The Aftermath of Disappearance

News of Jian Ye’s disappearance had spread like wildfire. Both the Yi and Jian families were fully aware, and their reactions varied significantly.

The Yi family immediately contacted Yi Siyu. His eldest brother, Yi Sizhe, dropped his work and rushed to S City. He understood his brother well; at a time like this, Siyu’s emotions would undoubtedly be unstable. Fearing Siyu might act impulsively, Yi Sizhe knew he had to be by his side.

Meanwhile, the second brother remained home to stabilize Yu Xinran’s emotions. Mother Yi burst into tears the moment she heard the news. She felt a profound, unique pity for the orphaned boy. ‘Ah Ye is so well-behaved, so kind,’ she lamented. ‘Why is Heaven so blind?’

Yi Xiangcheng, the family patriarch, focused on managing public opinion and mobilizing his connections in S City. He dedicated himself to assisting with search and rescue efforts in every possible way.

****

Over in the Jian family, the relatives’ initial reaction was one of shock and dismay. Soon after, their individual ulterior motives began to surface.

Jian Song had never imagined that Jian Ye, such a timid fellow, would actually dare to jump into the water to save someone. While this surprised him, he secretly rejoiced. ‘If this unlucky kid truly dies, could I perhaps get a share of the assets his parents left behind?’

Jian Shishi, however, was not quite so depraved. She equally detested all foolish people, yet Jian Ye’s actions this time had slightly changed her impression of him. She wasn’t so heartless as to wish for her “cheap brother’s” death. She merely felt that her Third Uncle’s family was truly tragic. Both parents had died young, leaving Jian Ye alone, and now their only son’s fate hung in the balance.

The eldest and second branches of the Jian family, deep down, still coveted the Third Branch’s assets. If the entire Third Branch were gone, Yi Siyu would be the first in line to inherit Jian Ye’s pre-marital assets, with the Jian family members as the second in line. Given the Yi family’s immense wealth and power, what if they disdained those assets? Wouldn’t the Jian family still have an opportunity?

The estate Elder Master Jian had allocated to the Third Branch was substantial, and combined with what the Third Branch had earned themselves, it represented a significant fortune. Like wolves and tigers, every member of the Jian family yearned to carve up these assets without lifting a finger.

Though Elder Master Jian was old, his mind remained sharp. With a single sentence, he shattered everyone’s illusions.

“I know what each and every one of you is thinking,” he thundered. “I’m telling you, what my good grandson holds, even if he takes it to his grave, none of you should even dream of it.”

“Third Brother’s possessions are his alone. Don’t you have your own? Always coveting others’ things—isn’t that shameful? Has the Jian family’s annual dividend ever shortchanged any of you?”

“What’s more, my grandson is merely missing; he’s not dead yet! And you’re already thinking about such things! Do you even deserve to be his elders? You’re wishing for Ye’er’s death, aren’t you? Believe it or not, I’ll put an end to you first!”

The Elder Master raged in the ancestral hall of the old residence. The members of the other branches fell as silent as chickens, not daring to utter a word. Their consciences pricked them, for the Elder Master had indeed spoken their hidden thoughts, leaving them too guilty to meet his gaze.

“Ye’er is a fine young man. I know you often malign him in private, but you truly cannot achieve what he has. His character is upright, possessing the same spirit as my great-grandfather. He is truly worthy of being a descendant of our Jian family!”

“If I ever hear any of you call Jian Ye a good-for-nothing again, don’t blame this old man for being impolite.”

Jian Song scratched his head, unable to resist secretly asking Jian Shishi beside him, “What kind of spirit did Grandpa’s great-grandfather have?”

Jian Shishi whispered, “Reportedly, he was a minor civil official, but he once blocked a blade for the Emperor at a critical moment.”

Jian Song was speechless. ‘These people are all crazier than the last, risking their lives! What’s there to brag about? They’re all lunatics!’

****

S City. Three A.M.

Yi Siyu had a dream where Jian Ye was calling for help in the water. He desperately reached out, yet could never quite grasp him, ultimately watching helplessly as the young man was swept away by the current.

“Ah Ye!” He struggled, suddenly waking with a start.

“Siyu, are you alright?” Beside him, Huo Kai also awoke upon hearing the sound.

Yi Siyu’s forehead was slick with cold sweat, and his back was soaked. He gasped for several breaths, trying to compose himself. Twelve hours had passed since Jian Ye’s disappearance. Yi Siyu had rushed to S City at the fastest possible speed after Huo Kai notified him.

The search and rescue teams worked ceaselessly, rotating shifts as they scoured the water. Upon meeting, Huo Kai and Yi Siyu drove together along the riverbank, heading towards the flatter, more open areas downstream.

To be frank, the feeling of merely watching others conduct the rescue was incredibly helpless, a sensation Yi Siyu experienced for the first time. He had always believed himself to be capable in many aspects, financially secure for generations, yet all of it seemed worthless in the face of his beloved’s life.

A voice within him told him Jian Ye would be fine; it was a strange intuition. However, as time ticked by and his beloved remained missing, the panic in his heart showed no signs of abating.

“Siyu, it’s all my fault,” Huo Kai said, his voice thick with guilt. “I promised to look after Ah Ye for you, yet I let him get into this trouble. I’ve been restless all night.”

Yi Siyu, however, shook his head, refuting Huo Kai’s words. “This isn’t anyone’s fault. Accidents always happen.”

Though he said this aloud, he was secretly blaming himself. It was Jian Ye’s first time filming, and in an unfamiliar city at that. Now that the incident had occurred, regret was utterly useless. He gazed expressionlessly at the dark river surface, which was only partially illuminated where the search and rescue team’s emergency lights swept across it.

Another two hours passed. At five A.M., as dawn began to break, the shout of a rescue worker suddenly echoed across the river.

“We found a shoe! Come quickly and take a look!”

Yi Siyu and Huo Kai both rushed over to check immediately. The man’s hand trembled slightly as he wiped away the mud from the shoe, heedless of the grime. His voice, slightly hoarse, said, “It’s his shoe. I bought it for him.”

Jian Ye wasn’t particular about his attire; many of his clothes and shoes were bought by Yi Siyu. This particular pair had been purchased that day when Yi Siyu took the young man shopping.

Huo Kai asked the rescue team member, “Is it just one shoe? Where is he?”

The member shook their head. “We still haven’t found the person. The shoe was likely swept away by the strong current.”

Huo Kai nodded in disappointment, patting Yi Siyu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, just wait a little longer. We found his shoe, so he should be found soon…”

In truth, his words were meant not only to comfort his brother but also himself. His rational judgment told him that Jian Ye was likely… in dire straits.

****

Outside, as everyone worried for Jian Ye’s life, the young man himself slowly opened his eyes on an unfamiliar, large bed. A small night light was on in the room, illuminating parts of the surrounding area.

Jian Ye’s consciousness hadn’t fully returned; his last memory was of floating in the water.

[Jian Ye: System! System?]

Jian Ye called out to the system several times, but received no response. The system had never been unresponsive before, which suddenly made Jian Ye feel a little unsettled.

‘Could it be… that I’m already dead? Is this heaven, and the system automatically unbound from me?’

Yet, the sensation beneath him was incredibly real. The bed was soft and comfortable. Was he rescued from the water? Did someone from the film crew or did Huo Kai arrange for his rescue?

However, the facilities before him didn’t resemble a hospital or a hotel. Instead, they looked like a wealthy person’s home. It was even more luxurious than the Yi family’s mansion. Jian Ye struggled to sit up, abruptly realizing that his clothes had also been changed.

As he pondered these questions, the door opened. A young man with a scar on his face entered. Such an appearance, in most movies, usually indicated a villain. Jian Ye instinctively recoiled, pulling his collar tighter.

Seeing the person on the bed awake, Ah Jin’s eyes suddenly widened. “You, don’t move around! I… I’ll go call Uncle Pang for you!”

Noticing the young man’s wary expression, Ah Jin awkwardly ran a hand over his crew cut. “Don’t misunderstand! I’m not a bad guy! It was the Young Master who saved you from the river. He’s busy, so he asked me to look after you.”

He shouted “Uncle Pang” towards the outside. Soon after, a middle-aged man walked in, grumbling.

“One call is enough! It’s late at night, are you wailing like you’re at a funeral?!” The middle-aged man’s hair was somewhat gray. Facing the young man on the bed with his wide eyes, a hint of a benevolent expression returned to his face. “I’m the family doctor, little friend. Don’t be nervous. I was the one who changed your clothes. Before, you were completely drenched. I had someone get you some clean clothes.”

Still, Jian Ye couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been sent to a hospital. ‘What did that scar-faced man just say? “Young Master”? Such a heavily jianghu-esque title…’

Since the system wasn’t responding, Jian Ye didn’t know the true identities of these people, so it was better to remain cautious. However, he obediently said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

“No need to thank me. Wait until Young Master Qin returns and thank him personally. He’s the one who saved you.”

“Young Master Qin?” After acting sweet, Jian Ye feigned confusion, slowly trying to extract information.

At the mention of “Young Master Qin,” Ah Jin couldn’t hold back. He gushed to Jian Ye, praising his boss, saying their Young Master was the eldest young master of the Qin family in S City, the heir, and then spoke of the Qin Corporation’s leading position.

Listening to Ah Jin’s grand pronouncements, Jian Ye grew increasingly suspicious that this Young Master Qin was merely a local strongman. ‘Are the Qin family’s businesses truly legitimate?’