Chapter 438: Chapter 438

Mo Qian hung up the phone and immediately called for Chen Ke.

"Send people out to search the entire city for Ji Wei’s whereabouts. Also, inform Aunt Zhu—if there’s any news that Ji Wei has returned to Shanshui Manor, notify me immediately!"

Seeing the stern look on Mo Qian’s face and the unhidden anxiety between his brows, Chen Ke did not dare to ask any questions despite his inner doubts and left quickly to carry out the orders.

Mo Qian paced back and forth in the office, visibly anxious. Just a few minutes later, unable to suppress the overwhelming worry gripping his heart, he grabbed his coat and stormed out the office door.

Ji Wei’s mind was in chaos; she had no idea where she was headed, blindly pressing down on the accelerator.

Once she had asked Ji Yunli whether she was his biological daughter, and at the time, Ji Yunli had given an unequivocal answer: Yes!

But now, from Tang Yi’s mouth, she learned that she wasn’t a child of the Ji Family at all. She had no blood relation to Ji Yunli... The man she’d called "Dad" for twenty years turned out to not be her real father. Ji Wei couldn’t even begin to describe the emotions churning in her heart.

Having lived two lifetimes, she still didn’t know who her real father was—or even who she truly was. It couldn’t be more absurd!

Suddenly, the road ahead came to an end. Ji Wei snapped out of her daze and hit the brakes, her car screeching to an abrupt halt.

Beyond the railing was a pitch-black sea, dotted with countless boats, their lights twinkling faintly.

She realized this was the Marine Pier where she had been earlier in the day.

Ji Wei unfastened her seatbelt, got out of the car, and slowly walked along the shoreline.

The fierce sea breeze made her teeth chatter and her body shiver. She had left her coat back in the bedroom when she ran out; the only thing she had on was a thin wool sweater.

Winter was approaching fast—soon Rongcheng would see its first snowfall. Dressed so lightly, Ji Wei’s body gave in easily to the biting wind. Her hands were icy enough to lose all warmth, her face pale as a ghost, yet her expression betrayed no awareness of the cold.

Ji Wei squatted on the sand, staring at the waves rushing forward then retreating, over and over again.

Her mind was flooded with memories of her time with Ji Yunli and Old Madam Ji, the brief yet cherished fragments of their years together. They had treated her no differently than their own flesh and blood, showering her with care and love, giving her the very best this world had to offer.

The memories were so beautiful, but reality was now telling her that none of it had ever truly belonged to her.

She was not one of the Ji Family. Her father and grandmother—they were not her real family. And then there was the gap in her memories from before age ten... Every time she tried to recall, it was as if a pounding headache threatened to rip her mind apart.

Did she really lose those memories after hitting her head? Or was there something more?

Why would Tang Yi say the Ji Family was almost murdered?

What was the hidden truth buried within all this?

The sea breeze numbed Ji Wei to the core, leaving her dizzy and almost unaware of her body’s sensations. She sat there stiffly, unmoving, as if frozen in place.

All of a sudden, several strong beams of flashlight light swept toward her.

Having been enveloped by darkness for so long, the sudden brightness was blinding, forcing Ji Wei to instinctively raise her hand to shield her eyes.

When the figures drew closer, she heard someone shout, "It’s Miss Ji! It really is Miss Ji! Quick, notify Mr. Gu—we’ve found her!"

The voice was filled with excitement, but Ji Wei seemed unmoved, as if she hadn’t heard it at all. Her pale face showed no emotion whatsoever.

"Miss Ji, can you come with us to the car? It’s too cold here," someone urged softly.

One person stepped forward to help her up, but Ji Wei’s legs were completely numb from squatting for so long. As she wobbled, she nearly collapsed.

In the very next moment, a hand firmly grabbed her arm, pulling her into a warm and solid embrace.

Her body was like ice, as though she had just been fished out of freezing water. Mo Qian swiftly took off his coat and wrapped it tightly around her, shielding her entirely from the cold. His large hands enveloped her frozen ones, pressing them to his lips and exhaling warm breaths over and over again.

"Do you feel better now?" His low voice carried tenderness, his gaze filled with deep concern.

Ji Wei stared dazedly at his actions, unable to process what was happening.

Gradually, the warmth began to return to her hands. After a long while, she finally reddened her eyes, her voice hoarse as she spoke: "Mo Qian, I have no home anymore..."