Ying Chen seemed to see through Min Ziqiong's thoughts from behind the door and explained, "The 'Autumn Hair Enters the Ear' technique only activates when I intend to use it. It doesn't work actively at other times."
Hearing this, Min Ziqiong breathed a sigh of relief.
That's good then.
But immediately, a trace of embarrassment flashed across her face.
What if... Ying Chen, on a whim one day, decided to probe her private matters?
"How could Mr. Ying be that kind of person? Min Ziqiong, Min Ziqiong, you have received such great kindness from Mr. Ying, yet you slander him. You deserve to die!"
In the next second, Min Ziqiong cursed herself in her heart, wishing she could slap herself.
She didn't even bother to bid farewell and fled as if escaping, filled with guilt.
Back at the villa entrance.
Min Ziqiong glanced at her expectant parents and sighed inwardly, "Dad, Mom, Mr. Ying said..."
"No."
"Actually, you really don't need to do this. I am truly innocent with Mr. Ying, and we didn't kidnap Xiao Qing. How can I make you believe me?"
Min Ziqiong's parents, who were full of expectations moments ago, instantly had their faces darken like water.
Especially Min Ziqiong's mother, her eyes looked as if she could devour Min Ziqiong, and she said hatefully, "I knew I couldn't count on you! What Mr. Ying, Young Master Ying, you call him so intimately! Isn't he just a lackey? And you actually think you're the owner of the villa?"
"Yes, I know. The owner of this villa is even more distinguished than Yan Yang, which is why even Yan Yang has to pander to you out of respect for the owner! But that doesn't mean you can cover the sky with one hand!"
"Pah, as expected, the richer they are, the more bottomless they are! Living in a villa worth billions, yet still extorting one hundred million from humble families like us!"
"Enough, I don't want to say any more unnecessary words. From this day forward, our mother-daughter relationship is severed! You can have this snuff bottle, we won't sell it!"
"If you don't want it, there are plenty of people who do!"
"Old man, let's go!"
With that, Min Ziqiong's mother turned and walked down the mountain.
Min Ziqiong's father looked at the two women, torn. One was his wife of many years, the other his own daughter.
He didn't want to lose either of them.
Finally, he sighed heavily and said, "Xiao Qiong, tell me honestly, what is your relationship with the owner of this villa? Can you actually speak to him? If you can, ask him to release your brother!"
Even he believed that there was another owner of this villa, and it was a super-powerful figure far more distinguished than Yan Yang.
Facing such a super-powerful figure, they wouldn't dare call the police. The only remaining way out was to humble themselves and beg.
"Dad, what I said was true... Xiao Qing didn't come home not because he was kidnapped, but because he was being treated for his injuries!" Min Ziqiong said helplessly.
However, the entire sentence, when it reached Min Ziqiong's father's ears, only left the last two words: "treated for injuries."
"What? Xiao Qing was beaten? Is he seriously injured? Is it serious?"
"Tell the mastermind that we will pay the full ransom within two days and make sure they don't hurt Xiao Qing anymore!"
Min Ziqiong's father said anxiously.
Then, without looking back, he hurried after Min Ziqiong's mother.
As he chased, he shouted, "Old woman, hurry! Find someone to sell the snuff bottle! Xiao Qing is over there... he's been injured!"
"..." A deep sense of despair flashed in Min Ziqiong's eyes.
She was utterly hopeless.
She no longer wanted to explain the kidnapping to her parents!
What she thought could be explained in a few words had only deepened the misunderstanding!
At this moment, Min Ziqiong's only thought was: Let it all be destroyed, I'm tired!
...
Night fell.
The Min family.
Min Ziqiong's parents paced back and forth in the living room like two ants on a hot pan.
"I say, old man, has anyone contacted you yet?"
"No. Don't worry, it's probably only been a little while since the message was sent out, and many people haven't seen it yet."
They had discreetly spread the word about selling the snuff bottle through friends.
They wanted to see if any independent collectors would be interested in the snuff bottle and make an offer to buy it.
However, it had been over two hours since the message was sent out, and not a single person had contacted them.
Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, Min Ziqiong's father's phone rang.
Min Ziqiong's father quickly picked up his phone to check.
But in the next second, he angrily raised his phone and smashed it onto the sofa.
"A bunch of jackals preying on the weak! I wasn't expecting them to offer thirty million, even ten million would have been fine! But they only offered four million!"
"They said that since the snuff bottle failed to sell at auction for five million, its value is below five million, and out of friendship, they're willing to buy it for four million..."
"Damn it, I really want to slap them! Don't they have any shame at all?"
Listening to Min Ziqiong's father's complaints, Min Ziqiong's mother's expression also turned from sunny to overcast.
She slumped onto the sofa, her face full of despair, "In times of crisis, you truly see that 'friends' are all just fair-weather friends, not a single one is sincere!"
"I hope these bastards never fall on hard times, or I'll make them pay!"
But no matter how much she threatened, it didn't solve any problems.
If the snuff bottle couldn't be sold, they couldn't gather one hundred million; if they couldn't gather one hundred million, Min Ziqing couldn't be saved.
The living room fell into a deathly silence.
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps suddenly sounded from the main entrance.
At the same time, a mocking voice drifted from afar, "I heard you're trying to sell a snuff bottle? Tsk tsk, have you fallen to this point? How pathetic."
Hearing this, Min Ziqiong's father's already unvented anger surged.
He picked up a teapot from the table and walked out.
You bastard, mocking them at a time like this!
If he didn't crack this guy's head open today, he wouldn't be surnamed Min!
However, just as he reached the door, he heard the mocking voice again, "Fifty million, I'll buy it."
Min Ziqiong's father's raging anger instantly froze, and then vanished without a trace.
Upon hearing this, Min Ziqiong's mother also jumped up from the sofa, her face full of surprise, and rushed towards the door.
"Are you serious?"
"Which young master are you, to be so generous? Please excuse our lack of proper reception."
But when Min Ziqiong's mother stepped into the courtyard and saw the person speaking, she was struck dumb, frozen in place.
Min Ziqiong's father's face also changed drastically. He raised the teapot he had just put down again, pointed it at the speaker, and stammered, "You... you... are you human or ghost?"
"Let me tell you, this teapot of mine is made of cinnabar, specifically to counter malevolent spirits! Don't you try to cause trouble!"
The speaker chuckled, "I've heard of Zisha teapots, but never of cinnabar teapots. I imagine using such a teapot would shorten your life by ten years?"
"Alright, alright, don't be so scared. Relax, I'm human, not a ghost. I'm here specifically to help you solve your troubles!"