli hurriedly came over from next door and Wei Qinglian’s voice was sharp. “Hurry up, tell their staff members to look everywhere! The guesthouse is only this big. Where could they have gone?”

The staff at the front desk searched everywhere while hurriedly pulling up the hotel’s CCTV to take a look. Upon doing so, they discovered the problem.

The three children had left the hotel two or three hours ago and headed for the mountain road outside!

Qin Zhufeng’s face was extremely ugly. “Continue to monitor the surveillance cameras! Where did they go after heading out?”

The hotel staff was equally anxious. “There was surveillance on the section from the main gate to the corner of the mountain road, but there’s nothing further out. The last trace of the children was toward the ski resort!”

Wei Qinglian screeched, “Hurry up and look at the ski resort then! They must’ve not played enough during the day, so they sneakily went there to play!”

The manager on duty was so scared that he hurried to send his staff there. Qin Zhufeng could not sit still, so he followed Old Yan.

Mu Wanli and Wei Qinglian sat in the living room, feeling like they were sitting on pins and needles.

After all, Xiao-Siquan was Wei Qinglian’s daughter. Even though she was an idiot and could not raise her child, she still cared for her child, so she walked around the living room with teary eyes.

Mu Wanli was no better off than her. She had brought up the little mute, so if anything happened to him, how would she be able to explain it to Xiao-Yun?

Qin Yuan’s body went down a bit at the cliff’s edge.

There were not many rocks protruding from the mountain and they were mainly blocked by snow. He tried to find footing with his feet while holding on to the branches and weeds he could grab with his hands.

With immense difficulty, he finally descended two or three meters and climbed up to the slanting trunk of the tree.

Xiao-Siquan looked up at him and cried so loudly that her voice was hoarse. “Gege, don’t come down. It’s dangerous…”

Qin Yuan was less than a few dozen centimeters away from her and softly reassured her, “No problem. Gege is an adult and has learned rock climbing.”

Overhead, Ruan Qingmu called out with trepidation in his voice, “Qin Yuan, how are you? You have to be careful!”

Qin Yuan tilted his head. “It’s all right. I’ve almost reached Xiao-Quan.”

Xiao-Siquan’s body lay on a nearby branch. Qin Yuan tested it and found no way he could step on it. The branch was too thin and bound to break if he went up.

“Xiao-Quan, move closer slowly. Don’t be afraid. Just little by little. Reach out your hand and gege will be able to catch you.” Qin Yuan whispered encouragement, “After that, we can go up.”

The tree branches beneath Xiao-Siquan’s feet had broken several times and her body was swaying with the tree branches. She mustered enough courage to stretch out her frozen hands and tried to grab hold of Qin Yuan.