Wei Changqiu’s spacious office was eerily quiet. The breathing of five people seemed amplified. The atmosphere was so tense you could hear a pin drop, yet that pin never fell. Silently, the temperature of the gun barrel reached equilibrium with Wei Changqiu’s body heat.
“So you’ve been deceiving me for these two years,” Wei Changqiu’s jaw tightened as she said self-mockingly, “Your claims about liking money were lies, your strained relationship with Zhou Zisheng was a lie, and not loving Xu Shanshan was also a lie.”
Zhou Mo pressed the gun barrel tighter: “I never meant to deceive you.”
His words seemed to hide a turning point. Wei Changqiu maintained her previous tone, “A Mo,” she called him, “Have you ever considered that there might have been some misunderstanding about Shanshan’s situation back then…”
Zhou Mo ignored her words and continued, enunciating each word: “Every day, every night, every hour, every minute, I’ve been thinking about how to kill you.”
Zhou Mo had followed Wei Changqiu for too long. So long that when he turned vicious, his ice-cold voice carried more chilling intent than Wei Changqiu’s.
A second silence fell.
Zhou Mo spoke: “Release Tang Yang first.”
His grievances with Wei Changqiu were between them; Tang Yang was innocent and pregnant.
Tang Yang frowned slightly.
The two men holding Tang Yang didn’t move.
Zhou Mo flicked off the safety of his gun with a crisp “click”.
Wei Changqiu nodded slightly. The two men holding Tang Yang loosened one hand while the other reached towards their waists.
Tang Yang slowly shuffled towards Zhou Mo, who extended his hand towards her.
As Tang Yang’s feet drew closer to Zhou Mo – two meters, one meter, half a meter…
Zhou Mo’s hand covered Tang Yang’s arm. The moment he pulled her behind him, in a flash, the two men on the side drew their guns simultaneously – one aimed at Zhou Mo, the other at Tang Yang!
A window shattered with a “crash”, and the door burst open with a “bang”.
At the same time, special forces poured in, shouting “Don’t move!” “Freeze!” The assault team swiftly subdued the two men and efficiently lined up on both sides.
Zhou Mo was a witness with immunity, and his intention to act against Wei Changqiu was obvious.
Zhou Mo’s gun was still pressed against Wei Changqiu. Tang Yang stood beside him. The two men from earlier had been taken away. The special forces’ attention was now focused on the three of them.
All three were adjusting their breathing.
Wei Changqiu feigned an attempt to calm Zhou Mo: “A Mo, don’t do anything rash.” Her peripheral vision scanned the room; the Ecological Kingdom was already surrounded. The only way out now was to take a hostage.
Zhou Mo was guilty but had rendered meritorious service. Tang Yang’s throat tightened as she also tried to persuade him: “Zhou Mo, don’t be impulsive. The police are already here.”
Wei Changqiu: “A Mo, if you pull that trigger, I’m finished, but so are you.”
Wei Changqiu knew she couldn’t use Zhou Mo as a hostage. She began to assess the distance between herself and Tang Yang.
Tang Yang’s voice was very low, as if afraid to startle anyone: “Zhou Mo, calm down a bit.”
The gun was jet black. Zhou Mo’s knuckles turned white as he gripped it tightly.
Wei Changqiu’s lips parted, and Tang Yang’s lips parted.
Zhou Mo wanted so badly to pull the trigger. He understood that this one shot would be his point of no return, but what did he have left to cherish? Nothing.
Wei Changqiu’s expression barely changed, while Tang Yang grew visibly anxious, seeming to want to pull him back. Zhou Mo’s mind was buzzing; he couldn’t hear anything.
A helicopter hovered at a slightly higher altitude just outside the office window. The low noise of its rotors filled the air, its cabin door wide open.
Wei Changqiu was still trying to persuade Zhou Mo: “A Mo, you’re still young.”
Tang Yang’s heart was racing. Her hand, hanging by her side, hesitantly lifted a bit.
Song Jing had a hard object in his mouth, resting his gun on the observer’s shoulder, adjusting the sight as the helicopter swayed.
Wei Changqiu stood at an angle between Zhou Mo and Tang Yang, not exposing any vital areas.
Inside the window, Wei Changqiu had mentally prepared her steps to take Tang Yang hostage. As Zhou Mo’s attention wavered, she suddenly grabbed Tang Yang’s wrist and pulled her in front.
Outside the window, a “bang” rang out!
The first shot knocked the gun out of Zhou Mo’s hand.
The hot shell casing rolled near Song Jing’s fair-skinned hand as his long fingers engaged the safety.
The special forces prepared to move. Everyone looked towards the window.
Wei Changqiu maintained her posture of holding Tang Yang hostage, also turning her head to look.
The moment Wei Changqiu exposed her face—
Long fingers pulled the trigger.
A sharp “bang” echoed!
Everyone’s breath caught.
Wei Changqiu’s eyes widened.
The helicopter closed its door and flew away.
Wei Changqiu’s body swayed twice, and her grip on Tang Yang slowly loosened.
With a “thud”, she fell face-first to the ground, blood and hot smoke gushing from between her eyebrows…
What followed was an orderly arrest. Various media outlets quickly arrived under guidance.
The Ecological Kingdom, silent just this morning, was now teeming with people. Camera flashes, voices, running footsteps, shouts, and sirens rose and fell in waves.
Refrigerated cabinets and metal boxes were being transported out of various buildings, and packed into vehicles.
After giving her statement, Tang Yang went to the restroom for some air.
She was very sensitive to the smell of blood. Occasionally, as a box passed by, the scent wafted into Tang Yang’s nose, causing her to lean against a tree and retch. After finishing, she walked towards the command center, dialing a number on Zhou Mo’s phone as she went.
“Jiang Shiyan, where are you?” Her voice moved through the clamor, tinged with tears.
She hadn’t noticed that she was passing through the media area corridor. Suddenly, a hand reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
That chest was broad and warm.
She was held tightly, greedily inhaling that long-missed and familiar woody scent.
The voices around them were chaotic.
Jiang Shiyan covered her ears with both hands, kissing her hair tenderly.
Nearby, reporters from various outlets spoke rapidly and clearly.
“Dear viewers, I’m reporting live from the scene of the ‘721 Jiujiang Major Case’. According to sources, Jiujiang Group’s Board Chairman Wei Changchun once made his fortune through marijuana smuggling and has now been arrested. Several Jiujiang executives are implicated in multiple homicides, among which Wei Changqiu was directly linked to the murders of Wei Changchun and former Huishang Credit Review Department Head Qiu Kai. She has now been shot dead. Other executives have all been apprehended…”
“Hello everyone, this is Yixiu Sohu Media. Building on the exposure of cold cases, Jiujiang’s ecological system, which includes industries such as ‘human trafficking’, ‘sex slave trade’, ‘organ black market’, and ‘illegal armed forces’, has also been uncovered. We are now at Jiujiang’s headquarters, the Ecological Kingdom. The park includes sections for ‘organ storage and preservation’, ‘live human organ harvesting’, ‘drug manufacturing’, and more. According to police, several famous ‘child abduction’ cases are also related to Jiujiang…”
“Jiujiang Real Estate stocks have been urgently suspended by the Securities Regulatory Commission. Informed sources reveal that Jiujiang’s top management had unclear transactions with some department heads in City A, all of which are now under investigation.”
“…”
The voices were many and varied.
Tang Yang pressed herself against Jiang Shiyan’s chest, seeking a moment of peace.
Tang Yang had only intended to obtain evidence of Jiujiang’s unpaid billions from the special case against Wei Changqiu. Jiang Shiyan couldn’t bear it and released news of Tang Yang’s disappearance.
After Tang Yang entered, she discovered she had been taken to the Ecological Kingdom.
She needed to gather intelligence, and Jiang Shiyan had conveniently released the news of Jiujiang kidnapping Tang Yang during the first wave of media attention.
Tang Yang obtained general information and planned to exchange a fake USB drive for evidence, trying to send the evidence out and then stop the Jiujiang case. Wei Changqiu was a person who understood trade-offs and would surely agree.
But as Jiang Shiyan gradually stirred up public opinion, and after Tang Yang personally saw the existence of those buildings, realizing Jiujiang was more sensitive than imagined, all plans were overturned.
Earlier, when Wei Changqiu was smoking, Tang Yang tossed a leaf for the first time. She noted the relative positions of the leaf and the cigarette. The next day, the positions hadn’t changed, confirming her guess that the Ecological Kingdom didn’t have dedicated cleaners, at least not daily.
Tang Yang had heard those eerie numbers from Wei Changqiu beforehand and asked Jiang Shiyan to investigate small factories related to Jiujiang’s registered addresses. Meanwhile, Tang Yang marked locations with leaves, telling Jiang Shiyan about the marked spots. The next day, when Jin entered the Kingdom to maintain the internal network, he pretended to drop his phone, placing a locator on the leaf. Tang Yang found and swallowed the locator.
By then, Jiang Shiyan had already contacted Song Jing. Their original plan was to rescue Tang Yang and Zhou Mo first, then deal with the evidence.
But as Wei Changchun arrived at the Ecological Kingdom, the three armed groups received intelligence from informants and acted ahead of schedule. Tang Yang rushed to the office to take photos just before Wei Changqiu could destroy the documents. Coming out, she ran into Wei Changqiu, who was then taken hostage, Zhou Mo turned against Wei Changqiu, Wei Changqiu took a second hostage, and Song Jing took a headshot from the helicopter.
Many things seemed to follow the plan, yet also felt like blind coincidences.
While inside the Ecological Kingdom, Tang Yang didn’t feel afraid. It was only when the Kingdom collapsed overnight that she felt the belated fear wash over her.
Tang Yang was afraid of many things: the researchers in suits who kept mentioning her eyes, the child’s face that accidentally appeared in the laboratory window, the dagger Wei Changqiu pressed against her belly, and little Jiang Xiaogou. Jiang Xiaogou was so tiny; she had promised to protect him well, but she never did. He hadn’t even been born yet and hadn’t even seen his incompetent parents.
Jiang Xiaogou often made a fuss, but Tang Yang knew he was well-behaved. What if something happened to Jiang Xiaogou…
Perhaps it was the sensitivity that came with pregnancy, but as Tang Yang lay on Jiang Shiyan’s chest, tears suddenly began to fall, one after another. With the noisy surroundings, Tang Yang began to sob, her cries growing louder and more forceful, filled with fear.
Jiang Shiyan gently moved her to the side, his hand shifting from covering her ears to stroking her hair. He closed his eyes, his trembling lashes hiding his reddened eye sockets.
Jiang Shiyan was tall and slender, his suit wrapped around his shirt outlining sexy, thin, long muscle lines. Many reporters, hearing the commotion, turned to see the boss, but quickly turned away, betraying their professional gossip instincts. An assistant brought over some newspapers to spread on the low partition on the first floor, then quickly slipped away.
Jiang Shiyan sat on the partition, cradling Tang Yang, carefully wiping her tears with his fingertips, then wiping his fingers with a tissue.
Tang Yang clutched Jiang Shiyan’s clothes, sobbing softly.
In this tender moment, undisturbed…
A pair of military boots stopped in front of them.
The person said, “Hey.”
Jiang Shiyan looked up.
Song Jing ignored Jiang Shiyan and held out his palm to Tang Yang. “Want some candy?”
A few strawberry-flavored hard candies.
Of course, Tang Yang recognized Song Jing. Here she was, crying like a dog in front of her ex-boyfriend, and he was offering her candy. Was he watching the show or treating her like a child?
Tang Yang didn’t look up, speaking a bit fiercely: “No.”
Song Jing lifted his chin slightly towards Jiang Shiyan. “Do you want some candy?”
Jiang Shiyan put on airs for a moment, then imitated Tang Yang’s soft voice: “I don’t want any!”
Tang Yang’s expression froze, then she turned and pinched Jiang Dagou’s nose, her little face stern as she scratched him, and scratched him.
Jiang Shiyan half-protected Tang Yang’s waist, not only not angry but brazenly smiling and offering his face: “It’ll be unbalanced if you scratch the left side but not the right, come on, scratch the right side too.”
Tang Yang obliged.
Jiang Shiyan gently guided her hand: “Scratching isn’t forceful enough, come on, hit me, hit me, hit my face, aim for the face.”
Behind them was an official media break, Tang Yang straddling Jiang Shiyan and throwing a tantrum, while Jiang Shiyan shamelessly played along.
Song Jing was astounded.
Was this man always so shameless…
After scratching a couple of times, Tang Yang realized that the people from the break weren’t far away, and she couldn’t bear to continue. She pursed her lips and suddenly hugged Jiang Shiyan’s head tightly.
“Feeling better now?”
Song Jing heard the once domineering Jiang Bawang’s voice turn unbelievably gentle.
Tang Yang got off Jiang Shiyan, softly responding with an “Mm.”
Now, Song Jing was truly about to suffocate.
Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan sat on the low platform, with Song Jing crouching next to Jiang Shiyan.
Song Jing hesitated for a moment, then asked with a complex expression: “Is the disparity in your family status this big?”
Tang Yang didn’t deny it: “The minority follows the majority.”
She and Jiang Shiyan were two against one.
Jiang Shiyan nodded, while Song Jing remained puzzled.
Someone came to report to Jiang Shiyan, who gave a few simple instructions.
The wind lifted the corners of their clothes, and the leaves overhead made a rustling sound.
Jiang Shiyan also asked Song Jing, “Planning to retire?”
Didn’t you say you were going to retire before?
Song Jing shook his head: “After Zhang Zhilan’s husband Min Zhi had an accident on the bridge, his comrades found his belongings in the temporary dormitory. Min Zhi left a draft paper; the bridge that collapsed in the flood was built by Jiujiang. He recorded some survey data, and there were problems with Jiujiang’s design and materials. The higher-ups have been paying attention to Jiujiang since then.”
“My last mission was also aimed at a branch of Wang’s group,” Song Jing said with a faint smile, his expression unchanging. “In Myanmar, a comrade took a bullet for me and died in the line of duty. The team is short-handed now, I can’t leave.”
Risking their lives for the very tip of the national flag.
Wei Changqiu had mentioned the number “515” earlier, and Tang Yang recalled the 514 small factory loan records in Huishang’s loan records. She had been racking her brain over the missing 001, and now it all came together clearly—
Number 001 was the bridge recorded by Min Zhi, plus the remaining 514 small factory loan records, totaling 515 cases.
Tang Yang remained silent.
Jiang Shiyan said, “Just keep me as your emergency contact. I’m worried Uncle can’t handle it.”
“It’s you,” Song Jing said with a smile, punching Jiang Shiyan lightly. “Don’t you want me to be happy? What if I don’t end up alone? What if I meet another pretty girl I like in the future? What if that pretty girl becomes my wife?”
While Jiang Shiyan was chatting with Song Jing, Tang Yang didn’t interrupt. She leaned against Jiang Shiyan’s shoulder, obediently and softly playing with his hand.
Jiang Shiyan picked up on the word “another,” and then equated the pretty girl Song Jing had liked with Yang Yang.
A thousand little men in Jiang Shiyan’s heart were cursing with hands on their hips, while his hand unconsciously pulled his girlfriend closer. His face, however, remained impassive as he responded with a casual “Oh” that was particularly calm: “Then you must make some preparations in advance, prepare thoroughly, don’t be like me.”
Song Jing naturally followed up: “Prepare what?”
Jiang Shiyan sighed: “I said I wanted to pursue Tang Yang again, but I’ve been too busy and haven’t pursued her properly. I wanted to propose, but there’s never been a suitable time or place, and I can’t think of any surprises.”
Song Jing: “No rush, take it slow.”
“How can I take it slow,” Jiang Shiyan said with an affected bitter smile. “I need to hurry up and think carefully. Yang Yang is pregnant, and if the child is born without a wedding or anything, forget about me never forgiving myself, my mom would kill me.”
Song Jing: “…”
Seemingly oblivious to Song Jing’s stupor, Jiang Shiyan became even more self-reproachful: “Come to think of it, I was too stupid. When Yang Yang first got pregnant, she was vomiting terribly, but she was busy with work, and I thought her stomach was acting up. I didn’t even insist on her going to the hospital for a check-up. She liked sour things then, tomatoes, lemons…”
Song Jing put the candy next to Jiang Shiyan: “Well… I have something to attend to over there, so I’ll head over first.”
Jiang Shiyan was puzzled: “But no one called you.”
Song Jing stood up, clasping his hands together as he backed away: “There is, there is. We’ll chat again later.”
Jiang Shiyan complained about himself, but the pride in his words was impossible to conceal.
So what if Song Jing liked Yang Yang! So what if he didn’t have a high status in the family? Yang Yang was his girlfriend! Yang Yang was pregnant with his and her little princess!
Before the scene was properly handled, no one present could leave, and the media continued to report incessantly.
Jiang Shiyan watched Song Jing leave.
Only when Song Jing’s figure disappeared into the sea of people did he withdraw his gaze, letting out a rather contemptuous low hum.
Tang Yang naturally guessed Jiang Shiyan’s little tricks but indulgently didn’t expose him.
Meanwhile, she finally couldn’t help but chuckle: “Jiang Shiyan,” she looked at him with sparkling eyes, “do you know who you looked like just now when you were talking, with the sun falling through the gaps in the leaves, the bright spots right beside your hand, your lips moving in the backlight?”
The scene Yang Yang described was beautiful, probably about to say he looked like her favorite male celebrity or a scene from some novel.
Although Jiang Shiyan didn’t like being compared to others, if Mama Jiang said he looked like so-and-so, he’d explode.
But this was Yang Yang saying it…
Jiang Shiyan patiently and meticulously stroked her hair, his voice a lingering low tone: “Hmm?”
Tang Yang’s eyes curved in a smile, her voice clear and joyful: “Like the adorable Old Lady Li downstairs in the apartment building.”
All of Jiang Shiyan’s expressions instantly froze.
Tang Yang even put her hands on her hips and imitated: “Oh my, Little Tang, I heard you went on a blind date, how were the other party’s conditions? Are their parents still alive? Do they have a house and car? Do they have the five insurance and housing funds… Oh my, Little Jiang, you’re so handsome, how come you don’t have a girlfriend, come come, auntie will introduce you to someone…”
Tang Yang got more and more into it: “Hey, Zhang Ma, have you been to New Century? The 18th is member’s day, so you can exchange things! Stop playing mahjong, hurry back, and get ready, or else if you go late, the toilet paper will be sold out and you won’t know who to complain to…”
The more Tang Yang imitated, the closer it got to Jiang Shiyan’s earlier lines.
Jiang Shiyan was petrified yet awake, he slightly lowered his head, just looking at his little girl’s animated expressions of “Ya!” “Yo!” “Tsk tsk!”
Jiang Shiyan smiled and kissed her forehead: “Does baby’s skin itch for punishment?”
“Yes, yes!” Tang Yang wasn’t afraid at all, what could he do to punish her, at most touch her, kiss her, thinking of this, Tang Yang even puckered her rosy lips, her big watery eyes particularly challenging as she looked at him.
Yang Yang, ah Yang Yang, how can you be so cute…
Jiang Shiyan chuckled, and in the next second, he waved his hand towards a crowded area in the media section, his voice lazy and unrestrained as he shouted: “Sohu and Xingwen, you two entertainment channels stop competing with the official media, turn your cameras over here to film the scene, someone here wants to kiss.”