None of them expected to receive a call from Ren Yanqing, nor did they expect him to cooperate at a time like this. For a moment, they were all caught off guard and didn’t know how to react.
Yan Lulin frowned, looking seriously at Zhou Jinchen. He spoke with a grave expression, “Are you sure it’s Ren Yanqing?”
“Yes.” Zhou Jinchen nodded, feeling that the situation was incredibly strange. Previously, Ren Yanqing hadn’t cared at all about the boy’s life or death. But just now, his tone had a hint of urgency, as if he was deeply worried about his son’s safety.
It was bizarre.
However, no matter the reason, Ren Yanqing being vulnerable to threats was the best outcome for them. It saved them from having to come up with any other plans.
Logically speaking, this was good news, yet the expressions on the group’s faces varied. There was no trace of joy that their plan might succeed.
The room fell into a brief silence. Even the atmosphere felt inexplicably heavy, as if they weren’t really hoping for Ren Yanqing’s cooperation.
Duan Ming rubbed his thumb and forefinger with a dark and unreadable expression. Finally, he looked at the others with a blank face and said, “Let’s stick to the original plan.”
The others froze for a moment before realizing that their worries might be entirely unfounded.
After all, they weren’t… real kidnappers.
With that realization, everyone returned to their usual demeanor and left the room.
Ren Yanqing’s sudden cooperation had disrupted their plans, and they needed to adjust and prepare again.
This time, their preparations were more meticulous than before, ensuring that no unexpected incidents would arise.
Although they were busier than ever, they didn’t neglect Ruan Qing, who was still in the basement. Each time they went in and out, they made sure to check on him.
If anyone went out to the construction site, they would bring back small items they thought might be nice.
The basement had undergone a complete transformation, turning into a cozy and beautiful room. The walls were covered with green wallpaper, and warm lighting illuminated the space day and night. The previous mess and gloom were gone, replaced by an inviting coziness that made it hard to leave.
However, the room’s owner didn’t seem to welcome their visits. Every time they entered, they were met with the boy’s wary and hostile gaze. Despite coming in countless times, his attitude never softened.
Seeing this, they didn’t linger long and stopped guarding against anyone coming alone. Everyone focused on their tasks.
At this moment, only Zhou Jinchen and Ruan Qing were in the basement. The others were nowhere to be seen, busy with their preparations.
After finishing his tasks, Zhou Jinchen casually placed a vibrant potted plant on the table in the basement, paying no attention to the other person in the room.
Just as he was about to leave, Zhou Jinchen suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at the boy sitting by the bed, holding a notebook.
Zhou Jinchen felt inexplicably annoyed as he caught sight of the wary expression in the boy's eyes. With a darkened expression, he strode over and extended his hand toward Ruan Qing.
Before he could speak, however, a notebook was suddenly placed in his hand.
It was the notebook that the boy had been holding.
Initially restless, Zhou Jinchen instinctively lowered his gaze to the notebook in his hand. For a moment, he didn’t react.
The boy had cherished this notebook ever since he got it, treating it like a treasure. He wouldn’t even let others glance at it, let alone touch it.
Yet now, the boy had obediently handed it over, looking up at him with a well-behaved and innocent expression. Even Duan Ming, who the boy was somewhat close to, had never been treated like this.
Zhou Jinchen’s heart skipped a beat and then started racing a little faster. His thin lips pressed tightly together as his stiff fingers gripped the notebook. He avoided Ruan Qing’s gaze somewhat unnaturally.
But in the next second, Zhou Jinchen’s expression turned even darker.
The pages he had previously torn out were now back in the notebook. Not only that, but they took up even more space than before and used even harsher language.
It made him seem as though he was some kind of irredeemable villain.
Zhou Jinchen let out a cold laugh, just as he was about to speak. But Ruan Qing beat him to it by a second.
“It wasn’t me who wrote that,” Ruan Qing said.
Zhou Jinchen: “?”
Ruan Qing tilted his head slightly, blinked innocently, and repeated, “The notes in the book, I didn’t write them.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jinchen’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly for a moment. He immediately flipped to the earlier pages of the notebook, carefully comparing the handwriting from the front to the back.
The handwriting was nearly identical, unmistakably from the same person.
Zhou Jinchen frowned deeply, casting a suspicious glance at Ruan Qing.
Ruan Qing, noticing his confusion, pointed at a specific passage in the notebook. “I may have lost my memory, but I don’t think I would write something like this.”
The notebook contained physical descriptions, likely intended to help the reader identify the individuals being described.
The passage Ruan Qing pointed to was one of those descriptions.
It was a straightforward and concise description of physical traits, highlighting key features to make it easy to identify who was being referred to. On the surface, it seemed perfectly normal.
At least, Zhou Jinchen didn’t notice anything unusual.
Ruan Qing pursed his lips in embarrassment, glanced away, and spoke softly, “Um... the color you’re wearing is so ugly. It makes you look like a toad.”
Zhou Jinchen: “...?”
Naturally, working at a construction site meant no one wore white. Workers either donned uniforms or clothing in colors that didn’t show dirt easily. Zhou Jinchen was wearing a gray-brown jacket.
That color did indeed resemble a toad’s.
Looking down at his jacket, Zhou Jinchen immediately understood what Ruan Qing meant.
The boy’s point wasn’t to describe his appearance. He merely said he looked like a toad.
Zhou Jinchen’s face darkened further. After a long pause, he coldly squeezed out a few words, “You’re the toad.”
[Pfft, hahaha! I thought the wife would definitely see through the cunning man’s tricks, but I never expected it to be because of this. ‘Toad’: are you being polite?]
[That’s such an accurate description! Isn’t it just a bunch of toads dreaming of swan meat? Ugh! Scheming men!]
[Isn’t anyone finding this odd? Why do I feel like this group isn’t just ordinary kidnappers looking for money? What are they busy with, going in and out like that?]
[You’re just realizing this? Do these kidnappers even look like they’re strapped for cash? They could probably sell themselves for a fortune with those looks! And since when do kidnappers steal medicine but not money? Clearly, this kidnapping is part of some bigger plot. I doubt they’re in it for the money at all.]
The group indeed wasn’t after money, nor were they true kidnappers.
What they wanted… was Ren Yanqing’s life.
That was their goal before, and it still was now. In fact, their desire for Ren Yanqing’s death had only grown stronger.
As long as Ren Yanqing died, no one would be able to take the boy away from them.
The boy was like a fragile flower—so delicate that he would wither and fall apart without care. Taking over that care... was only natural.
Even Zhou Jinchen couldn’t help but think the same.
He looked at the obedient boy in front of him, his expression shadowed and unreadable. For the first time, he let his emotions take control, allowing the overwhelming and unfamiliar feelings to engulf him.
Feelings of desire and possession.
Zhou Jinchen stared for nearly a full minute before his low, raspy voice broke the silence. “Why are you showing me this?”
Ruan Qing is so smart. Thank you for the chapter!!
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