Javier Zhong simply looked at her with a deep meaning in his eyes.
Just by him remaining silent, Stephanie Ruan could easily guess that what she had said was right.
He did not respond directly to her question. Instead, he confessed, "I told Isaac to investigate your background previously and I was surprised to hear that you were the girl from the Ruan Family."
After a slight pause, he recalled, "Back then, when we came down from our car to check on the accident, I found a slightly damaged phone just a few steps away."
"Before I could try to unlock it, a phone call from an unknown number came in."
...
["How is it?"] The caller obviously used a voice-changing application as the male voice is distorted.
["What do you think?"] Javier Zhong responded to the mysterious caller, in hopes of fishing out some information from him.
["You dare to play with me??!! Update me on the Ruan Family right now!!"] The man screamed into his ears over the phone.
["I've confirmed it, the Ruan family members are all dead."] Javier Zhong calmly updated him while staring at the uninjured young girl who could not stop shivering.
["Good. I will send the money to you in one hour."]
Seeing how the mysterious man did not recognise Javier Zhong's voice, the phone that he was using must have installed a similar voice-changing application as well.
...
"So what you are implying is that 'X' killed my family members that day?" Stephanie Ruan asked him after analysing the entire situation on her own.
"The clues seem to be pointing to that. Since there were no surveillance cameras in that area, we have no concrete evidence."
He added, "The phone is also as good as gone. It must have been programmed to shut down and stop working after the final call was made."
Stephanie Ruan sat down and crossed her arms while slowly digesting the huge amount of information.
With a frown, she shared with him, "But what I don't understand is, why would he want to kill my family?"
It is not like she remembered her family members having a grudge against a man by the name of 'X'.
"Or do you think... he was hired to kill?" Stephanie Ruan boldly speculated.
Javier Zhong nodded his head in agreement, "Very likely. We have to find him first and make him talk. He is our biggest lead at the moment."
"Then I'm coming with you tonight." Stephanie Ruan made up her mind almost immediately.
But never did she expect him to reject her so quickly as well. "No, you cannot be there. It is too dangerous."
"Why not? Didn't you agree for us to collaborate on the investigation?"
"Yes, but I will keep you updated about what I've found out over the phone." He explained himself.
Although the tip-off for this man's whereabouts is reliable, Javier Zhong felt that the situation is still too uncertain for him to bring Stephanie Ruan along.
Anything could change and happen at the very last second!
He really does not want to compromise on her safety...
Furthermore, if Javier Zhong gets to meet 'X' tomorrow, he is already expecting a 'bloody scene' to happen between the two of them.
It is definitely not suitable for her to witness such violence.
However, Stephanie Ruan is still adamant about her decision to follow him there.
"I want to question him on my own so I'm coming with you. I'm not afraid of anything."
"..."
Hais...
Seeing how insistent she is, Javier Zhong knew that he could no longer persuade her about this.
"I will send you home first for you to pack your luggage. Then I'll pick you up again in the evening and we will head over to the airport?" He quickly worked out a schedule for them on the spot.
"Mmm okay, sounds good! I'm ready to leave now." Stephanie Ruan speedily placed a few personal items back into her handbag before leaving the office with him.
...
A few hours later, Javier Zhong arrived at the ground floor of her apartment's building, as agreed earlier.
Seated in the car, he looked at Isaac Wen, who is at the front beside the driver, "How many men are coming with us?"
"Chairman Zhong, there are 30 bodyguards coming with us. It is not good to bring too many people. We may attract unwanted attention..."
"Add 20 more. Tell these people to only keep their eyes on Director Ruan. If she returns unscathed, I'll give them extra ten times their salary as a bonus."
"But if she loses even one strand of hair... I'll personally come after each of them! They can be prepared to live a life worse than death!"
Javier Zhong's threatening voice has undoubtedly sent a cold chill down Isaac Wen's spine.
Having worked so long for his boss, Isaac Wen is fully aware of all the unlawful acts that Javier Zhong is capable of doing.
Well, if anyone is above the law in the country, it could only be Javier Zhong.
One could easily lose count of the amount of blood on his hands thus far!
"Understood, Chairman Zhong."
Isaac Wen tried his best to steady his breathing in this suffocating atmosphere. Thankfully for him, Stephanie Ruan arrived at the entrance of the building in no time.
"Chairman Zhong, Director Ruan is here." He swiftly reported to him and then got off the car to help Stephanie Ruan with her luggage.
At the same time, Javier Zhong also came out to greet her. But before he could even say anything to her, he is already stunned by her 'loud' outfit.
"??..."
A bright yellow summer maxi dress paired with a black wide-brim floppy hat and a pair of round black diamond-studded shades!
In contrast with what she is wearing, he is in a more solemn attire - a black long-sleeve shirt with a few unbuttoned at the top, accompanied by a pair of dark grey formal pants.
Javier Zhong looked at her worriedly, wondering if both of them have the same mission...
They are not going on a holiday trip right??...
Seeing how he is repeatedly scanning her outfit in shock, Stephanie Ruan knew what he is thinking about and chuckled away. "Don't worry. I'm well-prepared for tomorrow!"
Raising a medium-sized black duffle bag in one hand, she smirked and casually tossed it over to Javier Zhong.
As soon as he unzipped the bag, he saw several guns and useful equipment inside.
"I know you have already prepared more than enough but... doesn't hurt to bring a few more!" Stephanie Ruan shrugged her shoulders and gave him a meaningful smile.
People often said, "Don't mess with an angry woman!". Well, they could not be more than right!
After which, Stephanie Ruan then adjusted her sunglasses a little before checking with him, "So, let's go?"
"Let's go." Javier Zhong threw the duffle bag to Isaac Wen who is standing behind him, before opening the door for her to enter the car.
Meanwhile, Mia Xue who is upstairs had witnessed whatever that has happened through her binoculars.
Earlier, Stephanie Ruan had informed her that she would be away for a few days on a short holiday and that she may be uncontactable.
This was why Stephanie Ruan also had to dress the part!
And it is not that she wants to intentionally lie to her personal assistant, but that she knows Mia Xue would be very worried about her safety if she were to share the details of this trip with her.
Unaware of what is going on, Mia Xue widened her eyes and she could instantly feel her heart beating in her throat!
"!!!..."
So the 'beach vacation' that her boss is going for is with Javier Zhong??!!
This is bad!!...
Mia Xue did not dare to imagine the consequences of her boss being abducted by this man who has zero consciences!!
In no time, Stephanie Ruan's phone started ringing. Seeing that it is her personal assistant calling, she did not overthink it and picked up the call.
"Director Ruan!! Get off the car now while you can!! How could you carelessly go on a trip with such a dangerous man??!!"
"??!..."
Caught off guard by what Mia Xue has said, Stephanie Ruan stole a quick glance at Javier Zhong, only to find him already looking at her with a dark expression.