The Art of Teasing - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

When Ye Ling received the call from Old Madam Zhang, she immediately realized something must have happened.

Old Madam Zhang said just one thing: "CEO Ye, I'm not free, we'll talk about dinner some other time," and hung up the phone.

She had seen Wen Zhengyu at noon.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. At noon, she had only seen Wen Zhengyu; she hadn't seen Wen Jing's car. At the time she'd been so busy being angry about Wen Zhengyu spending time alone with Qi Wei that she hadn't given it a second thought. But she ought to have remembered: even when Wen Zhengyu went out with her or with her older male cousins, Wen Jing always followed. Even that fishing trip—Wen Jing had followed all the way to the yacht dock, and it was only because it was a family gathering, and Wen Zhengyu's brother and her own bodyguards were there, that Wen Jing had stayed behind at the dock to wait.

If Wen Jing's car hadn't been following Wen Zhengyu, then Wen Zhengyu must have known where she was going; otherwise she wouldn't have been so calm—she would definitely have looked for someone or a car. Which meant Wen Zhengyu was now without anyone following to protect her.

Ye Ling immediately dialed Wen Zhengyu's number—and then the call from the traffic police came through. She took the call.

"Miss Wen's car was in an accident. It happened in the morning. A worker from the auto repair shop driving her car hit the sidewalk and killed two people. When we were reviewing the surveillance footage just now, we found that a cement mixer truck deliberately forced her car off the road. Oh, right—her bodyguard is still here with us."

"Understood, thank you." She paused, then added, "Next time, if anything happens concerning Wen Zhengyu, please notify me at once."

"Oh, all right. Oh, and by the way—I just heard the squad captain say that Miss Wen's car accident seems to involve intentional, targeted action. From the sound of it, someone wanted to kidnap her and set this whole thing up specifically to tie up her bodyguard. Our entire unit has been deployed to search for that cement truck. Two lives, after all."

Ye Ling said, "I understand, thank you." She ended the call. She was just about to phone Wen Zhengyu when she noticed two unread text messages from when she'd been on the phone earlier. They were from Wen Zhengyu: "I'm fine, I'm at Grandmother's house."

The second one was also from Wen Zhengyu: "Grandmother is furious right now, it's not convenient for me to talk on the phone."

Ye Ling looked at Wen Zhengyu's messages and let out a long breath of relief. She immediately phoned Dong Yuan. "Dong Yuan, right now, send people to Old Master Wen's place. Zheng Dongsheng has been driven to desperate measures."

Dong Yuan acknowledged at once.

Ye Ling called Old Master Wen to explain the situation clearly first, and only then told him that Dong Yuan would bring a few men over to take orders from him.

Old Master Wen, hearing that Zheng Dongsheng had now caused the deaths of two more people, also knew that at a time like this, anything could happen. He immediately replied, "Fine. Have your people come over." After hanging up, he instructed Zhan Cheng to raise the alert and to find people right away to protect Wen Zhengyu, adding, "You must only use people whose backgrounds are fully investigated and reliable. Once you've found them, bring them to see me first."

Once she had Old Master Wen's location arranged and sent it to Dong Yuan, Ye Ling contacted Lian Xin.

She couldn't get through to Lian Xin's phone; he was on another call.

Less than two minutes later, Lian Xin called back.

She and Lian Xin first pooled the information each of them had, saving themselves the trouble of having to dig for it all over again. Lian Xin told her that Zheng Dongsheng's men had been out tailing Wen Zhengyu since early morning. Wen Zhengyu only had Wen Jing with her, and she was always sending Wen Jing out to buy snacks or deliver pastries. Wen Jing, for her part, was a diligent person and often took advantage of times when Wen Zhengyu was in the studio and didn't need the car to go and have it washed. Zheng Dongsheng had found a cement mixer truck, and at the moment when Wen Jing was out by herself, they'd used the truck to tie up both Wen Jing and Wen Zhengyu's car. Wen Zhengyu taking a taxi on her own was not unusual—it had happened plenty of times. During her worst, most down-and-out period, Zheng Dongsheng had had her under tight surveillance, and he knew that if this young lady was short of a car, she would simply hail a cab on her own, standing by the roadside and flagging one down. So he'd made plans to intercept her when she was alone, either at the roadside or after she got into the cab.

Lian Xin, still unnerved, said, "Thank heaven she was with Qi Wei today."

Ye Ling too was trembling with fear. If Wen Zhengyu had fallen into Zheng Dongsheng's hands, whether she would live or die was impossible to say.

After exchanging information, the two of them discussed and planned their next moves.

Lian Xin ended the call with Ye Ling and only then saw the text message Wen Zhengyu had sent: "Grandfather isn't at home." He stared at the message for a long moment, for a full two seconds, and suddenly understood a little of that feeling the old lady had when she said Wen Zhengyu was a worry of a girl while at the same time doting on her beyond all reason. This girl had already brushed past death's door, and yet she still had the presence of mind to act like a little spy, sending messages to keep him in the loop.

If something like this happened to one of his brothers—any one of them—they would have alerted the brothers long before, and the brothers would have split up the work: one side collecting and securing all the evidence of Zheng Dongsheng's hand in this, while the other side led men out to hunt that bastard down, digging three feet deep if they had to.

Lian Xin sighed, first called to ask where his grandfather was, and then went to fetch the old gentleman.

He took a photo of Wen Zhengyu's message and sent it to their brothers' group chat.

The eldest, Lian Hui, surfaced and asked, "What's going on? Old Four, I just heard that Yu'er's car has been impounded by the traffic police."

Lian Xin sent a message: "It's not just the car that's been impounded—the person almost went missing too. That bastard Zheng set a trap and had people ready to kidnap her."

In an instant, every one of the brothers was stirred to the surface.

Lian Xin said, "I'm heading back first to face the old lady's artillery fire."

Lian Xi said, "Brother Xin, don't forget to pick up Grandfather."

Lian Xin realized that this one was just as much a source of worry.

Lian Ming asked, "Should we let Little Uncle know?"

Old Three, Lian Ye, sent a voice message: "Isn't that a damn stupid question."

Old Two, Lian Zhao, spoke up: "Stop messing around. Old Four, lay out the situation."

Lian Xin recounted the key points and said, "My people have already been dispatched, and Ye Ling's side is moving too. Your side, seal off every opening you can. I'm guessing he dared try to kidnap Yu'er because he's already mostly got his escape route arranged."

Eldest Brother Lian Hui asked, "Are you certain he's got no money left?"

Lian Xin said, "Certain. His accounts—both corporate and personal—are frozen. The cash and gold bars in his house were all taken away by the police. We've located two of his hidden safe houses. Two fake passports for fleeing the country were found, plus a few hundred thousand in cash and a bit of gold and jade jewelry—altogether worth a couple of million at most."

Lian Hui said, "Which means the money he has on hand right now isn't even enough for him to run. He's still got a gang of hired thugs to support, and without money that won't work. We need to assign more men to protect Grandmother's place. Old Four, send a few more men over to Old Man Wen's side and keep a discreet watch."

Lian Hui added, "Head back first and see Grandmother. Don't let the old lady get too upset. Later, after you come out, the rest of us will meet and talk in detail."

Old Two, Lian Zhao, said, "No need to come out. Old Four, get your tasks done first, then come back to Grandmother's tonight. We'll all be there. For anyone who has dinner plans or appointments this evening, postpone what you can; for those you can't, go early and come back early."

Everyone acknowledged, and some even said they'd head over right after work.

Old Three, Lian Ye, said, "Pull Yu'er into the group. What kind of solution is it to run and hide at Grandmother's when something happens?"

Lian Hui said, "Old Three, rein in that hot temper of yours for now."

The group notification showed that Kunlun Little Sprite had accepted Lian Xin's invitation to join the group.

Lian Xin said, "Yu'er, tell us what's going on on your side."

Wen Zhengyu laid out what had happened. She paused, then continued typing: "This Zheng Dongsheng—I'd only ever met him twice before. The first time was before Mr. Wen went bankrupt; he came to our house to discuss business with Mr. Wen. The second time was last year, when my family's house was being sold; he came looking for me once. I know almost nothing about his situation."

Old Three, Lian Ye, immediately dropped a curse word in the chat.

Wen Zhengyu: "…"

Old Three, Lian Ye: "Wasn't cursing at you."

Wen Zhengyu silently glanced at the group messages. Seeing that no one else was speaking, she put down her phone.

Old Master Wen's phone call came through.

Wen Zhengyu answered, hurriedly assuring the old gentleman that she was fine and that she was at Grandmother's place, that she would stay there tonight and not go back.

Old Master Wen said, "Stay at your grandmother's for a few days first. Ye Ling sent Dong Yuan over with some people, and I've already told Zhan Cheng to find a few more bodyguards. You don't need to worry about me here." He paused a few seconds, then went on, "Zheng Dongsheng now has blood on his hands. He's become a desperate man capable of anything. You must be extremely careful yourself. Until he's found, try to go out as little as possible."

Wen Zhengyu agreed. She realized the situation was more serious than she had imagined. After ending the call with Old Master Wen, she said to the old lady, "Grandmother, I'm worried about Grandfather. I'm going to call my Second Aunt."

The old lady said, "Go ahead."

Wen Zhengyu immediately called Wen Shishu.

Wen Shishu first asked where Wen Zhengyu was, whether she and Old Master Wen were all right. Once that was clear, she said, "All right, I've got it. For now, stay at your grandmother's. I'll call the old gentleman now."

Wen Zhengyu responded with an "Mm," and her second aunt hung up.

She hadn't been especially nervous before, but now, with the stir everyone was making, she was starting to feel a little tense.

Lian Xin came back, barely enough time to warm his seat, then rushed off again in a hurry.

Wen Zhengyu was shut in the study by the old lady, with orders to do some serious self-reflection.

Wen Zhengyu's mood was heavy and uneasy. She was a little frightened, but also a little unclear on what exactly she was supposed to be reflecting on. It certainly wasn't about her acting as a messenger for Lian Xin. Too low a sense of vigilance? She genuinely hadn't thought that a person she had met only three times in total would take such desperate, reckless ill intent toward her. If one could say that Zheng Dongsheng being jointly targeted by Ye Ling and Lian Xin was somewhat connected to her, then it was also true that Zheng Dongsheng had committed underhanded deeds himself, leaving himself open to exploitation, with interests that others could exploit to their own advantage.

After Ye Ling spoke with Lian Xin on the phone, she went to the Public Security Bureau. Once she saw that the police had already been dispatched to search for and arrest Zheng Dongsheng, she brought her bodyguards and headed to the Lian family home.

By the time she arrived at the Lian residence, it was exactly mealtime.

The situation was urgent, so there was no avoiding calling on them while they were eating. She rang the doorbell and stood waiting obediently outside with her people.

Before long, the gatekeeper told her to come in. She left her bodyguards outside and walked alone into the Lian family's old mansion.

A house servant led her to the parlor and served her tea.

The old lady and the old gentleman were dining in the dining room. She didn't see Wen Zhengyu.

Ye Ling accepted the tea and sent Wen Zhengyu a text: "Where are you?"

Wen Zhengyu replied: "At Grandmother's house."

Ye Ling said: "I don't see you."

Wen Zhengyu asked: "You've come to my grandmother's house?"

Ye Ling said: "Yes, I'm in the parlor." She sent another message: "Only see the two elders eating. Are you all right?"

Wen Zhengyu replied: "I'm in the study, doing self-reflection."

Ye Ling asked: "Have you eaten?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "No dinner tonight."

Ye Ling's first instinct was to bring Wen Zhengyu a meal. But here in the Lian household, if the old lady intended to let Wen Zhengyu go hungry, she really had no solution. She sent Wen Zhengyu a message: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lost my temper at you this morning." If she hadn't lashed out at Wen Zhengyu, then when the car trouble happened, Wen Zhengyu would have told her.

Wen Zhengyu replied: "It was a bit baffling."

Ye Ling felt a little heartache. She was silent for a few seconds, then asked Wen Zhengyu: "You must have been frightened?"

Wen Zhengyu said: "I wasn't before, but now I'm a bit."

Ye Ling: "…" That reaction time…

Wen Zhengyu then texted Ye Ling again: "What are you here at my grandmother's for?"

Ye Ling stared blankly for a moment, then sent a message: "To apologize."

Wen Zhengyu said: "Zheng Dongsheng is the one who's problematic. It's got nothing to do with you."

Ye Ling froze, staring at the message for a long time, before letting out a sigh full of complicated emotions.

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