Chapter 638 — I Need Your Help

But it made little difference that Yang Huaijun went. Even if he learned that Qiu Lingshan had lost contact at the relay station, it would avail him nothing, for the people at that station had already gone, and what they had left behind offered no valuable clues at all!

The criminals were cunning in the extreme, leaving no opening at all; Qiu Lingshan had simply vanished.

Anxious as he was, Yang Huaijun could do nothing! For now they could only wait for the criminals to take the initiative and negotiate with the police. The other side clearly must already know Qiu Lingshan's identity, and yet they had still taken her — their purpose was plain enough: either to flaunt their defiance before the police, or to use her as a hostage, to negotiate with the police and achieve their own ends!

But no matter what, they would still have to wait for the criminals to contact the police first.

"That Xiao Song — she truly gives a man no peace of mind!" Yang Huaijun sat in his office and rubbed his sleep-heavy eyes. He had not slept all night; the whole night had gone to meetings discussing the direction of the investigation, and it had left him rather worn out.

Still, it was far better than before. Wei Zhao's medicine was proving very effective. At least in the past, the consequence of such a night was a relapse, and drugs had to be used to force it down by main strength! But now, apart from a little fatigue, there was no discomfort at all. Of course, fatigue was a normal reaction; even a healthy man would feel somewhat unwell after a night without rest.

Wei Zhao? At the thought of Wei Zhao, it suddenly occurred to Yang Huaijun — might Wei Zhao have a way? If anyone could find Qiu Lingshan now, then perhaps only Wei Zhao could. The only question was whether he would be willing to help.

Yang Huaijun smiled wryly. It seemed he would have to trouble Wei Zhao after all! After a moment's hesitation, he dialed Wei Zhao's number.

"Xiao Yi?" Every time Yang Huaijun used that name for Wei Zhao, he felt a little awkward. He still wanted to call him "Eagle" or "Captain". The name Xiao Yi he was not quite used to.

"Brother Jun, what is it?" Wei Zhao had first driven to the hospital to pick up Tang Zhi, and had just been about to start the car when Yang Huaijun's call came through.

"Xiao Song has most likely been taken by the kidney-cutting gang." Yang Huaijun wasted no pleasantries and went straight to the reason for his call.

"Oh, a reckless girl like her — being caught is only natural." Wei Zhao was not in the least surprised; he thought it a perfectly normal thing. Had he known she was this reckless, he would not have called her yesterday to tip her off.

"Reckless, a little, yes. But the young are all impulsive..." Yang Huaijun smiled wryly. "It happened like this: yesterday Xiao Song received a tip and learned where the criminals were active, and then..."

"Oh, I know that. I was the one who told her about Binjia Village." Wei Zhao cut him off. "She went there herself, didn't she — meant to slip in behind enemy lines, and got herself caught, and now she can't get out?"

"You... you guessed all that?" Yang Huaijun was somewhat taken aback. He had not expected that the information had come from Wei Zhao. So the two of them were still in contact in private, and on rather good terms, it seemed? In that case, Wei Zhao surely would not leave Qiu Lingshan in the lurch?

"Simple logic." Wei Zhao smiled. Given Qiu Lingshan's temperament, such a move was hardly surprising. "What do you want with me?"

"Can you find her, or get her out?" Between Yang Huaijun and Wei Zhao there was no need for hypocritical pleasantries; Yang Huaijun spoke directly.

"I'll try." Wei Zhao felt a headache coming on. This Qiu Lingshan really knew how to stir up trouble; he was in for a busy time. At first Wei Zhao had not much wanted to involve himself in this affair, but since Yang Huaijun had asked, there was no reason for him to refuse.

"Thank you, Eagle." Yang Huaijun breathed a sigh of relief. Wei Zhao did not lightly make promises, but once given, he would certainly strive to keep them.

"Hah, let me hang up first. I need to think about how to go about this." Wei Zhao said nothing more and ended the call.

To find Qiu Lingshan now, the only way in was through An Liwen. It looked as though he really would have to go looking for An Liwen again! Whether the man cut out other people's kidneys had nothing to do with Wei Zhao; even if he knew, he would not go playing the righteous hero.

But now the matter concerned Qiu Lingshan, and Wei Zhao found this An Liwen rather distasteful besides — it was plain the young lady loathed him. So he would put himself out a little, and dispose of the man along the way.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Tang Zhi had caught the gist of the conversation from beside him, though not too clearly, and asked with some concern.

"Nothing much. A friend has gone missing, and I've been asked to help find her." Wei Zhao said, "Never mind her for now. Let me look at that wound on your head."

"It's almost healed already..." Tang Zhi was a little shy, her gaze evading Wei Zhao's. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

"Ha, not bad at all — no scars left behind. It would have been a shame if there were." Wei Zhao was quite pleased with his own medicine.

"And if there had been scars, would you still want me?" Tang Zhi was eager to know the answer.

"Your worry is quite unnecessary. Even if there were, they could be removed," Wei Zhao said.

"Oh..." Tang Zhi was somewhat disappointed; she had not heard the answer she wanted. She did not know why Wei Zhao liked her — whether it was her looks or something else. It was a very unsettling feeling.

But Wei Zhao did not much understand a girl's mind, and did not notice Tang Zhi's disappointment.

"By the way, how is the demolition of the shantytown coming along?" Wei Zhao asked.

"It has been halted for the time being. According to Liu Xinlan, there is no news, and many households are waiting to see how things play out..." Tang Zhi could not help finding it somewhat amusing as she said this. "They all believe the Qibing Building collapsed because of quality problems, so now they will not even trade for new apartments."

"Ha, then leave them be for now." Wei Zhao had little interest in whether Zhao Qibing's demolition went ahead or not, though when the time came he could look the man up and demand a bit of compensation.

"Why don't you go to school together with your employers?" In her heart, Tang Zhi remained very wary of Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu.

"Someone picks them up and drops them off," Wei Zhao said with a shrug.

"Oh, then how long do you have to keep at this?" Tang Zhi asked.

"I am not sure either. That depends on what my old man wants," Wei Zhao shook his head. "You seem to be quite hostile toward them?"

"I am not!" Tang Zhi refused to admit it.

When they reached the school, Wei Zhao and Tang Zhi parted at the door of the Senior Three, Class Nine classroom. Everyone at the school already knew about the relationship between Lin and Tang, so there was no need for Tang Zhi to avoid it deliberately anymore. Besides, the sudden arrival of Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu had made Tang Zhi all the more vigilant.

A woman's intuition told Tang Zhi that things were absolutely not as simple as Wei Zhao had said. Although Wei Zhao claimed they were merely his employers, that night their attitude had been nothing like that of one toward a bodyguard, or toward an employee.