Chapter 456

The academic advisor was stunned for three seconds.

Alexander Laurent asked again.

Only then did she snap out of it. "Sophia Sullivan… she requested leave yesterday."

"For how long? And the reason?"

"She just said she had matters to attend to. I thought, since she's usually either in the lab or the library, and her专业课 are on track… She's taken leave before, so I didn't press for details…"

"Did something happen?" the advisor asked quietly.

Alexander didn't answer.

"What about Caleb Watson's situation?"

The advisor: "Caleb, the third-year grad student?"

"Yes."

"I'm not his advisor, so I'm not sure. I can ask if you need me to."

"...Thank you."

"No trouble at all."

Five minutes later, the advisor called back—

"Professor Laurent, there's an issue with Caleb."

"Go on."

"He hasn't returned to campus since the semester started. His advisor can't reach him. There's one more thing I forgot to mention earlier."

"What is it?"

The advisor: "The day Sophia Sullivan requested leave, Hannah Morse and Marcus Lawrence also requested leave."

"Can you find Caleb's home address?"

"His advisor said the records are incomplete. They only know he's from Chongqing Municipality."

Chongqing…

Right!

Alexander immediately called the head of the academic affairs office.

The man was already asleep. He was surprised to get the call—

"Look up Caleb Watson's file address now?!"

"Yes."

"But the office is closed. We can do it tomorrow…"

"It can't wait until tomorrow. Do it now."

"This…" The man sounded very hesitant.

Alexander's tone was calm. "Just arrange for someone to do it. I'll explain to the president."

"Alright! I'll send someone right away. I'll reply immediately if we find anything."

"Thank you."

He had done all he could.

Now, he could only wait.

Alexander walked onto the balcony for some air.

The cold wind cleared his head.

Two minutes later, he returned to the living room and dialed a number—

"Hello?"

"Sebastian Evans, it's me."

There was a pause on the other end. "...Alexander Laurent?!"

"You didn't save my number."

Sebastian: "..." Was that the point…

"Professor Laurent, what brings you to call me in the middle of the night?"

"It's about Sophia Sullivan."

Sebastian sat up straight. "Tell me."

Alexander told him everything he knew. "...You didn't know either?"

Sebastian: "...She didn't tell me."

Alexander: "You business types have wide networks. If possible, let's work together."

"Good, I'm on my way. Send me Caleb's details. A photo and his ID number will do."

He was going to mobilize his connections.

Alexander: "Alright."

Half an hour later, Sebastian arrived.

Alexander opened the door to let him in.

Sebastian asked for water directly.

As Alexander poured water, he pointed to the floor. "Change your shoes or use shoe covers."

Sebastian: "..."

In the end, he wore shoe covers.

"Water."

"...Thanks."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Twenty minutes later, Sebastian's phone rang. "Okay, tell me…"

At the same time, Alexander's phone also rang.

The head of academic affairs sent Caleb's specific address.

They hung up simultaneously and looked at each other—

"Found it!"

Alexander: "The fastest flight to Chongqing is at 1 a.m. The high-speed train is tomorrow morning."

Sebastian: "Take the flight! I'll arrange for a car to meet us on the Chongqing end. But the car can only go as far as the town. We'll need another way to get into the village."

"Good."

They packed simply and set off immediately.

Alexander carried a travel backpack.

Sebastian only brought his phone and wallet.

At 3 a.m., the plane landed at Chongqing Jiangbei Airport.

Sebastian's contact was already waiting outside the airport.

He took the car keys and told Alexander to get in.

After the highway and the mountain switchbacks, they reached Datong Town at 5:40 a.m.

Dawn hadn't broken yet.

The streetlights were already off.

The small town was completely silent.

Alexander took two bread rolls from his bag. He ate one and handed the other to Sebastian. "Something to tide you over."

Sebastian took it and took a bite. "...Disgusting. So hard."

But he finished it anyway.

Then, Alexander's phone chimed.

It was a WeChat notification.

He picked it up to look—

"It's Sophia!"

Sebastian immediately leaned over. "What did she say?"

"She says she, Hannah, and Marcus are at Caleb's house. The signal is bad… Caleb's family has trouble… Someone came to cause trouble yesterday, it almost came to blows… They're coming again today… She's asking me to help think of a solution…"

Sophia's account matched what the two of them had found out.

Alexander put his phone away. "She said those people are coming again today. We need to get into the village quickly."

Sebastian didn't move.

Alexander called his name again.

Still no reaction.

"Sebastian Evans? Choking on the bread?"

Alexander unfastened his seatbelt to check. Sebastian suddenly turned, speaking幽ly—

"Why only ask you?"

Alexander: "?"

"Why not ask me? Am I worse than you at handling this sort of thing?"

"..."

"Aren't I closer to her than you are?"

"..."

"Why?"

"..."

The four soul-searching questions left Alexander speechless.

Sebastian was full of resentment.

Just as Alexander was about to say something, Sebastian's phone chimed.

Also a WeChat notification.

He glanced at it casually, about to dismiss it, when his eyes suddenly lit up.

His whole demeanor instantly perked up.

Alexander: "?"

Sebastian opened WeChat and shoved it in his face—

"Ehe, she texted me too. I knew she wouldn't only text you."

"The signal must be bad!"

"Maybe she texted me first, and it was just delayed."

Alexander: "..." Yes, yes.

You're right.