Ruan Tianling said, "We’ll know once we catch them and ask."

"I’m afraid they’ll continue targeting my dad."

"They won’t. They’ll act soon, and they also won’t dare let your dad come to any harm."

Jian Yufei leaned on his shoulder, her voice hoarse, "I don’t know what they want to threaten my mom into doing."

If they threaten her mother to do something dangerous, she would definitely refuse.

Dad is important, but so is Mom.

Neither of them can come to any harm...

***********

Nangong Ruyue sent Feiying to find Hardy.

The package that arrived had no sender information, and checking with the courier company led to nothing.

Even by evening, there was still no news.

It was as if Hardy had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.

The night deepened.

Nangong Ruyue leaned against the headboard, unable to calm her thoughts enough to sleep.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a text message from Jian Yufei.

[Mom, rest early and take care of yourself.]

Nangong Ruyue smiled slightly and then lay down.

She forced herself to close her eyes and think of nothing, and she eventually fell into a deep sleep, though she didn’t know when.

...

Daylight came quickly.

Nangong Ruyue opened her eyes and rubbed her heavy forehead.

She hadn’t slept well last night and seemed a bit drained.

She pressed the bell for the servants, and immediately a maid came in to attend to her.

After getting dressed and cleaned up, Nangong Ruyue went downstairs. A servant came forward and handed her a delivery.

"Madam, here’s your letter."

The package only had the recipient’s name and address, printed by a computer, with no sender information.

Nangong Ruyue’s heart skipped, but she calmly took the package.

"You may all go."

"Yes."

Once the servants had left, she eagerly opened the letter.

After reading its contents, Nangong Ruyue found a lighter and set the letter aflame—

Watching the letter burn, Nangong Ruyue’s eyes flickered with dark, unreadable emotions.

The flames leapt up, almost licking her fingers.

Nangong Ruyue let go, and the half-burned letter fell to the floor, setting the expensive carpet on fire.

"Oh no, it’s on fire!" The smell brought in a maid, who upon seeing the flames quickly called others to help put it out.

Powder from the fire extinguisher was sprayed onto the flames, putting them out immediately.

Nangong Ruyue stood there, unmoving.

"Madam, are you hurt?" the maid asked nervously as she approached.

Nangong Ruyue shook her head, "I’m fine. Serve breakfast; I’m ready to eat."

The maid found her calmness strange, but dared not say more.

The breakfast was lavish.

Nangong Ruyue took a spoon and ate the thick millet porridge bite by bite, though it tasted like sawdust.

She had no appetite, but with what was to come, she needed to fill her belly.

"Madam, your phone."

The maid rushed over with the phone that had been ringing non-stop.

Nangong Ruyue took it, hesitated for a moment, then answered.

"Mom, are you up?" Jian Yufei asked on the other side.

Nangong Ruyue smiled, "I’m having breakfast."

"Mom, have those people taken any more action?"

Nangong Ruyue set down the phone and dismissed the maids before she spoke.

"They sent another package today."

"What does it say?"

"They’re going to release your father tonight. Have Ruan Tianling prepare to rescue him at any time."