Chapter 145: Chapter 145
“The fact we both feel like something is wrong is a huge neon sign for me. We’re not the types to have this kind of gut instinct without reason. I could strangle Tang for ditching the fucking guard. What the hell is she doing?” YuZhi hoped to god they were wrong but something told him they weren’t. ZhengLi could do nothing except try his cell again, nodding for YuZhi to follow him as the board room started to empty beside them and they headed for the exit at speed. Both men glued to their phones and endlessly trying their girlfriends numbers.
“If it turns out they were at something like a spa and we’re spam calling silent phones like crazy men, they will never let us live this down.” ZhengLi threw back drily, propping his phone under his chin.
“I’d rather be overprotective than ignore and regret it.” YuZhi frowned at getting her answer phone finally after ringing out and left her a brief message.
“Hey, babe, it’s me. Can you call me back pronto? I’m worried that you’re not okay and it’s making me a little crazy. Text if you can’t call, just respond… please, okay? I love you.” YuZhi hang up with reluctance and followed ZhengLi out into the main area of MinXo Corp then followed him to the elevator for the underground parking. Barely acknowledging the greetings from staff as they left as both were preoccupied in their own thoughts.
They stood quietly, texting, side by side as they made their way down to the basement floor and walked to the car in utter silence. Both engrossed in their cells, when YuZhi’s phone ringing broke the eerie quiet and he jumped.
“Hello?” He answered it without looking at the screen, in haste and desperation and then frowned at the voice of Mr. Lee the tech manager.
“We have a location pretty easily. I will text the address to you. The cellphone doesn’t seem to be moving so your person will still be there, Mr. Leng.”
“Thank you. It’s much appreciated. Send it.” YuZhi hung up quickly and scrolled his phone as the incoming text beeped, showing him a map location with an accompanying address and he glanced up at ZhengLi in confusion.
“It’s practically here.” He pointed west, through the wall of the elevator and showed ZhengLi the screen. “That’s nearby right?” Showing the marked map of streets they passed in coming here and were basically a ten-minute drive away.
ZhengLi took it and nodded. Both men rushing out of the steel box and heading for the car in haste. Neither said a word as they jumped into ZhengLi’s four by four and he got them going to find the location pronto. The sooner they saw them with their own eyes and knew they were fine, the better.
“It’s by a lot of café’s. Maybe they left them in the car and we’re being stupid.” YuZhi was scrolling the location on the internet, pulling up street views to get a feel for the place and could see it was a popular area for small food shops and trendy boutiques that seemed like Linlin’s style. His nerves calming that maybe they really did just leave their cells on silent to eat or in the car to have a break. He did tell TangShi he would be incommunicado for two hours. Maybe she figured an hour or two without her cell wouldn’t do any harm. Somehow he felt better having the location and knowing it was nearby and explainable. Even if he was angry at her for being careless.
“Either way we will find them. I’m hungry, so worst case scenario, Linlin can buy me food.” ZhengLi too was less uptight at having a real place to go check for them and make sure all was okay. His tight and tense gut not really releasing but glad to be actively doing something. Hopeful that this was a dumb and pointless trip.
“Shouldn’t you be paying, seeing as you’re in the doghouse?” YuZhi pointed out, motioning down an alley for ZhengLi to turn as he followed directions on his map.
“I guess. Although for making me this stressed over something that seems like it’s nothing, that girl owes me big time. She has no idea how dependent on her I am and she can’t go off grid like this and make me worry about her.” ZhengLi admitted, honesty shining through, his stomach churning at the thought of anything ever happening to her.
“You’ve got it bad. Maybe you should think about taking her on marriage dates instead.” YuZhi pointed out with sarcasm, scanning the streets they passed for signs of Linlin’s car.
“Trust me, I’m working on it. You don’t just propose marriage to a wild playgirl like her without first preparing her for it. Linlin isn’t like other girls and marriage might make her run away if I spring it on her.”
“Wait, what? You’re seriously considering proposing?” YuZhi blanched at him in shock. “I thought this was just a mutually exclusive fun thing until you got bored.” He really was surprised. ZhengLi had sworn to never settle down and never get married in his life so it was hard to swallow this when he just came out with it so brazenly.
“I love her. I don’t think I’m capable of ever getting bored of her. I think I’m pretty much stuck for life, and I’m not exactly complaining. I don’t know what I would do if I lost her. My life wouldn’t recover if Linlin left for any reason…… those two weeks apart really screwed me up and I missed her like crazy, trying to figure out how to fix it.”
“You’re an idiot.” YuZhi prodded him in the shoulder, shaking his head at his best friend. “Don’t ever let my love issues fuck with yours again. I don’t need that kind of loyalty and it’s no wonder she feels insecure. You have to try harder or you will lose her.”
“I know, okay. Can we just focus on finding them and you can lecture me later? I don’t think this horrible feeling will subside until that sulky little diva glares at me face to face.”