novelraw Chapter 323 - 297: Lingering Shadows
Chapter 323 - 297: Lingering Shadows
There’s a hostage situation, but the criminal wants to see Mei?
Yu Minglang couldn’t figure it out.
"It’s said that his fiancée was also kidnapped at the same time, but after being rescued... she wasn’t in a good state. It seems he couldn’t handle the stress and believes it’s all your girlfriend’s and Hawkeye’s sister’s fault..."
"Damn! How can he blame my Mei? Why not blame the Earth’s gravity if he can’t take a dump? I’m heading there right now—also, don’t tell my girlfriend, got it? She can’t know about this!"
Just yesterday, Qian had discussed with Shi Yu how to help that girl find a therapist and how to assist more girls with similar experiences.
Unexpectedly, something happened today!
In the mall, Qian’s shopping spree continued.
"This one looks good, complements Qian’s fair skin." Her sister-in-law held up an outfit, comparing it to Qian.
Mrs. Yu stepped back a couple of paces to take a fuller view and nodded in satisfaction.
"Ring it up."
Qian was exhausted after being fussed over by them the whole morning; these two women really could shop.
"That’s enough, I’m just a student. What do I need so many clothes for?"
Almost everything they bought that morning was for her, and she could hardly carry it all. Women’s passion for shopping, once triggered, was truly frightening.
Especially women who weren’t short on money; apparently, Mr. Yu had provided a budget, instructing the sister-in-law not to return until it was spent. There was still a favor Qian hadn’t had the chance to repay—helping him with his business last time.
"Let’s buy two more coats. After the New Year, let Minglang take Qian to the Northeast to visit Grandpa; it’s cold there," Mrs. Yu suggested.
"No, I already have enough!" Qian exclaimed, tugging to stop further purchases. She really had tried enough already.
"Young people look good when they’re slimmer—look at our Qian, she looks good in anything, like a clothes rack." The sister-in-law still hadn’t had her fill of shopping.
"That’s enough, we still have to go to my house this afternoon. We’re running out of time, let’s find a place to eat, shall we?" Qian pleaded.
Mrs. Yu thought the same; they still had to discuss the marriage proposal that afternoon, which was a big deal.
"Then let’s go to the revolving restaurant. After we finish eating, we can head straight to Qian’s house for the proposal."
The group arrived at the restaurant, ordered some food, and had only taken a few bites when the sister-in-law suddenly pointed out the window.
"Mom, look quickly! What’s happening over there?"
Mrs. Yu and Qian followed her gaze.
They were at Q City’s newly constructed and operational revolving restaurant on the 20th floor. Opposite them was another building of a similar height, complementing each other, and at that time, these were among the landmark buildings in Q City.
At that moment, on the top of the opposite building, a man was strangling the neck of a child who seemed to be just over ten years old, standing at the edge, looking as if they would fall any moment.
That was a 20-story building!
The restaurant’s transparent glass provided a clear view. Many diners noticed and crowded to the glass to watch, packed tightly.
Meanwhile, several staff members from what seemed to be the International Trade Building tried to intervene, but the man held a megaphone, continuously shouting.
Someone opened one of the small windows in the restaurant, and the man’s voice boomed in through the megaphone.
"I only want those two wicked women to come here. If they don’t, I’ll kill this kid!"
Qian just took one glance before her vision blurred, her face turning pale, and she started to faint, dizzy, falling sideways.
The sister-in-law who was beside her immediately supported her, thinking Qian was scared.
"Qian, don’t be afraid, someone will save that child, don’t worry!"
Mrs. Yu turned her head, initially worried about the kidnapped child, but seeing Qian, she was startled.
Qian not only looked pale but was trembling all over, breathing heavily. Mrs. Yu quickly checked her pulse. Though it looked like the acute onset of some heart condition, it wasn’t; her pulse was steady.
Qian’s obsessive-compulsive disorder had flared up.
When she saw the child’s position, she immediately thought of her own daughter.
The place from where her daughter had jumped years ago was just like this, on the 20th floor. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder suddenly burst forth, feeling anxious even at a glance. Looking through the glass, it seemed she wasn’t seeing that child but her own Xiaowei!
"Help, help me to the restroom!" Qian now had an urgent need to wash her hands.
The sister-in-law didn’t dare to delay, immediately supporting Qian with Mrs. Yu. Qian turned on the faucet, quickly washing her hands. The scene just now had deeply disturbed her.
The water flow couldn’t wash away her fear and anxiety; the dim restroom light cast eerie shadows over her hands as if stained with indelible blood.
Qian washed repeatedly, feeling worse with each rinse. Just then, two waitstaff came in, chatting as they walked.
"That supervisor is so annoying, not letting me see the commotion."
"That’s true; having to return abruptly, I had a clear view from my spot—by the way, why did that guy kidnap the child?"
"Apparently, it’s something to do with his fiancée being abducted—like what was in the news yesterday; he seems to want revenge on the two girls who escaped safely."
"Huh? Why? Why not go after the actual criminals?"
"I also want to know, but just when it got interesting, the supervisor dragged me back, saying if we didn’t work properly, we’d be fined. Well, I know she just wanted my spot for a better view!"
Upon hearing the waitstaff’s conversation, Qian abruptly stood up.
She approached the girl who had just been speaking.
"What did you just say? Why did he kidnap the child?"
The waitress was startled, and seeing it was a customer asking, she repeated herself.
"He wanted to see the girl who was abducted with his fiancée. Someone reported to the others, and the good guys will be arriving soon..."
Qian let go of her hand, still feeling sticky and agitated, but her mind was much clearer now. She had an idea of who it might be.
It was likely that badly beaten girl. When she and Shi Yu came out, the first thing they did was have Yu Minglang rescue the other kidnapped girls, but it was already too late.
With her eyes closed, Qian could almost hear the kidnappers discussing that girl even now.
Apparently, she had argued with her boyfriend late at night and ran out from home, whereupon she was kidnapped.
The kidnappers had laughed at her foolishness, saying she suffered hardships in the mountain valleys.
"Qian, don’t be afraid. It’s alright, trust our people to handle this properly." Mrs. Yu assumed Qian was scared and tried to comfort her.
Qian shook her head, "I’m not afraid... I’m—"
Her reason told her not to meddle, but closing her eyes, all she could think of was that child on the building.
Her daughter’s past life was also like this.
How she watched her daughter jump and how she held her daughter’s corpse—the blood-drenched memory appeared vividly in Qian’s mind, impossible to shake off.
She stood up, took out her phone, and dialed Yu Minglang’s number.
No answer.
Failing to reach him during his leave meant one of two things: either his phone was dead, or he was embroiled in something he didn’t want her to know about—which could it be?