M Country, inside the castle.
Xia Zuo watched George 24 hours a day, never letting him out of sight, to prevent any slight deviation from Mr. Huangfu’s habits that might alert the police.
Senmu has already sent word, saying that Mr. Huangfu will return soon, making these last dozen hours all the more crucial for caution.
Mr. Huangfu has always been so ticulous and thorough; each ti his longing gets the better of him and he flies to China, he only stays for one or two days, rushing back as quickly as possible.
Soone ca to report from downstairs, saying that Jas has returned once more.
Since Huangfu Huazhang has already lost the Ford Group, this castle, symbolizing the Ford family’s supre status, should be returned as well. Hence, Jas frequently visits to urge its return.
Since Jas uses this as a pretext, Huangfu Huazhang cannot refuse him entry, though every ti Jas visits, Huangfu Huazhang only entertains him superficially.
Xia Zuo understands that it’s not that Mr. Huangfu is reluctant to part with the castle. Mr. Huangfu gave up the vast Ford Group without hesitation, so why cling to a re castle?
Besides, Miss and Little Miss are already settled, so Mr. Huangfu is bound to leave sooner or later. The reason he still resides in the castle is because he’s accustod to it, and for the short ti before his departure, there’s no need to find another convenient place to live.
Moreover, there’s still George. After years of continual blows, George is left with only one obsession: to beco Mr. Huangfu. So Mr. Huangfu granted his wish, allowing George to live in the castle, playing Huangfu’s role for a few days each month to cover for Mr. Huangfu’s absence when he visits Miss and Little Miss.
George, imrsed in his delusion, thus turns the castle into an essential prop, as only here can he fully beco Mr. Huangfu in his mind, fulfilling the task Mr. Huangfu hopes he’ll complete.
This arrangent is ingenious, with the only flaw being the inability to completely prevent Jas from visiting under the pretense of reclaiming the property. Xia Zuo knows what kind of person Jas is too well, though he was young back then, he’s actually craftier than George. After those fifteen years of exile, and Mr. Huangfu’s years of secret suppression, George’s ntal state is unstable, but Jas managed to endure alone with remarkable perseverance, showing no signs of ntal instability.
So even Xia Zuo doesn’t believe that Jas repeatedly cos only for a castle.
Mr. Huangfu already sees through it, knowing that Jas rely uses it as a pretext to spy. So, apart from the police monitoring, Mr. Huangfu’s quick visits and returns are also due to caution against Jas.
After all, the police monitoring personnel observe through surveillance equipnt, and might not discern between Mr. Huangfu and George based only on appearance and behavior. But Jas is different, being of the sa blood, so minor habits George might have, which Mr. Huangfu doesn’t know, Jas could easily spot.
George never actually disappeared, but was simply left by Mr. Huangfu in the castle to act as a stand-in. This secret, Mr. Huangfu must not let Jas discover.
Xia Zuo ordered that Mr. Huangfu was unwell and unable to see visitors, and that as for the castle’s issue, Mr. Huangfu would contact him in a few days to discuss further when he felt better.
As Jas left, he still stood outside, raising his eyes to look at the window.
Mr. Huangfu instructed for George to appear at the window once every hour to leave a trace in the police’s surveillance caras, so from Jas’s gaze, George was just sitting by the window having tea.
Seeing Jas’s gaze, Xia Zuo frowned slightly, quickly getting up to close the curtains tight.
Jas’s face showed no change, but he subtly twitched his little finger.
.
When Jas finally left, Xia Zuo quietly let out a sigh of relief.
It’s been 17 months since Mr. Huangfu used the ntally broken George to "steal away" Shi Nian and Jieyou, sending them to the already arranged Mo Ya Village. Xia Zuo thought Mr. Huangfu would also leave as soon as the trial for murdering Old Buddha concluded and the travel restrictions were lifted.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Huangfu is still staying, and it’s been 17 months already.
At least from now, even he can’t predict how much longer Mr. Huangfu would remain nor what his plans might be after driving Tang Yanqing to resign and after the severe psychological damage was inflicted.
He once asked Mr. Huangfu, who rely smiled faintly: "You’d think I’d leave soon, and so would the police. So, I purposely stay, making sure I appear in their field of vision every day. Even if they want to suspect, they can’t question directly."
"As for Tang Yanqing... even you assu that driving him from the police or delivering a severe psychological blow would satisfy ; so the police, Tang Family, or Tang Yanqing himself would think the sa. If they think it should end here, and then I just leave? Ha, they truly would be disappointed."
Xia Zuo knows Mr. Huangfu is making arrangents, for the last part of his plan. Yet even he can’t tell what Mr. Huangfu is planning or aiming to achieve.
But in his heart, it’s clear enough that things have reached a point of no return; they can only move forward, step by step, unable to turn back.
However, he’s not afraid, but rather feels a thrill. Thrilled that after so many years, all the grievances pressing upon Mr. Huangfu are finally reaching a breaking point.
These years by Mr. Huangfu’s side, watching helplessly as he bore burdens like an ascetic despite his vast wealth and power, as a servant, he blad himself for being unable to relieve Mr. Huangfu’s heaviness.
After years of planning, Mr. Huangfu finally made this decision, set to settle all grudges. No matter the outco, life or death, it’s freer than if Mr. Huangfu continued living under such repression.
To have a mont of freedom, irrespective of life or death, is his ultimate way of repaying Mr. Huangfu.
After all, regardless of life or death, he will accompany Mr. Huangfu, going so far.
.
The police station.
Tang Yanqing’s team is now under the leadership of Jia Tianzi.
After Tang Yanqing suffered severe psychological issues, the Tang family had no choice but to send him to the hospital for treatnt. Shen Wan hoped to send him out of M Country, thinking a change in environnt might help.
However, Tang Yanqing chose "Deep Valley" himself.
When he made this nearly stubborn decision, everyone’s eyes turned red.
It was clear why he would insist on choosing "Deep Valley"—because Xu Xinzhen, Shi Nian’s mother, is also there.
Now that Shi Nian is missing, neither alive nor dead, Xu Xinzhen is his only solace. Even if he goes mad, he wants to be mad beside her mother.
Gao Cheng rushed in, whispering to Jia Tianzi, "Huangfu Huazhang is here again."
Jia Tianzi frowned too, "What does he want this ti? Didn’t you tell him that Yanqing is no longer here?"
Gao Cheng nodded, "Naturally, we did. But he says it’s a police report."
Jia Tianzi pondered for a mont, "Let him in."
In a small conference room, Jia Tianzi t Huangfu Huazhang, skipping pleasantries, Jia Tianzi stared at Huangfu Huazhang’s pale face: "Mr. Huangfu, you seem unsettled. I wonder what’s happened."
Huangfu Huazhang’s fingers tightly gripped the head of his cane, unable to utter a single word.
Xia Zuo answered on his behalf, pulling a large envelope from his briefcase and handing it to Mr. Jia, "This was delivered to us this morning, please take a look."
Jia Tianzi opened the large envelope, revealing an old-fashioned tape cassette and a piece of paper inside.
The paper contained scrawling handwriting: "Bastard: Your daughter is in my hands. Do you know what I’ll do to her? She’s a little girl, a very beautiful little girl, you know."
Jia Tianzi squinted his eyes, exchanging glances with Gao Cheng. Both recognized it as George’s handwriting.
Jia Tianzi handed the sheet of paper to Gao Cheng, who silently took it out for further analysis.
The tape cassette recorded Jieyou’s cries. The cries were sowhat muffled, but heartbreak could be discerned.
Jia Tianzi then entrusted the tape to Guan Liang.
A person’s vocal sound wave is unique like fingerprint patterns, scrutinized with modern instrunts, it’s not hard to identify the authenticity.
While both pieces of evidence were being tested, Jia Tianzi sat down to ask details about the package’s origin.
Xia Zuo replied, "It was delivered by a newspaper boy who found it on the roadside and it was addressed to our Mr. Huangfu, so he brought it over during his daily rounds."
Jia Tianzi stared into Huangfu Huazhang’s eyes: "But George didn’t specify what he wants. Mr. Huangfu, can you analyze for us, what this threat intends to negotiate with you?"
Huangfu Huazhang lifted his gaze, eyes deep and blue as the night sky at midnight.
"He wants dead."
"Because of his hatred for , he no longer desires my wealth or status. He simply wants my death. He knows that in my life, I, Huangfu Huazhang, have few weaknesses, except Shi Nian and Jieyou, whom I love as my very life. To rescue them, I’d pay any price, so he intends to exchange them for my life."
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