Chapter 124: What Trick Are You Playing?

Nangong Ao had encountered all sorts of people, but Zhai Muli was the only one he could never quite see through. It was as if he were wrapped in a thick layer of artifice, hiding his true self deep within.

Such an opponent was the most daunting of all.

Ten minutes later, A-Si and his men finished their search and emerged. They had not found Bai Luomei; all they recovered from the tire of one of the cars in the garage was a tracker from her phone and some fragments of the device itself.

Nangong Ao demanded, "Zhai Muli, how do you explain this?"

Zhai Muli walked up to Nangong Ao with an air of composure, glanced at the items in his hand, and chuckled. "Perhaps when the Mo family had their incident, her phone fell to the ground and was accidentally crushed by my car. That must be how it ended up here."

Nangong Ao narrowed his eyes. "Accidentally?"

"Indeed. This car hasn't been driven for the past few days, and I hadn't paid it any mind. Though, I must ask, why did it take you so long to come looking?"

A-Ren, standing nearby, could no longer stomach Zhai Muli’s hypocrisy. Irritated, he snapped, "It’s clear you deliberately blocked the signal so we couldn't track it. Miss Bai is definitely here!"

"Ha!" Zhai Muli sneered. "I already let you search the place, yet you still persist! Are you hoping to have the authorities come in and handle this officially?"

"You..."

A-Ren wanted to argue further, but Nangong Ao raised a hand to stop him. Zhai Muli was cunning; Nangong Ao had never truly expected to find her here tonight.

Zhai Muli stepped forward, leaning close to Nangong Ao’s ear, and whispered mockingly, "Young Master Ao, instead of wasting your time searching for someone at my place, you’d be better off clearing the rot from your own inner circle. Otherwise, you won't even need an outsider to finish you off—you’ll fall from within."

With that, Zhai Muli called out, "Show them out," and strode toward the main mansion.

Nangong Ao gave A-Si a look, and A-Si signaled his men to escort Nangong Ao away.

"Boss, Miss Bai is definitely inside. We can't just leave like this..." A-Ren was still unwilling to give up.

A-Si reminded him, "A-Ren, keep your cool!"

Reluctantly, A-Ren cast one last look at the Zhai mansion before following A-Si into the car.

***

After entering the living room, Butler Shen bowed his head and knelt before Zhai Muli to beg for forgiveness.

"I am sorry, Young Master. It is my fault for not securing the Zhai residence properly."

Zhai Muli waved a hand. "Don't blame yourself. Nangong Ao was bound to investigate eventually."

"Was it your intention to lure them here today, Young Master?" Butler Shen knew him well.

Zhai Muli leaned back against the mahogany sofa with elegant poise, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "The little fish has been trying every trick in the book to escape. I simply had to put an end to her delusions."

Butler Shen lowered his gaze, saying nothing.

The Young Master had gone to such great lengths to keep that "fish" contained—not only renovating the back garden into a separate residence and funding her brother’s research projects, but even throwing open his doors today to let his mortal enemy’s men ransack the place.

In the past, the Young Master would never have allowed himself to be at such a disadvantage.

Once Butler Shen finished reporting the day's situation, Zhai Muli rose and headed toward the back garden.

The garden had originally been part of the rear grounds, but since Bai Luomei moved in, Zhai Muli had ordered it partitioned off, creating an inconspicuous side gate aligned with the side of the main mansion. That was why A-Si and his men hadn't discovered the existence of the garden during their search.

When he arrived, the maids were preparing dinner. Zhai Muli said to one of them, "Do not bring her dinner tonight."

The maids exchanged confused glances. "..."

What was wrong now? Every few days, it was either someone refusing to eat or someone being forbidden from eating. On one hand, Butler Shen told them to treat her like a guest of honor, but on the other, the Young Master insisted she was a prisoner. Being a servant these days was truly difficult.

While the maids fretted in silence, Zhai Muli had already climbed to the second floor.

A young maid was standing at the door of Bai Luomei’s bedroom, staring blankly, unaware of Zhai Muli’s approach. When she suddenly saw a pair of black leather shoes, she jumped, gasped, and patted her chest in alarm. "Y-Young Master! Why... why are you here?"

Zhai Muli’s expression was cold. "Is she inside?"

"Yes, yes, she is," the maid nodded repeatedly. Then, she timidly added, "Young Master, do you think the dosage of the medicine you ordered for Miss Bai yesterday might have been too high?"

Zhai Muli shot her a sharp look. "Do not ask about things that do not concern you!"

"U-understood," the maid lowered her head, daring not speak again.

Zhai Muli gestured for her to open the door and told her to wait outside before stepping into the room.

The lights were off, and with dusk approaching and the curtains drawn, the room was dim. Still, one could see a rose-colored silhouette lying quietly on the bed. Perhaps the medicine had not yet worn off, for even as Zhai Muli approached, Bai Luomei did not stir.

Zhai Muli stood by the bedside, staring at her exposed, smooth, pale arm, struggling to suppress the urge to reach out.

This damn woman! He had saved her and provided for her, yet she was constantly thinking of ways to escape. Did she really think a tiny tracker was enough to bring Nangong Ao to her rescue? Ha, what a delusion!

He had seen through her ruse the moment she slipped the tracker onto a maid, hoping to send a signal out. Since she was so restless, he would just have to keep her here for a few more days.

A nameless fire burned within Zhai Muli, making him want to shake the sleeping woman awake. But when his fingers brushed her smooth arm, he recoiled as if struck by electricity.

He turned to leave, but then returned to the bedside and called out harshly, "Bai Luomei!"

There was no response.

Zhai Muli’s brow furrowed. He reached out and grabbed her arm, finding her skin as icy as he had felt before. Bai Luomei remained motionless.

He straightened her body and brushed her hair aside, only to see her face was deathly pale. His heart sank. He placed a finger under her nose; her breath was shallow, and her pulse was barely detectable. Looking at the corner of her mouth, he saw a faint trace of blood.

"Bai Luomei, what kind of game are you playing? Wake up!" Zhai Muli’s voice held a trace of imperceptible tremor.

The maid outside heard his shout and hurried in.

"What is the meaning of this!" Zhai Muli demanded, his voice icy.

The maid was so frightened she could barely speak. "I... I don't know! Miss Bai... she took the medicine last night and has been in a deep sleep ever since..."

"Why didn't you report this sooner!"

The maid was on the verge of tears. "But you... you said that if Miss Bai took that medicine, she would be well-behaved."

Indeed, well-behaved—motionless and unconscious. That was certainly one way to be "well-behaved." But what was this situation now?

"Get Old Shen to call a doctor!"

Zhai Muli roared, and the maid scrambled out in a panic to find the butler.