CHAPTER 997: CHAPTER 997: NOT A SINGLE ONE LETS ME REST EASY

There are five days left until Chinese New Year’s Eve, and after much effort, Li Qiao was brought back to the old residence in Parma.

During this time, Li Qiao never regained consciousness.

Luoyu accompanied her the whole time, carefully tending to Li Qiao.

This afternoon, in the backyard by the fish pond, Shang Zonghai, dressed in casual homewear, sat in a rattan chair flipping through a medical book.

Yun Lih stood a short distance away, his slender outline making his features appear even more pronounced.

He glanced at Luoyu, deeply concerned, "What exactly is wrong with Qiaoqiao?"

Luoyu looked back at him, shaking her head slightly, "Still not sure."

"Even the old master couldn’t diagnose it?" Yun Lih’s expression was grave, a rare moment of helplessness.

Li Qiao and Shang Shaoyan had been missing for nearly a month, with searches in both the South Sea and Parma yielding no clues.

If it weren’t for a man named Qin Si secretly notifying Shang Zonghai, things could have gotten much worse.

Luoyu swallowed, her eyes filled with obscurity, "Traditional Chinese medicine can diagnose physical causes, but... cannot determine psychological diseases. The master just said that the lady’s body seems fine, but the reason for her unending sleep can’t be found."

Yun Lih pursed his lips, baffled, "What exactly did Shang Shaoyan do to her?"

In just over twenty days, unless she underwent inhumane torment, she shouldn’t end up like this.

But given how much Shang Shaoyan cares for Li Qiao, would he be willing to hurt her?

Faced with Yun Lih’s question, Luoyu remained silent.

Nobody knows what the master and the lady experienced on that Solitary Island, but Luoyu clearly understands that if something happened to the lady, the master surely wouldn’t survive alone.

This understanding came from witnessing firsthand the master’s sobbing while holding the lady, a moment of indescribable shock.

...

On the other side, at the Parma Royal Hospital.

He Chen leaned against the corridor window, peering through the crack of the door at the man inside the ward, his thick eyebrows knit together in slight distress.

Moments later, Jin Rong walked over from the elevator, with Wei Ang holding a lunchbox following behind.

"How’s Xiao Wu?"

Jin Rong, seeing He Chen, spoke straightforwardly and glanced at the ward door, frowning as well.

He Chen leaned back, closed his eyes, and sighed, "See for yourself."

Jin Rong glared at him disapprovingly, sidestepped to the door, tensing up.

The door wasn’t fully closed, and through a gap of less than ten centimeters, the strong smell of smoke was easily detectable.

Jin Rong paused, looking back at He Chen, "How much has he smoked?"

"Who the hell knows." He Chen irritably ran his fingers through his messy hair, frowning in contemplation.

Shaoyan had indeed been brought back by them, but his current behavior seemed self-destructive, or self-punishing.

Jin Rong hesitated for a few seconds but still didn’t dare enter and disturb him; Shang Xiaowu was abnormal now, and if he had an outburst, he couldn’t win in a fight.

The two brothers exchanged a look, He Chen swallowed, and asked Wei Ang, "Has your sister-in-law woken up yet?"

Wei Ang shook his head holding the lunchbox, "Not yet, sir has already summoned both Chinese and Western medical experts to the old residence, planning a comprehensive consultation for the young lady."

"Damn!" He Chen cursed lowly, feeling a bad omen, "If Li Qiao doesn’t wake up, Shaoyan definitely won’t eat."

Jin Rong pinched his brow, suddenly recalling something, "Qi Qi’s been unconscious the whole time, is it possible it was that old scoundrel Xiao Hongdao..."

"Impossible." He Chen interrupted him without hesitation, "Li Qiao isn’t an idiot; tricking her with poison wouldn’t work."

Jin Rong agreed and nodded, "You’re right."

He Chen turned away disdainfully, then said to Wei Ang, "Leave the lunchbox here, you head back to the old residence. Let me know once the consultation results are out."

"Okay, Brother Chen."

Jin Rong took the lunchbox from him, sighing worriedly, "Qi Qi will be alright, right?"

He Chen squinted his eyes slightly, speaking deeply, "Let’s pray she’s okay; otherwise, Shaoyan won’t have long."

With that, he strode purposefully towards the elevator.

Jin Rong watched his back in confusion, "Where are you going?"

"You stay, I have some matters to attend to."

...

Meanwhile, at the South Sea Li family villa.

Duan Shuyuan sat in the living room, lost in thought. Ever since being kidnapped some time ago and saved, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

Though she never understood Burmese, the whole incident didn’t hold up under scrutiny.

Before long, footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Duan Shuyuan looked up, a gentle smile, "Xiao Yue, how come you have time to come over today?"

Zong Yue, holding a bag of fruit, smiled lightly, "The company is on holiday, and I have nothing to do, so I came to keep you company."

Duan Shuyuan sighed and motioned for her to sit down, "Recently... has Qiaoqiao been in contact with you?"

"Yes," Zong Yue nodded seriously, "We even had a video call two days ago, why?"

Duan Shuyuan raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Really?"

It’s not that she didn’t trust Zong Yue, but she had tried calling Li Qiao numerous times, unable to get through.

Calculating the days, it had been over half a month.

No matter how much that child had on her mind, she never lost contact for this long.

Even in Parma, she should have been reachable.

Zong Yue lowered her eyes, flickering slightly, "Of course it’s true, how could I lie to you? New Year’s is approaching; Qiaoqiao is quite busy in Parma. From the sound of it, she might not return until after the New Year."

Duan Shuyuan looked at her intently, "Is that so... Can you contact Qiaoqiao for me? I want to talk to her."

Zong Yue nodded calmly, "Sure."

This action dispelled Duan Shuyuan’s doubts.

Seeing Zong Yue take out her phone from her bag, just as she was unlocking it, a figure slowly approached the living room entrance.

"Do you have to run back to your maiden home every time we argue?"

Li Jun’s sudden voice sounded near her ear, startling Zong Yue, causing her to drop her phone.

She exclaimed and tried to pick it up, but in her hastiness, slipped, and accidentally kicked the phone, which then hit the marble wall, the screen shattering.

Duan Shuyuan hadn’t even processed it: "..."

Zong Yue looked dazed for two seconds, then turned away defiantly, "If I don’t run, do I have to stay at home and endure your attitude?"

Li Jun walked over and stood in front of her, face stern, "When did I give you attitude?"

"Several times."

Duan Shuyuan sighed, rubbing her temples, completely frustrated, "Alright, Ah Jun, don’t bully Xiao Yue, be more accommodating."

Li Jun pursed his lips, casting a secret look at Zong Yue, "If there’s an issue, we’ll talk at home. Mom, we’re leaving now."

Not waiting for Duan Shuyuan to speak, Li Jun picked up the phone and led Zong Yue out of the living room by the wrist.

Duan Shuyuan leaned on her hand, sighing repeatedly.

Not a single one of them gives her any peace.

After this commotion, Duan Shuyuan actually forgot about asking Zong Yue to call Li Qiao.