Three days passed after that, and Li Chunhua was still not showing any sign of waking up. She had never slept so long like this before, so everyone became increasingly worried.
Moreover, Li Caiyi hadn't heard a single thing about Dai Zhiqiang. She was always on the edge of her seat and couldn't stop checking on her phone.
Meng Renshu comforted her and said that she should take no news as good news, but thinking about how fierce Huang Zhen could be, Li Caiyi couldn't calm down.
There was no news from Dai Shenqiang's side too, which meant that no one in Ye Wang knew his whereabouts and current condition.
Li Caiyi felt it was only a matter of time before she went crazy from worry.
What if she couldn't meet him anymore?
She quickly slapped herself when that thought passed her mind. There was no way it would be like that. She still had a lot of things she wanted to do with him and many words she wanted to tell him.
Like gratitude for always thinking about her. Or an apology for being too sensitive and difficult.
Li Caiyi calmed herself down. Panicking wouldn't help her. Instead of regretting, she should do whatever she could first.
She felt like if there was anyone who probably knew about Dai Zhiqiang's condition, that would be Ye Huizhong.
Coincidentally, Li Caiyi also had a favor to ask of him, so she planned to visit Ye Wang as soon as possible.
She should have done this a few days ago, but Li Junjie always appeared beside her and insisted on following her. Even when she deliberately ran out of the classroom right as the bell rang, Li Junjie would wait for her at the gate. In the end, she was always caught by him.
Li Caiyi failed to shake him off in the last few days, but she must succeed today. She was confident since she had already formulated a good plan.
Thinking about the mouse alley that she and Dai Zhiqiang used to escape from the loan sharks, Li Caiyi was sure her brother wouldn't be able to find her if she went that way. She had already memorized the road too.
Her mind wandered, and she was reminded of Dai Zhiqiang again. At that time, they hadn't been in a relationship yet, but he held her hand tightly as he led her.
Li Caiyi remembered she was so nervous and self-conscious back then, but she felt so reassured with him.
So much she wanted him to hold her hand longer.
Li Caiyi touched her necklace's pendant and wondered if she had already fallen for him at that time?
She missed him so much.
***
Unlike the day before, Li Caiyi didn't immediately run out of the classroom when the bell rang. She waited a few minutes before walking out of the school building towards the back gate.
She was a bit nervous as Li Junjie was like a ghost who kept appearing beside her. But when she finally reached the gate, she sighed in relief, noticing no one was there.
Li Caiyi hastened her steps and almost took a breath of freedom when she was suddenly yanked from behind by the arm.
She gasped in surprise. "Wait, Brother Jie! I can explain!"
A chuckle escaped Meng Renshu's mouth as he looked down at Li Caiyi's shocked face. "You are like a cat whose tail has been stepped on. Did Junjie scare you so much?"
"Brother Renshu! It's you." Li Caiyi's shoulder visibly relaxed. She almost got a mini heart attack just now.
"Where are you going? Why are you sneaking around like a thief?"
"It's a long story, but I can't let Brother Jie know I'm here. Can you keep this a secret from him?" Li Caiyi put her index finger in front of her lips, and Meng Renshu found that gesture adorable.
"But I'm here on your brother's request. He said to stand by the back gate, and if I see you walking past, I should stop you and contact him immediately."
Li Caiyi staggered backward. She thought she had found her ally, but it turned out she ran into Li Junjie's accomplice here.
Meng Renshu laughed, seeing her worried expression. "Relax, I won't snitch on you if you tell me where are you going? What are you up to this time?"
"Do I have to tell you that?"
"Should I call Junjie then?" Meng Renshu raised his phone in front of her while smirking mischievously.
"Wait, no, please don't." Li Caiyi pulled his hand before heaving a long sigh.
At least the one who caught her was Meng Renshu, who knew her secret. But it was probably better not to tell him it was Dai Zhiqiang's workplace.
"That's more like it. I'm listening." Meng Renshu's smile deepened.
"It's nothing very important. Have you heard about Gu Xue's suspicious movement from Detective Tang?"
"Yeah. Is this related to that matter?"
Li Caiyi nodded. "I know someone who can help us, and I plan to visit him today."
"Really? But that person must have considerable influence to enter a place like that."
"Don't worry. That person fits the criteria just okay. And I also know how to convince him to help me. So if you could just shut your eyes and pretend you didn't see me today, our problem will be solved."
Meng Renshu smiled. He felt good inside seeing her act fawningly in front of him.
"I'm not sure. But you seem to be very confident about this. What kind of relationship do you have with this person?"
Li Caiyi pouted. "Are you deliberately questioning me like this because you already secretly call my brother here? Is this another of your tricks?"
"There's no such thing. I want to ensure this guy won't take advantage of you."
"He won't. At least, I believe so because he owes me something. I have to collect the debt from him."
"You make me even more curious. Who is that person?"
This was the crucial part. Meng Renshu was very sharp, so she couldn't slip here.
Li Caiyi chose her words carefully before answering. "It's just someone I know in the passing. He is a low-profile man, so he doesn't like it when people spread the news about him. He is also an introvert who dislikes people. Brother Renshu, this is all for the success of our plan. If you keep holding me here, my brother will soon come to check on us."
Her tone was urgent, but Meng Renshu wasn't in a hurry at all. He calmly thought it through before smiling widely. "Sounds like an excellent man to me. Can we visit him together?"
"No!" Li Caiyi rejected him immediately.
What's with people these days? Why do they keep trying to tail her everywhere?
"I already said he doesn't like meeting people."
Meng Renshu only gave her a meaningful smile. "Xiaoyi, it's either me or Junjie. Take your pick slowly. I'm not in a hurry. Even if you refuse, three people can still play this game."
Li Caiyi was at a loss for words facing his subtle threat.
Previously, Meng Renshu warned her that Dai Zhiqiang was involved with some dangerous group. He was right, but he didn't know about it yet.
That was the reason she didn't mention anything about Ye Wang being Dai Zhiqiang's workplace. If Meng Renshu knew, he probably would have prevented her from going there.
If she let him follow her, the cat would quickly be out of the bag, and no one could tell how he would react. What to do?
"Xiaoyi, what's your answer?"