Chapter 183 - The Mafia King Meets Meng Ya (1)
Chapter 183 – The Mafia King Meets Meng Ya (1)
For the past month, Meng Ya was tirelessly searching for Lihua. She had suddenly stopped coming to college and even her apartment was empty. Mrs. Zhang had no clue either about her whereabouts. She was just as worried for her, but she didn't know where to find her. Wei had disappeared too from the apartment complex.
Lihua's number didn't work either. Finally, Meng Ya visited Jiang Industries to find Wei and ask him about Lihua. But she was always denied entry into the office and not allowed to meet Wei at all.
In the end, she was heartbroken and she even went to the cops to register a complaint about Lihua's disappearance. At first, they didn't take her seriously because Lihua was an adult. They said she might have left the city and didn't inform her.
"Lihua will never do that!" She burst into tears. "We are besties! Even if Lihua has to leave anywhere, she won't go at least without informing me. I am telling you she is in trouble! You have to find her!"
The cops finally started the investigation after she refused to take her complaint back. But it didn't result in anything.
"Mam, are you sure that you are saying the right name? We didn't find any Song Lihua with that description."
Meng Ya was flabbergasted. "What nonsense! She is Song Lihua! Look!" She showed the cop her picture. "She is Song Lihua. How can you not find her?"
He shook his head. "But we cannot. Her name is not coming up anywhere."
"We go to the same college! What do you mean she isn't coming up anywhere!"
"We didn't find her even in your college records, Mam. There is no student with the name of Song Lihua in your college."
She stared at him dumbfounded. "T-this is not possible! The principal knows her too."
The officer said, "The principal has already retired from his position and left abroad to settle with his son and family. It will be difficult to contact him."
After that, the investigation came to a standstill and Meng Ya didn't know what to do anymore. It was as if she was chasing Lihua's ghost.
"Why is everyone behaving like you don't exist, Lihua?" She cried as she stood alone on the sidewalk.
"Where are you Lihua…you are safe, right? I am missing you so much…" she sniffled.
The rest of the days passed by with nothing much happening. Meng Ya continued hammering the cops not to give up on the investigation, but it seemed they had already given up. They believed Song Lihua didn't exist and some even secretly thought that Meng Ya was crazy.
Today, she felt so suffocating staying at home and constantly thinking of Lihua that she decided to step out for some fresh air. She aimlessly entered the mall not intending to shop at all.
But when she reached the top floor and wandered along the corridor, she froze in her steps. Through the large glass windows of a restaurant, she saw Lihua sitting at a corner table alone. For a few moments, she thought as if she was dreaming and she rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She was searching for her for a month and now she just suddenly appeared before her.
She realized that it was really Lihua.
Tears pooled in her eyes and with staggering steps, she entered the restaurant, her heart bursting in happiness.
"L-Lihua!"
She excitedly called out to her, but she didn't look back to her surprise.
"Lihua!"
She still didn't react.
Meng Ya's brows crinkled in confusion and she hastily rushed to her table. She shook her shoulder and called out. "Lihua!"
Lihua felt startled and looked up. She saw a woman about her age with teary eyes looking at her with a smile. She stared at her as if she was in a trance.
Meng Ya said, "I was calling you Lihua. Why didn't you answer me?"
She felt speechless.
Huh? What is she saying?
She slowly got up, observing her. She didn't understand why but meeting this strange woman tugged her heartstrings. She faintly sensed some familiarity with her that disappeared as soon as it arose. She tried to search for that feeling again, but it was gone.
It was similar to how she felt when she first heard the name Lihua.
Before she could say anything, Meng Ya jumped into a tight hug. "Lihua…you…where were you all this time? Do you know how worried I was? You just suddenly disappeared and your number was also not working! I searched for you like crazy! I-I thought that something bad happened to you. You never did this before…do you know how much I cried for you? Does anybody treat their best friend like that?"
Her lips parted in shock and her eyes widened in surprise with the sudden hug. The strange woman's sobs shook her.
"Umm…"
Meng Ya pulled back and looked at her, wiping her tears. "Lihua. I am so glad that you are alright. You idiot. Where were you? You didn't even call me! I am so happy and mad at the same time!" She indignantly said.
Lihua said, "Excuse me but I think that there is some misunderstanding."
Meng Ya blinked her eyes. "'Excuse me?' Why are you talking so formally? And what misunderstanding?"
"You are misunderstanding me as a different person. I am not Lihua that you speak of."
"Huh?" She looked at her, dumbfounded. She placed her hand on her forehead. "Have you hit your head somewhere? Did you get dumber in my absence?" She squinted her gaze.
Her mouth twitched. "Miss. I am not dumb. You are taking me as the wrong person. I am not Lihua. I am Jiang Lixue."
Meng Ya's eyes flew open in disbelief. "Lihua, are you playing a prank on me?"
Lihua frowned. "Why would I do that? I am serious. My name is Jiang Lixue."
Lixue? Jiang Lixue…?
Suddenly the surname Jiang rang in her ears.
Jiang?
At that moment, Wei came back after attending his call and as his gaze landed on Meng Ya, he froze.