I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 87

The banquet hall was filled with noise. There were already many people, and with the main character absent, some gossiping relatives had started to make inappropriate comments.

“Is Xun Fangyun really missing?” A slightly plump woman sitting in the front row said to the person next to her while eating. “I think that girl brought in for good luck might end up losing her own life.”

“Hush, don’t talk nonsense,” the person next to her nudged her, whispering, “Didn’t you see that person sitting right next to us?”

Several people looked up at Xun’s mother. She was sitting on a chair, draped in a green-gold shawl, her face looking terrible.

Seeing Xun’s mother in such a state, those people absolutely didn’t believe Xun Fangyun was just resting, especially with so many security guards running back and forth—it was obviously serious.

“Could it be she ran away from the engagement?”

“Huh? A disabled person running away?”

The slightly plump woman covered her mouth and chuckled, saying to the others, “If you ask me, choosing a girl for ‘good luck’ is just unreliable. Although people are more open-minded now, that girl can’t lift a shoulder or carry anything, and she’s useless when faced with a crisis.”

“Exactly,” the woman opposite her agreed. “It’s a good thing your Wentao has a sense of responsibility. He single-handedly calmed down such a huge scene. If it weren’t for him, who knows what a mess this would be.”

The woman was very pleased to hear this. She was vain, and although Nie Wentao wasn’t her biological son, being praised made her feel exceptionally proud, greatly improving her mood.

“So, I don’t know what Chairman Xun is thinking. Logically speaking, since Xun Fangyun is already disabled, she should find a robust young man as her successor. Choosing a young girl just adds to her troubles.”

“That’s right, she really gets more muddle-headed the older she gets.”

After saying this, the crowd couldn’t help but laugh loudly, which stood out clearly in the noisy banquet hall.

Xun’s mother naturally heard the loud chatter. She couldn’t help but turn her gaze to that table. She had to admit, this group of women with mouths as gossipy as sand was truly noisy.

“Chairwoman,” the assistant couldn’t help but look at Nie Wentao, who was currently playing the role of the banquet host, entertaining guests. He asked, “Is Mr. Nie’s behavior… truly appropriate?”

Xun’s mother glanced at him and asked her assistant, “What do you think of Nie Wentao?”

The assistant said awkwardly, “Chairwoman, you haven’t really taken those people’s words to heart, have you?”

It was well-known that Nie Wentao was a notorious dandy. He had been an idler since childhood, bought his university degree, and didn’t work seriously after graduation, spending his days with his undesirable friends. Aside from murder, arson, drug trafficking, and prostitution, he seemed to have done every bad thing imaginable.

Surely, the Chairwoman wouldn’t be blind enough to favor such a person, would she???

Xun’s mother sighed lazily: “I’m getting old. Now I want to rely on my children.”

“Chairwoman, you can’t be muddled!” the assistant said worriedly. “Mr. Nie Wentao is not a good person.”

“Who’s not a good person?”

Just then, Nie Wentao had appeared beside the two of them. Hearing the comment, he frowned unhappily and said, “Xiao Zhou, did I offend you somehow? Why are you slandering me in front of Chairwoman Xun?”

The assistant was embarrassed to be caught speaking ill of him. He looked at him awkwardly: “You must have heard wrong. How dare I say such a thing?”

“I was standing right here and heard clearly. How can you still say I heard wrong?” Nie Wentao walked up to the assistant, Xiao Zhou, and looked down at him: “I think you don’t want this job anymore, do you?”

“I…”

“Enough,” Xun’s mother said with displeasure. “At a time like this, we shouldn’t worry about such petty matters.”

Nie Wentao immediately put on an amiable expression when he heard this and said to Xun’s mother, “Don’t worry. I’m already checking the surveillance. Finding my cousin is just a matter of time now.”

Xun’s mother frowned but didn’t speak.

Nie Wentao thought for a moment, then sat down next to Xun’s mother and said, “Auntie, you know how I feel about my sister Fangyun. If she really ran away from the engagement today, would you still force her to marry?”

Xun’s mother glanced at him, not saying a word.

“Actually, I’ve been talking things through with my sister Fangyun a lot while working under you recently,” Nie Wentao cleared his throat and smiled. “I think she’s really cute, and I can tell she’s been under a lot of pressure lately. I don’t think you should force her to marry someone she doesn’t like.”

Xun’s mother’s previously low mood instantly became interested. She looked at Nie Wentao and asked earnestly, “Did she really tell you that?”

“Of course! Would I lie to you?” Nie Wentao said. “My sister Fangyun is still a bit confused since she just woke up. She might just be unable to accept the reality of getting married right now. If… I mean, if she manages to come back, Auntie, please don’t force Xun Fangyun to do something she doesn’t like.”

“Something she doesn’t like?”

“Yes.”

Nie Wentao patted his chest and said, “I actually really like my sister Fangyun. Once we find her, I hope Auntie can give the two of us a chance!”

Xun’s mother looked at him with great interest, rubbed the corner of her lips, and smiled: “Do you… really like her?”

Assistant Xiao Zhou, standing by, was so disgusted by Nie Wentao’s sudden confession that his stomach churned, and he almost vomited the pastry he ate in the afternoon.

This man is shameless! What kind of ridiculous line is that? Even TV dramas wouldn’t dare to write this!

Doesn’t he feel disgusted saying that?!

But why does the Chairwoman look so interested!!!

Wake up, Chairwoman! A schemer like him cannot be your son-in-law!!!!

Just as everyone in the venue was preoccupied with their own thoughts, a group of people in police uniforms poured in through the door. Their large numbers made them look quite formidable.

“Who is the person in charge here?” one of them shouted.

Nie Wentao glanced at the people in uniform and immediately lowered his head. Xun’s mother said nothing about his reaction. She stood up and walked over, saying, “That would be me. What is it?”

The officer showed his badge and continued, “I received a public tip-off that someone here is running a pyramid scheme. What is going on?”

Xun’s mother was puzzled: “You must be mistaken, Officer. This is an engagement ceremony.”

The officers looked around and confirmed that the scene didn’t match the report, which was strange.

Did someone file a false report???

Just as the police officers were wondering, the assistant standing nearby spoke first: “However, something indeed happened here.”

“Oh?” The officer was slightly surprised, thinking maybe they hadn’t come for nothing.

Xun’s mother nodded and explained Xun Fangyun’s disappearance from backstage. The officer listened and concluded that the sudden disappearance of a wealthy heir was definitely suspicious. He frowned and said, “Why didn’t you report the disappearance earlier? You waited until we arrived to tell us, is that right?”

Everyone remained silent.

“Where is the hotel manager? We need to investigate.”

Seeing that the officers were about to start the investigation procedure, Nie Wentao broke out in a cold sweat. He had only planned to kidnap Xun Fangyun, force the issue, and then send her back the next day, claiming he was the hero who rescued her to win Xun’s mother’s favor.

Since Xun Fangyun was disabled and mute, she would have no choice but to marry him, and Xun’s mother’s billions would become his own.

Now, he was just one night away from achieving his goal. He couldn’t let this incident escalate, or all the evidence would point directly to him!

“No!”

Nie Wentao quickly stood up and shouted to the people who were about to leave, “You can’t go!”

The officers turned back to look at him, not understanding what this man in the suit meant.

Xun’s mother also looked at him, confused: “Wentao, what do you mean? Didn’t you say Xun Fangyun might have been kidnapped?”

“I…” Sweat dripped from Nie Wentao’s forehead. He laughed awkwardly, “My friend is checking the surveillance right now. He’ll be able to give us the results soon. There’s no need for the police to make another trip; it’s too much trouble.”

“But your friend has been gone for a long time. If he hasn’t returned yet, does that mean he hasn’t found anything?”

“That’s impossible. He’s a professional. Professional work should be done by professionals, right?”

Before Xun’s mother could speak, the officer standing by became displeased. He said unhappily, “What do you mean, sir? Are you saying we are not professionals?”

Nie Wentao was sweating profusely: “I… I didn’t mean that…”

“Since your friend is involved, we’ll go and take a look, too.” The police officer looked Nie Wentao up and down, regarding him suspiciously: “However… why are you so nervous? You claim it’s a kidnapping, but do you have any evidence?”

Nie Wentao’s face turned pale with nervousness: “I didn’t claim that! I was just guessing…”

“Guessing with such certainty?”

“Um…”

This person definitely has something to hide.

Years of experience told the officers present that the man speaking was very strange. Several of them exchanged glances and silently walked behind Nie Wentao, saying, “Sir, please come with us. You can introduce us to your friend.”

Nie Wentao was terrified. He struggled, shouting, “Don’t stand behind me! What are you trying to do!”

“Sir, we haven’t done anything. Why are you so nervous?”

“I…!!!!”

All the hundreds of guests present now had their eyes fixed on Nie Wentao. Some even started whispering loudly.

“Look at him, he’s sweating profusely. Why is he so nervous?”

“I know! Earlier, he was so calm, telling everyone not to panic and organizing things clearly. Why is he acting like a rat seeing a cat in front of the police?”

“Now that you mention it, I find it strange too. He didn’t seem surprised at all that Xun Fangyun was missing.”

“Could it be that he really was behind the kidnapping?”

“I think it might even be self-directed. Look how his legs are shaking from fear.”

“No way! That man looks respectable. Could he really kidnap his own cousin?”

“You probably don’t know this, but Nie Wentao is not a member of the Xun family. He’s adopted, with no blood relation whatsoever.”

“Then, since Xun Fangyun can’t run or speak, falling into this man’s hands could be disastrous, couldn’t it?”

These comments naturally reached the police officers’ ears. Their eyes turned cold. They reached out and restrained Nie Wentao, saying to him, “Please come with us, sir.”

“Let go of me!” Nie Wentao screamed hysterically. “I didn’t kidnap Xun Fangyun! How can you suspect me like this!”

“Sir, please calm down. Once we investigate everything clearly at the police station, you will be released.”

“I won’t go! Why should I go if I didn’t kidnap Xun Fangyun!”

Just as Nie Wentao was struggling violently, a slender white figure slowly walked in from the main entrance. She walked through the crowd of onlookers, passed one exquisite dining table after another, and finally stopped at the center of the commotion.

Xun Fangyun stood there, her black long hair neat and orderly, her eyes as dark as ink fixed on the stunned Nie Wentao, and she curled her lips into a smile.

Seeing this, Nie Wentao collapsed onto his knees with a loud thud, looking at Xun Fangyun with an expression of disbelief: “You… Weren’t you disabled? Why can you stand up?”

Xun Fangyun couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “When did I ever say I was disabled, my kidnapper cousin?”