WWML 06

chapter 06

Being called an “old man,” Fu Juncheng didn’t get angry. He simply let out a low laugh. “Happy now?”

A grudge repaid the very same day—he had to admit, he quite liked that temper of hers.

Gu Qingning said nothing. When her eyes unintentionally met his—those cold, sharp eyes that seemed to see through people—she felt as if he had read her entire mind.

She tilted her head slightly to avoid his gaze.

Politely, she said, “Thank you for the car.”

She knew there were security cameras everywhere nearby; he must have known she’d left by motorcycle.

Fu Juncheng arched a brow and started walking toward her.

As he drew near, a faint metallic scent of blood reached his nose.

His fine, dark brows knit together slightly. He asked in a low voice, “You’re hurt again?”

Gu Qingning cursed inwardly—what a sharp nose.

In a calm tone, she replied, “It’s someone else’s.”

At that, Fu Juncheng’s brows relaxed, and a faint smile touched his lips.

He curled his fingers and flicked her lightly on the forehead. “Motorcycles are dangerous. Little girls shouldn’t be riding them, you know?”

The way he kept calling her “little girl” carried a teasing undertone.

Gu Qingning looked up. After a sleepless night and the cold wind, her beautiful dark eyes were bloodshot.

Suppressing a wave of dizziness, she forced a thin, sarcastic smile. “I didn’t know that, old man.”

However—

The man’s cold eyes were sharp, easily catching her discomfort. His long, slender fingers gently pinched her cheek.

The warmth beneath his fingertips was alarmingly hot.

The amusement in his gaze faded. “If you’re not feeling well, don’t try to be tough…”

Before he could finish teasing her, the girl’s soft body collapsed into his arms.

Her forehead knocked against his collarbone, and the heat of her skin seeped through his shirt. Fu Juncheng reacted swiftly, catching her before she fell.

Looking down at the fainted girl in his arms, his expression softened with helplessness.

“You irritable little lion,” he murmured with a sigh. Then he shifted his grip and carried her out of the garage.

At the Gu Residence

Smooth violin notes flowed through the living room—gentle as running water, melodious and graceful.

In a few days, Gu Wanwan was entering a violin competition, and she had been working hard for it.

For a month straight, she had been getting up early every day, practicing like her life depended on it.

“Third Young Master.”

The butler’s respectful voice sounded from the door, followed by another servant’s.

“Third Young Master, have you had breakfast yet? Should I ask the kitchen to prepare something for you?”

Gu Zhao strode into the living room with long, purposeful steps and replied coolly, “No need.”

“Third Brother.”

Gu Wanwan’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. She hadn’t expected Gu Zhao to suddenly come home.

Setting her violin on the table, she trotted over, clinging sweetly to his arm. “Third Brother, when did you get back? You didn’t even tell me—I would’ve gone to the airport to pick you up.”

Gu Zhao pulled his arm free, his tone flat. “You go on with your own things. I’ll be leaving soon.”

His cold indifference stood like a wall between them, keeping her at a distance.

She bit her lip, a flicker of hurt and embarrassment in her expression.

No matter what, they were half-siblings—why couldn’t he at least show her a kind face?

Suppressing her irritation, she forced what she thought was a sweet smile and said softly, “Third Brother, I have a violin competition soon. I’ve been practicing hard these days.”

“How about I play something for you? Maybe you can give me some guidance?”

She took a step closer, but Gu Zhao calmly moved aside, widening the space between them.

“I have work to do,” he said. “If you want guidance, ask your violin teacher.”

Gu Wanwan froze, the color draining from her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the butler and servants nearby, which only made her feel more humiliated.

The butler, head bowed, was already used to the siblings’ tension and said nothing.

Gu Zhao glanced around the living room but didn’t see Gu Qingning. He turned to the butler. “Uncle Wan, where’s Qingning?”

Uncle Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down his spine.

“Miss Qingning, she…”

“My sister went out,” Gu Wanwan interrupted quickly.

Among the three Gu brothers, Gu Zhao had the mildest temper—but that didn’t mean he was easy to fool.

He cast Gu Wanwan a sharp glance, then turned back to the butler. “Really? Qingning went out this early?”

He’d heard that his younger sister rarely left the house except for school. What a coincidence that she happened to be gone the moment he returned.

Under his piercing gaze, the butler broke into a cold sweat. “Third Young Master, Miss Qingning, she…”

Sensing things were going wrong, Gu Wanwan jumped in again, “Third Brother, it’s the weekend. Third Sister went out early this morning. She just moved to City A, so she’s probably exploring—getting to know the area.”

As soon as she finished, a sharp, icy look shot her way. His tone turned cold. “I asked Uncle Wan, not you.”

Gu Wanwan’s face went pale, a sudden wave of dread rising in her chest.

He’d come home asking for Gu Qingning—and now he was yelling at her because of Gu Qingning.

Gu Zhao looked back at the butler, his voice firm. “Uncle Wan. Speak.”

The butler glanced at Gu Wanwan’s anxious expression. Realizing the truth couldn’t stay hidden, he ignored her warning stare and told the truth.

“Miss Qingning… has gone missing.”

Gu Wanwan gritted her teeth in frustration, cursing the butler silently for his uselessness.

Gu Zhao’s expression turned cold as ice. “What do you mean, ‘missing’? Explain.”

“A few days ago, Miss Qingning’s class went on a school outing. Somehow, she disappeared during the trip,” Uncle Wan said nervously.

“Disappeared?”

What a lousy excuse. Gu Zhao immediately knew it was a lie.

“A whole class went on that trip, and she’s the only one missing? You’ve been hiding something this serious all this time?” His voice rose sharply in anger.

Uncle Wan, terrified at seeing Gu Zhao this furious for the first time, didn’t even dare breathe too loudly.

He stammered, “Third Young Master, we’ve already sent people to look for her. We should hear something soon.”

“Should?”

“Soon?”

Gu Zhao let out a cold laugh. “How long has she been missing?”

The butler lowered his head, barely able to speak. “Two days.”