Chapter 16: A cornered dog jumps over the wall
1. Suffocation Hunting
Time flows slowly like frozen slime, and every second is filled with heart-stopping tension.
Ouyang Lanlan stood frozen in the middle of the living room, her pupils dilated with utter terror, reflecting Huang Qiang's expressionless face, yet radiating cold murderous intent. Her vocal cords seemed to be strangled by invisible hands, unable to utter even a single sob. Her limbs felt heavy as lead, and her mind was blank, with only the instinctive, overwhelming alarm bells blaring in her mind.
Huang Qiang relished this feeling of absolute control. He gazed at his trembling, defenseless "prey" before him, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards ever so slowly, forming a twisted, satisfied arc. That smile held no warmth, only the cruelty and triumph of a cat playing with a mouse. He approached, his footsteps as light as ghosts skimming the ground, yet each one stomped heavily on Ouyang Lanlan's crumbling nerves.
Just when he was about to touch Ouyang Lanlan——
"Ugh..." An extremely faint groan came from the ground, as if squeezed from deep in the lungs.
It was Lin Jingliang! He had actually regained consciousness amidst the excruciating pain and coma! His vision was blurry, his eyes blurred by tears of pain. He could only see Huang Qiang's back as he approached Ouyang Lanlan. His instinct for survival and his concern for Ouyang Lanlan forced him to muster his last bit of strength. His thin, pale hands suddenly reached out and tightly grasped Huang Qiang's calf!
"Lan...run..." He used up all his remaining strength and made an almost inaudible sound, like the last flicker of a candle in the wind.
This sudden obstruction and weak cry were like a fine needle piercing Ouyang Lanlan's fear-numbed nerves! She shuddered suddenly, and the desire to survive instantly overwhelmed everything!
run!
This thought was like lightning splitting the darkness! She didn't even have time to think, her body had already reacted before her consciousness—she turned around and rushed towards the door like a frightened rabbit!
Huang Qiang was enraged by Lin Jingliang's desperate struggle! He growled, and the twisted smile on his face was instantly replaced by violence! Without hesitation, he raised his other foot and kicked Lin Jingliang's head and chest repeatedly!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The dull sound of blows and the cracking of bones under the weight exploded in the deadly silence of the room, making one's teeth ache. Lin Jingliang's body twitched violently several times, and the hand that was holding his leg slipped away weakly, and he was completely silent.
This brief delay bought Ouyang Lanlan a few precious seconds! She had already staggered out the door!
Huang Qiang shook off Lin Jingliang, turned around suddenly, with a fierce look in his eyes, and chased after him immediately!
The corridor was empty, only the heavy fire door of the emergency exit was slowly closing automatically, making a long and harsh friction sound of "creaking"!
The sound was infinitely amplified in the silent corridor!
Huang Qiang paused, his gaze hawk-like, toward the stairwell. He listened for a moment, a cold, calculating expression on his face. He didn't immediately rush to the stairwell. Instead, he quickly walked to the elevator entrance and saw that the number on the elevator display was still stuck at a higher floor, indicating that it would be impossible to reach it in a short time.
"Hmm..." He uttered a light, knowing sneer. The prey, in a panic, chose the stairs.
Without further hesitation, he pushed open the still slightly shaking fire door and disappeared into the dim light of the stairwell.
Ouyang Lanlan was indeed in the stairwell. Her heart was pounding so hard it threatened to burst from her throat, her lungs aching. She didn't dare run down; that was a dead end. Her only hope lay above—Qin Chuan's house! 13:03!
She ran up the stairs with all her might, losing one of her slippers, tearing her stockings, and rubbing the rough concrete steps against her feet, but she was oblivious. However, after climbing only half a floor, she heard Huang Qiang's slow, yet remarkably clear, footsteps ascending the stairs from below!
The footsteps were steady and calm, with a terrifying sense of patience and oppression, as if the hunter already knew that the prey had nowhere to escape and was just enjoying the process of hunting.
Fear gripped Ouyang Lanlan once again! She felt like she was about to be caught up! If she ran up like this, she would probably be intercepted before she even reached the 13th floor!
what to do? !
A sudden inspiration! She stopped dead in her tracks at the turning point on the 12th floor, practically holding her breath. She pressed herself against the cold, grimy wall, huddled in the deepest shadows of a corner where a discarded cardboard box lay. She covered her mouth and nose tightly with her hands, not daring to breathe, desperately suppressing her trembling, praying that the darkness would swallow her.
Huang Qiang's footsteps were getting closer. He stopped at the corner of the 11th floor and didn't come up immediately.
The stairwell was deathly silent. Only the deafening sound of Ouyang Lanlan's own heartbeat, like a drum, was heard. She was afraid that the sound would give her away.
A few seconds later, Huang Qiang observed for a moment and stumbled upon a slipper dropped by Ouyang Lanlan. He walked up and stood in the middle of the platform. Instead of going up immediately, he scanned the stairs in both directions, as well as the shadowy corner where Ouyang Lanlan was hiding.
Ouyang Lanlan was so frightened that she closed her eyes tightly, as if the other party could not see her.
Huang Qiang's gaze seemed to linger for a fraction of a second in the direction where she was hiding. Then, as if confirming that his prey wasn't there, he began to move forward.
The footsteps were approaching clearly, one step at a time. Ouyang Lanlan's heart was in her throat, and she felt that the footsteps were almost stepping on her ears!
Just as Huang Qiang was about to step onto the platform on the 12th floor, Ouyang Lanlan seized the moment when his gaze left her, and using the last of her strength and willpower, like a frightened cat, she quietly and lightning-fast slipped sideways into the security door on the 12th floor, then gently brought the door back to an almost closed state, leaving only a very thin gap, and the whole person pressed against the wall behind the door, blending into the shadows again.
Huang Qiang walked up to the 12th-floor landing. He paused, looking around suspiciously. Did he hear the slightest movement? He listened carefully, but all he could hear was the faint noise of the city in the distance and the inherent echo of the corridor.
He frowned, perhaps he had misheard. The prey should still be running up. He pushed open the security door on the 12th floor and glanced into the corridor—empty.
He pondered for a moment. 1303… He remembered that address. That's where that nosy Northeastern guy lived.
A cruel sneer played on his lips. Perfect, let's kill them all at once.
He decided not to waste time going to the 13th floor to confirm, and instead chose a more "efficient" method. He turned and began to walk down. The footsteps sounded again, gradually fading away.
Ouyang Lanlan, who was behind the door, waited for a few minutes, suppressing her fear, until the footsteps completely disappeared in the lower floor. After confirming that there was no more sound, she slid down the wall and sat on the ground as if exhausted, gasping for breath violently, her whole body soaked with cold sweat.
Saved for now!
But Qin Chuan! Qin Chuan must be notified immediately!
She fumbled for her phone, trembling. The light from the screen illuminated her pale, terrified face in the darkness. She found Qin Chuan's number and dialed it impatiently.
The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up.
"Hello..." Qin Chuan's voice was unclear, sleepy and even irritable from the other end of the phone. He drank a lot of wine that night. "Do you need a loan with an annualized interest rate of 3.2?" He looked at the number and saw that it was an unfamiliar number. It was a harassing call.
The phone rang again, this time it was Ouyang Lanlan!
“…” Ouyang Lanlan’s throat seemed to be blocked, and she couldn’t make a clear sound for a while.
"No need! Stop bothering me!" Qin Chuan was obviously extremely impatient. He didn't even look at the caller ID and didn't give her a chance to speak. He hung up the phone rudely!
Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Ouyang Lanlan felt as if she had fallen into an icy cave! His last hope... was shattered? How much alcohol had he drunk?! How could this happen?!
Despair was like an icy tide that instantly overwhelmed her. She huddled behind the door, silently shedding tears, her body trembling violently with fear and helplessness.
No! We can't just sit there and wait for death!
Huang Qiang may have just left temporarily, he will definitely come back! This place is not safe either!
The only way out is to Qin Chuan! Only one level away!
She mustered her courage once more, struggled to her feet, and cautiously pushed open the emergency door on the 12th floor, looking out. The hallway was silent. She gritted her teeth and rushed into the stairwell again, using her last bit of strength to desperately run upwards!
Quick! Quick! Quick!
The 13th floor! Right in front of you!
She pushed open the heavy fire door on the 13th floor, and like a drowning person finally breathing air, she staggered out with ecstasy and eagerness after surviving the disaster.
However, what greeted her was not an empty corridor, nor was it Qin Chuan who opened the door upon hearing the sound.
A figure, like a ghost that had been waiting at the door, stood there quietly.
It’s Huang Qiang.
He seemed to have calculated all her actions, and his face had that kind of controlling, eerie calmness, even a hint of playfulness.
Ouyang Lanlan's ecstasy froze on her face in an instant, turning into extreme fear and despair. Her feet froze in place, and her blood seemed to freeze instantly.
Huang Qiang said nothing, but reached out and grabbed her slender wrist with such force that it almost crushed her bones.
"Ah--!" Ouyang Lanlan finally let out a short and shrill scream, but Huang Qiang's other cold hand immediately covered her mouth tightly, and he dragged her quickly towards another safe exit leading to the underground garage.
Struggling was futile. Despair enveloped her completely like a black curtain.
2. Showdown at the Old Warehouse
Qin Chuan was awakened by a nauseous feeling in his stomach and a severe headache.
He struggled to sit up in bed, the moonlight filtering through the loose curtains stinging his eyes. He'd drunk too much that evening, his memory was hazy and fuzzy. He rubbed his temples, stumbled into the bathroom, and rinsed his face with cold water, only to regain some clarity.
There were several missed calls on my phone, the first one from Ouyang Lanlan, about an hour ago. There was also a text message from an unfamiliar number.
His heart inexplicably tightened and he clicked on the text message first.
"If you want to see her one last time, come alone to the abandoned warehouse of the Third Textile Factory in the western suburbs. Call the police and wait for them to collect the body. You only have half an hour."
The message was unsigned, but the cold tone and direction instantly sobered Qin Chuan up! Cold sweat broke out!
Huang Qiang! He took action!
He immediately called Ouyang Lanlan's number back - it was turned off!
An ominous premonition gripped his heart like a giant hand! He rushed out the door, not even waiting for the elevator, and sprinted madly up the stairs to the 10th floor!
Ouyang Lanlan's apartment door was ajar! Qin Chuan's heart sank to the bottom, and he pushed the door open.
The living room was a mess! Tables and chairs were overturned, and on the floor... there was a pool of blood that hadn't yet completely solidified, a glaring sight! Lying next to him was a man: Lin Jingliang! His face was covered in blood, and he was unconscious, but his chest was still faintly moving!
Qin Chuan immediately squatted down to check Lin Jingliang's injuries. He had suffered a severe blow to the head and a possible fractured rib. His condition was critical but not life-threatening. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed 120, clearly and quickly reporting his address and injuries.
Then, he glanced at the text message, then at the dying Lin Jingliang. As a former police officer, he knew the right thing to do was to call the police immediately and have them surround the Western Suburbs Warehouse. But the threat in Huang Qiang's text clung to him like a venomous snake—"Call the police, and wait for the body." He didn't dare risk Ouyang Lanlan's life against this pervert's desperation!
Time was running out! He had to get there immediately! But he couldn't let Lin Jingliang lie here unnoticed, and he couldn't let the police be completely kept in the dark!
He quickly pulled out a piece of printed paper from the scattered papers beside him and scribbled:
"Jingliang: Hold on! The ambulance is on the way. Ouyang has been kidnapped by Huang Qiang, the real culprit of Case 124, and taken to the abandoned warehouse of the Third Textile Factory in the western suburbs! I'll go there first to try to mediate. If I don't return or contact you within an hour, notify the police immediately! You must! - Qin Chuan"
He slipped the note into Lin Jingliang's uninjured hand and held it tightly. This was the best solution he could think of—it gave him a window of time to save the man, while also leaving a way out and clues for the worst-case scenario.
After doing all this, he no longer hesitated and rushed out the door like a gust of wind, started the old electric car, turned the ignition to the bottom, and rushed towards the western suburbs! The wind whistled in his ears, but it could not blow away the anxiety and rage in his heart.
Western suburbs, the abandoned warehouse of the Third Textile Factory.
This place is far away from the city, overgrown with weeds, and the huge factory building is like a silent steel behemoth crawling in the sunset, rusty and with broken windows, revealing desolation and deathly silence.
Qin Chuan hid the electric bike in the weeds in the distance and approached cautiously. The warehouse door was ajar, and the light inside was dim, filled with a thick mixture of dust and the smell of moldy oil.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open!
"Bang!" The sound of the iron door hitting the wall echoed in the empty warehouse.
The warehouse's interior is extremely large, filled with abandoned textile machines, rusty iron racks, and scattered rolls of cloth, creating countless shadows and visual blind spots.
"I'm coming!" Qin Chuan shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the empty space. "Huang Qiang! Come out! Don't hide!"
"Chichi..." A low and distorted laugh came from behind a pile of huge abandoned spinning machines.
Huang Qiang pushed someone out—it was Ouyang Lanlan! She was tied to a wooden chair, with tape on her mouth, her hair disheveled, her face as pale as paper, and her eyes filled with fear. But when she saw Qin Chuan, tears and helpless pleas instantly welled up in her eyes.
Huang Qiang stood behind her, one hand on her shoulder and the other holding a pair of gleaming, well-maintained pipe wrenches, the blade of which was pressed against Ouyang Lanlan's carotid artery.
"Very punctual, Officer Qin. Oh, no, the former officer." Huang Qiang's tone was playful, like a cat-and-mouse game. "You are indeed very loyal and righteous."
"Let her go! Huang Qiang! Your target is me!" Qin Chuan stared at him, clenched his fists, tried to calm himself down, and looked for any possible breakthrough.
"Don't be impatient." Huang Qiang said slowly, "The game has just begun."
He suddenly raised his foot and kicked the leg of the chair Ouyang Lanlan was sitting on! The chair instantly lost its balance and fell to the side with Ouyang Lanlan!
"Ugh!" Ouyang Lanlan let out a terrified groan.
Qin Chuan's heart suddenly shrank and he almost rushed forward!
But the chair did not fall down completely. Instead, it was stuck crookedly between an abandoned iron frame and a machine. Ouyang Lanlan was trapped there in an extremely awkward and painful posture, unable to move, and the pipe wrench at her neck still threatened her.
"Look," Huang Qiang spread his hands, a cruel smile on his face, "Isn't this fairer? Let's not act rashly."
Qin Chuan forced himself to stop. He knew that Huang Qiang was deliberately playing tricks on them, draining his mental and physical strength. He had to calm down.
"What exactly do you want?" Qin Chuan asked in a deep voice, his eyes quickly scanning the surrounding environment, his brain working rapidly.
"What do you want?" Huang Qiang tilted his head, as if thinking seriously. "I want to play a game. A game of police catching thieves. But this time, the roles are reversed."
He suddenly took out a small object from his pocket and threw it at Qin Chuan's feet - it was a pair of nylon cable ties.
"Tie one of your hands to the railing over there." Huang Qiang pointed with a pipe wrench to a row of sturdy steel pillars next to him that supported the roof of the factory building. "Tie it tightly, I will check it. Don't play tricks, otherwise..." He applied a little force with the pipe wrench in his hand, and Ouyang Lanlan trembled in pain, tears rolling down her eyes.
Qin Chuan looked at the cable ties on the ground, then at the helpless Ouyang Lanlan, feeling a conflict between his conscience and his own desires. If he tied them up, he would completely lose control and be at the mercy of others. If he didn't, Ouyang Lanlan's life would be in immediate danger.
No choice.
He slowly bent down and picked up the cable tie. His eyes met Ouyang Lanlan's, and he tried hard to convey a hint of comfort and hope, but all he saw was endless fear.
He walked over to the cold steel column and, using his teeth and his other hand, struggled to tie his left wrist to the column. Then he pulled hard! The nylon buckle bit tightly, cutting into his flesh.
"Very good." Huang Qiang nodded with satisfaction, pushed Ouyang Lanlan's chair, put her back on the right side, and then slowly walked to Qin Chuan. He first carefully checked the cable tie to confirm that it was tied very firmly.
Then, he stretched out his hand and patted Qin Chuan's face almost insultingly, with an extremely satisfied and sarcastic smile on his face.
"How do you feel now, Officer Qin? Four years ago, you failed to catch me. Four years later, you put yourself in front of me, and you are still so powerless."
3. Confession of guilt
With the situation under control, Huang Qiang's desire to perform and to speak out surged out like a flood. He needed an audience, someone to "appreciate" his "masterpiece," especially the policeman who had been chasing him relentlessly.
He walked to the side and took out something from behind a pile of waste. It was a dirty plush teddy bear and threw it into Ouyang Lanlan's arms.
When Ouyang Lanlan saw the bear, her body stiffened, her eyes filled with disbelief and horror! This bear... was a gift from Qin Chuan at the hospital, and it was almost identical to the one she had in her rental apartment in Longdu four years ago! Huang Qiang had taken it from her home when he abducted her!
"Does it look familiar?" Huang Qiang laughed maniacally, the sound echoing in the empty warehouse, especially creepy, "Huff huff huff! The scene is repeated! It's still the three of us! It's still you!" He pointed at Qin Chuan, "I want to protect her." Then he pointed at Ouyang Lanlan, "But I'm still powerless! Hahahaha! Fate really is a cycle!"
Qin Chuan's heart was bleeding and anger was burning his internal organs, but he forced himself to be patient and had to get the words out of him!
"Huang Qiang!" Qin Chuan suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse but with a strange penetrating power. "You don't hate women, you hate your father, right? You hate him for forcing you into the barber shop that Sunday and cutting your hair! He took away your right to be a girl!"
Huang Qiang's laughter suddenly stopped! It was as if his neck was instantly strangled! He turned his head abruptly and stared at Qin Chuan, his eyes becoming extremely terrifying!
"What do you know?!" he roared, his voice sharp and distorted with excitement, "You know nothing! I'm so beautiful! I'm prettier than all the girls! I'm the one who should be a girl! Why?! Why can they have long hair, wear skirts, and be loved by their parents?! And I..." His body trembled slightly with excitement, as if he was in extreme pain and resentment.
"So they have to pay the price!" Huang Qiang's emotions were completely out of control, and he fell into a state of crazy excitement. "I want to take away their most precious thing! Their hair! That's mine! My trophy! I want everyone to see! I am the most beautiful! I am the one who is qualified to have those!"
Qin Chuan asked in reply, "You think you've done it perfectly. You think you're smart? You think you're noble? But we still found you! We quickly identified you as a gas worker!"
Huang Qiang was stunned for a moment, then he burst into a breathless laugh. "With your crappy skills, what does it matter if you find out? Didn't I still avoid the investigation? You want to know how I dodged it?"
Qin Chuan knew that his provocation had worked, so he deliberately didn't respond and instead looked at him angrily.
Huang Qiang then proudly began to recount the incident – it turned out that the police had identified the gas worker, and Huang Qiang was indeed among those being investigated. Under questioning, he calmly said, "I think I got home around 8 o'clock that day, and after dinner, I went to my room to read a magazine. One of those entertainment magazines with lyrics, and I even sang along with the lyrics. Later, my mother told me to keep my voice down, saying it was too late and would disturb the neighbors."
Afterwards, police investigated and collected evidence, which confirmed his story. Neighbors reported, "I think I saw him come home around 8 o'clock, and then from 9 to 10 o'clock, he would sing and wail like a ghost. I even ran into his mother in the hallway and told her that your son Qiangqiang was singing too loudly at night."
In fact, this was Huang Qiang's carefully planned alibi. He went home and deliberately greeted his neighbors to deepen the impression when they testified. Then he used lights to create shadows in front of the window and played his own singing on a tape recorder to forge evidence that he was at home. Finally, he disguised himself as a "woman" and quietly went out to deceive witnesses into testifying that he had been at home.
After recounting all this, Huang Qiang grew increasingly elated, gesticulating and gesticulating, describing the details of his crime in an incoherent yet remarkably clear manner, from how he chose his target (living alone, with long hair, resembling his imagined "perfect woman"), how he marked the spot ("1," "2," "3"), how he used his identity as a gas worker to obtain information and create a scent cover, how he chose a Sunday night to carry out the attack, how he attacked, how he tied her up, how he cut her hair...
Every detail is outrageous, accompanied by his sometimes crazy, sometimes intoxicated, and sometimes resentful expression, as if it were not a crime but a work of art he carefully created.
Qin Chuan gritted his teeth, memorizing every word and detail he said. At the same time, he noticed that Ouyang Lanlan, who was tied to the chair, was still trembling with fear, but her hand was groping very lightly and with great difficulty behind the plush bear.
Suddenly, Huang Qiang stopped his endless narration, leaned close to Qin Chuan, and showed an extremely cunning and cruel smile on his face.
"Are you waiting for this?" He suddenly stretched out his hand, reached into Qin Chuan's coat pocket as fast as lightning, and took out a black, pen-shaped micro recorder!
"Do you think I'm that stupid? That I'd admit everything to you?" Huang Qiang proudly raised the recorder in front of Qin Chuan, then threw it to the ground and stomped it hard, smashing it to pieces! "Idiot! I'm just playing with you! Now, the game is over!"
The smile on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by pure, cold murderous intent. He raised the pipe wrench in his hand and pointed it at Qin Chuan's head!
"No!!!" Ouyang Lanlan cried out heartbreakingly!
4. Jedi Counterattack
At this critical moment!
"Bang!!!"
The warehouse door was violently flung open from the outside! Dazzling sunlight and several beams of powerful flashlights instantly streamed in, illuminating the dust!
"Police! Don't move!" "Put down your weapons!" Several majestic shouts rang out at the same time!
It's Lin Jingliang! He's awake! The police arrived faster than expected! They found the note Qin Chuan left and arrived just in time!
Huang Qiang was stunned by this sudden change! His movements froze instantly!
Now is the time!
This was the opportunity Qin Chuan had been waiting for! He had never placed all his hopes on the recorder he had deliberately let Huang Qiang find! He had been secretly accumulating strength and using words to stimulate Huang Qiang, causing him to lose control of his emotions and approach him!
Although his right hand was bound, his left, his dominant hand, was free! He had tied his left wrist to the post, but his palm and fingers were largely flexible! Furthermore, while the straps appeared to be tightened, he had actually used a subtle force to create a tiny gap between his wrist and the post, just enough for him to move! Meanwhile, his body cleverly concealed this detail!
Just when Huang Qiang attracted the attention of the police!
Qin Chuan's bound left hand twisted and twitched violently! With the strength and skills acquired through years of training, and the slight looseness of the cable tie, he forcibly freed his wrist from the tie. His flesh was cut by the sharp edge of the nylon, and blood was dripping, but he didn't care!
At the same time, his right hand, which had been hidden by his body, quickly pulled out a short tactical wrench from his waist. He had taken it from the tool bag when he left! He suddenly jumped up like a cheetah!
"Fuck you!" Huang Qiang reacted very quickly. Realizing he had fallen into a trap, he turned the pipe wrench without hesitation and smashed it hard towards Qin Chuan who was rushing towards him!
But Qin Chuan was even faster! He dodged the fatal blow by leaning sideways, and the wrench slammed into Huang Qiang's wrist with a whistling sound!
"Crack!" A clear sound of bone breaking!
"Ah--!" Huang Qiang let out a shrill scream, and the pipe wrench flew out of his hand!
But he was extremely ferocious, and his other hand desperately grabbed Qin Chuan's eyes!
The two men instantly grappled with each other, falling to the ground in the dust, writhing fiercely. Although Huang Qiang's wrist was injured, his strength was immense, and he was like a mad tiger, making it difficult to tell who was better.
"Qin Chuan!" Ouyang Lanlan was terrified, tears blurring her vision. She saw Qin Chuan's hands bleeding as he fought for his life with Huang Qiang to save her!
I can't do this! I can't watch him get hurt anymore!
A huge amount of courage, mixed with the fear, anger and all the suppressed emotions of the past four years, burst out at this moment!
She didn't know where she got the strength from, but she suddenly stood up with the heavy chair! Then, she used all her strength and rushed towards Huang Qiang who was holding Qin Chuan down like a cannonball!
"Bang!"
This collision gathered all her hatred and strength, and hit Huang Qiang's side hard!
Huang Qiang had never expected that this trembling woman would dare to resist. He was caught off guard and was knocked off balance. She screamed and rolled to the side!
Qin Chuan seized this precious opportunity, suddenly turned over and hit Huang Qiang's neck with a heavy elbow!
Huang Qiang groaned, his eyes blurred for a moment, and he struggled to get up, but eventually collapsed weakly and temporarily lost consciousness.
At the same time, several police officers rushed in, quickly took control of the scene, and handcuffed the unconscious Huang Qiang. Another person quickly stepped forward to untie Ouyang Lanlan.
"Lanlan! Are you okay?" Qin Chuan didn't care about his bleeding wrist. He stumbled to Ouyang Lanlan and hugged her tightly. Ouyang Lanlan burst into tears in his arms, her body shaking like a leaf in the wind. It was the exhaustion after the release of fear.
"It's okay, it's okay, it's over." Qin Chuan stroked her back again and again, comforting her in a hoarse voice, and his eyes became moist.
At this time, a police officer came over and said, "Mr. Qin, Ms. Ouyang, are you okay? Do you need to call an ambulance immediately?"
Ouyang Lanlan suddenly stopped crying. She raised her head from Qin Chuan's arms, tears still on her face, but she tried to squeeze out a pale smile with a hint of strange brilliance. She let go of the dirty stuffed bear she was holding tightly.
Then, under everyone's puzzled gazes, she carefully took out a small electronic recording device that was flashing a faint red light from an extremely hidden zipper on the back of the plush bear!
Qin Chuan understood, and his eyes immediately lit up! This was the little bear with a recording function that he had given her. Just now, in extreme fear, she had relied on her memory and instinct to find and quietly press the recording button!
"Everything he said was recorded." Ouyang Lanlan's voice was still tearful, but filled with a sense of relief. She looked at Qin Chuan, tears glistening in her eyes and a small, surviving pride. "This time, we really have evidence."
Qin Chuan looked at the small recorder, then at Ouyang Lanlan's pale but resolute face. A mixture of emotions washed over him, a surge of immense relief and indescribable emotion. He nodded vigorously and held her tighter in his arms.
Outside the warehouse, the sound of police sirens approached from afar, shattering the suburban silence. The setting sun shone through the shabby window frames, casting a shadow on the two people embracing, as if finally bringing a ray of light and warmth to this long, dark nightmare.
(End of Chapter 16)
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