CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196 GU KUANGXIA

An Junxi experienced the darkest week of her life.

After the official announcement of the list of victims, she was in a coma for two days before waking up. The first thing she asked Gu Yikun was, "Where are my mom and dad?"

Gu Yikun had been taking care of her without sleep or rest. In addition to searching for her parents in South Asia, there was no news about her uncle in South Africa either. His stress was evident.

An Junxi saw the deep sorrow in his eyes and silently shed tears.

Could it be that her parents just left her like that?

Gu Yikun tightly held her hands, "Xi Xi, among the missing persons on the official list, there are three whose whereabouts are still unknown and are still being searched for. Your parents are among them. As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, we must not give up."

An Junxi struggled to sit up, "Is there any news?"

Gu Yikun shook his head, "Not yet."

An Junxi’s heart sank. It was now the fifth day since the incident. How long could non-swimmers survive in the vast ocean? Even with life jackets, lifeboats, or floating wood, without drinking water or food... An Junxi dared not think further.

Most of the group members who went with them were rescued. Why were her parents still missing?

She buried her face in her knees, "Yikun, it’s all my fault. It was me who sent my parents to the boat. It’s all my fault!"

Gu Yikun held her tightly, "Xi Xi, I understand how you feel. I’m suffering the same. You can’t blame yourself. Promise me, give me five more days, and I’ll have the fleet search with all their might."

An Junxi cried incessantly. No matter how Gu Yikun comforted her, she couldn’t come out of the shadow of this disaster.

Gong Xiaoyu came to accompany her. She said, "Jun Xi, no news is the best news now. Maybe your parents were washed up on a small island by the waves and are waiting for us to rescue them. Or maybe they were rescued by passing ships and haven’t contacted us yet. Don’t cry, take care of yourself. Otherwise, when your parents come back, they’ll have to take care of you."

A hint of light shone in An Junxi’s heart. She sat at home every day, waiting for news from South Asia.

Gu Yikun was worried about her being alone at home. He didn’t go to the company anymore and brought his work home, keeping her within his sight.

Gu Yikun barely rested. The situation in South Africa was more extensive than he had anticipated, attracting the local government’s attention. Zha Zhuoxin contacted him and said, "President, we are now dealing with the South African government. We’re also searching for Second Master with all our might, but we haven’t had any results. The police sealed the sea area on the day of the incident. Logically, Second Master shouldn’t be able to leave the South African sea area unless he has powerful connections within the police."

This assumption was not without reason. Gu Kuangxia had long been mingling in both the underworld and the legitimate world in South Africa, and liaising with the police was a common occurrence.

Gu Yikun pondered. He had considered this possibility too, but breaching the police blockade and the obstacles he set up was no easy task.

He thought again, a crafty person like his uncle surely had an escape plan. Perhaps he was still on the African Continent.

He asked, "Have you searched the mainland?"

Zha Zhuoxin hadn’t thought of that, "No, I will send someone to search."

This incident had them in a frenzy, having to deal with the government and the media, reorganize subsidiaries, and search every sea and land for people. Zha Zhuoxin had lost weight in South Africa.

Gu Yikun said, "Find him as soon as possible. This is a ticking time bomb. I will dispatch personnel from the United States to assist you."

Zha Zhuoxin relaxed slightly. Adding manpower was a relief; otherwise, he might have worked himself to death in South Africa and been carried back home.

Gu Yikun hung up the phone and opened his computer to look at documents sent from the United States.

An Junxi watched him from the study’s door. She knew the company was busy, and South Africa was in turmoil. He was tied up with work and hadn’t rested in a long time. But she was desperate to know about her parents.

He didn’t tell her anything, so it must still be no news, right?

An Junxi knew she shouldn’t disturb his work, but she couldn’t help it. She went in and asked, "Yikun, any news from South Asia?"

Three more days had passed. He said he’d give her five days. Now two days were left.

Her unease grew day by day. She couldn’t eat or sleep well, dreaming constantly of her parents drowning.

Gu Yikun put down his work for the moment, "Not yet, Xi Xi..."

Gu Yikun felt worse than her. At this moment, he couldn’t do anything, and it was torturing him.

An Junxi said bleakly, "I see. You continue working, I’ll go to sleep."

Gu Yikun went back to the room with her, waiting until she fell asleep before returning to the study.

The room’s light stayed on. An Junxi was still afraid of the dark and had to sleep with the light on.

After Gu Yikun closed the door and left, An Junxi opened her eyes again.

She walked out to the balcony to feel the cold wind. When would such despair end?

Two hours later, Gu Yikun came back to the room and couldn’t find her. He searched around and saw her asleep on a chair on the balcony.

His heart felt like it was being slowly corroded, every inch of it prickling with pain.

He couldn’t even protect his own family, so how could he talk about giving her happiness?

On a small South Asian island.

Here, the islands scattered in various sizes. Due to the remote geography and distance from major shipping routes, few ships approached the area with its treacherous currents.

Among the islands hid an ordinary-looking small island. On the surface, it seemed no different from other islands, but every two kilometers along the perimeter, there were armed guards hidden. The island’s underground also held secrets.

In a pitch-dark basement, no, it was an underground palace.

Gu Kuangxia sat in the hall, drinking red wine and holding a cigar, appearing very relaxed.

He blew a smoke ring, and a crafty smile appeared on his face.

Gu Yikun was probably still searching for him in the South African sea areas? Too late!

A surge of pleasure arose in his heart. After years of plotting in South Africa, he finally saw hope of striking back at Gu Yikun. How could he not be excited?

How could he jump into the sea? The one who jumped was just his scapegoat, already discreetly handled by his police insider. He had taken a helicopter and left South Africa the day before. This island was his stronghold; it couldn’t be safer.

Gu Yikun, this time I definitely won’t fall into your hands again. Everything that belongs to me, I will take back!

At this moment, two men walked in. They had ordinary Asian faces and reported to Gu Kuangxia, "Second Master, news from Yan City says the Seventh Uncle’s condition is worsening. The lawyer has been to the hospital twice. There might be significant equity changes in the Gu Family soon."

The old man finally couldn’t hold on?

Gu Kuangxia examined the exquisite wine glass in his hand, "How’s the situation at the port? I need to return home." He couldn’t wait any longer. Before that old man expired, he had to reclaim his shares.

The two men exchanged glances and said, "The ports are heavily monitored. Neither by air nor by sea is it safe to return now."