Aunt Hua had just returned from the hospital when she was caught by Shen Peichuan’s men and brought to her house.
“This is your house?” Su Zhan asked despite knowing that it was indeed her house. He just wanted to see if she was an honest person.
Aunt Hua looked at the people in the house and answered honestly, “Yes.”
Aunt Hua was a smart woman. He Ruize, who used to live here, did not look like an average person. This group looked even less like average people.
“Who had been living here?” Su Zhan asked.
“I don’t know him. He gave me some money to live here. There was also a woman with him.” Aunt Hua did not dare to lie to him.
When Zong Jinghao, who was sitting on the couch, heard her words, he closed his eyes and his expression turned dark.
Su Zhan looked at Zong Jinghao for a second before asking again, “Where are they now?”
“They left. That woman was injured. They went to check her injury in the hospital and they left after checking that they were fine.”
One of Su Zhan’s eyes twitched.
So Lin Xinyan really did get hurt.
He carefully looked at Zong Jinghao again. Shen Peichuan stood at a side and did not dare to make a sound.
The atmosphere became heavier and heavier and everyone in the living room felt like they were suffocating.
Zong Jinghao stood up and walked in front of Aunt Hua. He looked at her from above. “How did she get hurt?”
Aunt Hua could easily sense the anger from the man in front of her. She did not dare to reply to him. She only lowered her head as she trembled.
“Tell me!”
The volcano in him erupted and everyone had jumped in shock. Aunt Hua had kneeled down in fright and there was a loud sound as her knees came into contact with the floor. She gritted her teeth in pain and she stumbled with her words. “I— I don’t know. I was downstairs at that time. Mr. He usually doesn’t let me go upstairs.”
As if realizing that Zong Jinghao was here for the woman, she said, “You’re here for Ms. Lin, right? She was locked up on the second floor. She was injured on that day because Mr. He wanted to… wanted to…”
“What did he want to do?” Su Zhan and Shen Peichuan were impatient. Why could this woman not just tell them all at one?
“I don’t know. I only know that Ms. Lin’s clothes were torn and her head was bleeding. Mr. He was naked and I heard them arguing upstairs. Ms. Lin should be unwilling about it, that’s why— that’s why she did it.”
Her words were vague, but everyone could understand what had happened.
No one dared to make a sound in the house as they secretly stared at Zong Jinghao.
His expression was gloomy and his face was twitching. He looked terrifying.
His voice was low and deep and there was a fire burning in his eyes. It looked as if he would kill her on the spot if Aunt Hua dared to lie to him. “Tell me, where is she now?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. He had taken her away after the hospital trip. I saw that he was checking the road on his phone, and it looked like he was going to Chuan Province. I’m really telling the truth; I wouldn’t dare to lie to you. I know that Mr. He was lying to me. He said that Ms. Lin was his girlfriend but I realized that Ms. Lin did not love him at all. She would rather hurt herself to go against him. It’s the truth. I only know as far as this.”
Aunt Hua continued, “I only rented the house out for money. I’ve never done anything and I’ve told you everything. Please let me go.”
“If it was like what she had said that they had gone to Chuan Province, then the men we had arranged by the borders would have found them out. If He Ruize was determined not to be found, he would not take the highway nor the plane. Nowadays, you had to show your identification card to take the train. The only way they could go there was by driving the old roads.” Shen Peichuan analyzed.
“I think Peichuan’s right. Maybe we can make it if we go now.” Su Zhan followed up on Shen Peichuan’s words.
Zong Jinghao’s hands were clenched into fists and the veins on the back of his hands were visible. If it was not for his remaining rationality telling him that he should remain calm, he would have lost his composure and would not be able to arrange what to do next.
Su Zhan, stay here with Guan Jing. Shen Peichuan, follow me.”
Su Zhan knew what his intention was. He had to settle with He Ruilin and Lin Yuhan, but he could not delay in finding Lin Xinyan. By asking him to stay here, he could do both things at once.
Furthermore, Shen Peichuan was calmer and quieter than Su Zhan. Zong Jinghao did not want to hear constant chattering by his ears right now.
When they left the house, the woman who had brought them here followed after them. She looked as if she wanted to say something.
Su Zhan looked at her and signed a cheque for her. Although they had not found her, she had been enthusiastic to help them and he could see that she was not living a wealthy life.
The woman rarely went into the city. She had never seen this. She hesitated before asking, “This is money?”
It was obviously just a piece of paper. Were they trying to cheat her because she was uneducated?
“You can change it in the bank for a hundred thousand.”
A hundred thousand.
The woman swallowed. Even if she sold everything at home and took out all their savings, they would only have eight thousand. A hundred thousand was a lot to her. She could not believe that the money had come so easily.
“You don’t want it?” Su Zhan frowned. This was the first time he was trying to be nice, but the receiving party was suspicious of his kindness.
“Of course I want it.” The woman hurriedly took it from his hands. She carefully held it in her hands, afraid that she would tear it and it would be useless in the bank.
Su Zhan drove away in his car. He did not go the same direction as Zong Jinghao did. He went to the police station to settle He Ruilin and Lin Yuhan’s matter.
Shen Peichuan went to arrange for the men and vehicles they needed while Zong Jinghao went back to the villa.
The car stopped in front of the villa. Instead of going down, he sat in the car and looked at the lights in the villa. Once in a while, he would hear Lin Ruixi’s soft, clear voice. It sounded like music to his ears.
His fear was like a large blanket that slowly wrapped around him until he could no longer breathe.
He was afraid that his carelessness, his lack of observance, his mistake, had let Lin Xinyan fall into a trap.
He let her become hurt, he let her…
He did not know how to face the two children.
He blamed himself for Lin Xinyan’s disappearance.
In the villa, the spacious living room was so quiet that every sound made an echo. Lin Ruixi was restless. She stepped onto the chair and wanted to climb onto the piano. Her leg pressed down on one of the keys and it made a loud sound. Lin Xichen frowned and walked over to her. “Ruixi, why are you being so mischievous?”
She was ungraceful climbing around.
Lin Ruixi pouted and pointed out the window. “If I stand here, I can see the outside. I want to see if Daddy’s back.”
Lin Xichen tensed. Daddy had gone to look for Mommy. He wondered how they were, and did Daddy manage to find her?
He was anxious.
He was worried that something had happened to Mommy.
“Wow, Xichen. Isn’t that Daddy’s car?” Lin Xichen shouted.
Lin Xichen followed his sister’s gaze to see a car on the porch. He held onto his sister. “Come down quickly.”
Lin Ruixi blinked her eyes. “Why?”
“What why? If you’re not coming down then I’ll be going by myself. Then you’ll fall off.” Lin Xichen had a hint of impatience in his tone.
Zhuang Zijin walked over. “Xichen, why are you being so impatient?”
“No, I’m not. I’m just worried that she’ll fall. You’re here now, so watch over her.” After telling his grandma that, Lin Xichen rushed out of the door towards Zong Jinghao. He stood in front of the car window and his first question was, “Have you found my mommy?”
There was a moment of silence.
The heavy atmosphere slowly crept in between them.
“I’ve been too impatient. If you’ve found her, she would be with you now.” Lin Xichen tried his best to hide his disappointment, but he was still a child. His body trembled. “What do I do if I miss her?”
Zong Jinghao came out of the car to hug him tightly. His voice was rough as he said, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault that I couldn’t protect her… I miss her too.”
