"Why are there a few extra lines?" Ying Qingcang stared at the golden scroll in shock. There were now a few additional lines that had not been there the last time he saw the scroll. Instead of answering him, Ying Hao began reading out the words.
"After the union between the Ying and the Wei family, should either party be subjected to the workings of evil and bodily contusions, the union must be terminated immediately due to the resulting clash in Four Pillars. Failing to do so would result in the death of one party."
When Ying Hao was done reading the lines, Ying Qingcang responded coldly, "Speak human language."
"It means that bad luck will befall you if you keep staying with Xin Qing. There will be accidents, mishaps, and things that are life-threatening," Ying Hao said quickly. "It was rare for you to even catch a common cold since you"re young, and yet you"ve recently caught the influenza. Also, why would something smash into you out of nowhere? Ah Cang, I"m doing this for your own good. I can"t stand by and watch you throw your life away by being with Xin Qing!"
Ying Qingcang tossed the Ancestral Behest away. Startled, Ying Hao hurriedly readjusted the scroll.
"That woman is my life," Ying Qingcang said, staring at his own father. "If she isn"t in my life, then I"m as good as dead. Just look at what had happened in the past year or so. Xin Qing had to face danger time and time again. You really think that these have to do with the Ancestral Behest? Have you lost your mind?" Ying Qingcang kept his eyes on his father as he went on, "For three generations, the Ying family had built and transformed itself into the empire that is the Ying Enterprises today. And yet now you"re scheming against your own son because of nonsense like this."
"Dad!" It had been a long time since Ying Qingcang used that t.i.tle to address him. Hearing it after so long, Ying Hao"s lips started to tremble as tears fell from his eyes.
"I"ve been doing some digging all this while, and guess what. Everything from Xin Qing"s abduction to the events that followed was orchestrated. They were premeditated. Someone was behind it. Although I"m still unable to identify the mastermind, at least I"m trying. I want to spend the rest of my life with the woman I love. For her, I"m willing to do anything. I don"t want to be like you, living a life full of regrets!"
"Ah Cang!" Ying Hao called out. "You... Where"s Molly?"
Ying Qingcang kept walking towards the exit without looking back. "I"ll send her back."
In the living room, Young Master Shen was pacing in circles. When Young Master Shen saw Ying Qingcang, he hurried over. "I need you to stay calm, alright?" Young Master Shen said. "I"ve got something to tell you."
Ying Qingcang raised his brows. "Speak."
"Ah Che called just now. Xiao Qingqing was kidnapped again."
Xin Qing felt that she must be the unluckiest person in the world. Now that she thought about it carefully, she never really had a single day of peace ever since she came to France after ending things with Ying Qingcang. If the average person were to encounter even one of her many ordeals, it would have made for a life-changing experience already. And yet she had encountered an endless string of such instances.
Could it be that G.o.d was punishing her? Just because she left Ying Qingcang?
"Dianne, I"m sorry." Xin Qing glanced at Dianne, who was tied up beside her. In a voice laced with guilt, Xin Qing said, "You"re in this because of me."
When they were heading towards the carpark after their meal, a bunch of guys had grabbed them and shoved them into a car. After that, they were brought to this decrepit factory. These guys seemed to be doing this for the ransom money. Somehow, they got a tip from an unknown source saying that Xin Qing was William"s fiancee. Now, they wanted William to bring 30 million for the hostage exchange. Otherwise, they would execute the hostages.
"If I hadn"t called you out, you would be home by now," Dianne said, releasing a bitter laugh. "I think William will come to save you. Right now, we just have to obey them and try not to provoke them into hurting us."
Xin Qing nodded. She really did not feel much fear this time, probably because she had been kidnapped so many times already. Dianne"s reaction, however, impressed her a great deal. "You"re so tough. You"re able to stay so calm even if this is your first time being kidnapped."
"Haha. Actually, I"m scared to death." Dianne shifted her body closer. "Touch my hand. They"ve been shaking non-stop!"
They were both tied up, causing their hands and feet to be squeezed tightly together. Footsteps sounded in the s.p.a.cious factory. Five foreign men walked up to them and stood before them. The one with long hair gave Xin Qing a kick.
"We"ve already sent word out to William. If he didn"t bring the money within 24 hours, haha!" The man flashed a lewd smile. "Then both of you"ll have to serve us. If you serve us well, we will pleasure you. Otherwise, you"ll be f*ck*d to death!"
Xin Qing and Dianne glanced at each other. They dared not make a sound. It was just like Dianne said. It was important not to provoke their kidnappers at a time like this. The few men noted their behavior and threw out a few curses. After that, they sat on the couch nearby and played cards. Through the upper windows of the factory, they could tell that the sky was slowly growing dark. One of the kidnappers returned with dinner, though they did not allow Xin Qing and Dianne to eat. They tossed them a bottle of water instead.
Xin Qing and Dianne took a few sips each. After that they sat there obediently. An unknown amount of time pa.s.sed by and the sky was still pitch-black dark. Suddenly, the sound of brakes could hear outside the factory. Xin Qing went still. "Could it be that William had come?" She thought.
The kidnappers got up hurriedly and stood in front of the two women. They saw a man walking in slowly.
"Mr. William!" Said the kidnapper with the long hair. He laughed. "You"re here earlier than I expected. Did you bring the money?"
Xin Qing saw William looking at her. She shook her head, indicating that she was fine. William threw the suitcase on the floor. "The money"s here. Let them go."
"Open the case," the kidnapper said. Somehow he had taken out a gun, whose muzzle was now pointed at William.
"You better release them after you got the money," William said, his face calm and collected. "I"ve already made arrangements at the a.s.sa.s.sin"s Foundation before I came here. If I didn"t walk out of here alive today, other than the 30 million you have, there will be a 50 million bounty on each of your head. Let"s see if you have any life left in you to spend that money by then!"
The kidnapper with the long hair applauded. "As expected from you, Mr. William. Don"t worry! We"re just after the money, not your lives."
William crouched down slowly and opened the suitcase, revealing the wads of cash stacked neatly in it.
The eyes of the kidnappers brightened instantly. They looked at each other for a moment. Then he yanked Dianne to her feet and shoved her towards William. "Here! 30 million for a single person!"
William released Dianne from her bindings. When he heard the kidnapper"s words, he said furiously, "You said you"ll release all hostages when if I bring 30 million."
"Well, we just did!" Said the kidnapper with the long hair. He smiled and pointed a finger at Xin Qing. "But that"s just the price of a single person. If you intend to take both hostages away, then hurry up and bring me another 30 million."
"D*mn you!" Even William had lost his cool at that point. He clenched his fist, not knowing what to do.
"You better hurry up. This place is quite far from town. If you"re not back by dawn, then this pretty Chinese doll will belong to us! Hahahaha!"
William pursed and lips and spoke to Xin Qing, "Don"t be scared. I"ll go back for the money. I"ll definitely get you out of here!"
"Sorry to trouble you..." Xin Qing had remained composed in that moment. She looked at Dianne. "You be careful!"
Dianne nodded. All of a sudden, the long-haired kidnapper spoke again, "If that woman call the cops, we"ll kill her."
"No, I won"t!" Dianne quickly shook her head. "I won"t call the cops."
Just when William and Dianne was about to leave, the wail of police sirens sounded outside the door. Following that were the sounds of screeching tires and brakes, which came in rapid succession.
"F*ck! You m*th*rf*ck*r, you already called the cops!" The kidnapper pulled out his gun and pointed it at William and Dianne.
William reached out his hand, raising it. "I didn"t!" He wanted to calm the kidnapper down. "I"d never call the police. I don"t know what"s going on."
Two men walked through the door. Tears fell from Xin Qing"s eyes when she saw them. Young Master Shen even waved at her.
"My woman will never need saving from someone else."
Xin Qing"s heart, which had been calm throughout the entire time, suddenly leaped. When William had arrived earlier, she did not feel the slightest worry for his safety. The only thing that had gone through her mind back then was whether they would leave this place alive. But now seeing Ying Qingcang here, she found herself overwhelmed with fear and worry. She was scared of the danger that Ying Qingcang was about to face.
When Ying Qingcang"s eyes met hers, it was as if he could read her mind. Xin Qing heard his deep voice as he spoke to her, "Last time, I didn"t try to save you, and because of that, I ended up hurting you. It won"t be the same this time!"
Xin Qing bit down on her lip, trying to stop herself from crying. "F*ck!" One of the kidnappers yelled. "This place is swarming with cops!"
A group of dark figures had encircled the factory"s rooftop. Pointing downwards from the roof window were rifles with dark and imposing muzzles.
"Surrender. Otherwise, your bodies will be covered with more holes than a sieve," Ying Qingcang said as he stared coldly at the five kidnappers. The long-haired kidnapper grabbed a handful of Xin Qing"s hair and pulled her in front of his body. "If you shoot, then we"ll both die. Come on! Open fire!"
Ying Qingcang took a step forward. "Let go of her immediately. Touch my woman, and you will never walk out of here alive."
"Then we shall die together with your woman," said the long-haired kidnapper as he pressed the muzzle of his gun to Xin Qing"s head. "I"ll count to three. You—" A huge object fell down from the ceiling before the man could finish. The upper part of the factory was riddled with various sc.r.a.p metal chains. Somehow, a few of those chains, the ends of which were attached to a lot of wooden crates, were now swinging and tumbling downwards noisily. Ying Qingcang reacted instantly the moment he realized what was happening. He burst forward, grabbed Xin Qing, and rolled to the side. It was over in a matter of seconds. By the time Xin Qing regained her bearings, all five kidnappers were buried beneath piles upon piles of wooden crates.
When he saw the dazed look on Xin Qing"s face, Ying Qingcang thought Xin Qing was in shock. He embraced her and shouted her name endlessly. "Xin Qing! Xin Qing!" Xin Qing blinked a few times. She was just about to speak when panic filled her eyes once again. She tried to push Ying Qingcang aside, but Ying Qingcang had been one step quicker. Ying Qingcang dove to the ground with her in his arms. The bullet whizzed past Ying Qingcang"s ears, drawing a streak of blood.
"Ying Qingcang!" Xin Qing yelled, struggling in his arms.
"I"m alright. Stay down!" Ying Qingcang kept her behind his own body, shielding her. He turned around and saw Young Master Shen raising his gun at William. Ah Che and Ah Nan leaped out of nowhere. "Young Master, William took out a gun from his sleeves. We didn"t see it."
When Xin Qing saw the twins, it suddenly hit her who had pushed those crates just now. She turned her head and looked at William. "How could he shoot at Ying Qingcang?" She thought. Then she saw Dianne, whose throat was in William"s hand. A gun was pressed against her stomach.
"No, dont!" Xin Qing shouted when she saw Young Master Shen about to take a shot.
William shot a glance at Xin Qing. Tugging Dianne along, he slowly backed away towards the exit. Dianne"s face was as white as a sheet when she was brought out by William. Next, Xin Qing saw the blood on Ying Qingcang"s shoulder. That was when everything went black.