After finishing his call with Zhao Rong, Xing Sha received the address. He then dialed Xing Zheng's number. Xing Zheng wouldn't be able to sleep if Lin Mei was missing, so Xing Sha's call was answered quickly. "Dad."
His voice was hoarse and tired, reminding Xing Sha of when he had accompanied Xie Qin Jia for surgery in America. He had been just as exhausted then. "I know where Lin Mei is."
"Where?" Xing Zheng immediately became agitated, demanding.
Xing Sha told Xing Zheng about Xie Qin Jia's disappearance and his call with Zhao Rong. Xing Zheng had many questions but no time to ask them. "I'll pick you up at home, and we'll go together."
Two of the most important people in his life were there; it was only natural for him to be anxious. Xing Zheng sped to the Xing family villa.
Zhao Rong had requested that the father and son come alone. Xing Zheng was still driving. On the way, Xing Zheng asked Xing Sha, "What's going on between her and Zhao Rong?"
Liu Qin Ye had once said something crazy, which Xing Zheng remembered very clearly. But because Xing Sha had denied it, he hadn't pressed the matter. However, the current situation was enough to prove that Liu Qin Ye's words were not the ramblings of a madman. Xie Qin Jia and Zhao Rong did indeed have an unknown relationship.
Yet, Xing Sha's reactions all along indicated that he was unaware. This led to the conclusion that her connection with Zhao Rong must have occurred during the period when she lost her memory.
The destination was an old villa on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by wilderness. As soon as Xing Zheng stopped the car, someone approached to search them, likely to check if they were carrying anything that could cause harm. They had anticipated this beforehand, and the father and son had brought nothing.
After being searched, they were led into the villa. As dawn approached, the villa was dimly lit, revealing a solitary figure sitting on the sofa. Xing Zheng and Xing Sha rarely interacted with Zhao Rong, especially Xing Zheng, who hadn't seen Zhao Rong in many years. Zhao Rong had maintained himself well, looking much the same as he did in his youth.
Seeing the father and son arrive, he actually smiled. "We meet again."
"Where are they?" Xing Sha said to Zhao Rong, "Xing Zheng and I are here as you requested. Release them."
Zhao Rong's smile grew brighter. "You didn't think I'd release them just because you showed up, did you? When did the all-powerful Chairman Xing become so naive?"
"What do you want?" Xing Zheng knew before coming that their arrival was just the beginning. Zhao Rong had planned this for so long and must have devised various methods for negotiation.
"What I want is very simple..." Zhao Rong said, "I want your Xing family to be destroyed, to lose everything, and to experience firsthand the life I once lived."
Although he was arrogant, Xing Zheng was not swayed. He listened and then laughed, "You think you're worthy?"
Zhao Rong seemed to have anticipated this mockery and was unfazed. He turned on the television screen opposite them. "Whether I'm worthy or not isn't up to you to decide."
The television screen lit up, and both Xing Zheng and Xing Sha looked at it. It appeared to be surveillance footage from a room. On one side, Xie Qin Jia was tied up and still asleep. On the other, Lin Mei was bound to a cross, her arms and legs entangled, tied in an extremely humiliating posture, like a prisoner awaiting punishment.
Even though the surveillance footage was not high-definition, they could still see the bruises on her skin, whip marks, and cuts from a knife. Her hair was completely disheveled, and there were several scars on her face. Although they had scabbed over, it was evident that she had bled profusely. Xing Zheng's eyes immediately filled with murderous intent.
He looked at Zhao Rong. If he had a knife in his hand, Zhao Rong would likely be riddled with holes by now!
Zhao Rong, of course, noticed Xing Zheng's intense reaction. He was not afraid and even laughed more exaggeratedly. "As expected, a devoted lover. Already so heartbroken! It's a pity, she's in my hands. If you dare to touch me, someone will immediately cut off one of her fingers!"
Zhao Rong wouldn't possibly negotiate with them alone. If he hadn't made thorough preparations, he wouldn't have invited them. Xing Zheng understood this very well.
"Release them," he commanded. "I'll give you as much money as you want."
Zhao Rong smiled. Xing Zheng was indeed a master negotiator. Even in such a chaotic situation, he didn't say "I'll give you anything you want" but cleverly implied that the only thing he could offer was money.
However, money was the last thing he needed. "I don't want money."
"Then what do you want?" It was Xing Sha who asked the question. His intuition told him that Xing Sha's demand might be related to Xie Qin Jia.
As expected, Zhao Rong's expression gradually contorted. With a command, a man appeared on the surveillance feed, tearing at Lin Mei's clothes. Xing Zheng's eyes immediately turned red. He clenched his fist, the veins in his forearm about to burst. "Let her go."
He did his best to maintain his composure and said to Zhao Rong, "If you have any grievances, take them out on me."
"You can take them out on me too," Xing Sha interjected, picking up where Xing Zheng left off. "I don't know what happened between you and Qin Jia. It's basic common sense not to involve the younger generation in the affairs of their elders."
"How else can I make you suffer if I don't involve the younger generation?" Zhao Rong burst into laughter, his laughter laced with the pleasure of revenge. He walked up to Xing Sha and pointed at him. "You keep saying you love her, but what did you ultimately give her? You abandoned her alone in the remote southwest, where she encountered that lunatic Liu Qin Ye and was tormented for years! I found her first, and she had already agreed to be with me, but you ruined everything!"
In past surveillance footage, there was a segment where Zhao Rong went to see Liu Qin Ye. Liu Qin Ye seemed very afraid of Zhao Rong. Could it have been at that time?
But when did Zhao Rong's feelings for Xie Qin Jia develop?
Zhao Rong's subsequent words answered Xing Sha's question. "I pursued her first back then. She said she'd consider it, but then she ended up with you. If she liked you, I had nothing to say, but what did you do?"
You went on a trip and lost her, causing her so much inhuman torment. You found her with great difficulty and finally moved her, but then Xing Sha appeared halfway through. Once he showed up, Xie Qin Jia's eyes could no longer see any other man, and he became the one who was abandoned again.
Zhao Rong was also a proud man; how could he tolerate such treatment!
It was then that he vowed to make the Xing family lose everything, no matter the cost!
Including her and Xing Sha's two children, he wouldn't let any of them go!
Recalling the past, Zhao Rong felt extremely displeased. He instructed the person on the surveillance feed, "Take off her clothes."
The person on the other end received his order and roughly tore off Lin Mei's clothes, leaving only her undergarments.
Xing Zheng was furious. He lunged forward, grabbed Zhao Rong by the collar, and landed a heavy punch.
Zhao Rong seemed to have anticipated this and remained composed. "Hit me a few times, and I'll get it back from her tenfold."
He commanded, "Hit her."