Chapter 53 Kidnapping
Renxin Medical Clinic, 10 PM.
It was the beginning of the month, a time for inventory checks, clearing out stock, settling accounts, and making payments... Cui Mingyue stood up, rubbed her aching back and arms, and felt her eyes were sore and dry from staring at the computer screen for so long, so she quickly put in a few drops of eye drops.
Lying flat on the hard bed, she finally felt a sense of relief. Plus, she had to work overtime tonight, and since she wasn't the attending physician tomorrow, she could finally get a good rest for the morning.
Just as she was about to leave, she realized that there was someone in the next room, and warm yellow light shone through the crack in the door.
She knocked gently on the door, but instead pushed it open. Seeing Shen Qingtang still working at her desk, she yawned and said, "Sister Shen, it's so late, what are you still busy with?"
She chuckled and teased, "Coming home so late, didn't Brother Qin call to urge you to hurry up?"
Shen Qingtang raised her head, rubbed her tired eyes, glanced down at her mind and replied, "I estimate the call will start in about ten minutes. I'll take these medical records home to review. I have to make house calls the day after tomorrow, so I probably won't be coming to the clinic."
Although his tone was perfectly normal, Cui Mingyue could still sense the air of affection between them.
She clicked her tongue and said, "Sister Chen, you're just too dedicated. You came to work right after recording the show."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "There's nothing I can do, there are just too many troublesome things piling up." Renxin Medical Clinic has expanded, and they have also recruited a group of new, highly skilled Chinese medicine doctors. In addition, Cui Mingyue is capable, so she doesn't need to worry about the daily trivial matters of the clinic.
But for those patients who traveled thousands of miles to seek treatment for incurable diseases, no one could share her burden.
Take, for example, the grandson of the chairman of Saint Mark Pharmaceuticals. He suffers from progeria and has been told by the hospital that he won't live past twenty. Now, at only ten years old, his hair is already gray, his skin is dry and wrinkled, yet his eyes have the innocence of a child. He looks both old and young, and she must find a treatment method as soon as possible.
With more than a dozen such challenging cases piling up on her plate, she had no time to rest.
Cui Mingyue understood Shen Qingtang's meaning and shook her head, saying, "It seems that being a divine doctor is really not an easy thing. Sister Shen, the divine doctor Liao sent some wild Solomon's Seal he dug up in the mountains. I'll dry it for you and you can add a small piece to your tea to nourish yourself."
Shen Qingtang nodded slightly and said, "Mingyue thanks you." Ever since Shen Qingtang enlightened Liao Qinghe, he has continued to go deep into the mountains. She had seen the photo that he had attached to the letter. He had become tanned and matured. He no longer had the face of a pretty boy. Instead, his face was firm and he exuded composure.
Previously, Liao's father had made a special phone call to express his gratitude to Shen Qingtang and to invite her to visit Yancheng.
Cui Mingyue shook her head and said with a grin, "Sister Chen, I'm really looking forward to our Renxin Medical Clinic surpassing Yonghetang to become the number one medical clinic in Kyoto. Your health can't be compromised. Besides..." She paused for two seconds and said, "Without you, who would treat our employees so well? You even reimbursed me for the certification exam."
Without the encouragement and support of the other party, she would not be able to become a doctor who can practice independently.
Shen Qingtang smiled slightly: "This is a very profitable investment."
Cui Mingyue clicked her tongue twice: "Sister Chen, what you said has the same flavor as Brother Qin." After saying that, she touched her belly, which had become heavy from eating dog food, waved her hand, and said, "I'll be going now."
As Shen Qingtang watched Cui Mingyue leave, she began to organize the medical records she had just reviewed, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the alarm clock in front of her.
3, 2, 1
22:10
The phone rang on time, and a man's helpless yet doting voice came from the other end: "Qingtang, why haven't you come home yet? Are you too busy with work? I'll send Qi Yi to pick you up."
Shen Qingtang's eyes held a ease and sweetness she herself was unaware of. She shook her head and said, "Brother Qin, no need. I drove here today, and I'll be home in twenty minutes at most."
“But you must be quite tired today,” Qin Guanlan insisted on the other end of the phone.
“But I still have the strength to drive.” Shen Qingtang knew that Brother Qin was worried about her, but such concern was mutual.
Qi Yi is now Brother Qin's personal driver. If he picks me up tonight, he will definitely have to take me there first tomorrow, which will make Brother Qin have to get up early again.
In fact, not only Shen Qingtang was extremely busy during this period, but Qin Guanlan was also very busy, working overtime at the company for several days. It is said that he was working on some kind of cross-border merger and acquisition case, and had even made connections with Old Madam Qin. Naturally, it was a do-or-die situation.
Shen Qingtang didn't know much about business matters, but she secretly hoped that the other person could sleep a little longer in the morning.
Seeing that Shen Qingtang insisted on not backing down, Qin Guanlan also agreed and said, "Okay, then I will come to the door to pick you up when the time comes."
He suddenly remembered a time when Su Rong was harassed at the art gallery, and Shen Qingtang took the harasser back to cause trouble. At that time, he was paralyzed in both legs and could only sit in a wheelchair and watch them leave.
But now, he can stand beside the other. Forever and ever... until the end of life.
Shen Qingtang smiled helplessly, instantly understanding the other party's true thoughts, and said, "Brother Qin, I'll go drive home right away."
Changchun Street is a narrow and crowded alley with no designated parking spaces, and there are surveillance cameras nearby. If you are caught illegally parking, the fine starts at 200 yuan.
However, since Renxin Medical Clinic was taken over by Shen Qingtang, it has become a new source of revenue.
Because many of the people who came to Shen Qingtang for medical treatment were wealthy people who didn't care about money, it was perfectly reasonable for them to pay the 200 yuan "parking fee". This prompted the tax bureau to make a special visit to her recently, and they even brought her fruit and milk as a token of their appreciation, which left her both amused and exasperated.
Shen Qingtang always parks at the exit of the alley; you can see it by turning left and walking straight.
Whether it was because it was too late, the sky was too dark, or the chilly wind made her bones feel cold, Shen Qingtang had a feeling of unease in her heart.
She kept looking back, feeling as if someone was watching her, or even following her.
But whenever she tried to verify this with such thoughts in mind, she didn't find anyone. Could it be stray cats and dogs in the neighborhood? Or was she just being paranoid?
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, followed by her nose and lips being stuffed with a strongly scented towel.
The scent was like a cheap, counterfeit designer perfume, constantly assaulting her brain, and soon an uncontrollable drowsiness overwhelmed her.
The faint sounds of men talking could still be heard.
"Is it her?"
“Yes, I remember the photos the employer gave me very clearly.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly realized the situation before her.
She... was kidnapped.
Moreover, it was done under someone's direction.
Who could it be? A group of people quickly came to mind, but before she could think about it further, her eyelids closed and she fell into a hazy sleep.
*
Five minutes have passed...
Ten minutes have passed...
Qin Guanlan, who was waiting at the entrance of the Qin Mansion, frowned. Why hadn't Qingtang returned yet? Was she stuck in traffic or had an accident?
Qi Yi, standing to the side, said shrewdly, "Brother Qin, let me call Sister Chen first and ask."
Qin Guanlan nodded silently, his gaze falling on the interface of Qi Yi's phone call, but strangely, a mechanical voice indicated that the other party's phone was already switched off.
Qi Er pursed his lips and guessed, "Could it be that the power is out? I'll call Renxin Medical Clinic."
A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Qin Guanlan's heart. He bit his lip and said, "Make a call." He already knew that the call would not be answered, but a glimmer of hope still lingered in his heart.
The phone rang, but no one answered.
Qin Guanlan's face immediately darkened, and the unease in his heart surged to its peak. His expression was as cold as a thousand-year-old iceberg.
Qi Yi and Qi Er's drowsiness was instantly shattered.
The next second, they heard Qin Guanlan give an order.
"Qi Yi, quickly call the head of the district police station and tell him that I want to see the surveillance video near Renxin Medical Clinic. Then contact the staff of Renxin Medical Clinic and ask them to think about when they last saw Qingtang."
"Qi Er, keep an eye on the online activity. I think it might just be a prank by strangers online." He said without much hope, "Maybe it's just a prank."
Qi Yi and Qi Er said in unison.
The Qin family is a top-tier wealthy family in Kyoto, and they have always maintained a good relationship with the police, so they easily obtained the surveillance footage. Two police officers accompanied them.
I heard he's a veteran who frequently solves missing persons cases and is very experienced in these kinds of cases.
The senior policeman in the lead said, "Mr. Qin, the situation is urgent, we need to hurry, so I won't bother with pleasantries. I'm Lao Zheng, one of the people urgently transferred from the Criminal Investigation Department. Next to me is my apprentice, Xiao Li, who is also a profiler."
As we all know, in sudden and urgent disappearances like this, the longer the person remains missing, the worse the situation becomes. The consequences can range from minor property loss to serious threats to their life.
Qin Guanlan nodded and said, "Thank you for coming to help us in the middle of the night."
Old Zheng shook his head and said, "You're welcome. Serving the people is our duty, especially since it's Dr. Shen who has disappeared. Our superiors have given us a death order: we must find Dr. Shen within 24 hours." He pursed his lips and said solemnly, "Now we can't rule out the possibility that spies from other countries have infiltrated and want to harm such an outstanding technical talent as Dr. Shen."
Despite living in a small, humble clinic, Dr. Shen's cases involve many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, including the daughter of a mayor, a senior government official, the youngest son of a well-known developer, and the daughter-in-law of a high-ranking military officer.
If Dr. Shen dies, what will happen to these people?
What Lao Zheng didn't say was that he was now under pressure not only from the police station and the top-tier Qin family, but also from other sources.
Even if he stays up all night, he will solve this case successfully.
It is said that crisis and opportunity coexist. If he can resolve this case satisfactorily, it will be a significant achievement on his resume, and a promotion will be a piece of cake.
Getting back to the point, Old Zheng continued, "On the way here, my apprentice and I already checked the surveillance footage." He dragged the video progress bar, stopping at a keyframe, and said, "You can see that Dr. Shen left Renxin Medical Clinic at 10:01 PM, turned left, and there's a paid parking lot over there. She must have gone there to get her car."
Xiao Li moved forward again, freezing the moment Shen Qingtang turned around, and said, "Dr. Shen just said the word 'strange,' and in this surveillance video, she turned her head more than three times. She must have realized that she might be being followed, and her pace quickened a bit."
"Look at the two people who kidnapped Dr. Shen. One of them is wearing a sack, and the other is covering his mouth and nose. Their movements are skillful, so they must be experienced. Because they are wearing face masks, we cannot perform facial comparison."
"However, I can make some inferences based on their posture and movements."
"The man in the blue shirt, aged 30 to 35, has a relatively calm personality. He is the mastermind behind the incident and likes to strike decisively. He has calluses on his hands and a habit of rubbing his thumbs. He probably used to work in a factory, especially a machine factory, and may have served time in prison."
"The man in the red shirt, aged 20-25, has a fiery temper, loves to smoke, likes lively places, often hangs out in bars, internet cafes and other disreputable places, is greedy for money, has a strong gangster vibe, probably didn't have much schooling, started out in the underworld at a young age, may be supported by his family or may be a gang member, and doesn't have a stable job."
Officer Li spoke eloquently and provided a great deal of information.
Qin Guanlan nodded and looked at Qi Yi and Qi Er, saying, "Write down what Xiao Li said, and follow these directions to search. We should be able to find him."
Old Zheng remained silent, pleased with the outcome. They belonged to the police force, a formal unit, and their conduct and actions were governed by strict regulations. Even if a fast track could be opened, the necessary documents still had to be provided. By the time he obtained the search warrant, it would be too late. With the Qin family's help, efficiency would naturally improve significantly.
After Qin Guanlan finished his call, Lao Zheng continued, "Judging from the conversation between these two kidnappers, this kidnapping should have been premeditated. You and Dr. Shen's family must keep your phones accessible. Now we just need to see what this employer wants."
Shen Qingtang had not returned home for a long time, and the police had already come to the door, so naturally, Su Rong and Qin Su Miao could not hide it.
Hearing Lao Zheng's words, Qin Sumiao clenched her fists tightly and said, "The employer behind this is really despicable. Now we are like fish on a chopping board, completely at their mercy."
Su Rong patted Qin Su Miao on the back and said, "It's better to have something to ask for than nothing. This is actually a good thing for us."
"Yes," Qi Yi nodded in agreement, "This means that Sister Shen's life is not in danger for the time being."
*
Meanwhile, Xu Ying also learned about Shen Qingtang's kidnapping. She woke up from her sleep and, upon hearing this, instinctively asked, "How is that possible?"
Qin Guanlan didn't say anything more, only saying, "Auntie, I'll send you the surveillance video later. We're doing our best to find them. You can also check if you recognize these two kidnappers." Although the possibility is small, it can't be ruled out that this might be retaliation brought on by Shen's parents.
Xu Ying then realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately woke up her husband, as well as Shen Qinglan and Shen Ningle.
"Mom, why did you wake us up in the middle of the night?" Shen Qinglan rubbed her tired eyes and yawned sleepily. She had successfully terminated her contract with her original company and become a singer at Xiangying Music Company.
These days she's been working hard on lyrics and composition, creating her debut song and officially embarking on her musical journey. Therefore, during breaks from recording "My Sisters," she works tirelessly in her bedroom, getting less than five hours of sleep each day.
Xu Ying knew about this, and she felt sorry for her second daughter, but now she was more worried about her eldest daughter.
Thinking of this, her eyes reddened, and a tear fell directly down her cheek: "Xiao Qin just called me. Your eldest sister, Shen Qingtang, was kidnapped on her way home to get her car tonight."
"Xiao Qin said the kidnappers might call us to extort money, so we should keep our phones fully charged at all times." After saying that, she threw herself into her husband's arms and said, "Don't you think I was too greedy? That's why God is punishing me like this."
“The family heirloom has already returned to my side, but I still can’t forgive her. Only then will Heaven think she is unfilial and punish her now.”
"Actually, she's very filial. When we were abroad, she secretly sent us a lot of things." She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "Actually, I forgave her a long time ago. Do you think Qingtang will blame me?"
Father Shen reached out and patted Xu Ying's head, saying, "No, no, I know you've already forgiven her. You just wanted her to come see you more often, so you haven't been willing to give in."
Shen Ningyue suddenly spoke up: "Actually, I forgave my older sister a long time ago. I knew all along that the rare foreign edition of the complete guide to wild animals was given to me by my older sister." Although he was very angry when she left him in the park before, he could now clearly sense that she was much more mature than before.
His older sister has grown up, and he's no longer a child, so he won't fuss over such things anymore.
Hearing this, Shen Qinglan subconsciously touched her face and said, "Yes, I forgave her a long time ago." If it weren't for her, she wouldn't have been able to terminate her contract with the unscrupulous agency.
Six months ago, she signed a dual contract, which led to her being overwhelmed by work and a barrage of negative comments. When she was so upset that she wanted to die, she never imagined that she could still have a bright and successful life.
She stared intently at her phone screen, her mind filled with only one thought: God, please bless my sister so she'll be safe and sound in this crisis, and hopefully not even a little finger will be hurt.
*
On the other side, Shen Qingtang walked into a long, narrow tunnel so dark that she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. There was no light inside, and she couldn't sense the passage of time. Her head was still dizzy, and a voice in her mind kept urging her on.
Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep quickly.
The warm call was like a gentle spring breeze, intoxicating, but Shen Qingtang chose to bite her tongue to let the pain awaken her.
She absolutely cannot... she absolutely cannot fall asleep like this.
The original owner's parents, Shen Qinglan, Shen Ningyue... More importantly, Brother Qin must be very worried when he sees that she hasn't come home yet.
She couldn't just fall asleep like that.
Perhaps due to the effect of her strong willpower and struggle, Shen Qingtang felt a blinding white light the next second, and the hood on her head was also removed, leaving her face to face with the young man in front of her.
"Brother Mu, Brother Mu, how... how did this woman suddenly wake up?"
Chen Er was instantly startled, his words becoming somewhat stammering. Most importantly, it was dark then, and he hadn't really looked closely at the drugged woman in front of him. Now he realized she was a hundred times more beautiful than in the photos, and he was completely stunned.
Zeng Mu came over with a dark face and said, "Did you try to save money and buy fake sleeping pills?" This wasn't the first or second time the other party had done something like this to squeeze money out of them.
Hearing this, Chen Er kept shaking his head and said, "Brother Mu, how could I do such a thing? Besides, didn't you tell me before that this deal was very important? I bought high-end goods from the fake old man. Logically speaking, she should have been unconscious for another hour or two."
Suddenly, a nonchalant voice interrupted, "Heh, do you even tell the truth?"
The man was burly with well-defined muscles, clearly a laborer. His name was Kui Wu, and he owned the warehouse.
When he got closer and saw the woman's face clearly, he was horrified. He uttered a string of local dialect words to Zeng Mu. Chen Er, standing beside him, guessed and finally managed to understand half of what he meant.
It turns out this woman had once saved Kui Wu's grandmother, and she asked if they could give up the business deal.
Zeng Mu said coldly, "No, we're already on this pirate ship, there's no chance of getting off. Besides, don't you want your two million?"
Upon hearing this, Kui Wu's eyes darted around, and he began to stammer as he paced back and forth in the cramped, dilapidated warehouse. Finally, a pang of conscience struck him, and he said, "At least we don't have to tie her hands and feet up. It must be so uncomfortable with a towel stuffed in her mouth."
As she spoke, she deftly removed it, ignoring Zeng Mu's disapproving expression.
Kui Wu said respectfully, "Doctor Chen, would you like some water? I'll go and make some for you right away."
"Don't worry, we're just helping our employer kidnap you. She said she wants to ask you a question. I promise we'll never do anything like killing someone. Your life is in my hands."
Kui Wu patted his large muscles, making a loud thud on his chest, prompting Chen Yi to complain, "We're kidnappers, not their bodyguards. Can't you even figure out who you are?"
Shen Qingtang was surprised to find that one of the three kidnappers was a family member of her patient. This was an unexpected surprise for her. She subtly twisted her bruised wrist and asked, "Kui Wu, do you know who your employer is? If she wants something, you can talk to me slowly. There's no need to resort to this method."
Kui Wu shook his head honestly and said, "Brother Mu has always handled the coordination, but I overheard them making a phone call before, and it seemed to be a woman."
The woman… Shen Qingtang blinked, about to ask more detailed questions.
Suddenly, an indignant voice came from behind: "I asked you to kidnap her, not to invite her for tea. Can't you even do that?"
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