After putting on a loose red batwing sweater, she heard Fu Huai'an say, "Let's go get something to eat, we're going out to sea today…"
Out to sea?
Lin Nuan pulled her long hair out from inside the sweater, feeling a little excited as she gazed at Fu Huai'an. "When are we setting off?"
"Two hours from now. We won't be going that far out, but we can stop there for two days before coming back."
They were even going to spend the night out in the sea. Lin Nuan nodded. "Ok… then I'll pack up after breakfast!"
"Just bring along some clothes, Little Lu has prepared everything else!"
Lin Nuan nodded, then asked, "When did you decide to do this? I can't believe Little Lu has prepared everything already!"
"Yesterday," replied Fu Huai'an.
…
Bai Xiaonian was also very excited after learning they were going out to sea. It was just too bad that she couldn't have fun to the fullest in her current state.
Little Lu had left early on to make arrangements.
You Nainai packed so simply that it surprised the others, just toiletries and a single set of clothes. She didn't even manage to fill up a backpack.
Lin Nuan and Fu Huai'an filled up a 20-inch piece of luggage with their stuff.
When the group of them reached the hotel lobby, Lin Nuan saw the slightly less visible marks on Lu Jinnan's face, but she didn't appear surprised.
Fu Huai'an had already told Lin Nuan about it last night…
However, Lin Nuan didn't expect Bai Xiaonian to be so ferocious, actually scratching Lu Jinnan's face.
Bai Xiaonian saw Lin Nuan's gaze sweep over the scratch on Lu Jinnan's face and tried to explain it to her, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't mean to scratch him?"
Lin Nuan nodded seriously. "I believe you!"
Bai Xiaonian remained silent, a series of ellipses going through her mind.
Lin Nuan's expression made it clear she was teasing her. After being friends for so many years, they knew each other well!
But Bai Xiaonian was truly wronged. She really did it unintentionally, then Lu Jinnan slammed the door and left without giving her a chance to explain…
Bai Xiaonian was left on the bed alone and couldn't even go to the washroom.
She had wanted to call Lin Nuan, but she was afraid that Lin Nuan was already asleep!
This was the first time Bai Xiaonian had felt so helpless since her legs were injured.
She sat on the bed as tears fell down her face, feeling wronged. When Lu Jinnan suddenly came back and saw Bai Xiaonian curling up her uninjured leg, crying while resting her head on and hugging her knee, his heart instantly softened.
The helpless Lu Jinnan coaxed Bai Xiaonian for most of the night.
After carrying the crying Bai Xiaonian to the washroom, Lu Jinnan was forced to agree to plenty of unfair terms. The mere thought of it made Lu Jinnan grit his teeth now.
Some things might appear easy to agree to, but when it came to putting those words into actions, it was hard for Lu Jinnan.
Hence, Lu Jinnan silently resolved never to promise anyone anything so easily in the future. Otherwise, what he said… would become a debt he would have to repay.
Before leaving, Lin Nuan felt in her pocket and realized that she forgot to bring her phone. Despite Fu Huai'an telling her that there would be no signal out at sea, Lin Nuan insisted on bringing her phone, even if it was just so she could play a game on it.
Furthermore, since reading "The Exorcist", Lin Nuan had fallen in love with Shu Xin's novels. Even if Shu Xin had deliberately picked on her previously, she couldn't deny the fact that Shu Xin's novels were engaging!
Lin Nuan had downloaded several of those novels. It was just as well that there was no signal out at sea; without disruption, Lin Nuan could read them properly.
Seeing Fu Huai'an answering a call at the entrance of the hotel, Lin Nuan said, "Wait for me for five minutes, I'll come right back after finding my phone."
Hearing that Lin Nuan was going upstairs to retrieve her phone, Bai Xiaonian nodded. "I understand, Nuan Nuan. Even if there's going to be no service, one wouldn't feel a sense of security without it!"
"Are you so addicted to your phone?" Lu Jinnan frowned as he asked Bai Xiaonian.
"Let Huai'an know…" Lin Nuan left after saying this.
You Nainai set down her backpack and followed Lin Nuan upstairs to retrieve her phone.
"Nainai, there's no need for you to follow me, I'm merely retrieving my phone," Lin Nuan said in a lowered voice to You Nainai.
"It's my responsibility."
Seeing You Nainai's firm attitude, Lin Nuan didn't insist on stopping her. They went upstairs together, and You Nainai waited for her at the door while Lin Nuan went inside in search of her phone.
Lin Nuan was gone for a minute and didn't return. You Nainai thought Lin Nuan had gone to the bathroom and took a glance at her wristwatch, continuing to wait.
After another two minutes, seeing that Lin Nuan had yet to come out, You Nainai began feeling nervous. She knocked on the door. "Lin Nuan?"
After these few days of interaction, You Nainai and Lin Nuan had grown closer. You Nainai didn't address Lin Nuan as Mrs. Fu, instead, addressing her by name.
No one answered. You Nainai felt her nerves tighten, and she retreated a few steps by reflex and forcefully charged at the door to knock it down.
There was no sign of Lin Nuan anywhere in the large living room. You Nainai pulled out her gun from behind her waist and walked quickly to the bathroom, gun raised.
After she kicked down the bedroom door, You Nainai saw that Lin Nuan's phone was on the floor, so she also kicked open the bathroom door! However, Lin Nuan was still nowhere to be seen.
You Nainai's instincts told her that Lin Nuan was abducted. She placed her gun behind her waist, then called Fu Huai'an as she walked straight towards the butler's little resting room.
There was a resting room for the butler in every Presidential Suite, which was connected to both the main suite and outside. This was to ensure that the butler wouldn't disrupt the guests while serving them.
If Lin Nuan was truly abducted, with You Nainai at the entrance of the suite, then she surely must have been taken away via that room!
You Nainai's scalp went numb. It was too careless of her!
Fu Huai'an's line was engaged. You Nainai didn't hang up but waited…
You Nainai was clearly aware that there were several groups of people eyeing them, but she was less alert because of her entanglement with Tang Zheng in relationship matters. She had thought that Lin Nuan was merely retrieving her phone and that nothing could possibly happen; after all, Lin Nuan's decision to come back to the room for her phone was made last minute!
While the door to the butler's resting room was being kicked down, Fu Huai'an answered her call.
"What's the matter?" Fu Huai'an asked in a low voice, as if sensing something had gone wrong. He began walking towards the elevators.
The door of the butler's resting room to the outside was opened. You Nainai felt herself turn numb from her head to her toes. She said, "Sir Fu, Lin Nuan has been abducted!"
Inside the elevators, Fu Huai'an only heard a "weng" sound go off in his head as his face turned very dim.
"Did you see the person?" Fu Huai'an asked.
As the low voice entered her ears, You Nainai felt her heart thump.
She gave chase in the direction of the stairs and, slightly panting, honestly replied, "No. Lin Nuan was in the room for nearly three minutes, while I waited for her outside the door. When I sensed something was amiss and entered the suite, Lin Nuan was already gone!"
Having reached the stairs, You Nainai saw a red bloodstain on the door handle to the staircase. Her pupils suddenly contracted as blood rushed to her head. She smeared it with her hand—it was still wet!