Chapter 198
After the meal, Shen Shuyu looked at Wen Yue, organized his thoughts, and told her about bumping into Ning Shan downstairs the day before.
Wen Yue lowered her eyes slightly. “Yesterday, he also tried to persuade me to return to Amour.”
She knew she no longer had any use on this planet, but how could she leave her son behind?
She had no idea what Wen Jiafeiās current situation was in the Ning family; how could she return so calmly?
Wen Yue looked at Shen Shuyu and asked, “Shuyu, are you also persuading me to go back?”
Shen Shuyu shook his head. “Auntie, the reason I’m telling you this is so you can make your own decision. Even without Ning Shan, I would still go looking for Wen Jiafei.”
Wen Yue leaned back and looked out at the street, remaining silent.
Shen Shuyu wasn’t in a hurry to press her and sat with her, looking out the window. After an unknown amount of time, Wen Yue finally turned her head back to look at Shen Shuyu. She said, “I will go back, but not now. I need to be certain of Jiafeiās safety before I can leave.”
Shen Shuyu nodded. “Okay, Auntie. Rest assured, I will make the arrangements.”
After finishing his conversation with Wen Yue, Shen Shuyu saw her back to her hotel. He went downstairs and pulled the business card Ning Shan had given him yesterday from his pocket. He took a deep breath. Just as he was about to dial the number, Ning Shan’s voice came from his left. “Were you planning to look for me?”
Shen Shuyu turned around. Ning Shan was standing two or three steps away from him.
Shen Shuyu put the terminal and the business card back into his pocket. He walked over and asked, “Are you this idle every day?”
Ning Shan said, “Let’s find a place to sit and talk.”
Shen Shuyu agreed, and the two went back to the same cafe as yesterday. After two cups of coffee were served, Shen Shuyu said, “I won’t beat around the bush. I can consider what you said, but I must see Wen Jiafei first.”
Ning Shan wasn’t surprised that Shen Shuyu made this request. He took a sip of his coffee. “I can do that.”
Shen Shuyu said, “You’re quite straightforward.”
Ning Shan replied, “When you reach my age, you’ll realize there’s no need to drag certain things out. You should know about our natural hot springs here, right? Wen Jiafei will be going there tonight. Of course, he’ll be surrounded by many people. I can help you then, but as for how you get inside, that’s up to you.”
The hot springs?
What a coincidence. He was also going there tonight.
Shen Shuyu nodded. “Fine. What time will he be there?”
“Between nine and ten in the evening. I don’t know exactly when he’ll arrive,” Ning Shan said. “I can’t get close to him right now either.”
Shen Shuyu pursed his lips. “What exactly is his current situation?”
“Don’t worry, he just lacks a bit of freedom, that’s all.” Ning Shan slowly adjusted his cuffs. “After all, he is currently my elder brother’s lifeblood.”
When Ning Shan mentioned his elder brother, his tone flattened and became cold, as if he was not at all satisfied with Ning Bai.
Shen Shuyu understood. He said, “Alright, I’ve got it. We’ll talk more when we get there tonight.”
For now, he could only play it by ear. With such a major event in the Ning family, it was impossible for Wen Jiafei to just vanish into thin air. He still needed to wait until he saw Wen Jiafei to discuss things with him.
After finishing their coffee, Shen Shuyu and Ning Shan, each with their own hidden agendas, bid each other farewell.
As soon as Shen Shuyu returned to his hotel, he received a message from Mother Shen saying their friends had bumped into an acquaintance. They would go directly to the hot springs in the evening and told Shen Shuyu to find his own way there.
Shen Shuyu didn’t mind. Without his parents around, he actually felt more at ease.
At eight-thirty in the evening.
Shen Shuyu appeared punctually at the hot springs. Upon arrival, he discovered the place was divided into many roomsāsome public and some private.
Shen Shuyu wandered around aimlessly with a glass of orange juice. Ning Shan had said Wen Jiafei would arrive after nine, but he needed to scout the place in advance.
The building had three floors in total, each built with extreme opulence. After exploring the first and second floors, Shen Shuyu slowly walked toward the third floor, but was stopped at the entrance.
The receptionist at the entrance said politely, “Hello, please show your electronic reservation voucher.”
The top floor consisted of member-only rooms. Biting down on the straw of his orange juice, Shen Shuyu took out his terminal and showed the reservation voucher to the receptionist.
The receptionist said, “Thank you. Please come this way.”
As the receptionist moved to lead Shen Shuyu inside, he said, “No need. Just tell me where it is, and I’ll go myself.”
The receptionist pointed the way. After thanking them, Shen Shuyu slurped up the last of his orange juice and headed in the direction the receptionist had indicated.
Luckily, Mother Shen had sent him the reservation voucher before he came; otherwise, he might not have been able to get up here.
The membership system here actually provided him with a lot of convenience. Wen Jiafei should also be on this floor. Whether he was going to see Wen Jiafei or returning afterward, he would be able to hide himself fairly well.
Shen Shuyu circled the third floor a few times, memorizing the general layout and the room numbers. By the time he returned to the hall, it was nearly nine o’clock.
There were quite a few people walking back and forth on the third floor. Shen Shuyu found a relatively hidden spot. He had noticed a baseball cap in the clothing section earlier while passing by. Wearing the hat and holding some food, his gaze remained fixed on the entrance.
The third floor only had this one entrance; both the elevator and the stairs were in the same direction. No matter where Wen Jiafei came from, he would be able to see him clearly.
Nine-fifteen.
The elevator doors on the third floor slid open to both sides, and the people inside stepped out.
Shen Shuyu raised his hand to pull his hat lower. He watched as they walked toward the left. He sipped the orange juice in his glass. Ning Shan had indeed been right; in the very center of the group, surrounded by a crowd, was Wen Jiafei, whom he hadn’t seen for many days.
There were four bodyguards in suits by his sideāit was hard to tell if they were protecting him or watching him.
The other three appeared to be about the same age as Wen Jiafei. Their expressions were full of displeasure, and they all restrained their gazes, letting them fall on Wen Jiafei in the center.
Undercurrents were surging at every moment.
But Wen Jiafei, surrounded in the middle, didn’t seem to care. By the time he returned, he had long since grown accustomed to this atmosphere of superficial politeness while secretly wishing the other party would drop dead instantly.
Suddenly, he felt a familiar gaze falling upon him. He turned his head toward the end of that gaze but saw nothing.
Wen Jiafei withdrew his gaze. It must have been his imagination just now.
The terminal in Shen Shuyuās pocket vibrated. He took it out and glanced at it; it was a message from Ning Shan.
[A3-02-15]
Shen Shuyu leaned against the wall at the corner. Upon seeing the number, he poked his head out slightly. Sure enough, he saw two bodyguards standing guard at the door, while the other two had presumably followed inside.
So now the problem wasāhow was he supposed to get in?
This was proving to be a bit difficult.
Shen Shuyu waited a while longer, and his terminal received another message from Ning Shan.
[I can help you lure the guards inside away for fifteen minutes, but the two outside follow Wen Jiafei constantly.]
Shen Shuyu replied with an “Okay.” Sure enough, not long after, the bodyguards inside came out. The four of them exchanged a few words, and then two of the bodyguards left in a hurry.
Shen Shuyu checked his watch; he had to get in now.
He pondered for a moment, but his gaze suddenly fell on a waiter pushing a trolley. He raised an eyebrow slightlyāhe had a plan.
Two minutes later, the trolley rolled across the floor, making a soft clicking sound. He reached the door of room 02-15. After showing his work ID to the bodyguards, they opened the door and let him push the trolley inside.
The trolley was loaded with food and drinks. The “waiter” walked in to find three people sitting together, while another sat at the very edge. He decisively headed toward the three of them with three glasses of drinks.
“This is our shop’s signature fruit drink. Please have a taste, honored guests. If you have any needs, you can use the bell on the table to contact us.”
The slightly older man waved his hand and said impatiently, “Got it. Put the things down and get out.”
The waiter turned back and placed the last glass of juice on the small table next to Wen Jiafei. “Please.”
Wen Jiafei didn’t even open his eyes, not caring about anything.
Meanwhile, the three people nearby had already drunk some of the juice. For some reason, they felt their eyelids becoming heavy. Before they could say anything, each of them sat in their chairs and fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, the waiter lifted the white cloth covering the trolley. Hidden underneath was a personāShen Shuyu.
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