Return to Eighteen, the Spoiled Young Lady Acts Fierce with Her Beauty - Chapter 24: No Abnormalities Found

Chapter 24: No Abnormalities Found

“Miss, Old Mr. Ming has woken up.”

Uncle Zhou gently knocked on the door of the Buddhist shrine.

Mingzhu snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she had been staying in the Buddhist shrine for quite some time.

Her gaze swept over the face of the Buddha statue as she responded, “Alright, Uncle Zhou.”

Before even reaching the dining room, Old Mr. Ming’s vigorous voice could be heard coming from inside from afar.

“Why prepare so much breakfast just for me alone?”

Old Mr. Ming wasn’t a man of gentle temperament.

He had always carried an imposing authority before outsiders, fierce and decisive, making everyone nervous in his presence.

But Mingzhu had only ever seen his kind and benevolent side.

Today was different though.

The servants didn’t fear Old Mr. Ming’s scolding – instead, they were all suppressing smiles.

Seeing this made Old Mr. Ming even more irritated. He deliberately put on a stern face and said, “I’m asking you a question!”

Mingzhu paused at the entrance to the dining room.

She suddenly began to feel timid, almost afraid to enter.

This felt too much like a dream.

A divinely bestowed beautiful dream.

She could even hear her own heartbeat growing increasingly rapid.

Fearful that with one careless moment, everything before her eyes would suddenly disappear.

Mingzhu pinched her palm hard.

The realness of the pain made her eyes grow warm.

The emotions she had just calmed in the Buddhist shrine surged up again.

She hurriedly lowered her head as a tear already fell to the ground.

Uncle Zhou entered the dining room ahead of her.

“Old Mr. Ming.”

“Did you arrange this?” Old Mr. Ming glared at Uncle Zhou. “I think you’re becoming increasingly extravagant and wasteful.”

Uncle Zhou smiled and nodded: “You’ll be happy today.”

“Me? Happy?” Old Mr. Ming snorted. “If we can’t finish all this later, you’re going to eat every last bit for me!”

The master and servant who had accompanied each other for decades always spoke casually with each other.

Uncle Zhou chuckled in agreement, the corners of his eyes crinkling with laughter: “Alright.”

Just as Old Mr. Ming picked up his chopsticks, he saw a figure entering through the doorway.

The chopsticks paused mid-air, and after clearly seeing who it was:

“Zhuzhu?” The old man stood up, covering the distance in quick strides.

“Why have you returned so suddenly? Why didn’t you tell your grandfather in advance?”

Mingzhu looked at her grandfather standing tall before her, still walking with vigorous steps.

Her eyes reddened, her throat tightened with emotion. She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak, only staring blankly.

Large tears fell one after another.

Seeing this, Old Mr. Ming became flustered.

“What’s wrong? Who bullied you? Tell your grandfather, I’ll make it right for you!”

“Grandfather…”

After a long moment, Mingzhu finally spoke through sobs, but only repeatedly calling this title.

Old Mr. Ming’s heart ached with each sob.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, your grandfather is here. Did something upset you abroad? Tell me, I’ll have someone handle it right away.”

Mingzhu gently shook her head.

Seeing this, Old Mr. Ming’s heart tightened.

How many years had it been since he last saw Mingzhu cry like this?

The old man gently wiped the tears from Mingzhu’s face with his warm, rough fingers, his voice softening further.

“Be good, Zhuzhu. Tell your grandfather, what happened? Who bullied you?”

But Mingzhu cried even harder, her thin shoulders trembling uncontrollably, almost to the point of losing her breath.

Old Mr. Ming’s heart ached as he pulled her into his embrace.

His broad palm gently patted her back, his warm body heat transmitting through the fabric of their clothes.

Suddenly, the old man’s gentle patting paused slightly.

Mingzhu was enveloped in a heavy scent of sandalwood.

Such fragrance only clung to someone after prolonged time in the Buddhist shrine.

Yet Mingzhu had never believed in these things.

Why would she suddenly enter the shrine today?

A flicker of confusion passed through Old Mr. Ming’s eyes, but his tone remained gentle as he coaxed softly, “Good Zhuzhu, don’t cry. Tell Grandpa what’s wrong?”

Uncle Zhou immediately stepped forward upon seeing this, meeting Old Mr. Ming’s abruptly sharp gaze.

Master and servant exchanged a look, no words needed.

Uncle Zhou already understood Old Mr. Ming’s meaning and gave a solemn nod.

He led the servants away quietly.

The vast dining room was suddenly left with only the grandfather and granddaughter.

Seeing Mingzhu’s swollen red eyes, Old Mr. Ming’s heart ached so much he could only temporarily suppress his numerous questions.

He picked up the blue-and-white porcelain bowl and personally served a bowl of warm minced chicken congee: “Zhuzhu, eat something first, alright?”

Mingzhu obediently nodded, accepting the spoon Old Mr. Ming handed her.

But she had only sat down and eaten a few bites when her eyelids began drooping uncontrollably.

She fought against the drowsiness, frequently looking up to confirm Grandpa was still by her side.

“Zhuzhu tired?”

Old Mr. Ming set down his chopsticks, gazing at her affectionately.

Mingzhu hugged her bowl and shook her head: “Not tired…”

Detecting the unease in Mingzhu’s eyes, Old Mr. Ming stood up: “Come, Grandpa will accompany you to sleep a while longer.”

Mingzhu immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks, following closely behind Old Mr. Ming.

“Grandpa…”

She called out softly, with a hint of caution.

Old Mr. Ming responded immediately: “Yes, Grandpa’s here. What does Zhuzhu want to say?”

But Mingzhu said nothing more, merely curling the corners of her lips into a quiet smile.

Old Mr. Ming casually took a fairy tale book from the shelf.

“Grandpa, are you busy today?”

Mingzhu lay down obediently, watching Old Mr. Ming with eager eyes.

Without hesitation, he said: “Nothing is more important than my Zhuzhu.”

He gently turned the page, his heart melting completely.

Mingzhu rarely showed such dependence.

Old Mr. Ming didn’t press for answers, simply saying tenderly: “Sleep, Grandpa will watch over you.”

Under the influence of jet lag.

Mingzhu soon fell into a deep slumber.

Old Mr. Ming gently tucked her in, turned off the desk lamp, and quietly left the room.

As the door closed softly, Uncle Zhou was already waiting outside with hands clasped. Seeing his master, he bowed respectfully: “Sir.”

Old Mr. Ming’s expression was calm as still water as he strode forward without a word.

Uncle Zhou followed closely, the two entering the study one after another.

“We’ve checked. All bodyguards report the young mistress has been completely normal during this period.” Uncle Zhou placed a stack of documents on the huanghuali desk.

“The itinerary records have all been verified. No abnormalities.”

Old Mr. Ming opened the files, his fingertips lightly tracing the pages.

Under the lamplight, his face shed the affection he showed Mingzhu.

Revealing the sharpness usually seen only during negotiations.

“No abnormalities?”The old man sneered, slamming the documents shut.”

“Then why would that child cry like that?”

Uncle Zhou silently lowered his head.

“Replace that entire team of bodyguards.” Old Mr. Ming’s voice was icy.

“Assign this matter to A Xin to investigate. I want to know exactly who made Zhuzhu suffer.”

The Ming family’s foundations ran far deeper than outsiders could see.

On the reverse side of this commercial empire.

He kept a group of people who operated in the shadows, specializing in handling matters that couldn’t be brought into the open.

“Yes,” Uncle Zhou nodded in acknowledgment. “Shall you personally ask the young lady when she wakes up?”

Old Mr. Ming gave a slight nod and rose to walk toward the Buddhist shrine.

Just as the old gentleman was about to take incense sticks, he noticed three freshly lit joss sticks already inserted in the incense burner.

The incense ashes were still warm, clearly having been lit recently.

The old man stared at the curling smoke, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.