Chapter 74:

“Miss Lin, come here.” Zhao Chunjun stood a few paces away from Lin Qiao, provocatively beckoning her with a wave of his hand, as if he were entirely confident she would come, showing no sign of urgency.

Lin Qiao stood rooted to the spot and coldly replied, “I’m busy. I don’t have time to waste here with you. Goodbye.” Having said that, she turned and walked away.

Zhao Chunjun spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, “Lin Qiao, let me speak plainly. Think for yourself—apart from giving you that sedative shot, have I ever harmed you? In fact, I’ve even helped you. Don’t you think that if I hadn’t called Shen Qingzhou back then, you could have left the hospital so smoothly? I’m not arrogant—I truly had the ability to keep you locked up there, but I simply had no interest. I had no intention of harming you then, and I still have none now.”

As Zhao began to speak, Lin Qiao slowed her pace. Once he had finished, she turned her head to look at him and said, “Then why do you keep clinging to me? Oh, could it be that Dr. Zhao, though aloof from worldly matters, still has human emotions and desires?”

Her words made his expression turn subtly complicated. He hesitated for two seconds before leisurely replying, “I do live in the mundane world, and I do have emotions and desires. But that’s not something you should be asking about.”

Lin Qiao curled her lips, “Well, it’s not like I’m the one clinging to you. It’s your own fault for doing things that invite misunderstanding.”

Zhao Chunjun crossed his arms over his chest, lightly stroking his chin as he gazed at Lin Qiao. “So, you’re willing to talk with me now?”

Lin Qiao turned and walked off, firmly throwing back two words: “No discussion.”

Zhao Chunjun’s face lit up with interest. Calmly, he continued behind her, “Actually, I had good intentions in seeking you out, because there’s something that both Shen Qingzhou and you might want to know. But now that you’re acting like this, I’ve decided not to say anything.” Without a care, he turned around and lightly added, “Farewell.”

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but be drawn in by the implications in his words. It concerned Shen Qingzhou and herself. After all, Shen Qingzhou was still away on business. She had to eliminate all potential threats. Even if Zhao Chunjun had set a trap for her to fall into, she had no choice but to jump in.

“What exactly do you mean?” Lin Qiao turned back and quickly walked forward, closing the distance between herself and Zhao Chunjun. This made her feel dangerously uneasy, a chill running down her spine.

Zhao Chunjun turned back around, his clean-cut face wearing a gentle, scholarly smile, but his eyes held something deep and dark. “Lin Qiao, you want to hear now, but I don’t feel like talking anymore. I’ll be the good guy this time. Hurry home and maybe there’s still time. If you see something terrifying, you can come beg me for help. I might help you if I’m in a good mood.” He raised his hand, as if struck by inspiration, and added, “I will feel it if you beg me sincerely.” Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he strode quickly toward his immaculate white Porsche and sped away.

Lin Qiao didn’t dare to delay. From the moment he spoke, her heart had been hanging in anxiety, her mind filled with the terrifying scenes she had once experienced in the psychiatric hospital. Zhao Chunjun wouldn’t have mentioned her home without reason—something must have happened there.

Lin Qiao rushed home. As soon as she opened the door to the first floor, she shouted anxiously, “Mom, Xiaoxuan!” She frantically searched the house. Not finding them on the first floor, she ran upstairs. She continued shouting their names while searching every corner. After checking the attic on the third floor and finding Xie Jiayi’s phone there, she was certain that something had happened to them.

In her panic, Lin Qiao was about to call Zhao Chunjun. Her phone’s firewall still had his repeatedly changed unfamiliar number. But as she picked up the phone, she hesitated. She squatted down and picked up Xie Jiayi’s phone, opening it. The screen was on the message page, showing an incomplete recipient field with only an English letter and three unreadable letters.

Help fmj

What did that mean? The first part was obvious, but the second part was strange—could it be initials?

A name came to Lin Qiao’s mind—the person who must have taken Xie Jiayi and the child. When she matched it with that person’s name, it turned out to be exactly him.

Fang Mingjun.

No wonder Zhao Chunjun had been following her home earlier. He must have known Fang Mingjun was up to something here, and was stalling her to give him time.

Damn bastards!

Lin Qiao knew Shen Qingzhou was already overwhelmed with work, but she couldn’t possibly hide from him the fact that Xie Jiayi and the child had been taken by Fang Mingjun. Before contacting Zhao Chunjun, she first called Shen Qingzhou. She was grateful she still had the presence of mind to do so. With her mother-in-law and the only child missing, she felt her sanity nearly slipping away.

Luckily, Shen Qingzhou answered the phone quickly. His voice carried a strangely calming effect, gradually soothing Lin Qiao’s turbulent emotions.

“What’s wrong? Why are you calling so early today?” His side was a bit noisy, probably outside, but his voice remained calm, suggesting things were going relatively smoothly.

Lin Qiao first steadied her emotions, trying to make her voice sound less alarming. Yet when she spoke, her tone was still unstable: “Something’s happened, Qingzhou. Mom and Xiaoxuan are missing. I found Mom’s phone. There’s a message—Fang Mingjun took them.”

By the end, Lin Qiao was almost in tears. Shen Qingzhou was silent for about three seconds, and the background noise quickly quieted. Then he lowered his voice: “Don’t panic. Take your time. Tell me exactly what happened.”

Lin Qiao choked back sobs and told him everything—from encountering Zhao Chunjun, his ominous words, to discovering the situation at home. By the end, she had calmed down a little. Taking a deep breath, she said, “You and Xinling aren’t in Beijing. Dad is old too. Telling him will only add to his worries. What should I do now? Should I go find Zhao Chunjun?”

Shen Qingzhou didn’t answer immediately. He was probably thinking, weighing the stakes and everyone’s motives before making a decision. Because Lin Qiao was a woman relying on him, he absolutely couldn’t give her the wrong guidance.

“Even if I catch the next flight back, I won’t make it in time,” Shen Qingzhou calmly analyzed. “I didn’t think things through carefully enough. I thought Mom staying with you would be safe enough, but I didn’t expect Fang Mingjun to go this far.”

Lin Qiao squatted down and ran her hands through her hair, exhausted: “Then what should I do? I can’t bear the thought of them staying with Fang Mingjun for even a minute longer. He’s a madman. What if he…”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence—she couldn’t even imagine the worst happening to Xie Jiayi and the child.

Shen Qingzhou was much calmer. He could still rationally comfort her: “Don’t panic. I’ll finish up here as quickly as I can and come back to help you. For now, you might as well meet Zhao Chunjun. Since he warned you, he’s not completely aligned with Fang Mingjun. He might have other plans. We can start from him, find Mom and the child first, and bring them back before making further plans.”

Lin Qiao nodded repeatedly: “Okay, I’ll contact him right away.”

Shen Qingzhou said, “Don’t go alone. Wait at home for a moment. I’ll arrange someone to accompany you to meet him.”

Lin Qiao didn’t dare to refuse and quickly agreed: “Okay, hurry. I’ll wait for him.”

“This person you’ve met—he’s Captain Xu from the Public Security Bureau. Zhao Chunjun hasn’t met him. Take him with you and say he’s a friend,” Shen Qingzhou instructed.

Lin Qiao understood: “I know.”

Shen Qingzhou comforted her a bit more before hanging up to call Xu Jie. Xu Jie arrived at Lin Qiao’s house quickly after receiving the call. As a public security officer, protecting citizens was his duty, and the case Shen Qingzhou was handling had once been his responsibility. Helping Lin Qiao was within his professional obligations.

Lin Qiao didn’t hesitate with Xu Jie. She flipped through her phone contacts and tried several of Zhao Chunjun’s numbers, but none worked—probably not saved in her phone.

Looking somewhat discouraged, Lin Qiao turned to Xu Jie. Xu Jie frowned slightly and asked, “Do you know where he might be now? It’s working hours. He should be at work, right?”

Lin Qiao recalled the psychiatric hospital that had given her so many nightmares. Her face paled as she nodded: “I know. I’ll take you there.”

Xu Jie slightly nodded and followed Lin Qiao out of Shen’s house, driving quickly toward the psychiatric hospital where Zhao Chunjun worked.

Upon arrival, the two walked side by side into the remote yet massive building. The white structure exuded a sinister aura, and the staff inside were no better than the building itself, giving off an overly gloomy vibe.

“May I help you?” A sharp-eyed nurse in the reception area asked as they entered.

Xu Jie noticed Lin Qiao’s panic and smiled as he answered, “Hello, miss. We’re here looking for someone. We’d like to see Dr. Zhao Chunjun. Is he on duty today?”

The nurse glanced at them both, carefully scrutinizing them before slowly replying, “He is. Who are you? What do you need from Dr. Zhao?”

Before Xu Jie could speak, Lin Qiao cut in, “Just tell him a Miss Lin is here for an appointment.”

The nurse seemed surprised by Lin Qiao’s appointment with Zhao Chunjun, but after a moment of shock, she efficiently picked up the phone to notify Zhao Chunjun.

Zhao Chunjun came down quickly. The psychiatric hospital had five floors without an elevator. The emergency exit was on the side of the building, and the main staircase faced the entrance directly. Zhao Chunjun’s tall, slender figure in a white coat descended slowly, directly meeting Lin Qiao’s anxious gaze.

He walked slowly, his steps steady, his posture straight. His tall, slender frame was clad in a thin white coat, which fluttered slightly in the breeze as he descended.

He looked like a cold instrument, his gaze toward Lin Qiao and Xu Jie as emotionless as a machine.

He didn’t seem surprised by the presence of another person with Lin Qiao, but there was an obvious hint of disdain. His dark-circled eyes fixed on Xu Jie, as if he had already seen through his identity but simply couldn’t be bothered to point it out.

Slowly shifting his gaze to the anxious Lin Qiao, Zhao’s expression softened slightly, though it became even more enigmatic.

A new mother often carries a unique charm—distinct from a young girl or an older woman. When she wasn’t facing him, she moved slowly, spoke softly, and blushed easily, her hands and face pale and delicate. But when she faced him, all her gentleness and naivety vanished. She would raise her defenses, making childish yet forceful, malicious resistance.

Zhao Chunjun couldn’t help but slowly smile, leisurely strolling toward Lin Qiao and Xu Jie, his eyes behind his glasses carrying a meaningful smile as he gazed at her.

Despite the thick winter clothing, it didn’t hinder his keen perception as a doctor, who was intimately familiar with the human body, from appreciating her beauty to the fullest.

Those high mounds on her chest, soft and tender, like a pair of white rabbits, made his fingers itch. He instinctively hid his hands inside the wide sleeves of his white coat.