Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: Forget It! Lure Her Back First
"Spare the snakes! And the rats!" Gu Zhao jumped up and down in the grass, waving her arms wildly to get their attention.
"Don’t shoot!" After a few more hops, Gu Zhao scrambled out. The grass was very tall.
She was practically invisible inside it.
’Darn grass! How dare it be taller than me!’
Gu Zhao struggled through the undergrowth. By the time she emerged, her hair and clothes were covered in burrs.
"They’re good snakes! Good rats!" Gu Zhao stood protectively in front of the swarm of serpents.
Zhang Bai froze for a second when he saw Gu Zhao, then pulled out his phone to compare her to the photo Gu Xingyu had sent.
The little girl in the picture was holding a large chicken drumstick in each hand.
Zhang Bai looked at the photo, then back at Gu Zhao.
He ventured, "Miss Gu Zhao?"
"Yes, that’s me!" Gu Zhao nodded her head emphatically, terrified they might accidentally turn her into Swiss cheese.
Zhang Bai made a hand signal, and the armed personnel lowered their firearms, though they continued to watch Gu Zhao and the area behind her warily.
Zhang Bai looked on in confusion at the scene behind her. The snakes had stopped tearing into the kidnappers and were now all gathered at Gu Zhao’s feet.
"Sister~ why did you come back! They’re mean!" the cobra whined, aggrieved.
"Yeah, yeah! Sister, you should go, we’ll cover you!" the pit vipers chimed in with concern.
Zhang Bai watched this unfold, utterly astonished.
Since he was always by Gu Xingyu’s side, he rarely paid attention to the internet and had never heard about Gu Zhao’s exploits.
Now, seeing someone with such an incredible affinity for animals, his eyes lit up with excitement!
’A talent! This is a true talent! I have to trick her into coming back with us!’
’Wait, no! This is the Commander-in-Chief’s sister. Is there anything wrong with her going back with us to find her brother?!’
"Miss Gu Zhao, are these... your helpers?" Zhang Bai chose his words carefully as he looked at the animals. "Could you ask them to back away so my men can take custody of the kidnappers?"
Gu Zhao nodded and called for the animals to move aside.
A few of the rats seized the opportunity to sneak in a few more bites on the kidnappers.
And just like that, the kidnappers were rescued...
Everyone felt the situation was surreal, but then they remembered she was the Commander-in-Chief’s own sister, and it somehow made sense.
’The Commander-in-Chief is a monster in his own right, so how could his family be ordinary!’
They all stared at Gu Zhao, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Suddenly.
All the armed personnel tensed up. They looked toward the path leading up the mountain, and some of them quickly took cover.
Others pulled Gu Zhao to take cover.
Gu Zhao was completely bewildered.
"Sister, a lot of two-leggers are coming up the mountain," a pit viper said, sniffing the air.
Curious, Gu Zhao tried to peek her head out, only to be yanked back by Zhang Bai.
Unable to watch the show, Gu Zhao sat down right where she was.
She propped her head in her hands, feeling like she had forgotten something again.
A large group of bodyguards in black suits came up the mountain. Seeing their leader, Zhang Bai immediately called out, "President Feng?"
The leader of the men in black was also taken aback to see him. "Mr. Zhang... what are you doing here?"
Once they confirmed there was no threat, everyone came out of hiding.
The man known as President Feng frowned upon seeing the armed personnel.
"What’s all this?"
Zhang Bai explained, "Enemy agents kidnapped the Commander-in-Chief’s sister, so we came to rescue her. And you?"
President Feng sighed. "My youngest son snuck out, and he was kidnapped. The kidnappers told me to come and pay the ransom."
Zhang Bai grew serious. "We haven’t seen anyone else. Are you sure this is the right location?"
"Whoa... Feng Tingyue’s dad?" Gu Zhao slapped her forehead at the sound of his name. ’I remember now!’
’Where is Feng Tingyue?!’
’Wasn’t he right behind me?’
’Where did he go? Why isn’t he down here yet? Did he sneak off so he wouldn’t have to pay me?’
’So unreliable! Good thing his dad is here!’
"You’re Feng Tingyue’s dad?" Gu Zhao asked, looking at the handsome older man. She felt like she’d seen his face somewhere before.
Feng Chengyan looked down at Gu Zhao. Although her hair and clothes were a mess, he could still tell from her eyes and small face that she was a rather cute kid.
His tone was gentle. "Little one, have you seen Tingyue? Where is he? Can you tell me?"
Gu Zhao replied, "I saved him, and he promised to pay me a reward, but now it looks like he’s run off."
Feng Chengyan frowned, his tone firm. "Impossible. Tingyue would never break a promise."
His expression grew grim. "Where did you last see him?"
Gu Zhao pointed up the mountain. "We ran up here together, but then I heard voices and rushed back down to save the snakes."
"He was still right behind me at the time."
’Who knew he’d be gone by the time I got back down!’
He dismissed her talk of saving snakes as nothing more than a child’s whimsical fantasy.
He looked worriedly toward the overgrown grass, thick enough to completely swallow a person.
’He didn’t lose his footing, did he...?’
Zhang Bai spoke up to reassure him. "I’ll have some of my men help you search."
A grateful look appeared on Feng Chengyan’s grim face. "Thank you. He’s my only son... If anything happens to him... I might as well not even go home."
’My wife would divorce me! She’s already upset with me over things related to our son...’
"I can help, too!" Gu Zhao raised her hand.
’It wasn’t that I was trying to look cute by raising my hand, it’s that they really can’t see me!!’
Zhang Bai’s eyes lit up.
Feng Chengyan didn’t pay her much mind. "Little one, I appreciate the kind offer, but it’s too dangerous in the mountains."
Zhang Bai nudged him aside and looked at Gu Zhao with excitement. "Miss Gu Zhao, are you going to ask the animals for help?"
Gu Zhao thought he looked a bit like a kidnapper...
She glanced at the little snakes. ’With them here, I’m safe. Nothing to be afraid of.’
Gu Zhao nodded. "Animals are better adapted to the terrain here. The search will be faster with them."
Zhang Bai beamed. "Excellent, excellent! We’re counting on you, Miss Gu Zhao!"
’This is the perfect opportunity to see if Gu Zhao can really command animals!’
He secretly took out a pen and notepad to take notes.
Gu Zhao turned to the snakes and rats and explained the situation. The animals immediately swarmed up the mountain.
Feng Chengyan was dumbfounded.
Zhang Bai added with a grin, "I hope you can keep this confidential, President Feng."
Feng Chengyan nodded grimly.
Gu Zhao wanted to say something but held her tongue. ’There’s no point... the whole internet already knows about it.’
...
Up on the mountain, Feng Tingyue sat in the tall grass, staring at his leg, which was caught in a bear trap.
His chubby, baby-fat face was filled with sorrow. "...When are you going to notice I’m missing?"
"You have to come looking for me for that reward, right...?"
As Feng Tingyue sat there, he heard a sound in the grass and his eyes lit up.
’Did she realize I was gone?!’
"Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Hello?"
Nothing... Then another RUSTLE.
Feng Tingyue saw a cobra, its head raised.
They stared at each other for a moment before Feng Tingyue spoke. "Her snake?"
The cobra nodded, looking very pleased.
’Hehe~ He knows I’m Sister’s snake~’
It happily slithered away.
Feng Tingyue: ’You’re just going to leave?!!’
A moment later, more footsteps sounded, accompanied by shouts.
"Feng Tingyue!"
"Young Master!"
Hearing a familiar voice, Feng Tingyue immediately yelled, "Dad! Over here! I’m over here!"
The search party quickly found him.
Feng Chengyan’s heart ached as he picked him up, but he still scolded him, "Are you an idiot!"
Feng Tingyue: ...
’So much for fatherly love.’
’There is none.’
After they got down the mountain, Feng Chengyan expressed his gratitude to Gu Zhao. Feng Tingyue looked at her with the composure of someone far beyond his years. "My dad will send you the reward money. Ask for a lot; he’ll pay it."
"Also, can we exchange contact information? I want to treat the snakes to a meal."
Feng Tingyue glanced at the helpful snake.
Gu Zhao had no objection. "Just give me your contact information."
Feng Tingyue looked troubled. ’Will she even remember it if I tell her? She forgot about a whole living person right behind her.’
Resigned, Feng Tingyue took out his dad’s business card. "Add him first, then I’ll add you."
’Fine, whatever,’ Gu Zhao thought as she took it.
After their car departed, Gu Zhao said goodbye to her snakes and rats before being led to a vehicle by Zhang Bai.
Gu Zhao watched the unfamiliar scenery flash by outside the car window, feeling a little uneasy. ’I haven’t ended up in another den of thieves, have I...?’
"Does my fourth brother know I’ve been rescued?"
Zhang Bai was all smiles. "I’ve already notified your brother."
’Which brother, on the other hand, was a different question.’
’Doesn’t matter. First, I’ll trick her into coming back!’
’Let the Commander-in-Chief be a good big brother! He needs to foster a good sibling relationship and keep this talent with us!’
「Hospital.」
Gu Xulin paced back and forth anxiously in the hospital room. "How is there still no news!"
