My Youth Began With Him

“Shall we act now?” The man wearing sunglasses picked up his cellphone and asked the person on the other end of the line.

“No. Just watch them.”

“Yes, Boss.”

In Tasmania, Huo Mian settled down in an inconspicuous motel with the 5,000 dollars that Riley gave to her.

Then, she went out and found a phone booth several streets from the motel to make a call.

As she dialed Qin Chu’s familiar number, Huo Mian inhaled deeply and felt quite nervous.

She’d soon hear Mr. Qin’s voice; he’d be ecstatic when he learns that she had escaped.

After she finished dialing, there was a pause of three seconds before an automated voice said, “Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is powered off…”

Huh? Huo Mian was surprised because Qin Chu rarely turned off his cellphone; usually, he kept it on 24/7.

Did something happen to him? Did Qin Chu think she was dead after she disappeared?

No. They had two daughters back home…

Uneasily, she dialed the number of their home, South Hill Manor.

After about a dozen seconds, someone answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Ning-Ning?” Huo Mian recognized it was Qin Ning’s voice.

“Sister… Sister-in-law?” Qin Ning asked in disbelief.

“It’s me.” Huo Mian was a bit emotional.

“My goodness… How did you call me? Where are you? Do you know we almost went crazy searching for you…”

Qin Ning tried to suppress her elation.

“I know. Is everyone okay at home?” Huo Mian asked.

“Yeah, everyone is good. They are waiting for your safe return.”

“Where’s my husband? I called him but his cellphone is powered off. Is he home or in the company?”

“How can my brother go to work at such a time? After you were gone, he went into a coma due to the shock he received and stayed in the Army Hospital for a long time. He woke up after surgery only a couple of days ago. Then he received some information about your whereabouts and left on a night flight. I guess he’s now still in the air, which is why you couldn’t get through to him.”

“I see. Where is he going?” Huo Mian asked cautiously.

“He said he was going to Australia.”

“He really said he’s going to Australia?” Huo Mian was excited.

It seemed Qin Chu was very close to her…

If she could leave here and contact Qin Chu, they would meet in Sydney.

“Yes, he said you might be in Australia.”

“Okay, I got it. When your brother turns on his cellphone, you can call him and tell him I’m also in Australia.”

“You’re also in Australia?! My goodness! That’s great! Where are you?” Qin Ning asked.

“I’m…”

Huo Mian was about to say her location when she heard some tiny noises on the line.

She wondered if the phone in their home was bugged.

Daring not to continue, she just said in a hurry, “He will understand. I’ll go and find him. I’ll call him later.”

“Okay. Sis-in-Law, you must take care.”

“I will.”

“Sis-in-law, is the baby okay?”

“Yeah. The baby is fine.”

“That’s awesome!” Qin Ning was exhilarated.

“Ning-Ning, how about Pudding and Little Bean?”

“Don’t worry. They are fine,” said Qin Ning.

“Good. That’s good.”

“Do you want to talk to them?”

“Not now. I’ll talk to them when I’m home. Don’t make the kids worry for me.” Then Huo Mian hung up immediately.

She checked the time and found she had been on the phone for more than 30 seconds.

Uneasily, she left the telephone booth.

It was almost dark. She had eaten a lot for lunch but now she felt hungry again, probably because of her pregnancy.

Huo Mian decided to buy some food at a convenience store and brought it back to the motel.

When she turned into an alley, she felt someone was following her.