In that moment, Qin Jiao felt as if she’d been plunged into icy water, a chill shooting from head to toe and freezing her to the core.

’How could Xiao Shi be missing? How did she go missing *again*?’

’She remembered that Xiao Shi’s kidnapping wasn’t supposed to happen yet. Could her rebirth have caused a butterfly effect, making this happen sooner?’

’She hadn’t had time to let Xiao Shi grow up a little, become more sensible, and learn how to protect herself.’

When Qin Jiao remained silent for a long moment, Su Yun said frantically over the phone, "Xiao Jiao, are you still there? Hurry to the police station."

Qin Jiao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Mom, where are you right now?" she said. "Tell me exactly how Xiao Shi went missing, every detail. I’m going to file a police report now."

"We were taking your grand-uncle’s car back to Sanjiazi Village, remember? His car got hit on the way, but none of us were hurt. Your grand-uncle went to get the car fixed and told the rest of us to take a bus back to the village first. We happened to flag down a bus on the road and got on, but after a few stops... Xiao Shi... Xiao Shi was gone. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault!"

Su Yun’s sobs came through the phone.

Because the car had just been in an accident, Qin Na was very worried about Sun Jianhua, so Su Yun had taken a moment to comfort her.

But Xiao Shi had always been a well-behaved child. She would just sit beside them and never wander off. She always listened to her parents and her big sister. She definitely wouldn’t have gotten off the bus on her own.

Qin Jiao lowered her gaze.

’Someone must have taken Xiao Shi!’

"Mom, calm down first. Take some people and search around the last few stops. Not much time has passed, so she can’t be far. I’m going to file the report now. Don’t panic. We will definitely find Xiao Shi!"

Qin Jiao hung up the phone, quickly changed her clothes, and grabbed her keys to head out.

Before leaving, however, she frowned at the small bag on her desk containing her supplies for tomorrow’s exam. After a moment’s thought, she casually put the bag into her space.

She had heard earlier that her grandfather was on his deathbed, but she hadn’t gone back. Now, however, she felt a pang of regret.

Her regret wasn’t about missing a final visit with her grandfather because of the college entrance exam. It was the thought that if she *had* gone back, her parents would have been busy, but Xiao Shi would have stuck to her side, never leaving her for a moment.

’Then Xiao Shi wouldn’t have gone missing, would she?’

In Qin Jiao’s mind, her grandfather was, of course, not as important as her college entrance exam. But when it came to Xiao Shi, Qin Jiao would rather skip the exam entirely in exchange for her sister’s safe return.

’Xiao Shi’s safety is more important than my own future, more important than my life!’

Qin Jiao swiftly locked the door and left, only to find Shen Yi at the main gate, his eyes filled with concern. "What happened?"

Qin Jiao concisely explained the situation. "Lend me your bicycle," she said. "I need to file a police report first."

"And then?"

"Then, I’m going to find Xiao Shi!"

Shen Yi had an ’I knew it’ look on his face. "Wait a second," he said. "I’ll go get the keys."

He turned and went back inside. After a quick word with his grandfather, he grabbed the keys and came back out.

Qin Jiao froze for a moment as she watched him swing a leg over his motorcycle.

For a while now, ever since her own bicycle had been wrecked beyond repair, she had been getting rides to and from school on Shen Yi’s motorcycle.

At first, Qin Jiao had felt a little awkward about it, but after a couple of days, she realized no one seemed to mind in the slightest.

Her parents didn’t mind; in fact, they constantly thanked Shen Yi and would even cook him big chicken drumsticks in the evening.

Her classmates and teachers didn’t seem to mind either... Perhaps it was because the two of them were known to be so close that there were even rumors they were a couple. Plus, with the college entrance exam just around the corner, nobody really said anything about it. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

But now...