Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing froze, having no idea what had just happened to Ye Qiu.
By the time Bai Bing chased out, she saw Ye Qiu rushing down the stairs at full speed.
"Ye Qiu! Ye Qiu!" she shouted after him.
But Ye Qiu ignored her and kept running toward another floor of the inpatient building.
"No… Guo Shaocong is on this floor."
Realizing Ye Qiu was going after Guo Shaocong, Bai Bing's face paled. She chased after him, yelling:
"Ye Qiu, don't do anything stupid!"
But she was too late.
Bang!
Ye Qiu kicked the ward door open violently.
Inside, Guo Shaocong was nowhere to be seen — only Zhang Lili sat on the sofa, playing on her phone.
"Where's Guo Shaocong?"
The sudden intrusion scared Zhang Lili half to death. When she saw it was Ye Qiu, her face twisted in disgust.
"What are you doing here? Come to apologize to Shaocong?"
"I asked you where he is." Ye Qiu repeated.
"I have nothing to say to you." Zhang Lili pointed at the floor. "If you're here to beg for forgiveness, get on your knees first."
Crack!
Ye Qiu stepped forward, wrapped his hand around her throat, and lifted her off the ground.
"What are you doing?! Let go of me! Let go!" Zhang Lili struggled wildly.
Bai Bing rushed in just in time to see this.
"Ye Qiu, put her down, now!"
"Tell me where Guo Shaocong is." Ye Qiu's eyes were ice-cold, his face filled with murderous rage.
"Let go… help! Murder!" Zhang Lili screamed.
Crunch —
Ye Qiu squeezed harder. Zhang Lili gasped for air, her eyes rolling white.
"I'm asking you one last time. Where is he? If you don't talk, I'll kill you!"
He looked like a ferocious beast — clearly not bluffing.
Bai Bing could tell Ye Qiu was completely unhinged. She quickly turned to Zhang Lili:
"Where is Guo Shaocong?"
"H-he… he went out."
"Where?"
"He said he was sick of staying in the room. He told a nurse to wheel him downstairs to the garden."
Ye Qiu didn't believe her. "Why aren't you with him?"
"He wouldn't let me." Zhang Lili looked utterly wronged.
That morning, Guo Shaocong said he wanted to go to the garden. Zhang Lili offered to go with him, but Guo Shaocong flew into a rage and yelled at her.
Then he refused to let her come along, insisting a nurse push him instead.
Zhang Lili had stayed behind, hurt, playing on her phone — never expecting Ye Qiu to burst in and attack her.
She couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.
Thud!
Ye Qiu threw her roughly onto the floor and turned to leave.
"Ye Qiu! Ye Qiu, stop right there!"
Bai Bing blocked him in the hallway, her face stern.
"What the hell is going on?"
"My mom was kidnapped."
"What?!"
Bai Bing was stunned. Only now did she understand why Ye Qiu had been acting so strangely — his mother was in danger.
"You think Guo Shaocong did this?"
"He's my only enemy." Ye Qiu was certain. Whoever had kidnapped Qian Jinglan was definitely working with Guo Shaocong.
"Let's go find him."
Bai Bing and Ye Qiu rushed straight to the garden.
Many patients were walking around, but Guo Shaocong was nowhere to be seen.
"That bastard definitely has my mom." Ye Qiu cursed furiously.
"Ye Qiu… should we call the police?" Bai Bing said.
"If it's Guo Shaocong, he's targeting me. He won't hurt her as long as he sees me. If we call the cops, he might panic and do something reckless. That would be worse for my mom."
He turned to Bai Bing: "Director Bai, please explain to Sister Lin for me. I have to go save my mom."
"Do you know where they're holding her?"
"I do, she's at —"
Ring, ring, ring —
Before he could finish, his phone rang again. He pulled it out — it was the same unknown number.
He answered.
The same hoarse voice spoke:
"Ye Qiu, where are you?"
"What do you want?!" Ye Qiu roared. "Come after me, leave my mom out of this!"
"Would you obey if I didn't take her? I'm warning you — no tricks. If you call the police, I'll kill her right now."
The hoarse voice continued:
"You have fifteen minutes to get to the unfinished building on Zhongbei Road. If you're not here in fifteen minutes… heh-heh… today will be your mother's death day."
"Are you Guo Shaocong?" Ye Qiu snapped.
"Heh-heh… want to know who I am? Come find out." The voice sneered.
"Whoever you are, touch my mom and you're dead."
Snap!
Ye Qiu hung up.
Bai Bing had heard every word.
"It's hard to get a taxi at this hour. I'll drive you."
"Okay."
Saving his mom was all that mattered. Ye Qiu didn't argue.
Bai Bing sped toward Zhongbei Road.
On the way.
Ye Qiu called Zhao Yun. As soon as the line connected, he said directly:
"Brother Zhao, I'm in trouble. I need your help."
He suspected whoever was behind this had already set a trap. Calling Zhao Yun was just to be safe.
"What's wrong?"
"My mom was kidnapped."
"What?!" Zhao Yun was also shocked. "Address?"
"The unfinished building on Zhongbei Road. The kidnappers gave me fifteen minutes. I'm on my way now."
"Hold them off, little brother. I'm on my way."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Ye Qiu turned to Bai Bing:
"Director Bai, when we get there, drop me off and leave immediately."
"Why?"
"It could be dangerous."
"Then I definitely can't leave." Bai Bing said. "I'll go with you to meet them. I might be able to help."
Ye Qiu glanced at her. Her tailored professional suit hugged her curves perfectly. The seatbelt cut across her chest, making her figure look even more striking.
A woman this beautiful… if the kidnappers saw her, who knew what they might do.
"Director Bai, please listen to me. Don't go inside. I don't want you in danger. If you really can't stay away, just wait outside."
"Fine. I'll wait out here. But Ye Qiu… be careful. Get your mom out as soon as you can."
"I will. Don't worry."
Twelve minutes later, the car pulled up on Zhongbei Road, in front of a tall, abandoned unfinished building.