’Killer God’ hid in the shadows, unnoticed by anyone. He watched Bai Yixian’s arrangements and nodded with some understanding. No longer hesitating, he held the small child in his arms and returned to the waiting car, "Back to the city."
"But..." the driver said, his face filled with alarm. Setting aside the difficulty of explaining to his boss, just the sight of the child, who was either unconscious or something else, made him uneasy. If it were not for the authority of the man before him, he would definitely have called the police.
"I’ll explain to your boss. Don’t worry. I need to settle my friend’s child first," ’Killer God’ said, then closed his eyes, holding the child in his arms the whole time, never once setting the little one down on the seat to sleep.
"Alright." What can I do when I’m just a nobody and a transparent driver? The driver started the car and drove off under the bright moonlight, retracing the road they had come by.
At the suburban factory, the police had already arrived in full force. The ’employees’ lined up in front of the factory, standing quietly with intoxicated breath and greasy hands, undergoing the police investigation.
"Is this the car you bought? When did you buy it, do you know the seller’s information? When was the transaction made, and can you provide the time, place, and receipt?"
"Bought it last week. The seller wasn’t a local, had to rush back home for an emergency, so he sold the house and car at a low price. It just got delivered today as I wasn’t in a hurry and since the house hadn’t sold, the car owner needed a vehicle to get around. I just told them to bring it whenever they had time, and today happened to be perfect, as they were delivering it today. I figured I’d have it sent here since we had a company gathering, saving the trouble of not having enough cars to get back later. I paid cash, don’t remember the time, and the place was in the car. What do I need a receipt for, it’s not like I’m claiming expenses," the skinny man said, squinting his eyes and rubbing his head as if he seriously was trying to recall the transaction details.
"What about the seller’s contact information? You must at least remember what the seller’s name is, right?"
"Contact information... I think I wrote it down somewhere, and I wrote down his name too, seems like..." The skinny man scratched his head, stealing a glance at Bai Yixian and mimicking the mouth shapes he made. Suddenly, he smacked his head, "I remember now, forgot the name, but it’s definitely Mr. Wang, Brother Wang."
"Did you notice anything unusual when you received the car? Like, was there a child with the ability to move about by themselves?" As the officer who had searched the car inside and out shook his head, Zhang Ye was also baffled. Not there? Or hidden somewhere else?
"Unusual? A child? I didn’t see any child, there seemed to be a lot of luggage, and two young lads helping to carry stuff, but no children," the skinny man said, shaking his head firmly.
"Sir, we’ve searched the west area, no hostage found."
"Sir, we’ve searched the east area, no hostage found."
"Sir, we’ve searched the second floor, no hostage found."
"Sir, we’ve searched the third floor, no hostage found."
"Sir, we’ve searched the warehouse, no hostage found."
"Sir, we’ve searched the basement, no hostage found."
"Sir, all vehicles have been searched, nothing suspicious."
All clear? But we tracked them here on the surveillance cameras, how could they just disappear? Zhang Ye ran his hand through his hair, not quite understanding.
According to the testimony Luo Shufan had given, Luo Qianqian was clearly taken away by a strong guy, but the owner of this car changed halfway through the operation and was very skinny. The strong guy part wasn’t wrong either, could she have been disguised as luggage?
"Boss Bai, you wouldn’t mind if we take your employees back for a statement, would you? It’s an important testimony after all."
"I don’t mind, but remember to bring them back in one piece after you’ve taken the statements. They need to be up early for the morning shift tomorrow."
"Zhang Ye! You are acting alone again!" The team leader, who had arrived after receiving the notification and saw his team taking the slender man in the floral T-shirt to meet him, said.
"Captain..." It’s not my fault, I was undercover, and then Elder Bai came out and saw us. How could I continue to play dumb? Zhang Ye said with a look of frustration. Considering the number of subordinates around and one witness, or rather, a person whether he’s a suspect or not, he held back, "Captain, we’ve finished searching, and we haven’t found the victim."
"What about the car?"
"Captain, this situation is a bit complicated. Let’s walk and talk."
At this moment, "Killer God" was sporting a mischievous grin, contemplating how his father would react upon learning of the secret he had uncovered. The thought of someone no longer with them caused his smile to fade into a touch of sadness.
"Excuse me, where are we headed?" As they entered the city, the driver was somewhat puzzled. Where should they settle? A hotel or the child’s home?
"Find a hotel near Experimental High School."
"Experimental..." High School? Where’s that? I’m not a local. Glancing at "Killer God’s" indecipherable, stern expression, the driver swallowed his words and silently pulled out a provincial map to start his search.
"Mom, I need to go to the bathroom." Luo Qianqian rubbed her eyes, her waist sore and her neck aching. She opened her eyes: What’s going on? Where is this? Did Pretty Boy move me somewhere else? What on earth is pressing down on me...
"Xiao Hei? Where’s Pretty Boy? Where are we?"
"..." Xiao Hei? Who’s that? Okay, witnessing the driver’s shaking shoulders as he tried to hold back laughter, comrade "Killer God" figured out who Xiao Hei was.
"Where is your home? I’ll take you there."
Luo Qianqian covered her mouth, clearly having inadvertently spoken her innermost thoughts aloud.
"You... Are you one of Pretty Boy... Bai’s... that less white big brother’s subordinates? Did big brother ask you to bring me back?" Luo Qianqian gnawed on her finger, feigning the mannerism of a five-year-old. Though she said "subordinate," Luo Qianqian sensed a different vibe and reined in her curiosity.
"Do I look like his subordinate, hmm?"
What else do you want me to say? Luo Qianqian thought, feeling helpless. Should I suggest that you defeated him and kidnapped me from the kidnappers?
"I don’t know, big brother, are you a police officer? The officer who’s bringing me home?" The urge to call him "uncle" was overridden by her syrupy voice as she switched to "big brother," thinking that flattering him was far better than provoking him into silencing her forever.
"Oh, uncle. So you’re taking me home now? My home is near the Youth Palace," Luo Qianqian quickly complied with "Killer God’s" wish.
"..." How did I not realize "Killer God" was so easygoing??? The driver was stunned. Was that curve on "Killer God’s" face really a smile? A genuine smile unlike his evil grin or sinister smirk? Did calling him "uncle" really have such an effect?
"Alright, to Youth Palace," "Killer God" softened his voice unconsciously: "Uncle has a matter to discuss with you, is that okay?"
"You say..." Luo Qianqian shivered at the sight of the strange, stiff smile and quickly nodded.
"After you get home, whether it’s to your family or the police, you slept through the night without waking up once, agreed?"
"I get it, I get it. You can count on me; I won’t reveal the existence of Pretty Boy... big brother or yours," Luo Qianqian assured him with a nod.
"That’s not what I mean. I can assure you that Pretty Boy’s men won’t kidnap you or harm you in the future, but you need to pretend you don’t know about him, understand?" "Killer God’s" mellow voice echoed in the ears of the driver and Luo Qianqian like a decree from the King of Hell, as if refusal would lead to being silenced for good.
"No problem, you just tell me what to say, and I’ll follow your lead," Luo Qianqian said, nodding eagerly like a sycophant, quickly climbing off "Killer God’s" legs and sitting on the side, with hands on her knees and tilted head observing him.
"All you remember upon waking up is being in the arms of a handsome, dashing, wise, valiant uncle, on the way home, and nothing else."
Handsome and dashing? Wise and valiant? Okay, you have the presence, whatever you say goes.
Luo Qianqian nodded obsequiously: "I don’t know anything. When I woke up, I was saved by uncle."