Until evening, Qin Tianyi's follow-up text messages did not arrive. Just as he thought Qin Tianyi wouldn't message him again today, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed the dedicated number Qin Tianyi used to contact him.
After ringing a few times, Su Kangxi answered, his tone obsequious. "Hello, this is Xiao Chen from Pengcheng Wealth Management. Are you looking for consultation on fund investments or financial management?"
Upon hearing the voice on the other end, Lu Yuanhong said nothing. He held the phone for a few seconds and then hung up directly.
A Mei, who was nearby, overheard. "Is that a sales call for investment and financial management? Is A Ban investing in wealth management? Saving up for his wife?"
"But he adamantly denies that phone card is his," Lu Yuanhong said thoughtfully.
A Mei smiled and said casually, "I actually think that A Nan is more like a mole than A Ban. Isn't it possible he's framing him?"
Lu Yuanhong shot her a glance. "You seem quite concerned about A Ban, aren't you? Perhaps you're unhappy that he hasn't shown any interest in you."
"How could that be? I was reluctant when you asked me to test him," A Mei clarified, distancing herself. "Anyway, whoever among those two is the mole, once they're dealt with, everything will be fine."
Lu Yuanhong stood up and, still vigorous, hoisted her onto his shoulder. He patted her buttocks firmly and said, "You truly are my woman!" He then carried her back to the bedroom.
...
Su Kangxi immediately knew something had happened to Qin Tianyi. He quickly contacted his colleagues at the police station and changed the registered name of the phone card he was currently using to someone named Chen, fabricating a background working for a financial management company to prevent any inquiries.
It seemed Qin Tianyi was indeed in trouble. Their contact phone card had likely been discovered. He wondered if Qin Tianyi's life was in danger.
Su Kangxi felt that the interrogation of the factory workers they had apprehended could not stop. They needed to conduct a surprise interrogation overnight to find a breakthrough. As long as one of them confessed about Lu Yuanhong, the matter would become much easier.
He silently reread the last message from Qin Tianyi. It also mentioned that Lu Yuanhong would be receiving a batch of illegal raw materials in Lancheng soon, a matter that also needed close monitoring.
Su Kangxi was extremely worried about Qin Tianyi's current predicament but couldn't tell anyone, especially Xiao Anjing and Ya Nan.
However, besides Qin Tianyi, there were no other undercover agents or informants around Lu Yuanhong. No one could help Qin Tianyi; he could only rely on himself to overcome the danger.
...
As soon as Qin Tianyi was brought into the car, his eyes were covered with a black cloth. He had no idea where he was.
His hands were bound behind his back, and they had tied him with a rope, hanging him upside down from a roof beam.
He could tell the space was high and empty all around. The windows for ventilation were sealed, with only a few small holes allowing light to filter through. It was likely a废弃的仓库 (abandoned warehouse).
Directly below his head was a large iron bucket filled with water. Lu Yuanhong had personally interrogated him earlier, making his subordinates submerge his entire head into the bucket, pulling him out only when he felt he was drowning.
Before he could even catch his breath, they demanded to know if he was a mole. His answer remained a consistent denial, and he refused to admit the phone card was his.
Lu Yuanhong had repeatedly dunked him into the water bucket more than ten times. He had lost almost all his strength, choked on a lot of water, but refused to yield.
Lu Yuanhong seemed to have tired himself out and instructed his subordinates to keep a close watch on him before leaving.
He guessed Lu Yuanhong had gone back to rest and would continue tomorrow.
Under Lu Yuanhong's nose, A Nan had found that phone card. Even if he died denying it, it would be difficult to make Lu Yuanhong believe him. He felt that this time, he wouldn't survive to reunite with Susu.
The men responsible for guarding him were eating and drinking nearby. He remained hanging upside down. The clothes he was wearing were damp and almost dry from the air, and all the blood in his body was flowing backward, rushing to his brain. He felt dizzy and unsure how much longer he could hold on.
After they finished eating and drinking, they started playing cards with bets, making a lot of noise.
Just as Qin Tianyi felt he was about to pass out from exhaustion, A Nan suddenly threw down a hand of cards and walked towards him resentfully. "Mr. Lu only made him soak in water, wash his head. It's nothing, he's being too kind to him. Why don't we play something more stimulating while Mr. Lu is away? Maybe he'll confess everything."
The person beside A Nan asked, "Brother Nan, what stimulating game do you want to play?"
A Nan smiled and said, "Let him down. We'll play Truth or Dare."
Someone asked, "How do we play?"
A Nan waved his hand and said, "Let go!"
Someone immediately released the other end of the rope holding Qin Tianyi. Qin Tianyi plummeted to the ground headfirst, feeling a sharp pain as his neck twisted.
He forced himself to stay conscious and struggled on the ground to flip himself over. He said to A Nan, "You scoundrel, if you have the guts, just kill me!"
A Nan squatted down and looked at him with a smile. "Unless you admit you're a mole, I'll make your death quick."
Qin Tianyi, already weak all over, his hands still bound behind him, could only widen his eyes and glare at A Nan. "You know yourself who the mole is!"
A Nan stared back at him fiercely and said to the others, "Give me the revolver."
The person beside him hesitated. "Brother Nan, Mr. Lu didn't say he wanted him dead."
"Give it to me!" A Nan knew he himself wasn't the mole, so it must be this A Ban. But A Ban refused to admit it. If Mr. Lu decided it was him, wouldn't he be wrongly accused and become a scapegoat?
He now hated the A Ban in front of him!
The person beside him handed over the revolver. He opened the cylinder, removed all the bullets, leaving only one inside. Then, he closed the cylinder, spun it casually, and pressed it against Qin Tianyi's head.
"This revolver can hold six bullets, meaning a one-in-six chance. Let's see how lucky you are," he said, then cleanly pulled the trigger.
There was only a click. Qin Tianyi trembled all over but didn't frown, knowing he hadn't been shot in the head.
A Nan burst into laughter. "You're lucky. You didn't get hit this time, but you've used up one chance. I wonder if you'll be as lucky when I pull the trigger again?"
Qin Tianyi angrily said, "Stop playing these tricks. If you have the guts, just shoot me!"
"You're scared, aren't you?" A Nan's laughter grew louder. He slid the revolver across Qin Tianyi's face and asked, "Tell me, which police force sent you? I suspect it's the Lancheng police. You're from Lancheng, so how did you get close to Brother Kun Sang?"
Qin Tianyi closed his eyes and said weakly, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You're still stubborn. Then let's continue the dare." Saying this, A Nan pressed the revolver to his temple again, preparing to pull the trigger a second time.