Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

Ah Bao looked helpless and slowly shook his head. The deep wrinkles on his forehead seemed to tell of his inner worries.

His eyes were full of worry, and his voice was slightly hoarse as he said:

"My older sister left without saying goodbye to any of us, which is really unusual. She's always been reliable and meticulous, and she always informs us in advance about anything, big or small. She would never just disappear like this. Do you think something happened? I've been feeling really uneasy, like something bad has happened."

Upon hearing this, Gao Jie's brows furrowed tightly, his thick eyebrows resembling two small hills. His eyes held deep doubt, as if he could see through the turbulent undercurrents hidden behind the seemingly calm surface.

He lowered his head slightly, pondered for a long time, and then slowly spoke:

"I have a feeling something's not right. If something happened to my eldest sister, I feel it's probably the Xu or Qin family's doing. These two forces have been openly and covertly fighting against us for a long time, neither willing to give in. Now that the Little Tyrant incident has just been resolved, they are very likely to use some underhanded means to deal with us, trying to gain more benefits in this chaotic situation. My eldest sister might be a pawn they're using to keep us in check, and she's been secretly kidnapped by them."

As he spoke, he abruptly turned to look at Huang Muran, his eyes filled with an undeniable decisiveness, and loudly ordered:

"Huang Muran, quickly call your uncle and ask him what's going on. Your uncle is quite prestigious in the underworld and has a lot of experience. He might know some clues that we don't, which is crucial for us to find our eldest sister."

Huang Muran was well aware of the seriousness of the matter; his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and he dared not delay for even the slightest moment.

She immediately took out her phone from her pocket and dialed her uncle's number with trembling fingers.

Qi Laoda's slightly authoritative voice quickly came from the other end of the phone, seemingly carrying an invisible sense of oppression:

"Young lady, don't you think it's too abrupt of you to ask about this right off the bat? Besides, shouldn't you call me uncle? If you want to ask something, you have to speak first and address people first, don't you understand? This is basic manners, and you can't forget them just because you're in a hurry."

Huang Muran was extremely anxious at this moment, her heart was burning with rage, and she had no mind to argue with him about these formalities.

She raised her voice and replied:

"Are you going to tell me or not? If you don't, I'm going to find someone else. You've been spoiled rotten all day, always making demands. I don't have time to waste with you here; my sister's safety is the most important thing."

When Qi Laoda heard this on the other end of the phone, he couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

He had roamed the martial arts world for many years, always keeping his word and commanding great respect from everyone around him.

Who would have thought that I would be outmaneuvered by such a young girl? Life is truly unpredictable.

He gently shook his head, then patiently said:

"I won't hide it from you, that little brat Awen is in trouble too. If you go there now, it won't be good. That place is fraught with danger, full of traps and enemies. If you ask me, you should bring your men here right away. At worst, I'll fight that Qin guy. You'd better not even think about rescuing her, because Awen's problem is complicated, not as simple as you think, understand? Don't act rashly, or you'll only make things worse."

After hanging up the phone, Huang Muran took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then immediately relayed what Boss Qi had said to Gao Jie.

After listening, Gao Jie fell into deep thought. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind replaying recent events like a movie, carefully analyzing every detail.

He discovered that it didn't seem to involve any extremely complex conflicts of interest or underworld disputes, at least not on the surface.

But how did Ah Wen end up like this all of a sudden?

What untold secrets are hidden behind this?

Was this a deliberate and meticulously planned conspiracy, or is there another hidden story?

Gao Jie's mind was a jumbled mess, with all sorts of thoughts coming in and intertwining in a chaotic manner.

He kept thinking about various possibilities. At one moment, he felt that the Xu family was secretly doing this to achieve some ulterior motive, and at the other moment, he suspected that the Qin family was manipulating everything behind the scenes.

This seemingly simple disappearance is actually shrouded in mystery, with every detail seemingly veiled by a thin layer of gauze, making it difficult to glimpse the truth. He truly couldn't understand what crisis was hidden behind this issue.

Is it a deeper conspiracy between the Xu and Qin families, a huge trap they've set together, or are other forces secretly eyeing the scheme and trying to reap the benefits?

All of this was like a huge mystery, waiting for him to unravel it.

Seeing Gao Jie deep in thought, Huang Xu couldn't help but come closer.

His face showed anxiety, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his eyes revealed a hint of fear. He hurriedly reminded him:

"It's been almost four hours. They haven't shown up for so long, I don't think the situation is good. Should we act quickly? I'm worried that if the problem is complicated, it will be really difficult to handle. What do you think? Every minute we delay increases the danger for our sister. We can't just wait like this any longer."

Gao Jie thought about it carefully and realized that what Huang Xu said made sense.

However, at present, this problem is really difficult to deal with. It's like groping in the dark, with nothing around and no clear direction.

But time was of the essence, leaving him no room for further hesitation. He made a decisive statement:

"We can't wait any longer. You all stay here and wait. Also, whatever you do, don't let Xu Rourou leave, understand? She might be the key figure in this whole incident. If anything happens to her, we might never be able to solve this mystery."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xu, who was standing to the side, tried to stop him.

He knew full well that this trip would be fraught with danger. Gao Jie's departure was like a lamb entering a tiger's den, his fate uncertain.

He really didn't want Gao Jie to risk his life alone. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to start.

However, Gao Jie was determined. His eyes revealed a firm belief, a determination to find his elder sister and uncover the truth no matter what.

With a flash, he set off as swiftly as lightning.

Huang Muran was extremely anxious. She gripped the clothes tightly with both hands, as if they were her only support at that moment.

She tried to chase after him without thinking, but Huang Xu pushed her back.

Huang Xu looked at her and said loudly:

"He told me before he left that none of you were allowed to look for him. It seems he anticipated these things, so I advise you all not to chase after him. He's trying to find Sister Wen. If he goes and risks his life, and you all go with him, wouldn't that be a burden? If we stay here, we might be able to find some clues from other sources to help him. Let's calm down and just wait and see."

"He told me before he left that none of you were allowed to look for him. It seems he had some idea of ​​what was going to happen, so I advise you all not to chase after him. He's only trying to find Sister Wen. If he goes and risks his life, and you all go with him, wouldn't that be a burden? Calm down, we can only hope for the best."

Huang Xu said with a serious expression. His expression was solemn, and his eyes revealed his concern for Gao Jie's safety as well as his helplessness in the face of the current predicament.

Upon hearing his words, everyone looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

Anxiety and helplessness were written on everyone's faces; there really weren't any good solutions at the moment.

Abao was extremely anxious, pacing back and forth. He wanted to chase after Gao Jie, but he had no idea where Gao Jie had gone. He couldn't get through on the phone either. He could only fret like an ant on a hot pan, rubbing his hands together and muttering to himself, but he had no clue what to do.

At this moment, Gao Jie, like an arrow released from a bow, darted swiftly towards one of the Qin family's villas.

Throughout the journey, he kept thinking about all sorts of possible scenarios, feeling both concerned for Sister Wen's safety and wary of the unknown dangers that lay ahead.

He had heard of this villa before and knew that it was the place where the Qin family held many confidential discussions and important activities.

Normally, the Qin family's important decisions, family affairs planning, and secret transactions with various forces would most likely take place in this seemingly ordinary but heavily guarded villa.

In fact, today is no ordinary day; it was the day Xu Wenfeng and the Qin family were to be married.

This should have been a grand and joyous occasion, with the marriage of the two great families sure to cause quite a stir in Jinling City.

Because Xu Rourou suddenly disappeared, Xu Wenfeng had no choice but to sacrifice the happiness of his eldest daughter, Xu Wanwan, and decided to formally marry into the Qin family.

In his meticulously calculated plan, as long as the marriage alliance with the Qin family was successful, his family's status in Jinling would be greatly consolidated and enhanced by the Qin family's power and prestige.

Even if disagreements arise during the future development of the family, with the Qin family as a backing, they can be easily resolved.

He was convinced that his plan was foolproof, but he never expected that Gao Jie would come here despite the danger, like a boulder suddenly thrown into a calm lake, about to shatter his carefully constructed scheme.

The banquet had not yet started, and Xu Wanwan was wandering around outside alone.

She was dressed in gorgeous clothes, but her exquisite makeup could not hide the loneliness and helplessness in her eyes.

Her expression was indifferent, as if she had lost interest in everything in the world.

The thought that she would become someone else's bride after tonight filled her with a bitter feeling, like bile spreading through her heart, indescribable.

Her heart was filled with confusion and fear about the future, yet she was powerless to resist her family's arrangements.

Just then, Xu Wanwan's arm was suddenly grabbed tightly from behind. The force was so great that it startled her, and she was pulled sharply to the side.

Xu Wanwan was startled and was about to resist when she subconsciously turned her head, only to see Gao Jie instead.

"Shh, don't speak," Gao Jie said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, afraid of being discovered. "I'm asking you, are they discussing something inside right now? I'm here to see your father, and they seem to have kidnapped my sister Wen. Did they ask you to take the blame for your sister?"

Xu Wanwan gently pushed Gao Jie's hand away, looked at him with a puzzled expression, and asked:

"How do you know so much about these things? What exactly happened?"

"My father has already told me that my sister ran away and that our family is in a critical crisis. If I don't take action, our family will be in big trouble. So I had no choice but to listen to my father."

Xu Wanwan's eyes held a hint of helplessness and bitterness, and her voice was soft yet firm, as if she was trying to convince herself to accept this cruel fate.

After hearing this, Gao Jie shook his head and looked at her with pity, saying:

"You've been fooled by your father. He never offended the Qin family at all. He just planned to use you two for a marriage alliance so that he could join forces with the Qin family to deal with others, thus securing his position in Jinling. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing these words, Xu Wanwan felt as if she had been struck by lightning, as if all the strength in her body had been instantly drained away. She stood there blankly, staring at everything in front of her.

Her body trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it. She couldn't believe that all of this was an elaborate deception, and that she had been kept in the dark all along, foolishly preparing to sacrifice herself for her family.

Gao Jie was about to explain further when Xu Wanwan forcefully pushed him away.

"You're talking nonsense. My dad isn't that kind of person. He would never cheat me."

Xu Wanwan's eyes were red, and her voice trembled with a hint of stubbornness.

"Gao Jie, I know who you are, and I know your background, so don't interfere in our family's affairs. Consider this my last act of respect for you. Otherwise, don't blame me for turning against you, do you hear me?"

Gao Jie looked helpless; he hadn't expected his good intentions to be so misunderstood.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that Xu Wanwan was blinded by family ties and couldn't see the situation clearly.

At this moment, he could clearly sense that Xu Wenfeng and Qin Hailong had almost finished their conversation, and the next step would probably be the crucial engagement ceremony.

So, the core of this matter is the marriage ceremony between the two families, but the conspiracy and scheming hidden behind it are far more complicated than they appear on the surface.

Unfortunately, this foolish woman couldn't even understand these things and stubbornly defended her treacherous father.

"I'll say it again, I'm really not joking with you. This matter is definitely not that simple. If you go through with the marriage, I'm worried they might really screw you over, understand?"

Gao Jie patiently tried to bring Xu Wanwan back to consciousness.

"Your father has already messed things up. The Qin family may be testing your father now, or rather, playing with your whole family."

Gao Jie's words were not unfounded. The Qin family held a pivotal position in Jinling, and their family power was deeply entrenched. How could they easily allow their son to marry a daughter of the Xu family?

On his way there, Gao Jie thought things through carefully before he finally understood the key to the matter.

He concluded that Xu Wenfeng had fallen into the trap meticulously designed by the Qin family, and that the Qin family must have dug a bottomless pit for them.

As for the intricate layout and treacherous mechanisms of this pit, he had no idea at the moment.

But he knew that if he could successfully stop Xu Wanwan and prevent this farcical marriage, he might be able to avoid an even bigger crisis.

If it can't be stopped, then we can only leave it to fate, since everyone's destiny seems to be quietly predetermined in this complex situation.

Gao Jie became increasingly certain that the Qin family was still continuing their insidious plan to dig a pit.

Xu Wanwan's beauty, however, became a source of trouble in the vortex of conflicting interests, making her an easy target for manipulation and scheming by all parties.