Chapter 73: Playing With Lightning (Panda + CEO POV)

The skies were frequently a bright blue in the city, except perhaps for those existing and inhabiting past the world's Veil—either way, both skies turned gray suddenly. A freak storm then began to pour down from the heavens.

Its primary objective having been fulfilled already minutes ago, in the empty streets of Shanghai, laid a charred Panda. Struck with four hundred twenty heavenly tribulation lightnings wasn't a good feeling. Any of the spiritual creatures that lived and traveled in the streets of Shanghai made sure to avoid what looked like to be a dead Panda.

There was one small spiritual being that pointed at it but was pulled along by its senior and telling it to dismiss the creature. When the heavens had locked itself from mortal men and creatures, there wasn't much activity that occurred on earth—but this directly resulted from Heaven's Wrath.

A paw raised towards the downcast skies, and if it could give a middle finger, it would have flicked it right at the heavens—but it couldn't and instead the Panda clutched its head and grumbled curses in its language. Before it summoned the message screen and at the exclamation point it sent while it was getting fried by the heavens.

Panda: !

CEO: If you do not wish to help, then it's fine. I'll look for her myself, but you messed up what was supposed to be a surveillance task

Somehow the man believed he was all mature, cold and serious—but the reply sounded a bit grouchy. The Panda rolled its eyes and rolled some more… it smacked its own head and then formed a reply.

Panda: ...er, I'll send you to the coordinates of myself. I'm looking for that kid too

How would it have really known that the kid would be left behind? It wasn't that disastrous of an event anyway, but the Heavens enjoyed picking on the poor Panda—it was starting to get used to being referred to a Panda. "Argh, I'm better than this."

It floated off to find the kid.

.. .

When the Panda had replied, Li Yang had just gotten himself out of the car, opened his umbrella and was about to enter the hotel… but then a new screen also appeared in front of him. It was a map of the entire city, but there were also dots. Glowing dots.

A Black-White Dot was moving in a certain direction. At the same time, on the exact place where he was standing, a Grey Dot and at the location of his company was a Brown Dot. Indicators of position, Li Yang maneuvered towards the spot where the Black-White Dot was heading towards—

The tumultuous rain fell around him, his umbrella the only protection against the howling winds, which was an odd thing. The CEO had checked the weather forecast, and it was supposed to be sunny.

People were rushing around him, others seeking shelters from the sudden rain, and those who were prepared brought out their umbrellas. Vehicles also moved in the street, others might have sprayed the people on the pavements if it weren't because the traffic was congested.

The street that he was in was familiar, albeit he hadn't been here a lot before—but it was the place where the cafe he and Ying Yue He had visited. Li Yang moved on the sidewalk, looking left and right for the girl. He wasn't used to speaking out loudly unless he was in a boardroom, but the man called out her name.

"Chunhua!" People navigated around him, and he checked on the time limit.

[ Time Remaining: 15 minutes and 22 seconds ]

He gritted his teeth and looked around, "Chunhua!" Whether it was the foul weather, the timer or the darkening skies, all of them contributed to his growing concern about her whereabouts. He didn't know if something terrible might happen, but he wanted to think that nothing would.

The position of the Panda began to meet with his—and he looked around with more impetuous vigor. He trusted that the Panda could at least find the child better than him, so it meant that they were almost close. He looked around again for the familiar sight of a small child… and then saw a face he had been looking for since yesterday.

Li Liang was in the exact cafe where he once had been. Sitting across from him was a woman that looked like she was in her early forties on her phone—she was at least a decade older than both of them. The much older woman had her pale hair up in a bun, and she looked like a foreigner. But that wasn't what mattered as he focused on the scene in the glass pane. Seated beside his brother was a small child… it was Chunhua.

The girl had a red and stuffy nose but was currently eating cookies and then drinking milkshakes. Perhaps either of the adults that she was with had decided that sweets were the answer to her silence.

The CEO stepped inside of the coffee shop and moved past the employee that waited on the door. He had arrived prior to the Panda, but he walked right to the child and the other two. "Chunhua." he said. He focused on the child first and the quest given to him.

The small child turned back to him and then got out of her chair and leapt towards him, smushing her frosted face into his pants. "Uncle Yang, you're here!"

Li Yang brushed his hand over her head and sighed softly—until his eyes met his brother and his companion. He would have said something by now to greet them and yet he was waiting for the Side Quest to get accomplished…

[ Time Remaining: 13 minutes and 10 seconds ]

It was still running?

Why was it—

"Uh, so she really was serious when she meant that I looked like her Uncle Yang," a weak laugh escaped from his brother and then turned back to the woman. "I don't think that you've gotten the chance to meet my younger brother, Yang."

[ Side Quest: Seeking the Lost Child ]

The Heavens see the missing child in the bustling streets of Shanghai. Because of the mistake of one, many have suffered—search for the child and reunite with her mother.

He had to get Chunhua back to her mom. Of course, the Quest was specific on this part. Li Yang bowed his head slightly at the woman that his brother was with before he excused himself. "Please excuse me, I need to call Chunhua's mother."

"Hey, Yang—"

He looked back at his brother and grunted. "Save your excuses for later, Liang." He could only hope that the mother wasn't that too far off. The phone rang and then was answered, he sighed. "Miss Luo Ju Di, I found Chunhua—where are you now? I'll go to you."

'No, I'll head to where you are, tell me the address and I'll get a taxi or—'

"We're at La Roti, can you get here in under ten minutes?" he asked. "If not, I'll go to where you are myself." His brows furrowed together as he watched the timer continue to go down. He doubted it with the amount of traffic they were at now. It was a rush hour but if she could, then he might wait…

'I'm not so sure—but at least she's with you now, right?' There was a sound of relief in her voice.

"Miss Luo Ju Di, I don't have a lot of time on my hands—"

'I'll be there in less than half an hour—surely that wouldn't be too much of a trouble for you? I know where that is. I'm just getting a taxi.'

He rubbed his face with a spare hand. What was it with women not telling him their addresses? His secretary didn't want to be brought home and now it was Miss Luo Ju Di? It was a jump in logic, but he was somewhat annoyed. The Failure portion of the Quest loomed over him.

"Wait, did he say…?"

"I believe I know where she is," The woman that sat across his brother spoke up and addressed him. "If that's the same Luo Ju Di that your brother here knows, then she must be at Hirire right now, it'll take longer if she gets a ride, but maybe you can run there right now and get there in ten minutes."

Li Yang glanced at her. The establishment she spoke of was unfamiliar, and he wasn't sure if he should listen to her. "I believe I have not caught your name, Madam?"

"Gabrielle Sauveterre, a pleasure to be of your acquaintance." She gave him an elegant smile, but then motioned for him to move, "I believe you need to leave right now? Take Liang along, he knows a good shortcut."

His brother threw a look at the woman, eyes widening. "Wait, what about you—"

"I'm fine." She shushed his brother with those words and with one look."You know where Luo Ju Di is, go help your sibling out."

Liang got up and then gave a small bow, "I'll be back, Mistress."

The CEO gave his brother a look, answers to his whereabouts now making sense, but then he picked Chunhua and held her in his arms. "We'll be finding your mother now, alright?"

"Okay!"

And so all three of them headed out of the cafe, the timer looming over his head as Liang moved ahead of him. The man navigated around the streets with an ease for someone who had once lived in it had.

[ Time Remaining: 11 minutes and 3 seconds ]

His brother glanced back at him and cleared his throat, "Hey, Yang, I can explain—"

He sighed, "Move faster."

—-—-

Author Note: I suppose before anyone comments about the CEO brother's (Liang's) relationship to the older woman (Gabrielle), let me just say "Yes, yes she is." One of the reasons why his brother was out of the country too. It'll make sense in the next chapter for sure in case you miss the subtext xD But some things are quite obvious lol