The people sitting in the living room were busy talking. The absence of any partition was really very useful in such circumstances. Yiren and Yingyue could hear all the things their friends were saying.

"It's possible that they were just bluffing when they said they would know if we called the police," said Yixiong, shortly after sipping the tea made by Yingyue.

"You're right," said Shanquan. "But we can't take the risk."

"Uncle, don't worry. The police will definitely act professionally. They will be very careful in handling kidnapping cases," said Caihong.

This time Yiren had finished eating. He cleaned up his plates and bowls and took the cutlery to the kitchen. After that, he walked into the living room. As soon as he got there, he put his ass right next to Yixiong in a flash.

"I think we should contact the police as soon as possible. I happen to know some of the police officers," said Caihong.

Shanquan smiled at Caihong's words. "Just be patient. We'll just have to wait a little longer."

Shanquan now looked much calmer than when he had just arrived home. Maybe there were other things in his consideration that he could be so calm.

"Dage! What if you explain your plan to all of us now," said Yiren.

Shanquan nodded. But before he could start speaking, he heard the sound of a motorbike from outside the house. Yixiong stood up and opened the living room door. In front of the fence, there was a motorbike that stopped. The two people who rode the motorcycle then took off their helmets.

"Zhengyi is home," Yixiong shouted.

About thirty seconds later, Zhengyi entered the living room. He was carrying the backpack that he had taken away yesterday. Zhengyi did not come alone. He was with someone they didn't know. They all stood up to greet Zhengyi and his friend.

"Let me introduce him to you. This is an old friend of mine." Zhengyi's voice sounded so formal. "His name is Zhongli."

"My name is Zhongli Zhiren. I am an old friend of Zhengyi." The person bowed respectfully.

After that, they introduced themselves to each other. Yiren looked at Zhengyi's friend. He was taller and more robust than Zhengyi.

Could this be what Dage meant by a "surprise"?

"You brought this backpack home again?" Shanquan smiled. His fingers pointed at the thing Zhengyi was carrying.

"I didn't have time to put it in our new lockers. Maybe tomorrow I'll take this backpack there."

"It's okay." Shanquan smiled. "Now, that's not our priority. Just put it inside your room first."

Zhengyi walked to his room.

"We wait for Zhengyi to return, then we can continue the conversation," said Shanquan.

Less than two minutes later, Zhengyi was back in the living room.

"How about it, sir? Have you got an idea of what we're going to say?" Shanquan looked at Zhengyi's friend.

"I've heard from Zhengyi about what happened," the person said.

Zhengyi's friend seemed to be someone who didn't like small talk. He directly talked about what his goal was. Yiren tried to guess who Zhengyi's friend really was. According to his estimation, this person was definitely not an ordinary person. It was possible he was a law enforcement officer.

"Now please tell Mr. Zhongli what happened." Shanquan turned to Yiren.

Yiren then told the things he experienced starting from when all his friends left the house until the return of Shanquan, Yixiong, and Yingyue.

Zhongli Zhiren listened to Yiren's story seriously. Every now and then, he asked about something that he felt was not clear or asked Yiren to repeat some of the things Yiren had said.

At first, Yiren always looked at Shanquan before answering Zhongli's questions. Shanquan always nodded. From Shanquan's facial expressions and body language, it seemed that Shanquan really intended to tell all of their problems to Zhengyi's friend. Therefore, Yiren then answered everything so smoothly.

"I think you've more or less heard of what we went through from Zhengyi," Shanquan said.

After Yiren finished telling the story, Shanquan took over the speaker's position from Yiren's hands.

"I've heard a little. But it would be better if you tell me again now," asked Zhengyi's friend.

Shanquan recounted in detail the things they had experienced. He didn't tell everything. There were things he kept hiding. Yiren nodded, hearing the things that were said by Shanquan. Yiren was sure that this was Shanquan's way of telling them all what things other people were allowed to know and things they weren't allowed to tell. The things that should not be told were, for example, where Shanquan met Yingyue and the events that Yingyue witnessed. It was clear that Shanquan didn't want Yingyue to get into trouble. Also, regarding some of the things they found in Songfei's bag. There were things that Shanquan didn't mention. And then, of course, Shanquan didn't tell him about the dungeons and secret passages they'd found.

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"What now? Is it time to report this to the police?" Zhengyi asked.

Caihong, who, since Zhongli's arrival, had just sat there listening, looked at Zhengyi. After that, he looked at Shanquan. His eyes shone with a million questions. Yiren knew Caihong must be confused as to why they should ask Zhongli for advice on when to call the police. Let alone Caihong, Yiren himself didn't really understand either. He didn't know who Zhongli was. However, seeing Shanquan's reaction while talking to Zhongli, it seemed Yiren's guess about who Zhongli really was might not be far off the mark.

"Right. It's clear we have to report to the police," Zhongli replied. "I think Young Master Mingzhu must have the right acquaintances to handle this."

Caihong looked awkward. With hesitation, he looked at Shanquan. Shanquan then nodded.

"May I borrow the phone?" Caihong asked.

"I think Young Master Mingzhu shouldn't be calling from here. We don't know yet whether the phone in this house is free from bugs," said Zhongli.

"Mr. Zhongli, may I ask you to check whether there is a bug in our phone?" Shanquan's tone was calm when he made the request. Yiren didn't know if Shanquan really wanted Zhongli to do that, or if he just wanted to test the person's readiness.

"I would love to do that. But, sorry Sir, at this time I don't bring the tool." There seemed to be a hint of regret on Zhongli's face. "Besides, the absence of a wiretapping device on the telephone here does not guarantee that your telephone line is not tapped. Telephone signals may be intercepted elsewhere. For example, in places where telephone cables are connected, such as in a device whose function is similar to a splitter attached to metal poles outside." Zhongli pointed to the telephone pole outside.

"That means we can't use this phone for a while, right, Sir?" Yixiong asked.

"I think it's okay to just say things that don't contain important information. For example, if you want to order food or other things like that."

"Okay! Then from now on, we shouldn't use this phone to exchange news or information," said Shanquan.

Everyone in the living room nodded.

"Then let me call the police from my place," said Caihong.

"Your place at the paintings exhibition or your apartment?" Yixiong asked.

"At the exhibition. My apartment is too far from here." Caihong then stood up. He prepared to leave. But before moving, he still opened his mouth. "What about Uncle Beihai's family? Shouldn't we call them to tell them what just happened?"

Caihong's question did make sense. Everyone's eyes were on Shanquan.

"I know what you just said is what we should have done." Shanquan let out those words with a solemn face. "Almost all members of his nuclear and extended family live in Yuandong. There are indeed some of his relatives who work outside Yuandong. But none of them are here. So it is almost impossible for his relatives to come here."

"So, you don't think we need to tell them?" Caihong looked at Shanquan.

"It's not that there's no need to tell them. But right now, the information we have is not accurate enough. I don't want us to have to rectify what we've already told them," Shanquan said.

"I agree with Dage," Yixiong said. "We don't know yet how true the claims of the people who called this house are. They said that Xinxiu was with them. But they couldn't show any proof. So we shouldn't just believe what they said. It could be, this is one of the latest ways of fraud. There is currently no news from Xinxiu. We can't reach him either. So, things are still not clear."

"Let's just wait for the call from the kidnappers tonight," said Yiren. "Although I'm inclined to believe at this point that Xinxiu has been kidnapped, it's not until tonight that we can be certain that this kidnapping did happen."

"Back to the matter of contacting the Xinxiu's family," said Shanquan. "We can't rule out doing that. I just don't think now is the time."

Caihong nodded. He seemed to have understood the stand of the occupants of this house.

"Besides, I'm afraid that if we contact them now, they'll definitely panic. Their panic will cause additional problems. After all, whether or not his family knows about this matter, will not change the situation here," said Shanquan.

"And there's more," said Yixiong. "After the kidnappers free him, his family will probably forbid him to stay here. They might force him to return home. I'm sure Xinxiu wouldn't like that idea."

"Okay Uncle. I understand," said Caihong. "Now I want one uncle here to come with me. So, later, the person concerned can directly give information to the police."

Shanquan patted Yixiong on the shoulder. "You come with Caihong."

Yixiong nodded without the slightest hesitation. He quickly stood up and walked over to Caihong. Caihong and Yixiong then said goodbye to them all. Shanquan led the two men to the front of the fence.

From inside the house, Yiren could see Shanquan chatting briefly with Caihong. Shanquan patted Caihong on the shoulder. Just as Caihong and Yixiong got into the car, the driver started the vehicle instanter.

Shanquan was still standing outside the fence for about thirty seconds. After that, he turned around. With quick steps, Shanquan went back into the house. He returned forthwith to where he had been sitting before. He raised his cup. It turned out to be empty. Clearly, Yiren saw Shanquan glance sharply at him.

Yingyue then stood up. "Let me make some more tea."

"Ah, I'm sorry if we even bothered you," said Shanquan.

"It's okay," Yingyue smiled.

"How about you make one for them, too?" Shanquan pointed to the other people who were there. "Looks like they've run out of drinks, too."

Yingyue nodded. "No problem."

Yiren stood up. He said, "Let me help you. To make it faster."

Yingyue stared with a slightly surprised look. But without saying anything, she let Yiren help her. Yiren and the girl together walked to the kitchen.

Arriving at the kitchen, Yiren said softly in Yingyue's ear. "I think Dage has something to say to you. But he doesn't want Zhengyi's friend to hear what he has to say. So then, I'll just go out to serve them the drinks."

Yingyue remained silent. She just nodded.

She could understand in an instant. This girl is much more mature than her actual age.

After finishing making the drinks, Yingyue came out of the kitchen. From the kitchen window, Yiren saw the girl sitting on a chair on the backyard terrace. Yiren brought the drink into the living room. He put the cups on the table instantly.

"Are you adding sugar again?" Shanquan looked probingly at Yiren.

"Don't you want sugar?" Yiren asked back.

"That's not what I meant. It just, I think I've had too much sugar today."

"Then I'll make a fresh drink again. One that doesn't use sugar."

Yiren rose again from his seat. Shanquan stood up promptly and held Yiren's shoulder.

"No need. Let me make it myself. You sit here accompanying Zhengyi and Mr. Zhongli." After saying that, Shanquan stood up and walked speedily towards the kitchen.