Chapter 13

She hadn't had time to read the content yet, only seeing that the person sending the message was him, Yu Na's heart thumped heavily.

It was just like finishing an ordinary day, a little surprise as today's reward.

She hurriedly opened WeChat.

Upon seeing the WeChat content, the little surprise she had just felt was suddenly doused with cold water.

Xiao Chen had sent two WeChat messages - the first one was a voice call invitation. She had been taking a shower then and didn't see it.

He didn't send another voice message to her.

He directly sent a text message: [Did Qiao Rui go to evening self-study today?] An ominous premonition was born.

Yu Na didn't reply to him, and made a voice call to him instead.

It rang for a few seconds before connecting.

The background noise on that side sounded like he wasn't at home, she heard the sound of car horns.

Xiao Chen was driving.

After connecting, Yu Na asked first: "Qiao Rui didn't come home?"

"No," Xiao Chen repeated his earlier question: "Did he go to evening self-study today?"

"I didn't supervise the evening self-study today, but he should have gone, if you don't go to evening self-study you have to ask for leave, he didn't ask me for leave."

Xiao Chen: "Okay, I know."

He was about to hang up, when he heard Yu Na ask: "What's wrong with him? Why hasn't he gone home?"

"If I knew I wouldn't be calling to ask."

Yu Na: "......"

He really doesn't know how to speak.

But as this student's head teacher, she should be handling this.

Not bothering to quibble over his words, she said: "I'll go out and look for him too, have you called his phone?" "No, I confiscated his phone." You don't need to go out, I can find him myself." Xiao Chen glanced out the car window, "It's raining heavily outside."

"It's fine, I'll bring an umbrella." He hasn't gone home, I definitely have to find him, otherwise I'll have to take responsibility later. Hang up."

"Wait - "

Xiao Chen stopped her, "I'll go pick you up at the entrance of your apartment building, I'll message you when to come down."

Yu Na was silent for a second, "Okay."

After Xiao Chen hung up the call, he made a U-turn at the intersection up ahead, heading towards Jinyu Jiayuan.

Yu Na quickly changed her clothes, without having time to blow dry her hair.

She paced anxiously in the living room, carefully recalling where Qiao Rui usually liked to go.

But she hadn't spent that long with them, and she herself was someone who kept her work and personal life very separate, she didn't pay any attention to the students' lives at all.

After thinking it over, Yu Na made a call to Song Yan first. After Song Yan picked up, he only said one "Hello?" word, he didn't even manage to say the "Teacher Yu" three words.

Yu Na swiftly interrupted him, getting straight to the point asking: "Song Yan, did Qiao Rui attend evening self-study today?"

"He went, Teacher Yu, what's wrong?"

"His guardian called me saying he still hasn't gone home now." Do you know where he went?"

"I don't know." Song Yan thought for a bit, "I'll go out and look for him."

"No no no, don't go out, it's raining outside, help me ask where he might go, we'll keep in contact by phone."

"Okay Teacher don't worry, I'll make some calls right now."

Hanging up the call, in less than a minute, Xiao Chen's WeChat message popped up again.

: [Which building are you in] Yu Na: [Number 9] 1: [ok] In this kind of residential area, vehicles can enter freely.

Xiao Chen drove the car to below building number 9, and only sent Yu Na a message then - 1: [I'm below your building] Yu Na didn't reply, hurrying out the door.

Going downstairs, she immediately spotted Xiao Chen's car.

He had parked in the nearest spot, to minimize how far she had to walk.

And when Yu Na reached downstairs, she then reacted that she had forgotten to bring an umbrella......

There was a dim white street lamp lit outside the car.

Xiao Chen could see through this lamplight that Yu Na who had just gotten into the car had wet hair plastered together in clumps.

"......"

He asked: "You didn't bring an umbrella?"

"I left in a hurry and forgot to bring one."

"But you shouldn't have gotten drenched to this extent right."

"......Ah, I was showering just now and didn't have time to blow dry my hair."

Yu Na awkwardly tidied her hair. It was already wet to begin with, and with the heavy rain outside, she had gotten drenched.

The street lamp emitted a soft white glow that shone in through the car window.

Yu Na was much thinner than she had been back then, and it didn't seem to just be his imagination, Xiao Chen felt that she seemed to have lost more weight compared to when they had first reunited.

The young miss who had once glowed with health and vitality now sat in the car and under the illumination of these lights, her entire being seemed to exude a sense of fragility.

Under such circumstances, it was very easy for one's protective instincts to be aroused.

Even though Xiao Chen had always seen Yu Na as a younger sister, at this moment it was hard to resist these inexplicable thoughts.

He gave an involuntary light cough, and took out a new towel, "Wipe yourself down."

Yu Na didn't ask if it was new, directly taking it, "Thanks."

If they weren't rushing to go find Qiao Rui, he really wouldn't have been able to resist asking what exactly had happened to her.

What experiences had she gone through.

Why had she given up the wealthy lifestyle of an heiress, insisting on coming to experience the ordinary person's life of food, clothing and shelter.

But there were more pressing matters at hand.

He didn't ask anything, Yu Na busied herself drying her hair.

As the car drove out of the residential area, Yu Na spoke while drying her hair: "I've already asked the friends closest to Qiao Rui, they're also helping me ask around."

Her actions drying her hair were very gentle, taking care not to fling water droplets everywhere.

The temperature had already started dropping. Especially at night.

The sounds of wind and raindrops continuously tapping on the window.

Xiao Chen caught sight of her shivering out of the corner of his eyes and turned on the heater, saying: "I've already checked the internet cafes and internet bars, I'll go check the nightclubs now."

Yu Na said in disbelief: "......Would he go to a nightclub?"

"Don't know, but we'll go take a look."

Xiao Chen was usually busy with work, Qiao Rui could take care of himself, he only needed to provide a room for Qiao Rui to live in, nothing else needed to be done.

Therefore, Xiao Chen wasn't very clear about Qiao Rui's social circles either.

The car stopped outside Chang Wan's most popular nightclub.

Yu Na also undid her seatbelt, preparing to exit the car, but was blocked by Xiao Chen, "Don't go, stay in the car and wait."

"What would be the point of me coming out then?" She disregarded Xiao Chen's obstruction, opening the car door, "More people means more eyes."

Xiao Chen: "......"

She insisted on going to search.

Yu Na was only wearing a blue knit sweater, her figure seeming slender and fragile.

Xiao Chen took off his coat and handed it to her: "Put this on."

Yu Na's heart thumped.

She took his black hoodie somewhat hesitantly, wearing it on herself.

The coat still held the scent of his laundry detergent, tightly enveloping her body.

The long absent sense of security spread throughout her entire being.

Even though it was a work day, the nightclub was packed full of people.

The colorful lights shone down from the ceiling, falling on each person.

The dance floor was crowded with people, young bodies pressed together, twisting.

It was debauchery everywhere, seemingly a wonderland divorced from real life.

Xiao Chen had Yu Na search the lounge area, where there were fewer people, relatively safer.

He himself went towards the dance floor, but with how densely packed with people it was, trying to find someone there was like looking for a needle in the sea.

He went up to the second floor, looking down from that high vantage point, but didn't see anyone resembling Qiao Rui's build.

He could only angrily leave.

Yu Na was waiting by the exit, upon seeing Xiao Chen walk over, she looked at him somewhat dejectedly, "I didn't find him."

"Maybe he's not here."

"I feel like a high schooler wouldn't dare to come to a nightclub, especially not on a weekday."

Xiao Chen thought so as well, but Qiao Rui had a playful personality, who knew where he would go.

"Let's go back to the car first."

The car was parked in the parking lot, which was some distance away from here.

The rain was heavier than before.

Booming noises resounded throughout the skies.

Yu Na trudged forward with her head lowered, when she was just about to exit the nightclub doors, her arm was suddenly grabbed by Xiao Chen, "Come here."