During Qin He's visit to Shen Yilin, Shen Yicong remained by her side, attentive to her every need.
As soon as she was about to sit down, Shen Yicong immediately pulled a chair over for her.
After Qin He sat down, Shen Yilin on the hospital bed hesitated, "Sister, I've already heard about my condition from my brother. It's stomach cancer, and it's probably not curable, is it?"
Qin He's heart ached. She reached out and clasped Shen Yilin's hand on the bed. "Yilin, don't think too much about it for now. Your sister will do her best."
Shen Yilin lowered his gaze, looking at the hand holding his, his heart pounding.
No matter what, it was worth it for his sister to treat him so gently. Although he knew it would surely delay her time, since his life might be nearing its end, he decided to be greedy one last time.
Shen Yilin squeezed Qin He's hand back. "Sister, thank you for taking care of me here."
Qin He smiled. "It's nothing. Since you're awake now, we can do those few tests you couldn't before. Can you stand up now?"
Shen Yilin tried to get out of bed and stand, but he had been lying down for too long and lacked the strength. His legs went soft after getting out of bed, and Shen Yicong quickly steadied him by his arm.
The three of them went to the medical equipment room. Qin He completed the examination for Shen Yilin, then returned him to his bed. After staying for a while, she left the ward.
Shen Yicong followed closely behind her.
After the ward door closed, they stood in the hallway.
Shen Yicong turned to her, his expression indifferent, a complete change from how he was in the ward.
Qin He gave him a sarcastic glance and turned to leave.
Shen Yicong followed her and, as they walked out of the hallway, suddenly asked, "The medical equipment you had me specially transport from Qingcheng was not used in the examination just now."
Qin He's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Shen Yicong to notice such a detail.
"That medical equipment is for research on drugs; it has nothing to do with the examination."
As they spoke, they reached the living room.
Qin He glanced at the grandfather clock in the living room. "It's past five o'clock. I'll go back to rest after dinner. Is there anything else, Mr. Shen?"
"Go ahead."
Qin He entered the dining room, finished her dinner, and returned to her bedroom.
As usual, she took clean clothes into the bathroom.
In the bathroom, Qin He took a few deep breaths and checked the bathroom again. After confirming there were no surveillance devices anywhere, she cautiously approached the toilet.
This villa must have been built quite some time ago, with a traditional toilet tank. She opened the tank and retrieved a sealed bag from inside. The bag contained the "phone" she had previously assembled.
It looked like a circuit board, with many wires and other circuit boards connected to it.
Qin He fumbled at her cuff and took out a chip. The chip had clear, gleaming golden electrical lines.
All the tools should be ready. Qin He began assembling it carefully.
She had to manage her time well because there was surveillance in the bedroom. Her showers usually lasted about half an hour. If she exceeded that time, Qin He worried Shen Yicong would become suspicious.
Half an hour later, Qin He held the circuit board, a flicker of excitement in her eyes.
It was done. The phone was basically complete!
Although its appearance was quite peculiar.
Qin He held a wire and gently touched a connected chip.
This spot represented the digit one.
Soon, she dialed Gu Qichen's phone number.
However, since the signal was taken from the medical equipment, her phone essentially stole mobile network access and had no number.
This meant she could only make calls but not receive them. Furthermore, because Qin He could only get the electronic components, the call time was limited to about ten seconds.
Without some hardware for receiving audio, she could only speak and not hear the other person's response.
"I wonder if Gu Qichen's phone has any spam filters set up."
Qin He watched a signal light on the circuit board light up and immediately whispered, "Gu Qichen, it's Qin He!"
She pursed her lips. "I'm in Sakura Country! The three professors who were doing research with me have been kidnapped. Also, tell my brother, the strategist is Shen Yicong! We are in a Japanese-style villa, with many red maple trees in the yard! The courtyard walls are white and very high, at least over five meters!"
After only two sentences, Qin He looked at the battery indicator, which was about to run out.
She had only been to the courtyard of the villa, and the walls were so high that she couldn't see the outside scenery. She had no other clues to provide Gu Qichen.
In the last two seconds, Qin He whispered, "No matter what happens, I love you."
The signal light on the circuit board went out; the battery was depleted.
Qin He pried off the electronic components and flushed them down the toilet.
This time, she stepped onto the sink counter, reached the square ceiling panel, and with effort, pushed one aside. Qin He hid the phone in that panel, carefully restoring it.
This should be more discreet.
Qin He turned on the faucet, quickly wet herself, and immediately put on a bathrobe before leaving the bathroom.
Sitting at the dressing table, Qin He blew dry her hair, feeling very anxious. She didn't know if Gu Qichen had heard her.
After drying her hair, Qin He lay down on the bed.
The night was long.
...
Qingcheng.
Gu Qichen, traveling light, had arrived at a private airport. Yu Jing was by his side. "Mr. Gu, shouldn't we make arrangements before going to Sakura Country?"
Gu Qichen took a hastily packed suitcase from Yu Jing.
"I've already notified Qin Yun and Qian Zimo about He'er's message. You stay in Qingcheng and help me investigate information from Sakura Country!"
Yu Jing watched Gu Qichen board the plane and then turned to leave with concern.
Qin Corporation. Qin Yun was furious, with a tall stack of documents in front of him.
"It's Shen Yicong!" Qin Yun gritted his teeth, angrily flipping through the documents.
The young secretary stood by, looking somewhat frightened. "President Qin, these are all the documents Shen's assistant handled."
Qin Yun flipped through the documents. He had received Gu Qichen's message and planned to rush to Sakura Country immediately upon learning He'er was there!
But Qian Zimo called and said that rushing there now would be like a headless fly searching aimlessly. For now, it was enough for Gu Qichen to go alone.
Qian Zimo had asked him to study Shen Yicong's personal information and all the documents he had handled to see if any clues could be found.
Qin Yun rubbed his temples. Shen Yicong's handled documents had no apparent flaws upon close inspection. He had genuinely hidden himself beside them!
Soon, Qin Yun remembered something and immediately picked up his phone to call Qian Zimo. "I remember now. Shen Yicong's younger brother, Shen Yilin, was saved by He'er before. And Shen Yicong himself was operated on by He'er, which saved his life."
Saying this, Qin Yun's teeth ached with hatred. "What an ungrateful wretch."
Qian Zimo's voice was low. "So Shen Yicong was hospitalized in Qingcheng. Where?"
"Qingcheng First Hospital!"