“Captain Zhang, I’ve found something.” A young female officer said seriously to the middle-aged man beside her. “That female teacher, Xiao Ran, is indeed a major suspect. The perpetrator, Qu Zhiqiang, had close social ties with her before he was imprisoned.”
“Dispatch officers to keep an eye on Xiao Ran at the kindergarten immediately,” Captain Zhang nodded. “Team One, pull up the surveillance footage near Xiao Ran’s residence. Team Two, check her recent call records to see if Qu Zhiqiang contacted her after his release.”
“Yes, sir!”
Soon, both teams reported back.
“Captain Zhang, the surveillance shows Qu Zhiqiang did appear near Xiao Ran’s home after his release. He stayed there overnight and left early the next morning.”
“Captain Zhang, Xiao Ran has made multiple calls to the same unknown number recently. We suspect it belongs to Qu Zhiqiang.”
Captain Zhang nodded. Just as he was about to issue orders, his phone rang.
He answered, and a woman’s voice spoke: “Hello… Are you Captain Zhang?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“My name is Chen Ting, I’m Shan Shan’s teacher…”
“Oh, Teacher Chen, I remember you. What’s the matter?”
“Well…” Chen Ting hesitated. “Today, Xiao Ran insisted on sending the children home again. I’m a bit worried…”
She relayed her concerns to Captain Zhang in detail.
“Understood, Teacher Chen. Don’t worry.”
After hanging up, Captain Zhang turned to his team with an extremely serious expression. “Teams One and Two, gear up and follow me. Team Three, get the vehicles ready. Team Four, stay on surveillance. The traffickers might strike again today. We’ll deploy early. Damn it, they dare to abduct children? It’s time to wipe them out.”
……
Qu Zhiqiang drove slowly through the streets, this time in a black sedan instead of a van to avoid suspicion.
He needed to wait until the kindergarten teachers and students had left before he could boldly take the child.
As he neared the kindergarten, he noticed it seemed unusually quiet—school must have ended early.
The few remaining street vendors had stopped hawking and were oddly silent.
“Brother Qu…” the scar-faced driver asked, “What’s the plan? Just grab the kid and go?”
Qu Zhiqiang glanced at Xiao Ran and the little boy standing at the kindergarten gate.
“Old Scar, how’s your driving?” Qu Zhiqiang asked.
The scar-faced man thought for a moment. “No license, but I’ve been driving for years. I’m good.”
“Good,” Qu Zhiqiang pointed at Xiao Ran. “Run her over.”
“Run her over?” The scar-faced man hesitated.
“What? You scared?”
“Not scared,” he sighed. “It’s easy, but you’ll have to pay me an extra five grand for repairs.”
Qu Zhiqiang burst into laughter. “No problem! I’ll give you ten! Make sure she’s dead!”
A newspaper vendor watching the black car approach lowered his head and whispered, “Suspicious vehicle at six o’clock. Team A, confirm identity, over.”
“Team A received, over.”
Moments later, the response came.
“Team A confirms Qu Zhiqiang is in the vehicle, over.”
The newspaper vendor nodded and switched channels.
“All teams, target Qu Zhiqiang in black sedan at six o’clock. Move in.”
Instantly, officers nearby turned their attention to the car. But the next second, it accelerated toward the kindergarten gate.
……
Why isn’t he here yet?
I stood impatiently. I had an appointment with my therapist tonight—Qu was wasting my time.
Just as my frustration peaked, a black sedan appeared in the distance.
It moved unnaturally slow. Could it be Qu?
My money’s here?
I grabbed Chen Moran and stepped forward, but the car suddenly sped toward me.
Before I could react, people swarmed around us, shouting at me and the car.
But I couldn’t hear them.
Because I saw the three towers of Chongsheng Temple crack in the distance.
Then came a deafening roar, and the ground shook violently.
As the car barreled toward me, I yanked Chen Moran aside.
He’s my sixty grand!
The world can burn, but not my money!
The earthquake wasn’t what I expected—the ground swayed side to side, not up and down.
I lost my balance and face-planted.
But I was fine. And so was my sixty grand.
Once the quake passed, I’d cash him in.
But in that split second, the black car reversed toward me.
It seemed hell-bent on killing me.
Then—impact. Everything went black.
……
I’ve been in this so-called “Land of the End” for three days now.
It stinks here.
Worse than those old men I knew.
What do I do now?
That Qi Xia guy seems capable, but he’s playing hard to get. Claims he’s married and won’t flirt.
Disgusting.
I’ve hooked up with plenty of married men—they loved it. Who are you fooling?
Handsome guys like him are the hardest to crack.
And that damn Zhao Haibo. I thought he was a doctor—let him grope me, and he’d pay up later.
But when Yun Yao beat me, he chickened out!
I’ll kill Yun Yao…
But how?
She’s always with Qi Xia and that thug. No opening.
How can I make her walk to her death?
Then I saw the rabbit mask I’d taken yesterday.
Oh my god…
This is perfect.
If I pose as the Rabbit… won’t she come to die?
I grabbed the mask, sneaked out of the school, and headed for the Rabbit’s arena under cover of night.
This hellhole is crawling with bugs—their chirping is deafening.
They rustle like they’re right in my ear.
But who cares? Once I reach the arena, dispose of the Rabbit’s body, and the game is mine.
I’ll play Rabbit, luring others to their doom.
Best if Yun Yao comes. Then I’ll have my revenge.
I’m brilliant—always finding the shortcut.
So… Yun Yao, can you tell the Rabbit is me?
Ah!
She’s here!
With some fat old man. Is that her sugar daddy?
How vile, Yun Yao. Pretty face, but hooking up with a geezer?
Don’t worry. You’re dead now.
My name is Xiao Ran.
Time to lie.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage