On the phone, Meng Jingwei said, "Shi Ran returned to Lancheng, didn't she? Last night, she felt unwell and was hospitalized. This afternoon, Shi Ran left the hospital, and Tang Si's people were following her car closely. Later, they lost track of it. Tang Si's subordinates said they saw someone who seemed to be tracking Shi Ran's car. Tang Si can't reach her now, so something must have happened."
She briefly explained the situation and added, "Tang Si has already sent people to search for Shi Ran's whereabouts. If I'm not mistaken, it should be related to the Zhao family."
In Lancheng, Shi Ran had no one to offend except Zhao Wuyan. If Shi Ran met with any accident, the only suspects would be Zhao Wuyan and Huo Xiaohua.
"First, take Old Han to the police station and have him check the surveillance footage to see where Shi Ran's car disappeared," Lu Yanming instructed Meng Jingwei.
"Okay." Before Meng Jingwei could reply, Han Yu interjected, "I'll go to the police station first. Keep in touch."
"That old fogey Huo Xiaohua has been quite idle lately," Lu Yanming's tone on the phone was displeased. Tang Si had gone to see him that morning, and he had only formulated preliminary plans for the day. He hadn't expected Huo Xiaohua to be so impatient.
Then, Meng Jingwei heard Shen Liannuo on the other end say, "Take care of him." Direct and violent. Shen Liannuo would never use words if actions could suffice.
"That's it for now. After Jingwei takes Old Han to the police station, she should come and meet us." With that, Lu Yanming hung up the phone.
...
On the outskirts of the city, in a derelict building.
The rain was incessant, and the abandoned building was exceptionally damp and cold. Shi Ran, who was pregnant, was dragged inside, along with Yuan Wei. The first floor had a large iron door, which had been disused for years. The door was rusty, and it creaked with a dreadful sound when opened, accompanied by the chilling wind, adding a strange aura.
"Get in."
After the door opened, Shi Ran and Yuan Wei were shoved inside. Shi Ran was pregnant and couldn't afford to fall. Yuan Wei saw her stumble a few times and quickly stepped forward to support her, "Ranran, be careful." He took a step forward and caught Shi Ran as she tottered, and she fell into his arms.
Clap, clap, clap—!
Suddenly, someone applauded and laughed heartily. "How affectionate. Shi Ran, are you aware that you're so close to other men, Fourth Card?" Zhao Wuyan emerged from somewhere, clapping her hands, her laughter echoing through the building, chillingly.
"Zhao Wuyan? Is that you?!" Seeing it was Zhao Wuyan, Yuan Wei roared with anger. "What do you want?"
Shi Ran pushed herself up with Yuan Wei's arm, her icy gaze fixed on Zhao Wuyan. She was filled with rage, but more so with the helplessness of an overwhelming disparity in strength. From the moment she was captured, she knew Zhao Wuyan was the one who had kidnapped her, but what could she do? Even knowing who the perpetrator was, she was powerless to change the situation.
"Shut up, you have no right to speak here!" Zhao Wuyan shot a cold glare at Yuan Wei, then turned her attention back to Shi Ran, walking towards her slowly. "Shi Ran, you are truly despicable, entangling yourself with Tang Si while getting involved with Yuan Wei!"
Shi Ran pursed her lips, raising her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "That's my business, and it has nothing to do with you." She calmed her emotions and asked, "What exactly do you want by capturing me?"
Zhao Wuyan narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on Shi Ran's abdomen. Because she was carrying triplets, her pregnant belly was already very prominent. Coupled with the warming weather and her increasingly thin clothing, it was impossible to hide her bulging stomach.