Chapter 13, Gone Missing
The paths in the garden were intricate and confusing, so to prevent getting lost, Ji Linxue held Gu Zixi's hand tightly.
"Did you injure your leg before?" This question had bothered Ji Linxue for a long time. He hadn't had a chance to ask last time, but finally remembered this time.
"Yeah, I stayed in the hospital for a long time to recover." Gu Zixi rubbed his knee, his voice pitiful, "I couldn't eat anything. I was practically drooling with craving every day."
Ji Linxue asked seemingly casually, "How did you get injured out of nowhere?"
"Ah." Gu Zixi's eyes darted around, "I missed a step on the stairs and accidentally fell down."
Ji Linxue observed his expression and found that apart from being a little guilty, Gu Zixi's face showed no signs of lying.
His guilt seemed more like he was covering something up.
"Was it really you who missed a step?"
"Really!" Gu Zixi clenched his small fist, excitedly saying, "It was just an accident, it has nothing to do with my brother!"
Ji Linxue was silent for a few seconds, then half-squatted to meet his gaze, "Why would you say that? It's wrong for children to lie."
"I'm not lying!" Gu Zixi looked almost on the verge of tears, "That day, I wanted to go up and bring my brother a fruit platter, but I was walking too fast and fell down the stairs. My brother heard the commotion and came out, standing at the top of the stairs, and Mama insisted that he pushed me!"
Realizing what he had said, Gu Zixi quickly covered his mouth.
Ji Linxue felt a surge of anger rise from his chest. He lowered his voice, "Why would your mother do that?"
"I don't know either. Mama really dislikes Gege." Gu Zixi fidgeted with his fingers, "She keeps saying things about 'dreams' in front of me, and I don't understand."
Ji Linxue instantly understood something. He squatted down and touched Gu Zixi's head.
"Don't tell anyone about today's matter, not even your mother, understand?"
Gu Zixi nodded, "Mhm!"
Outside the garden, Gu Hengzhi was indeed still at the entrance. He had no interest in such games and was currently sitting on a nearby bench playing on his phone.
Hearing footsteps, he subconsciously looked up, his gaze freezing on Ji Linxue and Gu Zixi's clasped hands.
Gu Hengzhi looked at Ji Linxue with a half-smile, "It seems you and my lovely little brother really hit it off. Wasn't the last banquet your first meeting?"
Never having heard his brother use the word "lovely" to describe him, Gu Zixi's ears reddened, his eyes wide. The little person in his heart was so excited it almost jumped out, "Linxue Gege is very nice!"
Ji Linxue knew Gu Hengzhi was being sarcastic. He interrupted Gu Zixi, "I met him in the garden. He said he wanted to give you the box."
Gu Zixi quickly reacted, holding the box with both hands and offering it to Gu Hengzhi, "Gege, this is from me to you."
Gu Hengzhi didn't take it, but looked at Ji Linxue, "Your idea?"
Ji Linxue said, "I didn't teach him. This was his own idea."
Gu Hengzhi didn't know if he believed it or not, lowering his gaze to quietly look at the box by his hand.
Children were always impatient. Gu Zixi scuffed his feet on the ground for a while, his eyes quietly glancing upwards, "Gege, if you still want the box, I can go find one now."
"What tricks are you playing now?" Gu Hengzhi looked up, his eyes revealing undisguised coldness, "Gu Zixi, I don't have time to put on a show of brotherly affection with you. You and your mother are as disgusting as each other."
"Last time, I told Mama and Papa that I fell down myself, but they didn't believe me," Gu Zixi cried sadly, "I know it's my fault. If it weren't for me, Papa wouldn't have hit you."
Gu Hengzhi averted his gaze, his profile cold, "Don't appear in front of me again. I don't want to waste any more words on you."
Never having heard him say such heartless words, Gu Zixi was stunned for a moment. After a while, he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, "I understand, Gege."
Just as he was slowly leaving, Gu Hengzhi suddenly called out to him, "Wait."
Hope flickered in Gu Zixi's eyes.
Long, fair fingers pointed at the box on the table, "Your thing. Take it."
Gu Zixi quickly left with the box. Watching his retreating figure, Ji Linxue remained silent for a long time.
Gu Hengzhi stood behind him at some point, "What kind of look is that?"
Ji Linxue turned his head to look at him, "You clearly don't dislike him that much. Why do you say such things?"
Gu Hengzhi scoffed, "You understand me so well?"
"At least I can tell that you don't dislike this little brother that much."
Gu Hengzhi looked at the distant woods, his tone no longer as cold and rigid as before, "It's impossible for him and me to become true brothers. I advise you not to meddle. Some things you can't control."
Ji Linxue looked at his resolute profile and fell silent.
The competition was nearing its end. Classmates gradually returned, carrying a few boxes each, but Gu Hengzhi was the only one empty-handed.
Shen Shaoyan found five, proudly showing them off in front of Gu Hengzhi and Ji Linxue, then took out two for Gu Hengzhi, "Here, they're for you. Am I generous?"
Gu Hengzhi didn't stand on ceremony, "I really do thank you."
Shen Shaoyan helped them turn in the boxes to the teacher for points, casually saying, "Speaking of which, I think I just saw Gu Zixi. He was walking with his head down, looking like he was crying."
"What happened?" Shen Shaoyan leaned closer, "Did he make the little kid cry again?"
Ji Linxue, "Judging by your tone, this isn't the first or second time he's done something like this."
"Gu Zixi really likes to stick to our Heng Ge. I think it was not long after he was born, Heng Ge even asked me to help him pick clothes for Gu Zixi, if it wasn't for his mother..."
"Shen Shaoyan." Gu Hengzhi's eyes were dangerous.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." Shen Shaoyan looked up at the sky, "Why hasn't that kid come out yet?"
The sun had already set. The teacher had finished distributing the prizes. The classmates had scattered back to the accommodation area, leaving only a few of them in this open space.
The garden was located at the back of the resort. Beyond it was a deep, wild forest. Apart from the path in front of them, there was no other way back to the accommodation.
Ji Linxue instantly realized something, "Did any of you see him come out just now?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Damn it, this garden is so big. Gu Zixi wouldn't have gotten lost, would he?" Shen Shaoyan said nervously.
Gu Hengzhi's face slightly changed, "Go in and look for him."
The four re-entered the garden, splitting up to search for Gu Zixi.
As time passed, it had completely darkened. The garden lights came on, one after another, emitting a faint yellow glow that could only barely illuminate an outline.
After searching for about half an hour, they had almost turned the garden inside out, but still hadn't seen Gu Zixi.
Gu Hengzhi's lips were tightly pressed into a thin, bloodless line. Ji Linxue also noticed his hands trembling slightly, indicating he wasn't as indifferent to Gu Zixi as he appeared.
Shen Shaoyan was frantic, "This place isn't that big. How can we not find him?"
"I asked others, no one saw him leave from here," Lu Yu said, "There are surveillance cameras in the garden. I'm going to check them now."
"Okay," Gu Hengzhi had calmed down, his voice steady and strong, "You go check the surveillance. Shen Shaoyan, you go notify the Gu family. Ji Linxue and I will continue searching inside."
Everyone agreed to the arrangement and immediately split up.
Ji Linxue and Gu Hengzhi re-entered the garden. This time, in the deepest part, they found a torn piece of fabric, white and soft to the touch.
Ji Linxue looked at it under his phone's light, "This should be Gu Zixi's clothes. I remember he was wearing a white jacket today."
Gu Hengzhi confirmed, "It's his."
The two walked further. This hot spring resort was relatively remote, and few people came here normally, so the security measures were not particularly strict. Only a tall wall was built nearby, covered with dense electric netting. At this moment, the electric netting had a large hole, big enough for an adult to squeeze through.
They exchanged glances, having to admit that the situation had escalated to the worst possible outcome.
Gu Zixi had been taken away.
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