When Lauren Shaw saw Yancy Shaw come in from outside, his expression somber, she asked softly, "Who was on the phone?"

"Some unknown number. I have no idea who it was," Yancy Shaw replied carelessly, and Lauren Shaw let it go.

After dinner at the Shen family home, Lauren Shaw and Yancy Shaw headed back to Lanyue Residence.

The last few days in East China had left Lauren Shaw thoroughly exhausted, so tonight, she fell asleep early.

Yancy Shaw gazed at her sleeping face, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and tiptoed out of the bedroom.

The living room lights were off, and he stood on the balcony and dialed Lu Chaoran's number.

In the darkness, his eyes seemed to glimmer with starlight—bright and deep.

The call connected quickly, and Lu Chaoran's lazy voice came through. "What's up?"

Yancy Shaw fell silent for a few seconds. Lu Chaoran thought it was a signal issue and was about to hang up when Yancy Shaw finally spoke.

"I got a call from an unknown number today. They said a shipment will be coming in two days, under Wanrui Group's name."

Lu Chaoran, always sensitive to such matters, grew interested at once. "Is the intel reliable?"

"What do you think?" Yancy Shaw replied, as if to say, 'Would I call you if it weren't?'

Lu Chaoran hesitated for a moment, seeming to weigh whether he could trust the tip. "Did you check who made the call?"

Yancy Shaw narrowed his eyes and spoke three words quietly, "If I had to guess—Mo Qinglin."

Who else could know about this, if not someone close to Mo Fan? Yancy Shaw couldn't help but think of Mo Qinglin.

……

After an entire day of rest at home, Lauren Shaw finally felt somewhat recovered.

The past few days in East China had left her nerves constantly taut, nothing like the comfort of Ancheng. This business trip had truly worn her out.

Yancy Shaw finished making breakfast and came in to wake her up.

Lauren Shaw looked at him affectionately, her brows arched in a smile. "Honey, you’re more and more of a househusband these days."

She especially loved how gentle and considerate Yancy Shaw was; by now, she’d grown completely used to his care.

He gave her a doting look. "And do you like your little househusband?"

Lauren Shaw looped her arms around his neck and nodded like a pecking chick, "I love it. Love it to bits."

Yancy Shaw ruffled her hair gently. "Go wash up first."

She let go and went to get ready.

After breakfast, they left the house together.

Lauren Shaw’s schedule was packed today—first the studio, then the brand store that afternoon.

Sales of the new line had been solid since launch.

She stayed at the store for a while, and just as she was leaving, she bumped into Xiao Pei, coming in from the opposite direction.

"Well, well, isn’t this our star designer Lauren Shaw?" Xiao Pei’s tone was flippant and teasing, and Lauren Shaw couldn’t tell if she was here by chance or on purpose.

Lauren Shaw had no desire to deal with her and walked right past toward the exit.

But Xiao Pei blocked her way. "In such a hurry—where are you off to this time? Hey, old classmate, you barely even talk to me now. Do you look down on me or what?"

Lauren Shaw gave her a cool glance, her voice calm but distant: "Are we that close?"

That kind of fake sweetness—Lauren Shaw could never pull it off. She was always blunt, never wasting words on people like Xiao Pei.

Xiao Pei wasn’t offended. She gently caressed her belly, looking meaningfully at Lauren Shaw. "Got a minute? Let’s grab coffee."

"Sorry, I’m busy. No time." Lauren Shaw turned to leave, but Xiao Pei seemed determined to follow.

"Lauren Shaw, I’m pregnant now, and you can’t even spare me a little courtesy?"

Lauren Shaw stopped and looked at her, visibly annoyed. "Xiao Pei, can’t you just behave for once? You know you’re pregnant and yet you’re out and about all day. Aren’t you worried someone might target you?"

She was really trying to warn Xiao Pei—a reminder that if Zhu Yurou and her daughter learned she was carrying Zhu Xun’s baby, they’d never go easy on her.

But Xiao Pei seemed totally unconcerned; it was as if she wanted the whole world to know about her pregnancy.

Xiao Pei snorted. "So what? You have no idea how caring Zhu Xun is. He’s so worried about me, he hired a driver just for my safety…"

Lauren Shaw sighed inwardly. There was no saving someone like Xiao Pei, so she couldn't be bothered to argue. She headed for the underground parking lot, Xiao Pei still prattling on behind her.

Lauren Shaw shot her a cold glare.

Xiao Pei fidgeted under her gaze and hastened to defend herself. "My driver’s waiting in the parking lot—I just didn’t feel like shopping alone, so I’m going home. I’m not stalking you, okay? Why are you glaring at me like that?"

Lauren Shaw said nothing and walked toward her car.

Suddenly, the lights in the basement flickered out, and Lauren Shaw tensed up instantly.

A scream sliced through the darkness behind her. Heart pounding, Lauren Shaw quickly switched on her phone flashlight and spun around—just in time to see two burly men stuffing Xiao Pei into a canvas sack.

She barely had time to react before one of the men pressed a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. At that moment, she felt all her strength drain away...

By evening, the last rays of sun slipped below the horizon.

Yancy Shaw had just finished a surgery and stepped out of the operating room.

Lu Chaoran called, reporting that he’d confirmed the shipment for Wanrui Group would reach the docks at midnight.

Yancy Shaw tapped his index finger lightly on the desk. "Then tonight, Officer Lu, make sure to be careful out there."

Lu Chaoran chuckled, "Much appreciated, Third Young Master Shen. I’ll be careful."

After hanging up, Yancy Shaw dialed Lauren Shaw’s number.

After a long while, a mechanical female voice answered: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is not reachable at the moment..."

Yancy Shaw frowned and tried again.

But the automated voice persisted.

His frown deepened; a wave of foreboding washed over him.

He immediately called Yuan Ran. Once it connected, he asked urgently, "Where is the Third Young Madam?"

Yuan Ran had been tailing Mo Fan all day, per Yancy Shaw’s instructions—he hadn’t checked on Lauren Shaw at all. Hearing the question, Yuan Ran tensed.

"Third Young Master, you told me to keep an eye on Mo Fan today."

Yancy Shaw froze. Because the shipment was coming in tonight, he’d told Yuan Ran to watch Mo Fan for any moves—leaving no one to look after Lauren Shaw. Realizing this, his voice turned grave: "Find out where she is. Now."

Every second he couldn’t reach Lauren Shaw added to his growing anxiety.

Her line was still unreachable. His face clouded over as he grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the hospital.

—

Lauren Shaw awoke to find herself in a rental apartment, mouth sealed with tape, hands and feet bound with rope. She couldn't move.

When she heard the click of the lock turning, she quickly shut her eyes tight.