Shen Hui had been waiting for Shen Li'an to arrive, but he was nowhere to be found despite repeated calls.
However, the moment Shen Hui wished Shen Li'an would not come, Shen Li'an arrived immediately.
What a coincidence!
Of course, "arrived immediately" was just a figure of speech. Shen Li'an hadn't come by horse; he had arrived by private jet.
Due to the urgency, Shen Li'an hadn't had time to gather his people. He was accompanied only by his personal secretary.
The two burst into Shen Hui's office. One, wearing a gray jacket and slightly hunched, with narrow eyes, was Shen Li'an's secretary.
The other, wearing black-rimmed glasses and with silver hair, was Shen Li'an himself.
When he saw his nephew's severed fingers scattered on the floor, his pupils visibly constricted, but then they returned to normal.
Although Shen Li'an was flustered by his nephew's situation, he maintained a calm exterior, showing no outward signs of distress. He exuded an aura of natural authority.
"Second Uncle..."
Seeing Shen Li'an, Shen Hui weakly called out, his eyes filled with despair and a complex expression.
He had hoped his second uncle would come sooner, but his uncle had arrived at the worst possible moment.
More importantly, his uncle hadn't brought any backup. What use was just a secretary?
Shen Hui's eyes were filled with despair. He stopped struggling, resigned to his fate. Whether it was to be killed or tortured, he wished for a quick end.
"Director Shen!"
Upon seeing Shen Li'an, Mayor Mo immediately stepped forward, his face etched with shame. "I'm sorry, Director Shen. I've done all I could."
Shen Li'an glanced at the severely injured yamen runners and quickly assessed the situation.
He waved his hand, signaling Mayor Mo to say no more, and said calmly, "You all may leave now."
Mayor Mo knew he couldn't help by staying, so he nodded. Before leaving, he cautioned, "Director Shen, please be careful."
Director Shen smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Everyone left, including Director Shen's secretary. The large office was left with only Chen Xiao and the other three.
Facing a high-ranking official like a provincial director, Wu Feier dared not even breathe loudly. Even though he had only glanced at her upon entering, the immense pressure had not dissipated.
"I heard you wanted to confront me?"
Director Shen's gaze fell on Chen Xiao, and he asked casually.
Chen Xiao nodded. "That's right. I only have one question for you."
"Let's not play any of those frivolous games," Director Shen waved his hand. "Just say it. Who sent you? What is your objective? What are your conditions?"
Director Shen's seemingly all-knowing demeanor completely confused Chen Xiao.
"No one sent me, and I have no conditions," Chen Xiao replied truthfully.
"No one sent you? And you have no conditions?" Director Shen sneered. "Do you really think I'll believe you when you say that? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"
"If you weren't instigated by someone, would you dare to inflict such grievous harm on my family?"
"Hurry up, let's not waste time with pointless chatter. I'm not asking who instructed you. Just state your conditions. What do you want? Or rather, what do you want me to do to make you release Hui'er?" Director Shen asked in a deep voice, his confidence absolute, as if his words were irrefutable truth.
Chen Xiao sighed helplessly. He finally understood. Director Shen mistook him for some kind of hired assassin, a pawn of his political rivals.
"Shen Li'an, I am not the kind of person you think I am. I asked you to come here simply to ask you one thing," Chen Xiao said calmly.
Director Shen frowned. Still playing games?
"Very well. Since you are so insistent on this question, then ask it." Director Shen maintained his air of having everything under control.
"I ask you, are you aware of Shen Hui's actions?" Chen Xiao's question was simple, and it was the only one.
"Which action are you referring to?" Director Shen asked. "What do you know?"
"Coercion and seduction, the defilement of women!" Chen Xiao said sternly. This was only what he knew of Shen Hui's crimes, and judging by Director Shen's demeanor, Shen Hui must have committed other illegal acts.
"Is that all?" Director Shen was slightly taken aback by Chen Xiao's question.
"I ask you, are you aware!" Chen Xiao stared into Director Shen's eyes and asked coldly.
"What if I know? What if I don't?" Director Shen took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and pulled one out. He lit it and took a puff, sneering, "You don't actually think that by relying on something like this, you can bring down a provincial director, do you? Who is behind you? How could they come up with such a foolish plan?" To this day, Director Shen still believed this was merely an attack from his political opponents.
"I ask you, are you aware!" Chen Xiao's patience was wearing thin. He wanted to go home for dumplings and didn't want to waste his time on this trivial matter.
"I know," Director Shen nodded and said calmly. "Shen Hui is my nephew. I naturally know what he does. But if you think you can bring me down with such a small matter, then you are gravely mistaken."
"You're still young, it seems you have no idea what the world of politics is like!" Director Shen exhaled a smoke ring, and behind the swirling mist, the contempt in his eyes grew even stronger.
"Very good. This is exactly what I wanted to hear from you." Chen Xiao sneered. "Shen Li'an, you knew about your nephew's wicked deeds and not only let him continue but also allowed him to come to Jiangcheng Hospital to harm more people. I'm telling you, Jiangcheng Hospital is a place for saving lives and healing the wounded, not a den of iniquity."
"Your actions are unworthy of being human, let alone a parent of a province!"
Upon hearing this, Director Shen burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha! Young man, are you insane? Or is your brain not fully developed? When did it become your place, a nobody like you, to judge whether I am fit to be a parent of a province?"
"You said you only had one question for me, and I've answered it cooperatively. So now, this farce should end!"
"Quickly release my nephew. Don't offer any futile resistance. I'll make sure you die a swift death!" Director Shen's eyes gradually darkened. He still hadn't figured out why this young man was doing all this.
He didn't mention any conditions, so why the kidnapping? What was the point? What benefit did it bring him?
"Heh, when did I ever say I would release him?" Chen Xiao retorted with a cold smile.
"What else do you want?" Shen Li'an's brows furrowed even deeper, a hint of confusion in his gaze.
"I am here to uphold justice!" Chen Xiao brought his palm down. Shen Hui was freed from his suffering, dying silently and without any pain.