Qin Yanzheng paused for a moment, then continued, "Now that some time has passed since that incident, there's no guarantee that those who escaped might think the heat has died down and start using that hideout again. Why don't we go there and take a look? Maybe we'll find something."
He was clearly giving Song Lan a message, but there was no sign of anything unusual on his handsome face. He continued, "There are some clever people among the kidnappers who think that the most dangerous place is often the safest place. This is called 'the darkest place under the lamp.'"
"...Shall we go take a look?"
Upon hearing this, Song Lan was immediately stunned. After a moment, she was still in a daze, feeling that Qin Yanzheng was too good at handling things. When she didn't know how to tell her sister-in-law Qin Yaxin's whereabouts, he said those words to her.
"Okay, let's go take a look."
Qin Yanzheng naturally noticed the change in Song Lan's expression. He found it amusing and thought his little wife's confused look was especially cute.
"Do we still need to go to the Public Security Bureau?"
Song Lan asked, completely unaware that Qin Yanzheng had said those words to her because of her true feelings.
"Let's go check that courtyard and have Comrade Yang report it to the police."
As Qin Yanzheng spoke, his gaze fell on the driver's seat. Seeing Yang Fan nod, he looked away and beckoned Song Lan to move forward.
Meanwhile, in the desolate and dilapidated courtyard that Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng had mentioned, Qin Yaxin woke up in the cellar and found herself in a dark and damp place. Her hands and feet were bound, and her mouth was gagged with a foreign object. In that instant, she recalled what had happened after she left the Zhai family.
Gu Xingchen...
Her current location is definitely related to Gu Xingchen!
It was only because she left the Zhai family and happened to run into Gu Xingchen while riding her bicycle through a street in the county town that she encountered him. Gu Xingchen greeted her, and for some reason, she got off her bicycle and started talking to him on the side of the street.
At that moment, she completely forgot that Gu Xingchen's family had been arrested for human trafficking. She had absolutely no guard up around him. Unexpectedly, Gu Xingchen said he didn't want to delay her journey home, and that he lived nearby and could walk with her for a while, as if he were seeing her off… So, they walked and chatted.
Unexpectedly, after walking a short distance, she suddenly felt a pain in the back of her neck, followed by a blackout and loss of consciousness.
She would never believe it if you said that Gu Xingchen didn't lay a hand on her!
As Qin Yaxin recalled this, her eyes almost overflowed with anger.
A sound came from overhead, and soon something was uncovered. At the same time, dim light streamed down through the opening.
Qin Yaxin finally realized that she was most likely in a cellar. Before she could think any further, a figure appeared at the entrance of the cave.
With her hands and feet bound, Qin Yaxin lay on the ground, undoubtedly in a passive position. She made "mmm" sounds as she looked up at the figure slowly descending the wooden ladder below the cave entrance.
"woke up."
Gu Xingchen held onto the wooden ladder with one hand and an oil lamp in the other. Hearing the noise from Qin Yaxin, he looked down at her.
"I guess you've already figured out that I'm the one who brought you here."
With her feet firmly planted on the ground, Gu Xingchen placed the oil lamp on the stool next to the wooden ladder, then walked towards Qin Yaxin and squatted down in front of her.
"Are you very angry? Do you hate me now?!"
Helping Qin Yaxin sit down against the wall, Gu Xingchen's eyes were dim and lifeless. He forced a smile and said in a bitter tone, "No need to ask, I know you've heard about what happened to my family, and that my parents are heartless kidnappers, but can we blame them for this?"
They just want a better life... Look at me, why am I even talking to you about my parents?!
Sitting cross-legged in front of Qin Yaxin, Gu Xingchen continued, regardless of whether Qin Yaxin was listening or not: "Why did you suddenly propose to sever ties with me? I'm good-looking and academically gifted, and I've always cared for you, but you said you didn't want to affect your studies... and refused to see me anymore. Qin Yaxin, can't you see that I like you?"
Originally, I planned that after graduating from high school, whether we became educated youth sent to the countryside, found jobs in the town, or the county seat, we would go together, and then in two years, we would get married... But you disrupted my plans and shattered my dreams. How could you be so heartless?
Gently stroking Qin Yaxin's face, Gu Xingchen's handsome features broke into a smile, even his eyes sparkling: "Meeting you today was an accident."
But the moment I saw you, I wanted to take you away… We'll settle down somewhere far away, where we'll live together for the rest of our lives. I'll be good to you, and when we have children, I'll be good to them too. Qin Yaxin, tell me, are you happy?”
The foreign object in Qin Yaxin's mouth was not removed. She glared at Gu Xingchen with resentment in her eyes, making "mmm" sounds.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to take the thing out of your mouth."
Gu Xingchen looked at Qin Yaxin's mouth and apologized, then said, "I'll take the thing out of your mouth right now, but you can't make a scene, otherwise... otherwise I might not only put your mouth back on, but I might also lose my temper and hit you."
Qin Yaxin nodded repeatedly, telling herself not to panic and to find an opportunity to escape from Gu Xingchen.
I'll believe you for now.
As Gu Xingchen spoke, he removed the foreign object from Qin Yaxin's mouth.
"You're despicable!"
Qin Yaxin didn't scream hysterically. She looked coldly at Gu Xingchen and said, word by word, "I have heard about your family situation, but that doesn't make me have a bad impression of you. After all, your parents are your parents, and you are you."
And you weren't involved in your parents' affairs... but your actions today have shattered my understanding of you, Gu Xingchen... why are you abandoning the right path and choosing to follow your parents down the wrong road?"
"I just want to be with you! But you're making it sound like I'm trying to kidnap you... Qin Yaxin, can you please stop misunderstanding me?"
Gu Xingchen was actually feeling guilty. When Qin Yaxin said, "Your parents are your parents, and you are you," he felt guilty and immediately looked away from Qin Yaxin. However, Qin Yaxin did not notice.
“That’s selfish of you. I’ve clearly rejected you. Just because you want to be with me, and because of this chance encounter, you suddenly attacked me and locked me up in this place…”
Gu Xingchen, if gagging me, binding my hands and feet, and locking me in the cellar are ways you show your affection for me, then I can only tell you that your affection is a crime…
Qin Yaxin paused for a moment, then sneered, "To be honest, I despise you from the bottom of my heart!"
"Aren't you worried I'll sell you off if you talk to me like that?"
Gu Xingchen's expression was not good. He stared intently at Qin Yaxin: "I'm not a good person, and I hope you know that!"
"I also hope you understand one thing: you'd better let me leave now, otherwise, when my family finds this place, you can expect to join your parents!"
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