"A kidnapping case? What kidnapping case?"
He Changsheng frowned, then asked with a smile, "Officer, you must be mistaken, right?"
Xu Weiwei sneered and immediately produced a USB drive, coldly saying, "I don't think we're mistaken. This contains surveillance footage that captured your butler hiring kidnappers to abduct Miss Qin."
Upon hearing this, He Changsheng looked at Butler Zhong, his expression darkening. "Butler Zhong, what exactly is going on? Is what the police are saying true? Did you really kidnap someone?"
"M-master, I was wrong. I was bewitched, and I've failed you, Master, and the He family!" Butler Zhong knelt before He Changsheng, kowtowing three times.
He Changsheng closed his eyes, his voice filled with anguish, "My He family has never treated you unfairly!"
Watching the drama between master and servant, Xu Weiwei scoffed, "The police will investigate the entire matter thoroughly. Therefore, both of you will need to accompany us back to the police station to assist with the investigation."
He Changsheng nodded, taking a deep breath. "I will cooperate with the police on this matter, but I would like to say a few more words to this subordinate of mine. Please bear with us for a moment."
Xu Weiwei frowned. Although she found it somewhat odd, she had no reason to refuse and nodded.
He Changsheng walked step by step towards Butler Zhong, feigning great anger. "We have been master and servant for over ten years, but your act of kidnapping others has brought disgrace to my He family. Therefore, from today onwards, my He family severs all ties with you, and you are no longer a member of my He family."
The two were very close. Butler Zhong saw the signal in the other's eyes and subtly nodded.
The next moment, he suddenly lunged forward, a dagger appearing in his hand, and instantly took He Changsheng hostage.
"How dare you!" Xu Weiwei's expression changed slightly. She quickly drew her pistol, and several police officers surrounded Butler Zhong.
"Don't come any closer! If you do, he dies!" Butler Zhong held the dagger to He Changsheng's neck, holding him hostage.
The police officers were extremely tense, completely taken aback by the turn of events.
Xu Weiwei also dared not act rashly. Although she suspected a great deal of acting between the master and servant, she couldn't afford to provoke them at this moment.
The He family was one of Yangzhou's three top families. He Changsheng was not only the patriarch of the He family and chairman of He Group but also the president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce. If anything were to happen to him, the situation would become dire.
Soon, Butler Zhong, holding He Changsheng hostage, reached the courtyard outside the villa. After pushing He Changsheng aside, Butler Zhong fled into the darkness.
Xu Weiwei immediately opened fire, but Butler Zhong scaled the wall and escaped. None of the bullets hit their mark.
"Damn it, chase him!" Xu Weiwei stamped her foot in anger.
...
It was already past four in the morning when Ye Cangtian rescued Qin Yiyu.
After this incident, he didn't dare let her stay in a hotel. Therefore, he planned to take her to Tang Xinwan's villa complex, where her safety could at least be guaranteed.
Liu Zhendong was driving. "Mr. Ye, the person has been handed over to the police. Do you need me to arrange some people to protect this lady during this period?"
Ye Cangtian shook his head. "No need. I'll watch over her myself. Please thank Liu Rumei on my behalf when you get back. I owe you a favor this time."
Liu Zhendong's heart leaped with joy, but his face remained serious. "Mr. Ye is too kind. Big Sister said it's our honor to be able to help you!"
Ye Cangtian nodded and said no more. He generally disliked owing favors. However, through this incident, his impression of Liu Zhendong and Liu Rumei had improved considerably.
At the very least, he could tell that the other party seemed to be dealing with difficult matters during these few days, but even with insufficient manpower, they still sent people to help him. He remembered this favor.
The two were chatting in the car.
Suddenly, Qin Yiyu, who had been silent all along, spoke, "Stop the car up ahead. I need to go somewhere first."
Ten minutes later!
The three quickly arrived at a courtyard house.
As soon as the courtyard gate was opened, a group of stray cats of different skin colors darted over from a distance. Accompanied by their meows, they rubbed against Qin Yiyu.
Ye Cangtian touched his nose strangely. What was this girl doing here?
"Mr. Ye, are we going to..." Liu Zhendong was also bewildered.
Ye Cangtian glanced at the surrounding environment and gave a helpless smile. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can go back now!"
Liu Zhendong hesitated for a moment, then nodded and turned to leave.
In the courtyard, over a dozen stray cats surrounded Qin Yiyu, showing great affection. Soon, she took some cat food and dried fish from the house and distributed them to the stray cats.
"Little Flower, you're snatching food again, you naughty one!"
"Little Gray, don't pull my skirt..."
Even after experiencing kidnapping and despair just now, Qin Yiyu managed a rare smile at this moment. She picked up a white stray cat beside her and gently stroked it, saying, "Meow Meow, did that bad guy hurt you?"
Ye Cangtian squatted not far away, smoking a cigarette.
Looking at this scene, he was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the usually cold Qin Yiyu to have such a kind side.
These stray cats must have all been rescued by her. This courtyard house...
Thinking of this, he suddenly spoke, "Miss Qin, why aren't you staying in a hotel? You came here instead. Did you rent this courtyard house?"
Qin Yiyu, while tending to the stray cats, replied, "No, I bought it! Because hotels don't allow pets, I bought this courtyard house so that these stray cats would have a home."
"..." Ye Cangtian almost choked on his cigarette. This house must be worth a lot of money, right?
Just to take in these stray cats?
Qin Yiyu stroked the cat's fur and said with a wry smile, "They are also lives, just like people. Abandoned by their families, those who are lucky might have a different life and destiny. Those who are unlucky can only starve to death."
Ye Cangtian raised his eyebrows. Judging by her words, this girl had a story!
Qin Yiyu looked up at the sky, filled with stars, and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Even though I earn a lot of money now, so what? I don't even know who my biological parents are!"
She had been abandoned on the streets by her parents years ago and almost starved to death. Fortunately, her adoptive parents took her in and treated her like their own daughter.
Her adoptive parents sent her to school and gave her pocket money. Just when she was able to earn a lot of money to repay them, her adoptive parents passed away.
That's why she appeared cold to outsiders now, giving the impression of being unapproachable.
Only in front of these stray cats could she be herself again, like a real girl.
Ye Cangtian moved a stool and sat down beside Qin Yiyu, saying with emotion, "I can understand how you feel! Because I'm also an orphan."
Qin Yiyu's eyelashes fluttered, and she turned to look at Ye Cangtian, unsure of what to say.
Ye Cangtian then smiled and said, "I was an orphan since childhood. From the time I was sensible, I wandered the streets every day. I was chased for blocks with a broom just for stealing a steamed bun."
"And I fought bloody battles with beggars for half an apple on the ground. Even when I met my master and he took me abroad, it was all fighting and killing, struggling against beasts in the primeval forest, and risking my life in gunfights."
"But I always believed in what I wanted to do!"
Ye Cangtian glanced at Qin Yiyu and said with a smile, "I want to live!"