Chapter 80

Ji Nian turned her head back at the door and flashed a bright smile at Ji Tingzhou before running off. Seeing her adorable expression, Ji Tingzhou couldn't help but curl his lips into a faint smile. But soon, when he called his secretary Zuo Yi, his face returned to its usual impassive expression. When Zuo Yi received the call and learned that Lu Zhi's son, Lu Jinghuai, had gone missing in Huaguo, he was momentarily shocked. This was not good news. Strictly speaking, Lu Jinghuai was of royal descent, and if things went wrong, it could escalate into a political issue between nations. "I understand, boss," Zuo Yi replied before hanging up and immediately ordering an iced Americano for himself. After hanging up, Ji Tingzhou didn't idle either. He called a politician closely connected to the Ji family to discuss the matter. ... "Miss, are you looking for someone?" A passing maid, noticing Ji Nian looking around, stopped and asked with a smile. "Hong Guo, have you seen Zhiliao? I need to talk to her." Hong Guo was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Ji Nian to remember her name so accurately. Seeing her stunned expression, Ji Nian tilted her head and said, "You're Hong Guo, right? The one who takes care of Dad's wardrobe. I didn't get that wrong, did I?" Hong Guo quickly shook her head, laughing. "No, no, you're absolutely right, Miss. I am Hong Guo." She felt a little embarrassed. The Ji household had so many servants, and she only worked in the wardrobe room, so she didn't appear in front of Ji Nian as often as others. But she never expected the young miss to remember her name. "If you're looking for Zhiliao, she's probably in her training room. Do you want me to take you there?" Ji Nian nodded. "Yes, thank you, Hong Guo." The repeated "Hong Guo" made the maid's smile widen. Zhiliao's training room was in the basement. As soon as Ji Nian reached the door, she heard loud noises coming from inside. Hong Guo opened the door for her. Since it was Zhiliao's private space, she didn't linger, saying a quick goodbye to Ji Nian before leaving. As soon as Ji Nian stepped inside, Zhiliao's sharp gaze immediately swept over her. But when her eyes landed on Ji Nian, the sharpness softened, and her expression became much gentler. At that moment, Ji Nian was staring up at Zhiliao in awe. Zhiliao, who usually wore the Ji family's standard maid uniform, had now shed that plain outfit. She was wearing only a black sports bra, revealing her well-defined abs and toned muscles. Her waist was slim, and her arms were strong but not overly bulky. Paired with her striking face—half delicate, half handsome—it made Ji Nian audibly gulp. At that moment, Ji Nian thought, maybe being straight wasn't that important after all. Seeing the child's reaction, Zhiliao found it amusing and couldn't help but smile. Reminded of her original purpose, Ji Nian finally recalled her mission. "Oh, right." "Dad said that when I first arrived, there was something in the blanket I was wrapped in." Zhiliao immediately understood. She knew exactly what Ji Tingzhou was unsure about because she was the one who had found Ji Nian at the gate. "Yes, there was." She asked Ji Nian to wait for her, warning her not to touch the weapons or training equipment, before heading off to shower and change. Knowing Ji Nian was a smart and well-behaved child, Zhiliao wasn't too worried. Once Zhiliao left, Ji Nian lost interest in the room. Compared to weapons and training gear, she preferred test tubes and lab equipment. "Without Zhiliao, this place instantly becomes so ordinary." System: ["If you had to choose between Zhiliao and Mo Chen, who would you prefer?"] Ji Nian's eyes widened. ["How dare you even ask such a question? Isn't my love for Zhiliao obvious enough? How could you compare her to someone else?"] Besides... Though she felt a sense of familiarity with Mo Chen, and found him good-looking and appealing, the thought of her suspicions made her mood complicated. [I still need to test him... I have confidence in my observations.] She truly believed Mo Chen might know who she was, which made her wonder: what was his purpose in infiltrating S Elementary? As she pondered, Zhiliao returned, freshly cleaned and dressed in her usual attire. She was the type who looked slim in clothes but had a toned physique underneath. Who would have thought that the seemingly slender Zhiliao had such a captivating and powerful body? Zhiliao led Ji Nian to one of the Ji family's storage rooms. After making Ji Nian wait for a bit, she returned with a few items. "I thought these might be useful someday, so I kept them." "This is the blanket you were wrapped in when you were found." Ji Nian examined the white blanket with a cartoon puppy pattern, curiously touching it. The fabric had yellowed with age, and there were some stains on it. "Back then, you were placed in a basket and left at the gate of the Ji family." "You were wrapped in this blanket, and there was a necklace around your neck." Zhiliao handed her the necklace. Ji Nian's eyes immediately locked onto it as soon as Zhiliao took it out. She took it in her hands, staring at it in a daze. It was a black cord with intricate patterns, and hanging from it was— "Huh? Is this..." A guitar pick?