“No, I don’t have any grudges.” Zong Jinghao closed his eyes slightly to conceal the dark glint in his gaze.
Lin Xinyan was confused now. “Then why?”
A brief moment later, she seemed to have realized something, so she asked, “Is it because of money?”
But it doesn’t make sense, though… There were no financial problems over the past few years, so why did this issue suddenly pop up?
“It’s because no one was manipulating behind the scenes back then.” Zong Jinghao gently touched her forehead and asked, “How’s the fever?”
Lin Xinyan nodded. “It hasn’t completely subsided yet, but I feel much better now.”
“I might have some things I need to handle, so just rest well here.”
Zong Jinghao uncovered the blanket beside the baby and tucked her in. “Take a nap. I’ll be back soon.”
Lin Xinyan felt her heart ache when she saw his tired expression. He really had it tough lately—his father passed away and something happened to the baby. Thank God he’s alright now. ”I’ll be waiting.”
“Alright.” Zong Jinghao said as he tucked her in.
He only stood up and left quietly after she shut her eyes, not forgetting to take a look at his son.
When Sang Yu saw Zong Jinghao coming down from the stairs, she stood up anxiously and asked with her fists clenched, “Is the baby alright?”
Zong Jinghao nodded in reply and Sang Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
“Can I go and see him?” Sang Yu asked softly.
“He’s sleeping now. Maybe later.” Zong Jinghao left shortly after that and Sang Yu nodded in response.
Once Zong Jinghao stepped out, he called Shen Peichuan.
Meanwhile, Shen Peichuan was in a trial. The lady who took care of the baby and the driver were witnesses, so he needed to gather all the evidence for the legal procedures if they pressed charges.
However, Zong Yungan and that lady vehemently denied the kidnapping.
“Are you sure you want to come over?” Shen Peichuan asked.
I’m pretty sure I can handle this myself. After all, Zong Yungan is still part of the Zong family even though he was used by someone and made a huge mistake. Would Zong Jinghao have a tough time dealing with him?
Zong Jinghao replied with a “yeah” and hung up before driving to the police station.
Shen Peichuan was in the interrogation room when Zong Jinghao arrived at the station. Chen was there to receive the latter and lead the way. “Chief Shen is conducting the interrogation personally and he hasn’t taken a break since he came back.”
Zong Jinghao let out a vague smile as he passed through the main hall. The interrogation room was situated behind the building.
A short while later, Chen and Zong Jinghao arrived at the interrogation room. The interrogation room was divided into two parts—one for interrogating and one for monitoring.
There were two people in the interrogation room. One recorded down what happened while the other was in charge of the interrogation.
Zong Jinghao walked into the monitoring area and observed the situation in the interrogation room.
“I didn’t kidnap him. I was just bringing my nephew home for one day. Is there anything wrong with that?” Zong Yungan didn’t relent just like the lady who was interrogated before him.
Shen Peichuan showed him the pictures of the lady who took care of the baby and the driver. “According to their statements, you were attempting a kidnapping and extortion.”
“Do you have concrete proof?” Zong Yungan believed that Shen Peichuan didn’t have any solid evidence, so he was fearless. “I want my lawyer.”
Shen Peichuan sat down and asked, “You still don’t know it yet, right?”
Zong Yungan stared at him cautiously, “Know what?”
Shen Peichuan smiled and started his attack. “The lady who suggested the kidnapping to you confessed. She said that you were the one who planned the whole thing because you have always been indignant. That was why you kidnapped the baby and extorted Zong Jinghao.”
“She really said that?” Zong Yungan furrowed his brows and stared in disbelief at Shen Peichuan.
“Of course she did. She even said that you threatened and forced her to it…”
“Nonsense. She was the one who told me that things were unfair to me. She was also the one who suggested kidnapping the baby. If I came up with that idea before that, would I have waited until now to make my move? I would’ve done it ages ago!” Zong Yungan’s lack of composure could be attributed to how he never faced any hardships in his life.
Despite his age, he only knew how to fool around and waste money, which was why he was still foolish and immature.
“Are you confessing to the kidnapping now?” Shen Peichuan smiled.
“I didn’t do it.” Zong Yungan immediately changed his mind.
Shen Peichuan placed his arm casually on the table and showed Zong Yungan the camera at the upper right corner of the room. “This is an interrogation room, so every single movement and every single word you said has been recorded. It’s too late to deny it now.”
Zong Yungan exclaimed in agitation, “I was tricked!”
“She said she was threatened and forced by you and now you’re saying that you’re tricked. Who’s lying here?” Shen Peichuan continued to set his bait.
Even though Shen Peichuan was a man of status, he couldn’t abuse his power or exact punishment towards suspects on his own. He felt frustrated because they put the baby in harm’s way. The only thing he could do right now was to resort to underhanded tricks like turning them against each other.
“Her, of course!” Zong Yungan was so furious he wanted to stand up, but the metal chair was fixed on the ground while a board held him in place, so he couldn’t.
“Calm down. I can arrange for the both of you to meet face-to-face.” Shen Peichuan ordered someone to bring the lady in. At the same time, Shen Peichuan stood up and unlatched the board restraining Zong Yungan as he said, “I trust you more than her because you’re Zong Jinghao’s uncle. If you really intended to harm the baby, you would’ve done it long ago, instead of striking when you’re already old and worn, right?”
Zong Yungan rubbed his wrists and looked at Shen Peichuan. He seems to be on my side, but why does his words sound so unpleasant? What does he mean by “old and worn?”
Admittedly, I’m not young, but I’m not that old, right?
In a moment, the lady was brought inside as Shen Peichuan told the personnel responsible for record keeping, “Let’s step out for a while.”
The personnel and Shen Peichuan left, closing the door behind them.
“Yungan.” The lady treated Zong Yungan as her lifeline, so she denied all claims of kidnapping when Shen Peichuan interrogated her just now.
She grabbed Zong Yungan’s arms and pleaded, “Call a lawyer and ask them to bail us out.”
Zong Yungan pushed the lady aside and hissed coldly, “I wouldn’t count you in even I wanted to get bailed out!”
The lady widened her eyes in surprise. “But I’m your lady…”
“Mine?” Zong Yungan let out a sinister laugh. “Was that what you were thinking when you betrayed me?”
The lady was dumbstruck. “When did I ever betray you?”
“Keep up with your act!” Zong Yungan clenched her chin. “Didn’t you tell them that I kidnapped the baby? Didn’t you say that I forced you to do it? Are you trying to push all the blame on me?”
However, the lady was perplexed. When did I say that?
“D-Did you misunderstand something?” The lady tried to defend herself. “I didn’t say that…”
“Nonsense! You’re acting like you’re so loyal to me when really you wanted to push all the blame on me!” Zong Yungan jumped to conclusions.
“I didn’t.” The lady shook her head. “You have to trust me!”
“How can I trust you?” In a fit of rage, Zong Yungan pushed the lady again and caused her to lose her balance. Her head banged into the door as she slowly slid to the ground in pain.
Meanwhile, in the monitoring area, Zong Jinghao and Shen Peichuan saw everything that transpired through the monitors.
Shen Peichuan said coldly when he saw the lady’s anguished expression, “Interesting. What a dog-eat-dog scenario.”
