Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 827 - 826: Mu Xiaoting Disappears (Part 1)

At this moment, Ye Li's gaze was as tender as water, warming Chu Ge's heart, stirring countless thoughts, yet so fiery, gradually tilting the balance of his reason.A voice grew clearer in Chu Ge's mind: Forget it, don't think about anything, just indulge this once.

Not for himself, but for this poor girl, who had just been bullied, whose self-esteem was trampled on, and who had always silently kept all her grievances inside her heart, this kind-hearted girl!

Finally, Chu Ge removed his hand from his lips, filled with sighs and an indescribable emotion.

Their bodies began to inch closer, and as Chu Ge moved bit by bit towards Ye Li, her expression showed no nervousness, her body naturally relaxed, and her pretty face blossomed with a satisfied, grateful, yet utterly happy smile.

This smile was so gentle, so serene.

Suddenly, a phone rang, dispersing most of the delicate atmosphere in the room instantly.

Chu Ge's body quivered slightly, his breath caught, and a bit of reason re-emerged in his confused eyes. Ye Li bit her lip tightly, gripping Chu Ge's hand tightly, and shook her head at him.

One side was the constantly ringing phone and the other side was Ye Li's complex gaze. Chu Ge was caught in a dilemma, his body frozen in place, unable to move.

The phone finally stopped ringing. Chu Ge leaned down again, but before he could do anything, the phone began to ring persistently again.

"Chu Ge..."

Noticing the change in Chu Ge's gaze, the bitterness on Ye Li's pretty face deepened.

"Ye Li, I'm sorry."

Chu Ge exhaled sharply, lifted his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, got up, and picked up the incessantly ringing phone, avoiding looking again at Ye Li's disappointed face, and turned to leave the bedroom.

He glanced at the screen, which displayed "Tiger Girl Policewoman."

"Captain Mu, are you hungry and planning to come back for dinner?" Chu Ge picked up the call and told a cold joke to ease his complex emotions at the moment.

"I can't find Mu Xiaoting anywhere." Mu Lingshan's voice was extraordinarily anxious, "Has she returned to your place?"

"No, she hasn't."

Mu Lingshan was silent for a few seconds, sighed, "I've searched all the nearby malls, and she hasn't returned home. Where could she have gone?"

Her voice grew more anxious and worried, as if she were talking to herself rather than asking Chu Ge.

"Captain Mu, it's only been a while. She's in her twenties; she won't get lost. Just relax."

"You make it sound so easy. How can I relax? If it weren't for... Forget it, it's useless to say now. Anyway, if you see her, call me immediately."

"Sure, no problem. Want me to tie her up and send her to you?"

"You... I'm really baffled by you. How can you joke at a time like this?"

"What time? It's only one-thirty in the afternoon?"

"You..."

"Alright, maybe she went to a friend's house, or she's wandering the streets, or she went back to her Provincial Committee Courtyard. Don't worry."

"Sigh..."

Chu Ge consoled Mu Lingshan a bit more, promising that if Mu Xiaoting returned to him, he would immediately contact her. Mu Lingshan urged Chu Ge a few more times, telling him not to provoke Mu Xiaoting no matter what, and then they ended the call.

Tap, tap, tap...

Footsteps approached from behind Chu Ge, and when he turned around, he saw Ye Li coming out of the bedroom with unsteady steps.

When their eyes met again, Chu Ge was filled with indescribable awkwardness, his gaze somewhat evasive. He opened his mouth, about to say something, when he saw Ye Li walk to the dining table, pick up two plates, and head towards the kitchen.

"Ye Li, just leave it there. I'll pick it up in a while. Don't worry about it, just go back and rest for a while."

"I'll do it..." Ye Li turned her head and smiled, trying hard to act as if nothing had happened, but in Chu Ge's eyes, that smile seemed forced.

Chu Ge hesitated for a few seconds, sighed quietly, and also went to the table, picking up two plates. Neither of them spoke until everything on the dining table was cleaned up, and Ye Li was about to wash the dishes when she broke the silence.

"Chu Ge, are you having dinner here tonight?"

"I... probably won't be."

"Then, can I take the leftovers with me?"

Hearing this, Chu Ge felt another wave of discomfort in his heart. He shook his head, "Forget it, if you want to eat, Brother Chu can cook for you anytime. Let's just throw these leftovers away."

Ye Li insisted with a smile, "It would be such a waste to throw them away. They were bought with money, and more so, it's your hard work. Let me take them with me, okay?"

What else could Chu Ge say? He could only manage a forced smile, nodding as he found a few plastic bags to pack all the leftovers, while Ye Li meticulously brushed the dishes by the sink.

Chu Ge wanted to help, but Ye Li insisted it was unnecessary, so he had to just stand by. Neither mentioned the incident that happened just minutes ago.

After washing the pile of dishes, Ye Li cleaned up the entire apartment. Chu Ge wanted to tell Ye Li that he no longer lived there, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Having tidied up the place, Ye Li then said she was leaving. Chu Ge wanted to see her off, but Ye Li insisted he shouldn't, asking him to wait for the possible return of Mu Xiaoting.

When Ye Li was at the door, holding those plastic bags and putting on her shoes, Chu Ge couldn't help but advise her once more.

"Ye Li, it doesn't matter to me whether Mu Xiaoting comes back or not. You've had so much to drink, let me see you off."

"Brother Chu, it's really not necessary. Today I'm not taking the bus; I'll call a cab to go back to school. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Chu Ge hesitated for a few seconds. He also thought it was better not to accompany Ye Li. After all, what happened earlier, though unspoken, indeed took place. Perhaps Ye Li wanted some quiet time alone now.

Chu Ge finally nodded, "Okay... then when you reach school, give me a call."

Ye Li smiled, nodded sweetly and quietly, and stepped out of the apartment.

Watching Ye Li's departing figure, Chu Ge couldn't resist calling out again.

"Ye Li."

"Hmm?" Ye Li paused, glancing slightly sideways, but she neither turned her head nor her body.

"It's nothing, walk slowly, be safe."

"Mm..."

Watching Ye Li's figure fade out of sight, a minute later, Chu Ge rubbed his forehead, finally closing the door and sitting down on the sofa in the living room.

Actually, he had wanted to tell Ye Li to treat herself better. The fifty thousand yuan he gave her was enough for her to buy many things. She could dress like a proud princess if she wished.

But, worried that saying this might hurt Ye Li's pride, he swallowed the words at the last moment.

Unbeknownst to him, he and Ye Li had developed a remarkable understanding silently. Even if he didn't voice it, Ye Li had guessed what he was thinking.

Chu Ge was also unaware that Ye Li already had her own plans for that fifty thousand yuan.

In the apartment, four people turned into three, then two, and finally one. Chu Ge looked around at the spotlessly clean surroundings, feeling only an emptiness he couldn't quite define.

If not for meeting Mu Xiaoting and Mu Lingshan, Chu Ge would have already started dealing with what he wanted to do. There's no way he'd swallow the grievance from Xiao Bai, that despicable person.

However, due to the earlier incident, he couldn't go anywhere for now. Out of respect for Mu Lingshan, he had to stay put here, waiting impatiently for the "princess disease" afflicted Mu Xiaoting.

After more than half an hour of waiting, Ye Li called, telling him she had reached the school. Judging by the timing, she clearly didn't take a cab; she must have taken the bus back.

After Ye Li's call, Chu Ge's phone remained quiet, with no one knocking on the door, and the afternoon passed just like that.

By six o'clock, Chu Ge couldn't wait anymore and left Yipin Spring City, returning to Huafu Garden, to Qin Ruojing's apartment.

On the way, Chu Ge called Mu Lingshan, who still hadn't found Mu Xiaoting. She was so anxious that her voice had turned hoarse.

Despite this, Chu Ge still didn't take it seriously, assuming Mu Xiaoting was just acting up, showing her princess attitude.

Back at Huafu Garden, Chu Ge acted as if nothing had happened, going about his business, yet pondering when to confront the ones who disgusted him from the shadows and settle the score.

With the night deepening, before he knew it, it was past ten. Just as Chu Ge and Qin Ruojing were about to sleep, Mu Lingshan called him again.

This time, Chu Ge didn't avoid Qin Ruojing and answered the call directly. Hearing Mu Lingshan's voice, even hoarser than in the afternoon, seeping through the receiver, he finally furrowed his brows slightly, beginning to feel something was truly amiss.

At this point, Mu Xiaoting was still completely missing, unfound.

If this was just Mu Xiaoting being capricious, it would mean she's quite immature, excessively afflicted with her princess syndrome. But if it's not the case, then the situation is indeed troubling.

After comforting Mu Lingshan with a few words like "Don't worry, everything will be okay," Chu Ge hung up, leaned against the head of the bed, rubbed his temples, let out a vexed sigh, and his face showed a hint of worry.

Damn it, where on earth has that heiress run off to?

Chu Ge carefully recalled every scene since he met Mu Xiaoting today. Suddenly, he remembered something, his brows furrowing even tighter.