RMM -Chapter 197 Another Disappearance

After a whole morning of melancholy and lamenting the fleeting spring, Su Ruo finally lifted her spirits, tidied herself up casually, and went downstairs.

“Ah, my little ancestor, walk slowly! What if you fall?” Su Ruo was on the stairs when she suddenly heard a startled exclamation.

However, even hearing that exclamation didn’t faze her much—she had heard too many such warnings before and had grown indifferent.

At this point, Su Ruo’s every move was almost treated like a major family event. Especially Shen Liang, who watched Su Ruo’s daily actions as if they were matters of life and death. Su Ruo thought calling her mother-in-law “overly cautious” was not an exaggeration at all.

So, Su Ruo mentally re-evaluated her grandson’s status in everyone’s heart—truly cherished to the extreme, and not even slightly exaggerated.

Turning her head slightly to look at Shen Liang downstairs, Su Ruo put on a nonchalant expression, though she slowed her pace considerably.

“Mom, stop overreacting. I’m walking steadily; I won’t fall.”

Su Ruo said with a cheerful smile, prompting Shen Liang to roll her eyes. “You’re careless, that’s all. Luckily, we’re watching, otherwise…”

Shen Liang shook her head and didn’t continue, but her eyes stayed locked on Su Ruo’s steps. Only after she reached the bottom did Shen Liang breathe a sigh of relief.

“Mom, haven’t you had children before? Why are you still so nervous?” Su Ruo teased.

“That’s not even comparable. Those two boys can’t compare to my precious grandson!” Shen Liang said with disdain.

Su Ruo was speechless… How could a mother say that? Disparaging her own son—she didn’t seem to consider that without her son, there wouldn’t be a grandson.

Of course, Su Ruo kept this thought to herself for private amusement. She wouldn’t dare say it out loud to her mother-in-law.

“Mom, luckily Yuehui isn’t home; otherwise, hearing you say that, he’d be heartbroken,” Su Ruo said, defending Xi Yuehui.

About a month ago, Xi Yuehui had left home to a county in Province S for grassroots training, officially starting his official career.

After chatting a little more with Shen Liang, Su Ruo got up to prepare to go out.

Shen Liang was very uneasy about this outing. How could Su Ruo, already eight months pregnant, go out at this stage? The baby was due any moment!

But Su Ruo had been asked by Su Heng to come along—he wanted to buy a gift for his unborn nephew but didn’t know how to choose. So he wanted Su Ruo to go with him to check it out; after all, for a child, the mother must be satisfied first.

Moreover, Su Heng was planning to pick Su Ruo up later that afternoon to go to the military district compound. Going now to pick out the gift was convenient, so it was no wonder Su Ruo agreed without hesitation.

When her own younger brother invited her, how could Shen Liang refuse? Besides, it wasn’t a leisurely outing—just helping him choose something.

With Su Heng around, nothing should happen to Ruo Ruo. The specialty store wasn’t crowded, and the environment was decent.

After much consideration, Shen Liang reluctantly nodded her approval—but kept her reluctance to herself.

Su Ruo, on the other hand, didn’t think much and agreed right away, unaware of how much her mother-in-law had pondered.

When Su Heng arrived at Zhengjia Courtyard, Shen Liang grabbed him and went over all the precautions: don’t go anywhere crowded, come back early, and so on.

Su Heng listened seriously, nodding from time to time to show he understood. Su Ruo couldn’t help but smirk; her mother had just given her the same speech a few minutes earlier and now repeated it to Su Heng—how overprotective!

“Mom, we know. I’m not a child; I can take care of myself. Don’t worry. I’ll call you to let you know we’ve arrived safely,” Su Ruo said, hugging Shen Liang’s arm and smiling.

“All right, all right. Just be careful,” Shen Liang sighed and let them go.

“Then let’s go! Bye, Mom!” Su Ruo waved from the car cheerfully.

Once the car drove off, Shen Liang frowned, placing a hand on her chest and sighing. Since morning, she’d felt anxious, as if something were about to happen.

Su Ruo, sitting in the car, flipped through a CD while asking Su Heng, “What exactly is it that I have to see? I told you, my son has plenty of things. Why can’t you listen?”

Hearing Su Ruo complain, Su Heng cast her a sideways glance. “I know you’re rich and powerful, but why can’t I buy something for my nephew? If he grows up knowing his only uncle never bought him anything, won’t he distance himself? How will you make up for such serious consequences?”

…Such an unreasonable argument. Didn’t Su Heng already buy things for her son? How could he speak nonsense like that? And if not buying gifts means distancing? Ridiculous.

“You’re such a spoiled brat, living in luxury without knowing the world’s hardships,” Su Ruo whispered disdainfully.

Su Heng didn’t seem to respond. He hummed to himself while driving, looking in a good mood.

“All right, we’re here, Princess, please.”

Su Ruo turned to Su Heng, smiling with noble poise, like a high-standing princess.

Su Heng understood immediately. Smiling, he opened the car door for her with exaggerated courtesy, “Princess, please step out.”

Su Ruo extended her hand, lifted her head, and stepped out—her demeanor almost domineering.

The two strolled through the street with no care for onlookers’ surprised stares.

Su Ruo, in high spirits after not shopping for a while, entered a baby toy store with Su Heng. He told her to sit on the sofa while he went to fetch the items he had selected—the items were bulky and numerous, impossible for the staff to carry themselves, and as a gentleman of the new era, he couldn’t let a lady carry them.

Su Ruo casually flipped through the baby magazines on the coffee table, basking in the warm sun, feeling lazy and comfortable.

After the Spring Festival, the weather was warming up; sunlight no longer lazy like in winter, warming her in no time.

If Su Ruo glanced outside, she would have seen someone staring at her with wide eyes, a face full of shock and hatred, looking terrifyingly fierce.

If she had looked, she would recognize the person, possibly avoiding what was about to happen—but alas…

Su Heng hadn’t returned yet. Su Ruo, bored, flipped through a magazine, sunlight making her drowsy, and lazily yawned.

“Where’s he gone? Why is it taking so long?” she murmured, glancing toward the direction Su Heng went.

Feeling the air in the store stuffy, she decided to step outside for fresh air.

She told a staff member she was going out briefly and asked to be informed if Su Heng returned.

When Su Heng and the staff member returned, Su Ruo was nowhere to be seen. His expression changed instantly; his heart leapt.

“Where’s my sister?!” he demanded loudly at the staff member.

The staff, startled, instinctively looked toward the store entrance. “She said she was going out for some fresh air.”

Su Heng relaxed slightly but didn’t let his guard down. He hurried toward the door, thinking, They say pregnancy makes women scatterbrained—my sister hasn’t even given birth yet, and she’s already being so careless, with such a big belly. How can she wander off alone?

The store’s glass doors allowed a clear view outside. Su Heng looked around for Su Ruo before stepping out—but still saw nothing.

His brows furrowed. Where did she go?

After searching the surrounding area with no sign of her, he panicked. Where is she? She might be willful, but not reckless. She said she was going to the door—she wouldn’t go far. So where is she?!

Su Heng’s heart pounded wildly. With his sister in this condition, nothing must happen, or else…

“She said she’d be at the door, right? Where is she?” He asked the staff again, face dark with worry and frustration.

The staff shrank back, nervous and stammering. “S-she said she was just going outside…”

But she had no idea. How could she know that Su Ruo’s one previous ‘disappearance’ had left such a deep impression? And now that Su Ruo was eight months pregnant, there could be no mistakes.

Moreover, Su Ruo’s bag and phone were still in the store—she wouldn’t leave them behind and wander off.

Su Heng’s hands shook with anxiety. Did something happen? Was she kidnapped?

He immediately called home. Of course, Su Ruo hadn’t arrived.

Zhang Huaqing, hearing his voice, sensed something was wrong and asked if Su Ruo was missing.

Su Heng had no choice but to briefly explain the situation. Whether or not something had happened, this time he wouldn’t hide it from the family. If something did happen, their help would be faster and stronger.

Hearing that his pregnant daughter was missing, Zhang Huaqing felt faint. How could she disappear? Did something happen?

After hanging up, he quickly called Su Feng, while Su Heng called Zhengjia Courtyard to check if Su Ruo had gone there. Receiving a negative answer, he informed Shen Liang.

In an instant, both families were in a frantic uproar, hastily contacting people to find Su Ruo.