Chapter 125: The Two Elders Missing?

"Have you heard any news about my grandparents going on a trip lately?"

Zhang Mingyang knew his grandfather's personality well; the old man was a homebody of advanced age who rarely even stepped out of the residential complex, let alone went on a trip. Although his grandmother enjoyed going out, she almost never traveled far.

"Grandpa Qiu, if you have any news about my grandparents, please give me a call back." Zhang Mingyang gave him his phone number.

After hanging up, the more Zhang Mingyang thought about it, the more ominous he felt. He called all his relatives, but none of them knew where the two elders had gone.

Zhang Mingyang sat on his bed, burning with anxiety. *If Old Man Liu really is Jin Yaowen, then my grandparents...!*

"No! I have to go back and check."

With that, he hurriedly changed his clothes, grabbed only his communicator and mobile phone, and bolted out of the hospital room.

On the way, Zhang Mingyang booked the next available flight to Jiyang. After exiting the hospital, he found an autonomous taxi and entered the airport as his destination. Inside the car, he kept dialing his grandparents' phones. "Why aren't you answering? Where on earth could you have gone?"

Zhang Mingyang pounded the seat, frantic with worry.

Half an hour later, the taxi arrived at the airport. He quickly scanned his face to pay and rushed out. In the departure hall, he checked the time; the flight was taking off in half an hour. He hurried to the security checkpoint. Seeing the long line, he stomped his feet in impatience.

"Forget it, I'll cut in line."

A young man behind him noticed his frantic state and tapped him on the shoulder. "Young man, if you're in such a hurry, go to the disabled lane next to us. I see your arm has an injury, right?"

Hearing the suggestion, Zhang Mingyang looked at his right arm. "That's right! I'm a disabled person now!"

"Thanks, brother."

Zhang Mingyang quickly found an airport staff member and asked where the disabled lane was.

"Sir, I'll take you there."

Guided by the staff member, Zhang Mingyang arrived at the priority security checkpoint.

"Beep... beep...!"

A machine scanned his entire body. "Sir, you're all set. You may proceed."

After passing security, Zhang Mingyang checked the information board to find Gate 14. "Found it!" He sprinted toward the sign at full speed.

"Wait, there's one more person!" He dashed over just as boarding was about to close.

"Sir, please look at the camera."

Zhang Mingyang followed the staff member's instructions and looked at the camera for a scan. A moment later, the results appeared. "Mr. Zhang Mingyang, welcome aboard Jiyang Airlines."

"Thank you." He quickly ran inside. Guided by the staff, he finally made it onto the plane.

"H4?" He looked for his seat number. "Found it!" He had specifically chosen a window seat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Jiyang Airlines, flight from the capital to Jiyang. The flight distance is 400 kilometers, with an estimated flight time of 10 minutes. Cruising altitude is 6,500 meters, and flight speed is 2,400 kilometers per hour..."

"The plane will take off in ten minutes. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Thank you."

Ten minutes until takeoff. Zhang Mingyang looked at the time; he should be able to get home before three in the afternoon. He didn't stay idle before departure; he kept trying to find a way to contact his grandparents. He had called all the relatives and even the neighborhood chess club his grandfather frequented. Where could they possibly have gone?

Shortly after, the plane began to move, sliding onto the runway before engaging its afterburners and taking flight.

"Beep, beep...!"

His communicator rang. It was Peng Dongli.

"Oh no!" Zhang Mingyang realized he had been in such a rush he hadn't notified him. He quickly answered. "Hello, Senior Brother Peng?"

Peng Dongli roared on the other end, "Where have you gone again? The nurse said you've been out for a long time!"

Zhang Mingyang explained hurriedly, "Senior Brother, I can't get through to my grandparents' phones!"

"What? Have you asked anyone else?"

Zhang Mingyang looked around and replied in a low voice, "Senior Brother, do you remember me telling you that the book *Resource Game* was given to me by Old Man Liu from my hometown?"

Peng Dongli thought for a moment. "I think you did mention it?"

Zhang Mingyang continued, "Do you remember Jin Yaowen saying that he was the one who gave me that book?"

"I know that."

"Wait!" Peng Dongli realized what he was implying. "Are you saying that Old Man Liu next door to your home is Jin Yaowen?"

"Exactly!" Zhang Mingyang felt increasingly terrified. "Old Man Liu was very familiar with our family, and now that my grandparents have been out of contact for so long, I'm afraid that...!"

Once Zhang Mingyang said that, Peng Dongli understood. He replied urgently, "Junior Brother, stay safe and don't alert the enemy. I will contact Director Wang immediately and have him send people over."

"Right! But Senior Brother, given what just happened to your CEO Nie, you shouldn't come. Your company needs you right now."

Peng Dongli replied, "I'm fine here. CEO Nie has already summoned all the executives for a meeting. I'll just ask him for leave and head over immediately."

"Senior Brother, don't...!"

Before he could finish, Peng Dongli hung up.

The situation was spiraling out of control. *Grandpa, Grandma, please, nothing must happen to you!*

After hanging up, Zhang Mingyang continued calling everyone he knew to ask about the two elders.

...

"Dear passengers, the plane will land at Jiyang International Airport in five minutes. Please keep your seatbelts fastened..."

As the plane approached Jiyang, Zhang Mingyang quickly took out his phone to hail a car to wait for him at the exit. Five minutes later, the plane landed smoothly, and the passengers stood up to disembark. Zhang Mingyang waited in line, moving forward inch by inch. Once off the plane, he bolted toward the exit.

"Beep, beep...!"

His communicator rang again. This time, it was Wang Bowen.

"Hello! Grandpa Wang, is something wrong?"

Wang Bowen asked anxiously, "Mingyang, I heard Jin Yaowen is in your hometown?"

Zhang Mingyang replied, "That's right. Senior Brother Peng must have told you. He should be right next door to my home."

"Peng Dongli told me." There was the sound of car horns in the communicator; Wang Bowen was likely driving. "Mingyang, I heard from Peng Dongli that your grandparents are missing?"

Zhang Mingyang ran out of the exit, scanning the vehicles on both sides. "Grandpa Wang, I've arrived in Jiyang. I'm on my way home to check. I'll let you know if there's any situation."

"Alright. Mingyang, don't go back to the house alone. Our people will be there in an hour."

"I understand."

Hanging up, Zhang Mingyang found the car he had hailed. He got in and immediately entered the location for the Pulin Residential Complex.

The airport was eleven kilometers away from Pulin; without traffic, it would only take twenty minutes. In the car, Zhang Mingyang continued to dial his grandparents' phones, hoping desperately that they would pick up and tell him they were fine and had just fallen asleep.