Chapter 260 - 260: 260
(I've got a fever with a touch of the flu. I went for an IV drip this morning so the update is a bit late. I apologize to everyone here.)
Zhao Chengshuang stood at the doorway, almost certain that this matter was related to Boss Lin. He really wanted to go in and ask what was going on with Boss Lin. However, the Lin family members were blocking his way, adamantly refusing to let him in, and he was powerless to enter.
Pacing back and forth at the entrance, Zhao Chengshuang was contemplating how to get inside when he suddenly saw a man standing despondently in the corridor in the distance. This man was Lin Zhen Nan, the successful businessman who controlled the largest group in Shenchuan City, now seemingly overtaken by a sense of mournful loss.
Zhao Chengshuang wheeled his chair over and said in a low voice, "Uncle?"
Lin Zhen Nan looked up at Zhao Chengshuang and said, "Chengshuang, why are you here? You shouldn't be meeting with the Lin family members now."
"I know." Zhao Chengshuang said, "But this matter involves Ye Zi, and I must clear up what exactly happened. Uncle, please let me in. I want to ask Tianhao what really happened, why Ye Zi would want to kill him?"
Lin Zhen Nan looked at the Lin family members in the ward, sighed, and said, "Chengshuang, it's not that I don't want to let you in. It's just that what I say doesn't carry much weight anymore."
"Why?" Zhao Chengshuang was taken aback. Lin Zhen Nan was the Lin family head. Within the Lin family, his authority was second only to Old Lady Lin.
Lin Zhen Nan sighed deeply, not explaining the reason, feeling rather helpless himself. In truth, ever since Lin Yashi had been kidnapped by He Ziqiang, the Lin family had been filled with hostility towards Ye Qing. It was he who had testified that Ye Qing was not a bad person, and for this, he had nearly fallen out with everyone in the Lin family. They were already somewhat dissatisfied with him.
This time, Old Lady Lin ordered him to drive Ye Qing out of Shenchuan City, but he hadn't complied. Instead, he'd just assured the family that Ye Qing would never come close to the Lin family again. However, he never expected that less than two days after making this promise, Ye Qing would storm into the Lin household and injure so many people.
Under these circumstances, the promise he had made before turned into a handle for Lin family members to criticize him with.
Although Lin Zhen Nan was the head of Lin Corporation, in fact, a family business like Lin Corporation was actually owned by the entire family. On the issue of Ye Qing, Lin Zhen Nan had almost confronted all the Lin family members; even Old Lady Lin was very dissatisfied with his approach.
The result was predictable; now his voice in the Lin household was entirely disregarded, and there were even discussions about replacing him as the chairman of Lin Corporation.
Lin Zhen Nan's expression was downcast, not because he was about to be ousted by the family, and not because of the Lin family's misunderstanding of him. He just couldn't believe that after doing so much for the family, this was his reward.
He couldn't understand how, from a certain point onward, the family had become like this. Only concerned with their own interests, the family members paid no heed to the life and death of others. This disregard of his kin for others was the real reason for his heartache.
Seeing the expression on Lin Zhen Nan's face, Zhao Chengshuang could more or less guess the reason. He sighed softly and said, "Uncle, I don't know about you, but I absolutely trust Ye Zi. He is not a bad person!"
"He is not a bad person, but he's too impulsive!" Lin Zhen Nan shook his head and said, "Regardless, couldn't matters be discussed and resolved slowly? Why resort to such extreme actions, leading to this outcome? What do you think should be done now?"
Zhao Chengshuang fell silent; Ye Qing had really gone too far this time, daring to burst into a major family like the Lin family. It wasn't just a citywide manhunt for him—if Old Lady Lin insisted on taking things further, the provincial office might not withstand the pressure and might also start searching for Ye Qing. The influence and financial power of the Lin family were just too strong!
Just as the two of them were in silence, Lin Zhen Nan's mobile phone suddenly rang. He answered the call, and after just a few words, his expression changed dramatically, and he exclaimed urgently, "Where are you now? Wait there; I'll be right back. Also, call the police immediately!"
Lin Zhen Nan put down his phone, got up, and started running, looking very anxious. Zhao Chengshuang asked in surprise, "Uncle, what's happened?"
"Your aunt has been kidnapped!" Lin Zhen Nan threw back the words and hurried off.
"Follow him!" Zhao Chengshuang patted the policeman pushing his wheelchair and asked as they chased, "Where's aunt? How was she kidnapped? Who kidnapped her?"
As Lin Zhen Nan ran, he said, "She's hospitalized, but not here; she's in the ICU. According to what they said there, it should be He Ziqiang who kidnapped her!"
"He Ziqiang?" Zhao Chengshuang's eyes widened at the name of the notorious international thief. The police throughout the city were looking for him, and yet he dared to enter the hospital to kidnap Lin Yashi—what madness!
However, hearing He Ziqiang's name, Zhao Chengshuang also breathed a sigh of relief. He had really feared that Ye Qing, in a fit of madness, had taken such a drastic step. But now it seemed that his worries had been unnecessary.
Running with Lin Zhen Nan to rejoin the Lin family members, Lin Zhen Nan mentioned Lin Yashi had been kidnapped, and the Lin family's first reaction was to blame Ye Qing, with some even clamoring to kill Ye Qing outright.
"The one who kidnapped Yashi is not Ye Qing; it's He Ziqiang!" Lin Zhen Nan said in a stern voice.
"So what if it's He Ziqiang?" Lin Yaqing angrily said, "Isn't it obvious? Ye Qing must be in cahoots with He Ziqiang, staging this 'feint to the east, strike to the west' act. First, they had Ye Qing make trouble at our Lin household to draw our attention here. With fewer people around Yashi, He Ziqiang then kidnapped her. These two have clearly been working together."
"Lin Yaqing, don't make groundless accusations!" Zhao Chengshuang said indignantly, "Ye Zi would never do such a thing!"
"Hmph, you can know the face but not the heart. Zhao Chengshuang, you were deceived by his facade, but he'll never fool us Lin family!" Lin Yaqing said coldly, "The more seemingly loyal a person is, often the more conniving they are. This Ye Qing might very well be the mastermind behind this, even He Ziqiang could be working for him."
Zhao Chengshuang angrily said, "What evidence do you have to say that!"
Lin Yaqing replied, "Do we still need evidence for something you can guess with your toes? What evidence is needed?"
Zhao Chengshuang argued furiously, "Without evidence, all you're doing is slander. I'm telling you, falsely accusing someone also has legal consequences."
Lin Yaqing glanced at Zhao Chengshuang with disdain and said, "Zhao Chengshuang, spare me your talk about legal responsibilities. Do you really think..."
"Do you even have time to argue at this point?" Suddenly, a calm voice interrupted Lin Yaqing.
Everyone turned to look, and the speaker was a beautiful woman, none other than Ou Keren, who had come with Zhao Chengshuang. She had followed Chengshuang all the way without saying a word until this moment.
"Shouldn't you be more concerned about figuring out how to save the person from your family right now?" Ou Keren said softly, "Instead of bickering, you should quickly go to the scene to see, perhaps you might find some clues."
Zhao Chengshuang nodded immediately and said, "Miss Ou is right, let's go to the scene quickly."
Lin Yaqing cast an annoyed glance at Ou Keren and said, "Who is this? This is the Lin family's affair, is it any of your business? Zhao Chengshuang, are all the women you find lately this rude?"
Ou Keren's expression turned slightly cold, while Zhao Chengshuang glared and said angrily, "She is a special police officer sent by Xiangjiang for official duties in Shenchuan City. Lin Yaqing, watch your words."
"Xiangjiang Special Police?" Lin Yaqing was taken aback and reined in her attitude significantly.
Lin Zhen Nan had already taken a few people to the scene. By the time Zhao Chengshuang and the others arrived, the police team was also there. Given the involvement of He Ziqiang, Guan Haochen was personally leading the team, and was already directing a search for clues and evidence in the hospital room.
Zhao Chengshuang attempted to enter to have a look, but was stopped by the officers brought from the provincial office by Guan Haochen.
"You are no longer a police officer; you have no right to enter!" one man coldly stated.
Zhao Chengshuang was annoyed, but truly powerless against these men, and could only watch anxiously from outside.
"Yashi, my daughter, why must your fate be so cruel?" Old Lady Lin also arrived, gazing at the empty hospital bed and finally couldn't hold back her tears, "You're already in such a state, why can't they let you be? What exactly do these bandits want? If it's money, just say so directly. Why do they have to harm my child!"
Lin Zhen Nan stood in the hospital room with his brows furrowed tightly; looking at Guan Haochen, who was leading the team, he said sternly, "Why not dispatch people to pursue the kidnappers simultaneously? They just took her; surely they can't be too far away!"
Guan Haochen responded, "Our police operations follow certain rules and plans. Mr. Lin, I understand you are anxious, but please don't interfere with our criminal investigation procedures!"
"What investigation procedures? What rules and plans!" Lin Zhen Nan shouted angrily, "If my sister is missing even a strand of hair, I won't let any of you off!"
"Mr. Lin, I'd appreciate if you'd watch your language," Guan Haochen snorted, "We are the police, we haven't done anything wrong, and everything is following proper criminal procedure. Don't try to disrupt our case-solving, and don't use threats. Rescuing the victim is our duty, but no one can guarantee a perfect outcome. So, your threats are useless!"
"Why all this nonsense!" Old Lady Lin banged her walking stick forcefully, "Just go save her quickly. Yashi is already in such a bad state, and now taken by these criminals, who knows what suffering she's enduring?"
Guan Haochen said, "I'm arranging for people to pursue as we speak, Old Lady Lin, don't worry, I believe we will have news soon."
"How soon is 'soon'?" the old lady asked anxiously, "How long exactly will it take to bring my daughter back?"
Guan Haochen, "Under normal circumstances, it should take about three days to find her."
"Three days?" Old Lady Lin almost fainted. The last time Lin Yashi was abducted, it took less than twelve hours, and she nearly lost her life. Now with three days, what would happen?
Zhao Chengshuang was also extremely anxious, rubbing his hands together and mumbling softly, "If Ye Zi were here, that would be great!"