Chapter 115: Vanished into Thin Air
Under the faint glow of the instrument, the approaching person was vaguely visible, wearing a hat and mask, their face completely concealed.
He quickly removed the instrument from Xia Chenge’s body, then carried her out of the ICU and quickly disappeared into the elevator.
At this moment, the nurse on duty at the central monitoring station of the ICU opened her eyes. She glanced at the time displayed on the screen, feeling somewhat bewildered. Had she just slept for a few minutes?
She looked at her two other colleagues on duty; they also seemed to have just woken up. A bad premonition washed over her, and she hurried to check the hospital rooms. The patients in the front were all fine. When she reached the room where Xia Chenge was, she saw the empty hospital bed and was utterly terrified.
She rushed back to the monitoring station, instructing her two colleagues to search while also calling the hospital’s security department for assistance.
Xia Chenge had vanished as if she had never existed. They had almost turned Rende Hospital upside down, searching every inch, but still couldn’t find Xia Chenge!
This incident quickly alerted Ling Zhongwen, who was still working overtime at the hospital researching Xia Chenge’s condition.
Upon hearing that someone had inexplicably disappeared from the intensive care unit, Ling Zhongwen was furious and immediately ordered the surveillance footage to be reviewed.
However, the surveillance footage showed everything as normal; no one had come out of the ICU at all.
After watching it ten times repeatedly, there was still no sign of any abnormality.
Hospitals are already places where supernatural occurrences are most rumored. The sudden disappearance of a living person cast an unknown fear over everyone, making them feel uneasy.
Ling Zhongwen immediately called the police and dispatched additional personnel to search outside the hospital.
They worked frantically all night, but still found nothing.
Xia Chenge had vanished as if into thin air, leaving no trace.
The Ling family was shocked to receive this news and immediately mobilized all their connections to search for Xia Chenge, while also informing the Xia family.
Wei En and Wei Lixin were almost driven mad.
The father and son duo stormed into the Ling family’s residence, demanding an explanation.
Wei En was enraged, his eyes bloodshot: “Your Ling family arranged for our Little Miss to be admitted to Rende Hospital. Now she has inexplicably disappeared from your hospital, and even the surveillance can’t find anything. Doesn’t this prove you’re playing games?”
“If you don’t like our Little Miss, you could have just canceled the marriage contract instead of pretending to be benevolent! Who are you trying to fool?” If he hadn’t been held back, Wei Lixin would have rushed to fight Ling Zhongjing.
The Ling family was in the wrong. No matter how displeased Ling Zhongjing was with Wei En and his son’s accusations, he did not get angry. Instead, he calmly explained, “The Ling family bears unavoidable responsibility for this matter, but the Ling family stands by its actions. We all like Chenge very much. Otherwise, we could have privately dissolved this marriage contract before it was announced.”
“Hmph, why wouldn’t you do something that makes you look good? That way, everyone will think the Ling family is loyal and righteous!” Wei Lixin retorted with a cold laugh. “In short, if you don’t find my Little Miss, none of you in the Ling family will have an easy time.”
Madam Ling stepped forward and said gently, “We are all very worried about Chenge’s disappearance. The most important thing right now is for both families to combine their efforts to find her. We both know how serious Chenge’s condition is, so why waste time on this matter?”
“The Ling family will take full responsibility for this. If Chenge truly meets with an accident, we will provide an explanation to the Xia family!”
“An explanation? If she’s gone, you’ll all pay with your lives!” Wei En roared, then looked at Wei Lixin. “Let’s go. I feel like standing here for another second will dirty my feet!”
Wei Lixin forcefully pushed away the Ling family bodyguard holding him, and he and Wei En left in a furious rage.
After the two had gone far away, Old Madam Ling emerged with a solemn expression.
“Is there still no news of her?” she asked worriedly.
Ling Zhongjing shook his head. “We’ve searched all over Haicheng and haven’t found any trace of Chenge. The surveillance shows no anomalies. I’ve already asked an old friend for help in the search.”
“What exactly is going on? Why are so many things happening out of nowhere? This isn’t just about Chenge having a fever; I fear someone is deliberately trying to make our Ling family and the Xia family fall out.” Old Madam Ling’s expression was serious. “See if Xu Jingyi has any clues.”
“Don’t worry, I’m keeping an eye on Xu Jingyi. The most important thing now is Chenge’s safety. If anything happens to Chenge, the consequences will be unimaginable…” Ling Zhongjing said with deep concern.
Thinking of Ling Hanmu, who had been given a sedative, and his actions at the hospital yesterday, Ling Zhongjing felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart.
Therefore, even if they had to turn Haicheng upside down, he would find her alive or dead!
Whether this was aimed at the Xia family or the Ling family, he would not show any mercy.
—
Xia Chenge was taken out of Haicheng overnight. The evolution was already painful enough, and the constant jolting made Xia Chenge want to kill someone.
She didn’t know who had taken her, and the people in the car remained silent the entire way, making it impossible to get any useful information.
Xia Chenge thought to herself, this time she was done for. If their goal was to kill her, would she be able to wake up before they made their move?
Her bodily functions were far stronger than before she fainted. From the turbid air in the carriage, she detected a strong scent of plants and wood, judging that she was now in a deep mountain wilderness.
After an unknown period of bumpy travel, the car finally stopped.
Xia Chenge smelled a scent that was so familiar it made her heart race.
Had she returned to the Apocalypse?
But the scent of plants and wood just now was something that only existed in the era of the Xia family’s young lady!
Why was this happening? The mystery grew like a snowball, and Xia Chenge felt that she was doomed today.
At that moment, she thought of the Xia family, of the affection and pampering the Xia family had shown her, and she felt reluctant to part with that familial bond. She also thought of Ling Hanmu, of her promise to let Ling Hanmu live past twenty, of Ling Hanmu’s unconditional tolerance and concessions towards her, and she regretted not accepting him.
If she were to return to the Apocalypse, how wonderful it would be to experience feelings firsthand!
Unfortunately, it was too late; she had missed her chance!
For the first time, Xia Chenge understood what regret and sorrow felt like.
Just as Xia Chenge’s mind was in turmoil, she was carried out of the minivan.
As they walked further, the scent of the Apocalypse grew stronger.
Xia Chenge slowly regained her senses and, instead, lost those previous thoughts.
She was more familiar with the Apocalypse than the era she was reborn into. The more dangerous the environment, the calmer she became.
Returning to the Apocalypse, she would still be that genius girl, the zombie killer!
Xia Chenge felt herself being placed on an iron bed, and her hands and feet were secured by cold metal buckles. A light shone down, and even with her eyes closed, Xia Chenge could feel its blinding intensity.
“This is the Xia family’s young lady?” a hoarse voice asked. “She doesn’t look special. Is her strength really that great?”
“Absolutely. It’s said that Xu Jingyi’s wife and daughter suffered greatly at her hands. She should be an excellent experimental subject,” replied another voice that sounded colder.
