Chapter 30
"Xixi, what's wrong?" Zhan Mingyuan shook her gently, concern etched across his face as Gu Xi sat frozen, unresponsive.
"Huh?" Gu Xi blinked as if jolted awake. She looked up at his worried expression and forced a small smile. "I'm just really worried about my cousin."
"You scared me just now. You looked completely out of it," Zhan Mingyuan said, patting his chest with exaggerated relief. He tried to smile, to ease the tension. "Xixi, don't worry too much. My brother's working with his mentor—he should be fine."
But Gu Xi couldn't take comfort in those words. She knew Ji Feiyang too well—his voice still echoed in her ears.
"Second Brother, I don't think he was joking."
"You mean…"
"Something must have happened to my cousin," she said, her voice low and steady, full of dread.
Zhan Mingyuan's forced smile faded. His expression turned solemn. "If we can't reach him… should we go to Beijing to check on him?"
Gu Xi rubbed her temples, closing her eyes for a moment. "Don't rush. I need to think."
The small corner of the hospital garden fell into silence. Gu Xi sat on the bench, frowning in deep thought, while Zhan Mingyuan stood quietly beside her, shielding her from the harsh sunlight with his body.
He watched her silently, struck by the transformation in her demeanor. It wasn't just the concern in her eyes—something deeper had changed.
She used to be carefree, a little princess doted on by the whole family. But now, there was a heaviness to her, a maturity that didn't match her years. Uncle's troubles were serious, yes, but in his mind, this was grown-up business. He never imagined Xixi would get so involved—let alone take on so much.
But she had. And now, seeing her trying to shoulder the burden, to make plans, to protect the family… Zhan Mingyuan felt something stir in him.
She's a girl… and yet she's thinking further ahead than I am.
He was about to graduate college. He should be the one standing strong for the family—not relying on his younger cousin.
Just as that thought settled, Gu Xi looked up.
"Second Brother, let's not go to Beijing just yet," she said, her voice calm but firm. "They're using my cousin to threaten my uncle. If we go, we'll just give them two more hostages. The most important thing right now is cleaning up the mess here in Jiangcheng."
"But what about my brother…" Zhan Mingyuan's voice was tight with worry.
"As long as my uncle is safe, my cousin will be safe too," Gu Xi said softly.
She wasn't entirely sure of that—but she had to believe it. Jiangcheng was where the battle began. And it was here she would end it, once and for all.