Inside the box was a life-like doll. Its eyes had been gouged out, leaving only the white part. There was a long opening in its belly, stitched up with hemp. It was covered with blood and its fingers had long pointed nails.
The doll looked real. Lin Xichen might be intelligent and brave but he was still a child.
Seeing the doll, he screamed in fright.
“What’s the matter?” Hearing her son’s scream, Lin Xinyan ran out and saw what was on the bed. She herself was shocked. She quickly pulled her son into her arms, covered his eyes and soothed him, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Mommy is here.”
“Mommy, what?” Lin Ruixi had showered, her hair was blown dry and she wore clean clothes. She was curious what had made her brother scream so loudly.
Lin Xinyan reacted quickly. Before her daughter saw what was on the bed, she pulled her into her arms and shielded her eyes.
Lin Ruixi was timid. If Lin Xichen was frightened on seeing it, she would be scared out of her mind.
Lin Xinyan could not figure out who would send such an object. All she wanted to do was to get rid of it as quickly as possible lest the kids were traumatized.
She patted her son, “Don’t be afraid, Mommy is here. You hold your sister. Mommy will close the box.”
Lin Xichen was scared stiff. He was still trembling a little. Nestled in his mother’s arms, he held her tight, saying, “Mommy, I’m scared.”
He did not dare to leave her side.
Lin Xinyan did not dare to look directly at the doll. It was not only a visual impact but also a psychological one. She had given birth to children. This was an abused doll and so it had a strong impact on her.
“Mommy.” Lin Xichen shivered, clutching Lin Xinyan’s clothes tight and not daring to move.
Lin Xinyan held the two children and backed slowly towards the door. She pressed the two children’s heads tightly against her body.
Zong Jinghao seemingly heard the commotion coming from the room. He came over while still putting on his clothes. He arrived at the door and his hands that was buttoning his shirt paused momentarily. Hurriedly he entered, gathered the kids in his arms and rushed out of the room.
Shen Peichuan came up to their rooms intending to ask them to lunch in the afternoon. Zong Jinghao handed the two children to him with instructions, “Watch them personally.”
“Is something the matter?” Shen Peichuan asked worriedly as the expression on Zong Jinghao’s face was troubling.
Zong Jinghao himself was uncertain who could have done this. He patted Shen Peichuan on the shoulder.
Then he returned to the room.
Lin Xinyan was standing there motionless like a statue, staring at the horror on the bed.
Zong Jinghao put his arms around her and buried her face in his chest. “Don’t look anymore.”
Lin Xinyan closed her eyes, trembling slightly, “Who could have done that?”
She was scared by the doll and at the same time, afraid of the person who would do this.
Apparently the culprit knew she had two children and the purpose was to frighten them.
“I’ll find out.” Zong Jinghao glanced at the foul object on the bed, his expression solemn and silent.
His arms were long enough to reach the bedding by just leaning over a little. He held the blanket and jerked hard. The blanket folded over the box, covering it.
He patted Lin Xinyan on the back with his palms which were wide and warm. Then he rubbed her spine and spoke soothingly, “It’s a toy, don’t be afraid.”
Lin Xinyan grunted in reply but she did not give the bed a second glance.
From Lin Xichen, Shen Peichuan knew what had happened. He looked solemn like Zong Jinghao and speculated, “Could it be He Ruize?”
This man seemed to have disappeared into thin air. None of the men he sent out could find any trace of him, not even a lead.
He had gone into hiding. When would he suddenly reappear?
It had been said that we could protect ourselves better in an open fight than in an ambushed position.
“Bring the staff who sent the box.” Furthermore, there are surveillance cameras in the hotel. There has got to be some lead.
“Mummy.” Lin Xichen was really frightened this time. His face was a little pale. He ran over and laid in Lin Xinyan’s arms. Lin Xinyan hugged him tightly, soothing him, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”
Lin Ruixi did not see it. She sat in a chair by herself, looking around, not understanding what was happening to everybody. Suddenly they are behaving so oddly. Everyone is so serious.
The afternoon sun lit up the hall. Perhaps it was the crowd or the bright sunlight, Lin Xichen felt better.
After a short while, Shen Peichuan and Su Zhan brought the hotel manager and the staff who delivered the box.
Shen Peichuan shook his head at Zong Jinghao. The perpetrator seemed to have figured out the surveillance layout in the hotel. He had avoided the surveillance cameras. Even when he was seen, there was only a back view. His face was completely out of view, and he wore clothing that covered himself up very well, making it impossible to distinguish his gender.
The only lead now was the staff member. It was not known yet if he could provide any clue.
“You have probably heard who we are. Even if your director, Mr. Bai is here, he will show us due respect. Tell us everything you know. We don’t like to use brutal force but when necessary we will and people get crippled. Think carefully before you speak.” Shen Peichuan’s hand rested heavily on the staff member’s shoulder.
The waiter was so scared that he almost fell on his knees. He was shaking and his voice trembled.
“That person, the one in the surveillance tape… He wore a black mask and a black cap. He wore the brim of the cap very low. I could not see his face clearly. He just gave me the box and gave to me… 500 and asked me to deliver the box to the room. I don’t know what was inside and I don’t know the person. Really, what I say is true.” The waiter was trembling and every word was honest.
“Really?” Su Zhan scrutinized him, asking demandingly.
“Yes, yes.” The waiter shakily took out the five hundred from his pocket. They were stacked together and crumpled. “This, this is what he gave me.”
He was just a junior hotel staff. His salary was not high. If someone gave a tip of 500, which is equal to his salary for a few days, most certainly he would be tempted.
Furthermore, it was just for delivering a gift. The box was decorated so beautifully. Delivering a gift was a good deed.
In addition, he was paid to do it. Definitely he would agree.
Who could predict that it would bring so much trouble?
The staff member was full of regret.
“It’s true. What I say is true. Please believe me.” The staff member collapsed onto the floor, sitting there. “If I have known, I would not have accepted this 500.”
Su Zhan was displeased. How could such a big grown up man be so scared?
Apparently he would not be able to provide any useful leads.
“Let him go.” Lin Xinyan massaged her brows, saying, “Obviously the culprit has been planning this for a long time and must have made careful arrangements. We will definitely not find anything immediately.”
Su Zhan felt that Lin Xinyan’s words made sense and Shen Peichuan agreed. The staff was just a coward and he did not look like an accomplice.
Suddenly, Lin Xinyan remembered something. She lifted her head suddenly, “Could it be someone from the Wen family?”
Nonetheless she had not been back to B City yet. Other than these group of people with her now, nobody knew she learnt to make the ‘xiang yun sha’ silk.
Very quickly, she ruled out the Wen family. And so, only the untraceable He Ruize was left.
Other than him, there was no one she could think of who could do something like this!
“This happened in our hotel, I’ll do everything in my ability to find out who did it. I’ve already called Mr. Bai. He’ll be here soon.” The manager was a careful man. He knew that this was beyond his ability to handle.
He could not afford to offend these people and so it was best that he informed Bai Yinning at once.
Bai Yinning had just arrived home. Before he could take a rest, he received the hotel manager’s phone call.
Immediately, he rushed over.
“Any leads?” He came over on his wheelchair, looking at Lin Xinyan, apparently very concerned and asked, “You are okay, aren’t you?”
Lin Xinyan replied, “I’m fine. It’s Xi who’s scared out of his wits.”
