I AM

Chapter 26

Shen Wei would not have been able to answer the question so easily, and he was being referred to in the third person. Oh-oh...

"Who are you?" Zhao Yunlan tried to keep his voice even.

"I am...Lin Jing."

"Lin Jing?"

"Yeah. It was getting a little too tense, and, well, I guess we're not ready to die, yet," Lin Jing said as he sat up. He picked up the bomb and looked at it carefully, then shook it. "I have a feeling that this is a fake. It was obviously just to scare people."

"Well, it did a good job of doing THAT," Zhao Yunlan agreed as he looked out the window and saw the police on the grounds. The bomb squad had just arrived and were pushing their way through the crowd.

"Hmph. They should pay me these guys' salaries. I did their work today," Lin Jing said in a bored voice as he joined Zhao Yunlan at the window.

Minutes later, a man dressed in protective gear entered the room. He carefully picked up the bomb and turned it this way and that, made sure that it had indeed been defused, then put it in an insulated box and left the room. A couple of police detectives began to question Lin Jing and Zhao Yunlan, and Lin Jing spoke excitedly when it came to the bomb, talking about the different possible schematics, complete losing the detectives who were not bomb experts. Zhao Yunlan listened carefully; this personality was obviously very intelligent, analytical, good with technology, and was able to keep cool under pressure with the bomb.

When they were almost done with the questioning, a call came in, saying that several similar bags also containing bombs were found scattered in different parts of the hospital. Lin Jing wanted to follow them out and look for them, probably intending to defuse them as well, but Zhao Yunlan held him back, and holding his arm, they went downstairs and outside, where they found President Zhao anxiously waiting for them.

"Thank goodness you're safe!" President Zhao exclaimed, as he turned Lin Jing this way and that, then hugged him.

"Um, thanks, but once I took over, we were in no danger," Lin Jing said.

President Zhao released his hold, and as Lin Jing took a step back, he looked him over, wondering who it was.

"I'm Lin Jing. You were good to us when we were in the States. It's nice to see you again, President Zhao," he said softly.

President Zhao looked at Zhao Yunlan who nodded, and he wheeled President Zhao to a quiet area, where he told the shaken president about what had happened. Lin Jing preened like a peacock when Zhao Yunlan exaggerated how he had made a grand entrance, and with just seconds to spare, took charge and instructed which wires should be cut.

"Of course if the bomb is a fake, then we'll never know if I was right," Lin Jing said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I wish I knew for sure...maybe we can talk to the person who did this..." he added wistfully as he looked towards the hospital building.

It was hours later when the police finally released everyone, and nurses began to wheel patients back to their rooms. President Zhao jumped at the chance to be discharged, and they all went to back to the mansion, where Jia Qiu had readied a room. He had hired a nurse to spend the night with President Zhao, but because it was such a last minute request, it would still be a couple hours before one could come. Lin Jing looked at the IV bags and needle, and after disinfecting President Zhao's arm, expertly stuck the needle in, then secured it with some tape.

"Easy-peasy. How much are you going to pay this nurse? We don't really need her. I can handle at least this much. Give me that money instead," Lin Jing said as he took President Zhao's temperature and pulse. "The doctors wanted to keep you for another night to make sure that you would rest, right? You are a little dehydrated, though, so I'll keep the IV going through tonight and see how you are tomorrow."