[GL Mystery] Lost Tracks - Chapter 7

While Dingdang was on the phone with her father, he was about to call her. Was it a family connection?

Since Dingdang and Ximo went to L City, Dingdang’s father had people tracking Gu Yue.

They found her bank account frequently sent large sums to different accounts. Oddly, her foreign trade business was quiet lately.

Soon after, they heard the club was undergoing major changes.

The insider they’d bribed said Gu Yue planned to leave town, possibly shutting down the club.

Dingdang’s father suspected Gu Yue was preparing to flee—perhaps due to activity in L City? He was about to tell Dingdang when her call came.

After relaying her father’s words to Ximo, they speculated it might be due to the poisoned man’s arrest, prompting Gu Yue to fear police scrutiny and prepare to escape. But the poisoned man’s lead was unclear.

During Ximo’s call with Old Li, he mentioned the toxin’s origin was still untraceable, likely homemade. Ximo thought, someone who could make such a poison wasn’t an ordinary criminal—they’d need to be extra cautious.

Seeing Ximo lost in thought, Dingdang waved a hand in front of her.

“Ximo, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, just that our opponent is formidable. We must be careful.”

“Yeah, I feel it too. Come here.”

Dingdang led Ximo to her room, pulling two vests from her bag. Ximo’s lips parted.

“Bulletproof vests?”

“Yes. My dad gave them to me before we left, but now I think we should’ve brought another.”

Ximo smiled knowingly—Dingdang’s father was thorough. Without him and Dingdang, Ximo couldn’t manage alone, deepening her gratitude.

“It’s getting late. I’m almost packed. It’s cold in the mountains, so I grabbed some thick clothes for us. Let’s rest early for tomorrow,” Dingdang said, nodding.

They returned to their rooms.

Ximo lay in bed, imagining scenarios of finding Xiyan. She was quite optimistic—perhaps people facing danger always envision the best.

Knowing Xiyan was temporarily safe calmed Ximo slightly.

She even hoped Wang Jie’s call was to save Xiyan. Pulling the blanket higher, sinking deeper, the night felt cold and lonely.

“Xiyan, I miss you so much,” she murmured, repeatedly calling Xiyan’s name in her heart, as if it would bring her back.

She preferred calling her Xiyan, not “sister.”

Though reason told her to sleep early for the next day, that very logic kept her awake. She picked up her phone, opened Xiyan’s Weibo, and scrolled through old posts.

One repost made her eyes well up: “Don’t easily rely on someone—it becomes a habit. When separation comes, you lose not just a person but your spiritual pillar. No matter when or where, learn to walk independently; it makes you stride more confidently. —Miyazaki Hayao.”

Exhausted and conflicted, Ximo closed her eyes, faint tear stains lingering.

The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Ximo made breakfast and woke Dingdang. They ate quickly, grabbed their bags, and left. Checking the time—exactly seven.

Ximo silently prayed for a smooth journey. Seeing Dingdang’s groggy state, she said, “I’ll drive first; you sleep more.”

Dingdang knew she’d struggle to drive, so she nodded without protest. Once in the car, she fell asleep instantly. Ximo glanced at her, smiled, and accelerated toward the highway entrance.

But plans don’t always work out. Before worrying about reaching their destination, Ximo’s phone rang at the toll booth.

Who would call so early?

She frowned, picked it up, and saw: Old Li. She quickly answered.

“Xiao Mu, I found clues about your sister’s disappearance. Come over now—it’s urgent,” Old Li said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.

Ximo hesitated. If she didn’t go, Old Li might suspect she had other plans, straining their trust, and his clues could help.

But going would delay their schedule, tightening their timeline.

Weighing it, she decided to go see what Old Li had, acting based on time. If it took long, she’d explain the trip; if short, she’d continue and update him later.

Seeing Dingdang sound asleep, Ximo turned the car toward Old Li’s house without waking her.

Since Dingdang was sleeping deeply, Ximo went in alone. Old Li was efficient—within a day of her call, he had leads.

He got straight to the point: “Xiao Mu, your instincts were spot-on. After your call yesterday, I had people check Officer Xu’s residence and stake it out. He didn’t return all night. At 2 a.m., my team said no one was home, so I had them check inside. At 4 a.m., they sent photos. I stayed up waiting. Look at these.”

He opened his laptop’s photos.

“See, here’s Unexpected Travel Club member data and his business card—he’s a senior member, likely tied to Gu Yue, as you mentioned. Also, maps with different starting points but the same destination.”

Old Li pointed to the map’s marked spot—Ximo’s destination!

“Clearly, this is their project’s endpoint. I checked the member data shown—several women, matching those missing in recent years. I also pulled Officer Xu’s profile. He studied pharmaceutical chemistry abroad, then switched to criminal investigation for unknown reasons. Digging into him might yield solid evidence. Crucially, your sister was likely taken to this place.”

Old Li pointed to the map’s endpoint.

After he finished, Ximo looked at him gratefully. “Thank you, Uncle Li. I don’t know how to thank you for helping me.”

She then told him about Wang Jie’s call and the trip, unable to hide it.

Old Li’s first reaction was, “Don’t go! If that’s their base, it’s extremely dangerous! Though there’s a mole in the police, I can send people.”

Ximo, grateful but firm, said, “Uncle Li, I know you’re worried, but I must go. Wang Jie warned that if I don’t, Xiyan’s life is at risk. Time’s critical. For my safety, don’t worry—Dingdang’s father will follow us, and I’ll notify you immediately if anything happens.”

Old Li was silent, admiring the young Ximo’s courage. He’d valued her since their first security system project, noting her intelligence, efficiency, and responsibility.

Their trust grew over years of collaboration. He sighed, saying, “Take this—a micro-tracker. Your location will show on my computer. If anything happens, press the alarm button, and I’ll act. If we get evidence on Officer Xu, the police can move fully. This organization is large, infiltrating the police, so we can’t tip them off yet. We must proceed carefully.”

After talking, Ximo couldn’t delay further. She said goodbye and hurried to the highway, focused on seeing Xiyan.

They were over an hour behind schedule, meaning they couldn’t stay in the planned B City tonight, likely stopping in a town instead.

The car sped along the highway, limited to about 100 km/h.

Around noon, Dingdang woke.

Ximo smiled, “Your sleeping skills have reached new heights these years, huh?”

Dingdang stretched, chuckling, “No choice—Duke Zhou loves me. When I try to leave, he holds me back.”

With their heavy moods lately, this banter helped ease the tension.

Dingdang sipped hot water and said, “There’s a gas station ahead. Let’s switch—I’ll drive. We can rest, eat lunch, and buy food.”

“Okay,” Ximo replied.

They stopped at the gas station, rested, and Ximo shared her morning with Old Li. They discussed evening plans, refueled, and hit the road.

Dingdang, energetic, drove until evening.

Ximo offered to switch, but Dingdang insisted she was fine, driving to their planned stop—a famous ancient town with many inns.

After settling into one, Dingdang’s eyes dimmed as she said to Ximo, “You know, Xiyan came here once. She told me she loved a bar in this town, where she wrote what she most wanted to tell you. She asked me not to tell you, hoping you’d find it by chance someday and find it special.”

Ximo looked at Dingdang, surprised, her heart aching. Had Xiyan left her deepest words to fate? Softly, she asked, “Can you take me to see it?”