After the plane landed at the airport, no one came to meet them. Whether it was Anna’s family or Mu Yuli—if she’d known which flight he was on, she’d definitely have sent people to ambush him.

Since that hadn’t happened, Guxuetong must have hidden their flight details. She might have even booked their tickets under fake identities from the start.

Avoiding an early confrontation with Mu Yuli was a relief. When Jiang Fan stepped off the plane and saw no sign of her, a huge weight lifted off his chest.

"Worried your girlfriend’s here to drag you back?"

His tension was plain on his face. Anna, standing beside him, easily guessed his thoughts. She naturally took his hand and smiled as she asked.

Jiang Fan stiffened at the sudden contact. He tugged lightly but couldn’t pull free. Giving up, he let her hold it—after all, he wasn’t losing anything.

"A little. I’m also thinking about how to face my mom later. You know my family situation, Anna-jie."

To Anna, his mother had abandoned him—two years of complete silence. But for Jiang Fan, it had been nearly a decade since he last saw her. All that remained were faint, blurry memories. She was little more than a stranger who shared his name.

"Relax. You’re my brother now. I won’t let anyone bully you—not even your mother."

Her hand tightened around his. Jiang Fan watched her profile, warmth spreading through his chest.

Because he’d lacked care for so long, he cherished every selfless gesture. Shu Yue had been like that. And now, so was Anna.

Then it hit him—he was technically *abducted* here by her. What was this? *This sister isn’t exactly cold?*

A soft chuckle escaped him. He squeezed her cool little hand back.

"Thanks, Anna-jie."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

*"The number you have dialed is switched off. Please try again later..."*

Mu Yuli hung up the phone again, her expression blank. Back in her hotel suite at the city’s tallest tower, still wearing the black gown from that morning, she stared down at the sea of city lights below. Her heart churned with restless anxiety.

*Knock knock knock.*

A gentle rap sounded at the door. Mu Yuli didn’t turn. "Enter."

The door clicked open. Yelan, in a sharp black suit, hurried to stand behind her. Head bowed, she reported the latest update.

After five long hours of waiting, Mu Yuli finally heard what she wanted. The ice around her expression thawed slightly. She spun around, commanding:

"Prepare an outfit. We’re going to An Jianye’s residence."

Sinking onto the sofa, Mu Yuli rubbed her temples wearily. Ever since learning Jiang Fan had been taken by Anna, fury had coiled inside her—a dangerous state for business negotiations. She’d canceled all appointments that day, mobilizing every resource to track Anna down.

But every lead vanished almost as soon as it appeared. Mu Yuli realized Anna had help. After five exhausting hours of chasing ghosts, they’d lost the final trace. Anna had slipped away with Jiang Fan.

That didn’t mean Mu Yuli would give up. She knew Anna would return to Moscow eventually. All she had to do was wait for the rabbit to return to the tree.

And now, the rabbit was back.

Twenty hours of relentless tension had drained her.

"Why are you still here? More to report?"

Mu Yuli opened her eyes. Yelan hadn’t moved.

Yelan lifted her head, resolve hardening in her gaze as she met Mu Yuli’s stare.

"Miss, you’re exhausted. Anna took the young master back primarily to reunite him with his mother. What you fear won’t happen. For your health—please wait until tomorrow to bring him home."

Mu Yuli said nothing. She simply watched her. Under that gaze, Yelan felt mountains pressing down on her shoulders, urging her to look away.

But she held firm. Her conviction didn’t waver.

After a long silence, Mu Yuli closed her eyes with a soft sigh.

Yelan’s face brightened—until Mu Yuli’s next words crushed her hope, leaving only bitterness.

"I... know you mean well. But trust me, Yelan. I’m not as fragile as you think."

Mu Yuli opened her eyes, banishing the fatigue from her features. Her usual icy elegance returned.

"Skip the outfit change. I’m going straight to An Jianye’s."

She strode out, leaving Yelan alone.

"You overstepped."

The whisper came without warning. Yelan understood.

*Of course.* If someone like her could sway the Miss’s decisions, she wouldn’t be the Miss anymore.

Her duty was to ease burdens—not dictate choices.

*How arrogant of me.*

Clarity washed over her. She exhaled sharply, her expression smoothing back to professionalism as she hurried after Mu Yuli.

"Miss, according to Agent Three’s report—even with unexpected traffic—Anna and the young master should arrive home in about an hour. Would you like to freshen up first?"

Mu Yuli froze mid-step.

"Mirror."

Yelan instantly produced a small hand mirror.

Mu Yuli studied her reflection carefully. Then she snapped it shut, handing it back. She turned toward her room.

"I’ll shower first. Then do my makeup—light."

Only now did she notice the faint exhaustion shadowing her beauty. A flaw.

She wouldn’t appear before Jiang Fan like this.

*Ah,* Yelan thought, already anticipating this. *The young master’s the only one who can handle the Miss.*