Jian Junru stepped forward a couple of paces, urgently asking, "What did you discover?"
Gu Jiangyan swept his gaze across the assembled group, "Tell me what you've found first."
Jian Junru quickly recounted the findings from their investigation, including their suspicions about supernatural intervention.
Gu Jiangyan didn't question their speculation.
He himself had also sensed something unnatural.
Gu Jiangyan unfolded the documents in his hand.
"Like all of you, I initially focused my investigation on the hospital and surrounding surveillance, but found no progress."
"So I took a different approach, starting with Xu Shao and Xu Lan."
"And coincidentally, Xu Shao has also disappeared."
Jian Jun Tan nodded.
Though he still didn't approve of this future brother-in-law, Gu Jiangyan's performance so far was passable.
"Ruoruo told me about being followed by Xu Shao on the road. We also tried to track him, but we couldn't find him and had no leads."
Gu Jiangyan beckoned outwards, and two people entered, escorting a woman.
It was Xu Lan!
But the Xu Lan now was a far cry from the spirited woman at the art exhibition.
Her hair was disheveled, and her makeup had smeared into a mess.
Pushed forward by those behind her, Xu Lan fell to her knees, crying out in pain.
However, fear overshadowed the pain. Xu Lan looked at the people before her with terror and shrieked:
"Kidnapping is illegal! You're holding me captive!"
Gu Jiangyan said coldly, "I am assisting the police in apprehending a fugitive, which is considered aiding others."
Xu Lan's expression changed, and just as she was about to say more, she suddenly noticed Jian Junru standing unobtrusively in the corner.
Xu Lan scrambled over and grabbed Jian Junru's hand, crying:
"Jian Junru! Ruoruo! We're classmates! We're friends!"
"You can't let them break the law, can't let them bully me like this!"
She knew Jian Junru!
Although Jian Junru appeared demure and aloof, she was known in class for being beautiful and kind-hearted.
Even when Xu Lan had treated her poorly at school, Jian Junru had never gotten angry!
Now, with a few pleas, Jian Junru would surely help her!
Normally, Jian Junru might have stepped in to help if she saw Xu Lan being bullied.
But she didn't realize:
A woman may be delicate, but a mother is fierce!
Jian Junru's face was as cold as frost, especially after learning that Xu Shao was very likely the kidnapper, fueling her with animosity and hatred towards the woman before her.
If they hadn't met her at the art exhibition, how could they have attracted this madman, Xu Shao!
Jian Junru suddenly broke into a smile.
Just as Xu Lan thought her words had worked and Jian Junru would soften and help her,
Jian Junru grabbed Xu Lan's messy hair, forcing her to look up and meet her gaze.
"Tell me, where are Xu Shao and my daughter now?"
Xu Lan's scalp ached from the pulling, and she cried out:
"Jian Junru, you can't do this! We're friends! You can't treat me like this!"
Jian Junru's icy demeanor intensified, a cruel glint in her eyes.
She grabbed Xu Lan's head and slammed it against a chair. The wooden chair wouldn't cause severe injury, but it certainly hurt.
Xu Lan clutched her head, tears immediately streaming down her face.
She never imagined that the usually gentle and seemingly weak Jian Junru would suddenly act so fierce.
Not only Xu Lan, but even others familiar with Jian Junru were stunned.
Gu Changlin even wondered if his son would be subjected to domestic violence after marrying this daughter-in-law.
Xu Lan cried, "I don't know where they are! I really don't!"
"I haven't seen him since I was brought into the station!"
Jian Junru's expression remained blank as she continued to smash Xu Lan's head against the solid wood chair.
Xu Lan sobbed, begging for mercy, while Jian Junru's voice remained soft, yet sent a shiver down her spine.
"No rush, you can take your time to think, about any information you know related to Xu Shao."
"What his latest moves were, who he contacted."
"Take your time, I'm not in a hurry, really not in a hurry."
Jian Junru continued her blows, softly recounting the day's events.
Including their speculations about supernatural forces after Jian Sheng's disappearance.
Xu Lan and Xu Shao were close. No matter how much Xu Shao concealed from Xu Lan, he would inevitably reveal some peculiarities.
And these anomalies were their last hope of finding Sheng Sheng.
"I've already died once, and now my daughter is missing. You can test my patience further."
Xu Lan's head was swimming from the impacts. Upon hearing that Xu Shao had orchestrated a car accident that nearly killed their family of three,
She could understand why Jian Junru had suddenly changed so drastically.
It wasn't surprising for someone who had narrowly escaped death to do anything drastic.
Driven by the instinct for survival, Xu Lan's mind raced.
Just as Jian Junru was about to smash her head down again, Xu Lan had a flash of inspiration and quickly shouted:
"I remember!"
Jian Junru paused her actions.
Xu Lan quickly said, "I saw someone at Xu Shao's house. Xu Shao and his father called that person 'Master Lou'!"
Master Lou!
Everyone present stiffened.
Even Gu Changlin and Chen Yulou, who had dismissed the talk of supernatural powers as wishful thinking born of desperation, had their expressions change dramatically.
Could it be that those unscientific things truly existed?
Jian Junru held Xu Lan's hair, forcing her to look at the others.
"Tell us everything you know about this 'Master Lou'!"
Xu Lan's body trembled, and she hurriedly said:
"Xu Shao and the others were very secretive about Master Lou. He reprimanded me when I asked, so I don't know much."
"Then tell us what you do know. If you dare to hide anything... Hmph!"
Feeling the increased pressure from Jian Junru's grip, Xu Lan was terrified and quickly recalled the situation.
She meticulously recounted Master Lou's appearance, his words, and Xu Shao's evaluation of him.
According to her, Master Lou appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, dressed like any ordinary elderly person.
He wore a grey overcoat and a scarf around his neck.
When Xu Lan accompanied Xu Shao home, she saw Xu Shao's father respectfully seeing Master Lou off. Curious, she asked about Master Lou's identity.
Xu Shao immediately warned her sternly not to ask questions she shouldn't!
But to impress upon her the seriousness of the matter, Xu Shao did mention Master Lou's capabilities.
He possessed extraordinary magical skills, his methods were unfathomably strange, and he had the power to alter destiny.
Xu Lan didn't believe this, and Xu Shao said nothing further.
He merely told her that if she ever encountered him again, she must never anger Master Lou!
After Xu Lan finished speaking, everyone present fell into thought.