Back in the office from the ward, Qin He sat at her desk, lost in thought.
Li Fengrui approached. "Miss Qin, it's your break time. You should go back and rest. You look quite exhausted today."
Qin He nodded and stood up, intending to return to her room. She had found nothing today. Most of the medical equipment was powered, and the few electronics yesterday she had salvaged from the only working unit.
It seemed she wouldn't be able to contact Gu Qichen today.
As Qin He stood up, Gao Lang walked past. "Miss Qin, I'm heading back too."
Just as Qin He was about to bid him farewell, her gaze fell on the electronic watch on his wrist. Her pupils contracted sharply.
"I'll go with you. We can discuss your condition, and I need to give you some instructions for your medication tomorrow," Qin He said.
Both their rooms were on the second floor of the villa. As they ascended the spiral staircase, Qin He noticed there were no surveillance cameras around it.
She subtly reached out and directly grabbed Gao Lang's hand.
Gao Lang was startled. "Miss Qin, what are you doing?"
Qin He lowered her voice. "Give me your watch."
Gao Lang looked at Qin He. Though he didn't understand, he took off the electronic watch from his wrist and handed it to Qin He.
"Miss Qin, do you like this watch?"
Qin He shook her head, her voice still very low. "Wait for me."
She quickly opened the back cover of the electronic watch, took out three batteries, and then handed the watch back to Gao Lang. "Do not mention this to anyone."
Gao Lang solemnly took back the watch and put it on his wrist, feeling an inexplicable tension and tightness.
Since Miss Qin was keeping this from everyone and taking the batteries from his watch, she must be planning something that the kidnapper shouldn't know about.
"You are—"
Qin He looked at Gao Lang. "You are a genius in the medical field. I will never let you be harmed here."
The third floor of the villa.
Shen Yicong sat in his office, pinching his temples, a look of annoyance on his face.
Monkey stood opposite him. "What should we do, strategist? Should we go for that book?"
"Go for what!" Shen Yicong said coldly. "It's a trap."
The book the organization had been eyeing had reappeared at the auction. The failure last time had sent Cangying into near hysterics.
But this was the best opportunity, and yet his younger brother had fallen ill.
"Then we give up?" Monkey looked at Shen Yicong hesitantly, not daring to guess his thoughts.
Shen Yicong released his hand, his fierce eyes lifting.
"This time, even if it's a trap, we have to try. After all, they can't possibly try to fool the auction house with a fake book!"
Monkey nodded. "Then will you go in person, or— I can arrange the itinerary."
"I don't have time. Let Erniang go."
Shen Yicong thought for a moment, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "Tell Erniang that if she can get that book back this time, I might consider her confession to me."
"Yes! If that's the case, Erniang will definitely risk her life to get that book," Monkey said with an obsequious smile.
Shen Yicong nodded, his mind involuntarily drifting back to Qin He's face.
She was so beautiful it made her seem fragile, yet she was actually resolute and capable.
He just couldn't shake off a sense of unease about her.
"By the way, strategist, here are the villa's bills for this month," Monkey placed a stack of receipts in front of Shen Yicong.
Shen Yicong's gaze fell on the bills as he began to review them.
Eight o'clock in the evening.
Qin He entered the bathroom on time. She took out the three batteries she had obtained from Gao Lang from her pocket.
She climbed onto the washbasin and retrieved the "phone" from the ceiling.
Carefully connecting the two ends with wires, Qin He pursed her lips, noting that the battery power was running low.
She wondered if Gu Qichen had heard her last time.
She quickly operated the chip and dialed Gu Qichen's number.
Seeing the light turn green, Qin He knew the call had gone through. This time, she only had a few seconds.
"Gu Qichen—"
"Bang!"
A loud noise!
Qin He looked up in shock. The bathroom door had been kicked open. Shen Yicong and Monkey stood at the entrance, staring at her coldly, and at the chip board in her hand.
Qin He quickly stood up, intending to throw the chip board into the toilet.
But the next instant, her wrist ached. Monkey's swift kick landed on her wrist.
The chip board flew up and landed on the floor.
Shen Yicong stepped forward, looking at the green light flashing on the chip board. "Qin He, it seems I underestimated you. With such strict surveillance, you still found a way!"
Monkey chuckled in agreement, with a look of a sycophant. "Strategist, how should we deal with her?"
Shen Yicong looked down at the green light on the circuit board disappearing. "Qin He, are you going to tell me directly what this is for, or should I have someone investigate?"
Qin He clenched her fist. Although Shen Yicong's words were mild, she knew this man too well.
If she didn't speak now, Shen Yicong would make her regret it.
She jutted her chin out and said coldly, "It's a simple communication system. But I just took out a few batteries today, and you ruined it. I didn't even get to make the call."
Monkey stepped forward, picked up the green board, and presented it to Shen Yicong with both hands.
Shen Yicong took it, looked at it, and a smirk played on his lips. "Miss Qin is indeed extraordinary. A perfumer, an embalmer, a medical expert, and now you dabble in programming chips. Truly unpredictable."
Listening to Shen Yicong's tone, Qin He felt a chill run through her.
Shen Yicong put the green board back into his pocket. "Who were you calling?"
Qin He knew Shen Yicong could find out by having professionals investigate, so she didn't lie.
"Gu Qichen."
"Gu Qichen? So it wasn't family, but your preferred lover. It seems you truly trust this man."
Shen Yicong's expression turned cold. "Do you think he has the ability to save you from me?"
Qin He gritted her teeth. "We'll only know if we try!"
"Very well. Since you want to contact Gu Qichen, why don't I help you contact him?"
Qin He remained silent. Shen Yicong wouldn't have any good intentions.
"Monkey, take her to the third floor."
Qin He was forced to take medication daily and was no match for Monkey. She was quickly subdued, her hands cuffed behind her back.
Monkey pushed Qin He along, out of the bedroom.
Qin He stumbled to the third floor. Shen Yicong opened his office door.
Monkey forced Qin He to kneel on the floor in the center.
Shen Yicong took out a special mobile phone from his drawer.
He opened the camera and pointed it at Qin He. "Say whatever you want to tell your lover."
Qin He pursed her lips, refusing to speak.
Shen Yicong made a gesture to Monkey, his demeanor lazy. "Don't hit her face."
Monkey's movements were sharp. A moment later, a flying kick landed on Qin He's abdomen. Qin He curled up instantly, her face pressed to the floor as she coughed violently.