Chapter Twelve: Turning the Tables
A wave of pity washed over Chen Kan, and an indescribable feeling of suffocation and stinging pain instantly spread through him.
"Jintang," he called her name, trying to bring her back to her senses, "I understand you're heartbroken. You've been thinking of Manqing for so many years, and now that she's finally here, you can't protect her. But it's precisely at times like this that you need to stay clear-headed! Who is Qiao Yuan? He's scheming and ruthless. You need to find a way to survive first before you can think about Manqing!"
Lin Tang was a strong-willed person. After learning that Cheng Qing was Gu Manqing, she was too excited. Now, she wiped away her tears and stopped dwelling on it. She simply said, "Alright! Let's go."
Chen Kan supported Lin Tang's waist as they walked towards the door. Her body was still trembling slightly, like a white jasmine plant bent over by the wind. He turned back and gestured to his men guarding the hall: "Keep an eye on Ah Xiu. Don't let her run away, and don't let her touch anything."
The subordinate obeyed and quickly walked to Ah Xiu's side. The latter was huddled in the corner, tears still on her face, but dared not move.
The driver had already parked the car at the entrance of the alley.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice filled with guilt and tenderness.
Lin Tang shook her head, her fingertips clutching the edge of the blanket. Her gaze fell on the old locust tree that flashed past the window. It was the tree where they used to play together when they were children. Its branches were still so lush, but things had changed.
...
The car started and drove along the stone-paved road toward the dock.
Chen Kan sat in the passenger seat, his fingertips lightly tapping his knee, recalling the scene when Uncle Zhong came to find him that morning.
Uncle Zhong said firmly, "Young Master, I've checked Qiao Yuan's ship. It's going to Southeast Asia. The tickets and documents are all in order, and Miss Lin's clothes and medicine are on board. He sold his shares in HSBC and transferred the money to Miss Lin's Swiss account, saying it was to 'give her a way out.'"
Chen Kan was taken aback. Uncle Zhong's words confirmed the suspicion he least wanted to face.
"Is he really going to send Jintang away?"
"I'm afraid so," Uncle Zhong did not deny, "and he's considered it quite thoroughly, so it seems he's quite sincere towards this Miss Lin."
Chen Kan leaned on the table, almost unable to stand.
Uncle Zhong looked at him coldly, "Third Young Master, remember what you need to do. I've arranged everything for you! When the time comes, as long as you take Miss Lin to the dock, someone will impersonate Qiao Yuan's men and make their move, and then..."
Uncle Zhong made a chopping motion.
...
At this moment, Chen Kan was in the car, his fingers tapping harder and harder, his brows furrowed in a knot.
Because he already knew the truth, he was extremely shocked when he saw the letter.
Was this letter forged by Cheng Qing, or was it forged by someone else and deliberately made to be discovered by Cheng Qing?
Is Cheng Qing really Gu Manqing?
"Chen Kan?" Lin Tang's voice suddenly broke his thoughts. He turned his head and saw her looking at him with a hint of doubt in her eyes. "Is there something you haven't told me?"
Chen Kan smiled and reached out to roll up the car window a little to block the wind from outside: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about the docks."
He paused, then said, "Jintang, when we get to the dock, stay in the car and don't come out. I'm going to check the warehouse. If anything seems amiss, we'll leave immediately, understand?"
Lin Tang nodded, her fingertips gently touching the letter in her bosom, and suddenly said, "Chen Kan, do you think Manqing will be alright?"
Chen Kan's smile froze for a moment, then returned to its gentle tone: "No, she is Qiao Yuan's concubine, Qiao Yuan wouldn't dare to touch her easily."
The car continued driving forward, passing through bustling streets, heading towards the Shiliupu Wharf.
Chen Kan looked out the window; the sunlight grew stronger, but he felt a chill run down his spine.
He didn't know what awaited him, but he knew that no matter what, he had to protect Lin Tang, even if it meant... betraying his own father.
As the car rounded a street corner, the outline of the dock came into view.
On the distant river, a cargo ship was billowing black smoke, its horn sounding like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.
The car slowly came to a stop at the dock. Chen Kan opened the car door, jumped out first, and then helped Lin Tang out.
The river wind was strong, causing the hem of her cheongsam to flutter. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her, then led her toward the warehouse.
Before he could finish speaking, a foot in a black leather shoe kicked him in the waist, and Old Zhou curled up in pain.
A-Qiang, who was standing behind Lao Zhou, turned around, and Lin Tang recognized him as Chen Kan's most capable bodyguard.
Ah Qiang, who was usually taciturn, was now holding a gun, the muzzle pressed against Lao Zhou's temple, a sinister smile on his lips: "Lao Zhou, what did you just say? Master Qiao sent word that this explosive is a 'farewell gift' for Lin Tang and Chen Kan, and it's to blow them to bits!"
"Yes, yes!" Old Zhou's tears mixed with blood flowed down his face. "Miss Lin, I'm sorry, I was blinded by greed... I cheated you once six years ago. Qiao Yuan gave me ten silver dollars and asked me to find a corpse to impersonate Mr. Bai Mu. Later, I followed Master Qiao and did these kinds of jobs... Miss Lin, I, I'm sorry."
Ah Qiang's gun butt smashed into Lao Zhou's head, and he groaned and passed out.
Chen Kan looked at A-Qiang, who lowered his eyes and said in a voice as cold as ice, "Young Master, it's dangerous here. You should take Miss Lin and leave quickly."
Lin Tang gripped Chen Kan's suit sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She turned to Lao Zhou, tears streaming down her cheeks and into her collar, but managed a smile that was more painful than crying. "Lao Zhou, six years ago you tricked me into believing Bai Mu was dead by giving me a fake corpse, and now you're helping him plant explosives to blow us up? How much money did Qiao Yuan give you? Is it enough to buy you peace of mind in your next life?"
Old Zhou huddled in the corner, blood and scum mixed with dust stuck to his chin. He didn't dare look her in the eye, only muttering repeatedly, "Miss Lin, I... I had no choice... Master Qiao said that if I didn't do it, he would throw my wife and children into the Huangpu River to feed the fish..."
Chen Kan helped Lin Tang squat down, his voice lowered but still tinged with coldness: "Old Zhou, say it again, did Qiao Yuan really tell you to plant explosives in the hold? Did he intend to blow me and Jin Tang up too?"
Old Zhou's head bobbed like a pestle being pounded: "Yes, it's true! Last night I went to the dock with Ah Chen and saw them carrying explosives into the hold. Master Qiao said, 'Since Lin Tang dares to disrespect me like this and still tries to scheme against my things, I'll make her and Chen Kan sink together...'"
"Enough!" Lin Tang interrupted him, standing up abruptly, but nearly fell due to her leg injury.
Chen Kan quickly supported her waist.
Lin Tang gritted her teeth, "I actually still believed him... I actually thought he would still care about our past as husband and wife, that he still had feelings for me..."
Chen Kan gently pulled her into his arms, his hand slowly stroking her back, as if comforting a frightened cat: "Jintang, don't cry... you still have me..."
Lin Tang nodded, buried her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Chen Kan looked up at A-Qiang, his eyes filled with warning: "Take Lao Zhou away, don't let him die."
A-Qiang responded and dragged Lao Zhou away. Lao Zhou's pleas for mercy grew fainter and fainter until they disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the dock.
Chen Kan helped Lin Tang walk towards the car. The river breeze carried the salty smell of the sea, and the hem of her cheongsam fluttered in the wind. Chen Kan wrapped his coat tighter around himself.
As the car started, Lin Tang looked out the window at the dock. Cargo ships on the river had already raised their sails, and the sound of their horns was like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.
...
Just after Lin Tang and Chen Kan drove away, A Chen drove Qiao Yuan to the dock in a hurry.
Ah Chen followed closely behind, gripping his gun and warily scanning his surroundings, but Qiao Yuan shoved him aside: "To the warehouse!"
The warehouse door was wide open, and the light inside was dim, but Qiao Yuan still spotted Old Zhou lying in the corner at a glance. There was a bloody hole in his forehead, and there was still the smell of smoldering saltpeter.
Several empty explosive boxes lay scattered on the ground, their fuses cut, curled up like dead snakes.
Qiao Yuan went over and touched Lao Zhou's wrist with his fingers. It was still warm, which meant that Lao Zhou had only been dead for a few minutes.
He looked up and his gaze fell on the steps not far away, where a crumpled letter lay. He picked it up and saw words of murder to silence the witness, the handwriting of which was quite similar.
“Master Qiao…” Ah Chen walked over and said, “Someone saw Chen Kan come by just now. Old Zhou was probably killed by them.”
Qiao Yuan only sneered, "I... I rarely have a conscience and want to make amends to them, but I didn't expect to be used by someone. It seems that this person really can't have a conscience!"
Ah Chen looked at him, "So it's Chen Kan..."
"Yes, I originally wanted to see if he was Jintang's true love, but I didn't expect him to turn the tables on me and turn my good intentions into a murder scene. Look here, doesn't it look like the scene where I lured them here and then killed the adulterous couple?"
Ah Chen swallowed hard, thinking that he had given sleeping pills to Ah Xiu that morning, which made everything seem even more like a premeditated murder.
"Master, what should we do? Should we explain to Madam? What if she misunderstands?" Ah Chen said anxiously.
Qiao Yuan looked around the scene and gave a bitter smile: "Do you think Jin Tang can still trust me after all this is so meticulously planned, even replacing the contact person with Old Zhou from back then who switched bodies?"
Looking into Qiao Yuan's dazed eyes, Ah Chen felt a sense of defeat for the first time.
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