Yibo’s eyes locked onto Mrs. Xiao’s, his words barely audible. “I think Zhan and Wangji have been abducted.”
Mrs. Xiao’s face paled, her eyes widening in horror. She stood frozen, unable to utter a word. Her lips parted, but only a faint gasp escaped. Finally, she regained her voice, her words barely above a whisper.
“W-what?” she stammered, her eyes still fixed on Yibo’s face, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
Yibo’s voice trembled as he repeated his words, his eyes filled with a growing fear. “I-I think Zhan and Wangji have been abducted.”
Mrs. Xiao’s expression transformed, her face darkening with a mix of anger and fear. “How sure are you, Yibo?” she demanded, her voice low and urgent. “How can you even think such a thing?”
Yibo’s hand trembled as he held out his phone, his eyes fixed on the screen. “I received this message an hour ago,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “It came from your phone, Mrs. Xiao.”
The screen displayed a chilling message:
'Yibo dear, please do free Zhan a bit so he can see me. I promise to let him go after, and he’ll be all yours again.'
Mrs. Xiao’s eyes widened, her face ashen. “That’s…that’s not possible,” she stammered, her voice laced with horror. “I didn’t send that!”
Mrs. Xiao’s hands trembled violently as she frantically searched her bag for her cell phone, her eyes scanning the room with a growing sense of panic. Finally, her fingers closed around the device, and she pulled it out, her face pale and drawn. She opened the message app, and her eyes widened in horror as she saw the chilling message, sent from her own phone.
“No, no, no!” she stammered, her voice laced with fear and desperation. “I really didn’t send it!”
Yibo’s expression softened, his eyes filled with a deep concern as he tried to calm her down. “It’s okay, Mrs. Xiao. Let’s think this through. Where were you before coming here?" he asked, his voice gentle and soothing.
Mrs. Xiao’s words tumbled out in a stuttering rush, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. “I-I was at a restaurant…I left my bag with the waiter while I went to the restroom…my phone was in it…and when I came back…everything was still the same…oh God, oh God!”
Yibo’s eyes clouded with a mix of fear and understanding, his mind racing with the implications. He shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “That’s when they sent it. They had access to your phone when you left it unattended in the restaurant.”
As the truth sank in, Yibo’s shoulders slumped, his eyes welling up with tears. He sank back onto the couch, his body trembling with fear. Mrs. Xiao’s eyes mirrored his horror, her face pale and drawn. The silence between them was oppressive, heavy with the weight of their shared terror. The room seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening into dark and sinister forces that threatened to consume them whole.
Mr. Xiao’s imposing desk sat centered in the dimly lit room, the flickering fluorescent lights above casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with tension as he conferenced with Haikuan, their hushed voices intense and urgent. Suddenly, the phone on his desk shattered the silence, its shrill ring piercing the air. Mr. Xiao’s eyes narrowed as he answered, his deep voice calm and collected.
“Yibo, what’s wrong?” he asked, his tone measured.
Yibo’s voice was firm and commanding, yet laced with a hint of respect. “Mr. Xiao, I need your help. Zhan and Wangji have been abducted. I need your resources and expertise to get them back. I can’t waste any time, I need action now.”
Mr. Xiao’s expression turned grave. He was very shocked but remained calm as his eyes locking onto Haikuan’s. “Yibo, we’ll do everything in our power to help. But you need to stay calm and let us handle it. We can’t have you rushing in blindly, that’s not a strategy.”
Yibo’s dominance was evident, but he remained respectful. “I appreciate your help, Mr. Xiao. But I need to be involved in the rescue mission myself. I can’t just sit back and wait. I need to ensure Zhan’s safety. I’ll work with your team, but I need to be there.”
Mr. Xiao’s face softened, his voice gentle but firm. “I understand, Yibo. But you need to trust us. We’ll get Zhan and Wangji back safely. Let’s work together and make it happen.”
The silence in the dimly lit room was oppressive, the weight of the situation settling heavy on the shoulders of the three men. The flickering fluorescent lights above cast eerie shadows on the walls, as if reflecting the turmoil that brewed within. Then, with a quiet resolve, Yibo spoke, his voice firm and commanding. “Ok.” And at that, the call ended from the other end.
Haikuan’s curiosity got the better of him, his voice laced with concern and a hint of urgency. “Mr. Xiao, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”
Mr. Xiao’s expression turned grave, his eyes locked on Haikuan’s with a seriousness that left no room for doubt. “As you suspected, Haikuan. Zhan and Wangji have been abducted. We need to act swiftly and decisively to ensure their safe return. Every moment counts.”
Haikuan’s eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications and the gravity of the situation. “I’ll get to work on tracking Zhan’s phone immediately, sir. I’ll forward the location to Yibo and meet him there to ensure their safety. We can’t waste any time.”
Mr. Xiao’s face set in a determined mask, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with a fierce resolve. “I’ll be right behind you, Haikuan. We can’t waste any time. I’ll handle the…other matter.” His eyes flicked to the unconscious woman in the corner of the room, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. “Leave the rest to the authorities. I have faith in their abilities. They’ll get to the bottom of this.”
With a nod, Haikuan bowed and departed, leaving Mr. Xiao to his thoughts. The room was silent once more, the only sound the soft hum of the fluorescent lights above. Then, with a swift motion, Mr. Xiao reached for his phone and dialed a number, his eyes fixed intently on the screen as he waited for an answer, his mind racing with strategies and plans to ensure the safe return of Zhan and Wangji.
