Chapter 014
Jongharng Chioujen
Alone, Chioujen sat silently in their living room. Jinqkang just left the place. For several minutes, Chioujen did not move from the couch. He was contemplating what to do next.
His memory drifted back to the things that had happened moments before. The police who picked up Jinqkang arrived exactly at the time Chioulin had mentioned earlier. They didn't stay there long because by then Jinqkang was also ready to leave.
It didn't take deep observation to realize what was on the young man's mind. Jinqkang's expression was slightly tense as he left the house. Chioujen was a little worried about the young man. There was always the possibility that Jinqkang would not be able to carry out the task he was assigned. Fooling some criminals was definitely not the same as trying to convince a seasoned journalist.
Several times, Chioujen shook his head. He still couldn't believe the police had such a crazy plan. From any point of view, things like that were very difficult to account for.
The whacking boredom made Chioujen turn on the television. He flipped through the television channels, but nothing that interested him. Less than five minutes later, Chioujen turned off the television set. He stood up and left the living room.
Soon after, Chioujen did the normal things he would do at home, including doing a bit of cleaning around the house.
Time passes quickly. Chioujen had already had lunch. He didn't need to cook or go out for a while to buy food. The rest of the food this morning was still abundant. The Tsaehorng employees bought a lot of food. Even when Chioujen finished his lunch, there was still a lot of food left.
He returned to the living room. Just like before, he turned on the television set. He remembered a program that usually aired after lunch time. The program was not an extraordinary event, but Chioujen thought the show was so unique that it would be a shame if he missed it.
With a full stomach, Chioujen watched the program on television. It had been a long time since he had sat relaxed in front of the television like this. In the last six months, he has been so busy working that he doesn't have time to do things related to his hobbies and pleasures.
It's just past one in the afternoon. While enjoying their old style television screen, Chioujen heard a voice in front of the house. Quickly, he stood up to see who had come. Turned out they were police officers. There were three men standing at the gate. Right away, he let them in.
They were the police whose job was to take the tools they had lent. The men had arrived earlier than Chioujen expected. He observed how they worked, which turned out to be very fast and efficient. Less than ten minutes, they were finished and said goodbye to return to the police station. They left Chioujen, who returned to sit alone on the couch in their lovely living room.
As soon as those people left, fifteen minutes pass one, the phone rang. Chioujen immediately jumped off the couch and ran to pick up the phone. He was sure it was important news.
His guess wasn't wrong. The call was from the police. They reported that Shannchyuan and Miss Liuchiou had been found. The strange thing was that both people were now in the hospital where Shinnshiow was being treated. Chioujen couldn't tell if it was just a coincidence.
Fifteen minutes later, Jinqkang called. He informed the police had abandoned their intention to ask him to pretend to be Shannchyuan. The police chose to wait several hours until Shannchyuan was ready to cooperate with the police in extracting information from Yeuduo Jendaw. When Chioujen asked what Jinqkang would do next, the young man said that the police would drive him back to Shannchyuan's house. But before that, Jinqkang asked the police to take him to his own place to get some change of clothes.
"How long do you plan to stay at our place?" Chioujen was just talking when he asked that question that would very likely sound ridiculous.
A split second after the words left his lips, Chioujen regretted it. He didn't want Jinqkang to misunderstand. In his usual deadpan tone, the question might have sounded like a rhetorical question, implying distaste for the person asking.
Chioujen actually didn't mind if Jinqkang wanted to spend a long time at their house. Even he didn't mind if Jinqkang wanted to live with them. Chioujen knows that he did have problems communicating with other people. But he didn't know how to fix it.
"Mr. Mingju assigned me to help the gentlemen there. So everything depends on Mr. Mingju's decision."
"Okay. I will wait for you."
<<Jinqkang didn't seem offended. But I don't know what's on his mind. The Duanmuh family is famous for their mysteriousness. Next time, I have to be very careful.>>
While waiting, Chioujen continued watching the program that was broadcast on television. He laughed at the silliness of several actors in the comedy show, which turned out to get quite a high rating.
Needless to say, several hours have passed. Dusk was almost there. Chioujen wondered how long he would be home alone. Luckily, he didn't have to wait too long for an answer. Less than five minutes later, a car stopped in front of the house.
Chioujen got up from the couch and went straight out of the house. Jenqyih was in front of the fence. He smiled at Chioujen.
<<His face was so bright. Everything must be fine.>>
Jenqyih was not alone. There was another person with him. The three of them then together entered the house.
"This is Mingher Shinning, one of Tsaehorng's employees." Jenqyih introduced the person who came with him. After that, he moved towards the bathroom straight away.
"Please sit down, Sir," said Chioujen. "So you are one of Mr. Mingju's assistants?"
"No, Sir," replied the man. "I am an employee at the company that Mr. Mingju recently founded."
"Before, where did you work?"
"Before that, I worked at a company owned by Mr. Mingju's family."
<<So there are a lot of employees at Tsaehorng's new company who actually have worked for the family for a long time.>>
"That means you're not really a new employee. It's like just a job transfer."
The person was silent for a moment. "Not exactly like that, but one can jump to conclusions, Sir."
"Did you just come back from the hospital?"
"That's right, Sir! So, earlier, we all left the hospital together. After dropping off Mr. Mingju at the painting exhibition, I came straight here to accompany Mr. Dongfang."
"So, Mister Mingju told you to stand by here?"
"That's right, Sir! Mr. Mingju said that at any time you may need a vehicle for things that suddenly have to be done."
"What do you want to drink? I'll get it first."
"No need, Sir! I already drank a lot of water. In the car there is still plenty of drinking water supply."
"It's okay. Drinks in the car are stocked to drink while on the way."Chioujen then got up and walked to the kitchen to prepare drinks. After the drinks were ready, he immediately returned to the living room carrying a tray filled with drinks. When he got there, Jenqyih was already out of the bathroom. He sat opposite Mingher Shinning.
"Have a drink, Sir" Chioujen smiled.
"Thank you, Sir!"
"Where's the drink for me?" protested Jenqyih. On the table in the living room, there was only one glass of drink.
"Get yourself in the kitchen." Chioujen said, laughing.
"Oh!" Jenqyih exclaimed.
Chioujen rose from the couch. "Yihge, you take care of the house for a bit!"
"Where are you going?" Jenqyih frowned.
"I just remembered that there are things I need to buy at the grocery store up front."
"Are you just going to buy some of the stuff at the grocery store? Not going to wander to other places?"
"Of course. It won't take long."
"Okay!"
"Do I need to take you there, Sir?" Mingher asked.
"No need."Chioujen laughed. "It's very close."
Chioujen rushed out of the house. With quick steps, he headed to the grocery store. He wasn't lying. There were some things he had to buy. However, after finishing buying those items, he did not go straight home. He headed for a payphone. When he was in the pay phone box, he took out a business card from his shirt pocket.
<<Now is the time to contact Linqhwu Ueideng. Shinnshiow has been found, so we can focus on searching for Songfei!>>
Chioujen dialed the number listed on the business card. No one answered the phone. Chioujen waited a moment before trying again. Still, no one answered. He still tried one more time before finally deciding to go home.
<<Tonight I'll try again!>>
When he got home, there was another person in the living room. He was sitting on the couch and chatting with Jenqyih and Mingher Shinning.
"Chioujen, do you still remember this gentleman?" Jenqyih asked.
Chioujen watched the person for a moment. There was no mistake, that person was Linqhwu Ueideng. Even though Chioujen had only seen him once, he had not forgotten.
<<What a coincidence! I don't need to look for him. He has come by himself!>>
"Mr. Jongharng, I am Linqhwu Ueideng."The man smiled kindly at Chioujen.
"I still remember, Sir! At that time we met at Mr. Gongyang's event. How are you, Sir."
"I am fine, thank you. I'm here to meet Mr. Duanmuh."
"Is there anything you would like to say to him?" asked Chioujen.
<<I have to get him out of here fast. Beaushu told that Songfei had told Mr. Linqhwu that he only trusted two of us, namely me and Beaushu. Now, there might be things he wanted to tell me. He won't say anything as long as there are other people.>>
"That's right, Sir," replied Linqhwu. "I have something important to tell you right away. This Mr. Dongfang just said that Mr. Duanmuh is in the hospital."
"That's right, Sir. He is indeed being treated at the hospital. He is fine, just tired," said Chioujen.
"Are you willing to tell us that?" Jenqyih asked. "We will tell Mr. Duanmuh."
"Sorry, Sir," said Linqhwu. "I have to tell him in person. Can I visit him?"
Chioujen realized that the news he brought must be very important news. From the look on that person's face, Chioujen also knew that Linqhwu might not even be willing to say anything to him, Jongharng Chioujen. The only way was to let him speak directly to Duanmuh Shannchyuan.
"Of course you may, Sir. Preferably, such important news must indeed be conveyed in person. One moment, Sir, I'll go inside first."
"Please Sir," said Linqhwu.
Chioujen gestured for Jenqyih to follow him. The two of them then went to the backyard terrace.
"This man must have very important news. And we know he will only tell Beaushu. The only way is for him to speak directly to Beaushu," Chioujen said.
"I know," Jenqyih said. "So, now you want to bring him to the hospital?"
"Right. Do Yihge mind?"
"Of course not. But it looks like Shyongge and Iren will be staying at the hospital tonight. And tonight I have to go. I'm afraid there's no one to look after this house."
"Yihge, where are you going tonight?"
"About in the middle of the night, I have to meet Mr. Jongli near the pizza restaurant."
"Ah! Some kind of covert operation."
"I don't know. Maybe he just wants to show me something."
"I think, before eleven o'clock, I will be home. Even if I haven't come home yet, Yihge needn't worry. This house won't be empty. I'm sure that Jinqkang will also be here soon."
"Is Jinqkang still at the police station now?"
"Because today Beaushu was found, the police canceled the plan to ask Jinqkang for help. So the police will escort him back here. He hasn't arrived yet because he said earlier that he would stop by his house first."
"What time did he call?"
"It's been a while. He should have been here by now."
"Maybe the traffic is too heavy or something else."
Chioujen nodded. "Maybe he's homesick and wants to spend some time there before coming back here."
"That also makes sense. When I think about it, we don't know anything about Jinqkang. That kid is just as mysterious as Songfei."
"Yihge is right. There is a slight resemblance between the two of them."
"They're not that different in age. Maybe they could be friends."Jenqyih laughed.
"Have you ever asked him about his family?" Chioujen was a bit curious about that.
"Never. We've been very busy these past few days. Never got a chance to talk about stuff like that. He's done us a lot of good. I think we'll have to try later to make him feel welcome."
"That's not easy. He doesn't seem like someone who is willing to just spit out information about his family."
"But that time he told Shyongge a bit about his family. So it's not like he didn't want to talk at all."
"Maybe there were certain things that made him want to open his mouth to Shyongge. Maybe he saw Shyongge as a father or uncle figure."
Chioujen nodded. "Indeed, Shyongge is very suitable for acting as a father. Besides that, in terms of age, it makes sense if he becomes Jinqkang's father."
"I think that's also a problem," Jenqyih said. "We are way older than Jinqkang here. Maybe he can open up more to people his age."
"It seems he's never opened up to Tsaehorng, either."
"Tsaehorng is his superior. It's rare for someone to open up so easily and confide in personal matters to their superior. After all, Tsaehorng is younger than Jinqkang. According to the rules in force in this city regarding age classification, Tsaehorng can still be considered a minor."
"Then maybe we should introduce him to Songfei."
Jenqyih nodded. "That's what we have to do after we find Songfei."
"In case he really has been caught by the criminals, I hope he's okay."
"Shinnshiow is fine. Dahge is also fine. So we have to think positively."
"What happened to them isn't the same as what happened to Songfei. But you're right, we should be optimistic. By the way, is Beaushu really okay?"
"The impression I get is that Dahge isn't hurt. He just needs to rest for a few days. Would you like to see him?"
"Is Beaushu really that easy to approach?"
"Earlier, at first, the doctor said that Dahge had to rest completely. However, later, it turned out that the police were allowed to ask for information from him. So I don't think it's a problem if you meet him now. You just tell the hospital that Mr. Linqhwu is a relative of Dahge."
Jenqyih then told the location of the room where Shannchyuan was being treated.
"So you all went to see Beaushu in his room earlier?"
"No. Only Tsaehorng went to Dahge's room. We all met Dahge in the room where Shinnshiow was being treated."
"But Yihge can explain it so clearly."
"That's because Tsaehorng also explained it in detail earlier."
"Oh! How exactly is Shiowge's condition?"
Jenqyih then explained Shinnshiow's current condition.
"Is security there tight?"
"There are only two police officers guarding Shinnshiow. Regarding Dahge, I don't know, but it seems there aren't even any police officers standing guard in front of his room."
<<If the police don't provide special protection at all by assigning police officers to look after him, it means that there is a possibility that the police think that there is no case that they should investigate.>>
After that, the two of them then returned to the living room. It was not good to leave their two guests sitting alone in the living room for too long.
"Mr. Mingher. Now I'm asking for your help to take Mr. Jongharng and Mr. Linqhwu to the hospital. I'm not going because I have to look after the house," said Jenqyih.
Mingher Shinning nodded.
Jenqyih escorted them to the front gate. The three of them immediately got into the car.
"Be careful on the road," Jenqyih shouted.
Chioujen saw Jenqyih waving at them. He returned the wave. After that, slowly, the car moved forward.
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