Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 970: Lost (6)

Black-clad Joan stared at Luo Qiu in fear, speechless.

In truth, she had already been unnerved by the young man's gaze when she carried Paul away earlier. What year is it on the other side? That was supposed to be her deepest secret. But how did this young man know—even about the ring?

"You... Could it be that you're also..." Joan's mind leapt to the only explanation she could comprehend.

"Me?" Luo Qiu shook his head. "I've always been here. At least for now, I haven't left this place."

"Then how did you..." Joan was shocked.

There was something about him that made it easy to believe him instinctively. Joan didn't feel like he was lying.

Luo Qiu simply explained, "Just like the ring in your hand—since things like this exist, isn't it natural for other extraordinary things to exist as well?"

Joan frowned but kept her distance from Luo Qiu.

"May I take a look at the ring?" Luo Qiu suddenly asked.

Joan was alarmed and immediately stepped back.But Luo Qiu added, "Ms. Joan, don’t you want to know why the ring isn’t working right now?"

"You... you just want to take it from me," Joan said, trembling.

However, at that moment, her hand inexplicably reached out on its own. Her tightly clenched fingers slowly opened, revealing the ring in her palm. This was not her intention at all.

Her body was out of her control, and the terror she felt was no less than when she first discovered the ring’s powers. But soon, she regained control, clutching the ring tightly again. Joan looked up at Luo Qiu in shock.

"I hope you understand," Luo Qiu said calmly, "if I wanted to take it, it wouldn’t be much trouble. So, may I take a look?"

Joan bit her lip. In the end, she lacked the courage to run. Hesitating, she walked up to Luo Qiu and slowly opened her hand, visibly nervous.

Luo Qiu took out a fresh handkerchief, covered his palm with it, and carefully picked up the ring from Joan's hand. He examined it closely.

"I met another Ms. Joan earlier in the security office," Luo Qiu remarked suddenly. "She was much calmer—probably because she’s an actress."

Joan froze, then gave a bitter smile. "I’m not an actress… we’re not the same."

"I think I understand why it isn’t working." Luo Qiu returned the ring to Joan’s hand quickly.

Joan was stunned. She hadn’t expected him to return it so easily and so soon. Feeling the familiar weight of the ring in her hand, she was momentarily at a loss.

"You…" she murmured.

"The issue is energy," Luo Qiu explained. "The energy in the ring is depleted, likely due to repeated use. If you want to use it again, you’ll need to recharge it. That’s the simplest explanation."

"It’s… just that simple?" Joan whispered, incredulous. "Then… do you know how to recharge it?"

"Before that, I need to ask—where do you plan to go?" Luo Qiu’s gaze fixed on Joan’s eyes.

"Go? Of course, to the world where Paul and I belong!" Joan said emotionally.

Luo Qiu closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them and sighed. "I’m sorry, but for now, I don’t know how to recharge the ring."

"What?!" Joan exclaimed in disbelief.

At that moment, Paul clung tightly to Joan, burying his head in her shoulder and gripping her clothing.

"Take good care of this child... although I believe you will," Luo Qiu said softly. "Also, consider carefully whether you’re willing to kill a part of yourself to achieve the life you desire."

"I… I don’t understand what you mean."

"You’ll figure it out eventually. I have other matters to attend to." With that, Luo Qiu stepped back and gradually disappeared.

"Wait! Come back! Come back!"

The lounge was silent, leaving only Joan and Paul. Joan lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.

"Mom…" Paul whispered.

Joan flinched but quickly lifted her head, forcing a smile. "Paul, be good, okay? Mom will protect you. No one can separate us. No one… absolutely no one!"

Paul glanced at her hand nervously. Joan’s fingers were trembling, gripping the ring tightly. Her nails dug into her palm, and her knuckles had turned white.

"The ring… the ring!" Joan suddenly stared at the ring in her palm, a crazed thought crossing her mind: if this ring is out of energy, then perhaps other rings… other rings might still work!

"Paul, we’ll find a happy world where no one can hurt us or separate us!"

---

Meanwhile…

Joan smiled softly at this moment—a smile so moving it could stir any man's heart. It was the same smile that had captivated audiences in her award-winning film last year, instantly evoking compassion and tenderness.

This was the very smile that had helped her stand out among numerous competitors, earning her the Best Newcomer Award.

"I want to have a child with you," Joan said, leaning against Agu Moss's chest. "I’ll teach them acting, and you can teach them composing. They’ll grow up to be exceptional… Our family will be perfect."

"That’s such a beautiful future to imagine," Agu Moss said, holding her close. He buried his nose in her hair, taking in her scent, and smiled. "I don’t know why, but it feels like you’ve suddenly become more mature and gentle."

"Are you saying you disliked how I was before?" Joan playfully glared at him.

This rare display of charm from someone her age left Agu Moss momentarily captivated. He instinctively leaned down to kiss her lips.

Joan responded with equal passion.

Moments later, slightly out of breath, Agu Moss pulled back. "Oh my God! I never knew you were such a good kisser. You’re so passionate."

Joan lightly pinched his side and whispered in his ear, "After we’re married, I’ll give myself entirely to you… Agu Moss, my love."

That declaration was irresistible to any man. Agu Moss felt his heart race uncontrollably, driven by pure instinct.

How had she become so enchanting?

"Will Miss Joan in the airport please come to the temporary counter of XX Airlines upon hearing this announcement…"

"Will Miss Joan…"

The repeated announcement over the airport speakers, in two different languages, suddenly broke the intimate moment. Both Agu Moss and Joan looked up, frowning.

"What’s going on? Why are they calling you over the announcement?" Agu Moss asked, puzzled.

Joan lowered her head. "I don’t know either… But let’s leave here first."

Agu Moss hesitated but quickly realized the situation. The announcement had caused a stir in the area.

Some might not have recognized Joan in person, but many had seen her award-winning film last year. Even more had heard of the rising actress through various channels.

"Joan? That name sounds familiar."

"Could it be Joan, the Best Newcomer Award winner?"

"Wow, I’m in the same place as her? She’s my goddess!"

The growing murmurs of excitement.

Agu Moss stood up abruptly and pulled Joan to her feet, shielding her with his arm. The two quickly lowered their heads and hurried away.

---

You couldn’t really blame the police for arriving late—they were only notified after the incident occurred.

"Where’s the victim?"

The forensic examiner hurried to the scene, displaying their credentials before stepping past the cordon.

The entrances to both restrooms were sealed, with three security guards standing watch.

"In there, the men’s restroom," one of the airport guards pointed out. The forensic examiner wasted no time and entered with their assistant.

However, moments later, the examiner rushed out in a panic. "Where’s the body? Did you move it?"

"No! It’s under the white cloth right… huh?"

The guard was just as baffled. Inside the men’s restroom, where the body had been lying, there was now only a white cloth. The victim’s corpse was gone.

All that remained were bloodstains—lots of them.

"What the…?" The guards were visibly shaken. It wasn’t just them; even the airport’s special police, who had also seen the gruesome scene, could attest to the body being there moments ago.

"No one entered, and we’ve been guarding this spot. It’s impossible for anyone to remove the body! So how… how could it vanish?"

"What’s happening here?" The forensic examiner frowned. A staunch believer in science, they found this inexplicable. "Search everywhere. I’ll look for clues here. Also, call in more personnel!"

"Y-yes!"

---

It had been a harrowing day.

The janitor, a plump middle-aged woman, sighed heavily. She should have been off work hours ago, but the airport had been shut down due to an unexplained explosion, and she was later questioned by special police.

That shady guy hiding in the smoking room, puffing away—he looked suspicious from the start! And because of him, I’m late for work!

Still seething, she vented her frustration by slamming her mop into a bucket of murky water. She had to clean several restrooms on this floor before she could clock out.

The airport had suspended all operations temporarily. But who knew when work would resume? She decided to sneak off and finish her tasks.

She plopped the dripping mop onto the floor and began cleaning. When she reached one of the stalls, she noticed a red liquid seeping from under the door.

"What’s this? Hey! Who’s in there?" She banged on the door. "You’re messing up the floor! Say something!"

No response, no matter how much she yelled. The red liquid continued to spread.

Frowning, the janitor crouched down to peer under the door through the gap at the bottom.

"Ah—!"

The janitor screamed in terror and immediately jumped back, clutching her chest. Through the gap, she had seen a woman lying in a pool of blood!

"Help! Someone help me! Call for help!"

But before she could shout any further, the janitor suddenly collapsed. Strangely, her body didn’t hit the ground; it seemed as though something caught her mid-fall, preventing her from landing.

"Thank you for your hard work," said a soft, gentle voice—Luo Qiu’s voice. "Rest now. When you wake up, you won’t remember any of this."

With a wave of his hand, Luo Qiu moved the janitor aside, propping her against a wall to sleep.

He then placed his hand on the stall’s lock and gave it a gentle push.

The door swung open to reveal a nearly naked woman in her undergarments, lying curled up by the toilet. Blood flowed from her slashed wrists, pooling and spreading to the adjacent stalls.

It was Joan.

Luo Qiu frowned as he surveyed the scene. He snapped his fingers.

The blood on the floor began to flow backward, slowly returning to Joan’s wrists.