He needed to find evidence for those wrongly accused, and to find the killer of those who died unjustly.
The Jiang family's actions towards that person over the years compelled him to focus on them. Everyone assumed he had a grudge against the Jiang family and was relentlessly pursuing them; he had not revealed the truth to anyone.
Grandma Liu did not say much on this matter, as it was already Qin Han's obsession, and she respected him.
The autumn in Taichuan City was exceptionally cool, and dawn came late. As Qin Ningyi went out for his morning run under the bright moonlight, he encountered Grandpa Qin waiting at the door.
"Let's go, see if you've slacked off," Grandpa Qin said, clapping his arm and nodding at his still firm muscles.
Qin Ningyi had learned from his grandmother the day before that his grandfather would no longer object to them being together just because Huo Rou might be a member of the Jiang family.
He smiled, as he always did, "Never complacent."
The road was quiet, yet not empty.
Amidst the whistling wind, Grandpa Qin spoke to him, "I will continue to investigate that person's identity. This concerns the Jiang family and cannot be taken lightly."
"However, Grandpa has also come to realize that your grandparents will be kind to whomever you love. But the premise is that she cannot harm you."
Qin Ningyi recalled what his grandmother had said the day before. It was the first time he felt that his own affection could earn concessions from his family. He said with genuine gratitude, "Thank you, Grandpa."
"Bring her home soon. What's the point of just thanking me? Settle down quickly, so your Grandpa Zou and I don't argue. His Xiao Xiao is also not getting any younger."
Speaking of Zou Xiaoxiao, Grandpa Qin felt some regret. His granddaughter, whom he had watched grow up, was so outstanding, so hardworking, always chasing after Qin Ningyi, but this blockhead grandson just wouldn't see it.
It was perhaps for the best now; if he knew nothing, Xiaoxiao wouldn't be embarrassed.
With his grandfather's approval, Qin Ningyi rushed to call Huo Rou after showering.
He saw the loneliness in her eyes and wanted to give her a home, though he had never spoken of it to her.
"The number you have dialed is switched off..."
The cold voice poured a bucket of cold water on Qin Ningyi. It was rare for him to show his emotions, yet he couldn't reach Huo Rou.
It was clearly working hours; why would Huo Rou's phone be switched off?
He dialed Huo Rou's office landline. The phone was answered by Luo Chen's voice, "Hello, this is Yuda Security Technology Department..."
"I'm looking for Huo Rou."
Luo Chen recognized Qin Ningyi's voice and asked with surprise, "President Qin? Director Huo is on leave, didn't you know?"
Leave?
Qin Ningyi then called the villa's housekeeper. The housekeeper said that Huo Rou had taken An An back to their previous residence for a few days and had not yet returned.
He called everyone he could think of who might be connected to Huo Rou, but not a single person knew where Huo Rou was.
Even An An's school only said that Huo Rou had requested leave for An An, and he would return to class next week.
He had only been away for a few days, and Huo Rou had seemingly vanished into thin air.
Xiao Konglin called back, "President Qin, I found that on the day you left, after noon, Miss Huo took the young master away from the villa, but they did not arrange for any vehicles. They walked towards the less-trafficked road next to it."
"And then?" Qin Ningyi asked in a deep voice, already struggling to suppress the panic in his heart.
Xiao Konglin's tone became strange, "The surveillance cameras on that road were turned off that day, and nothing was recorded."
"Search the entire route for me!" Qin Ningyi's voice was brewing a storm.
Facing a busy signal, Xiao Konglin's pupils widened considerably. He seemed to be experiencing Qin Ningyi's true anger for the first time.
The former Qin Ningyi was reserved and composed; even if one could sense his anger, it was never as obvious as this.
If he was intimidating when he suppressed his anger, one could only imagine him now.
Xiao Konglin could only hope that he could find Miss Huo before Qin Ningyi returned.
Who knew why this Miss Huo had become unreachable?
Qin Ningyi's unease grew with every thought. He scrolled through his phone's contacts, falling into a long silence.
The commotion downstairs drifted up. Grandpa Qin's laughter was loud, "Ningyi, come down quickly! My old comrade is here, let's play a game!"
Qin Ningyi seemed not to hear, his finger stopping on the page for his hidden contacts, his gaze fixed on the symbols.
He hesitated.
Grandma Liu's voice sounded from outside the door, "Ningyi, are you busy?"
Qin Ningyi finally came back to his senses, got up, and opened the door.
Grandma Liu stood outside, looking at her grandson's expressionless face, and felt something was amiss.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"I..." Qin Ningyi didn't know how to explain. He simply couldn't reach Huo Rou, and no one knew where she had gone.
She might have just forgotten to charge her phone; she might be busy with something. Qin Ningyi knew that logically, he shouldn't be panicking and rushing like this.
Reason told him not to worry.
But he couldn't control this unfamiliar emotion.
It was like back then when he wanted to find that childhood friend he had considered his confidant. He wanted to invite her to swing at home, but he couldn't find any information.
Those who bullied her didn't know who she was. He had asked the adults in the compound through his grandmother, but no one knew of such a little girl.
His anxiety and nervousness then, no one in the family understood except his grandmother.
So he learned to control himself. And today...
"Grandma, I can't reach A Rou." He sounded a little lost. The same situation was happening to him again.
"What?" Grandpa Qin, who was going upstairs to the study with Grandpa Zou, happened to hear his words.
"What do you mean you can't reach her? Did she really leave because the Jiang family was afraid of my investigation?" Grandpa Qin frowned, suspicion growing in his eyes.
"She probably just couldn't answer because she was in a meeting at work..." Zou Xiaoxiao tried to comfort Qin Ningyi, her eyes full of empathy, seeing the emotion in his eyes.
"No, it's not," Qin Ningyi shook his head.
Grandma Liu made a decisive call, "Ningyi, you go back."
"Go back and find her," Grandma Liu said, looking him in the eyes, her tone firm.
"I'll have Old Yu prepare the plane. No matter the reason she's unreachable, we have to find her to be at ease." Grandma Liu did not think it was an overreaction to be so concerned over a missed call.
What Qin Ningyi hesitated about was precisely what she disregarded.
These words solidified Qin Ningyi's resolve. He regained his polite demeanor, bid farewell to Grandpa Zou, and walked towards the door.
As he stepped outside, he opened his phone, returned to the hidden contacts page, and dialed the contact represented by a symbol.
The other party answered quickly, their voice respectful yet lethal, "Master Qin."