It turned out to be Cheng Shi, who reported that he had spotted two suspicious men near the small garden, both skulking around with hats and masks on.
Tang Mei’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, and she immediately followed Cheng Shi to the stairwell on the third floor.
Through the window, Cheng Shi pointed at two dark figures nearby and whispered, "Madam, look, right there at the corner of the abandoned driving school, isn’t it suspicious?"
Tang Mei looked in the direction Cheng Shi was pointing and indeed saw two mysterious figures appearing and disappearing intermittently, seemingly surveilling their side.
"Let’s go, take a closer look."
So, she and Cheng Shi quietly advanced.
When they got within a few feet of the two men, Cheng Shi suddenly shouted, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The two casually dressed men were startled by the sudden outcry.
Car keys clattered to the ground.
One of the men quickly removed his mask and explained, "Hello, we are here to look at a house, thinking of buying one nearby."
Tang Mei watched them coldly.
Without much thought, she knew they were lying and gave Cheng Shi a glance.
"Stop loitering around here for no reason!"
After saying that, Cheng Shi immediately followed Tang Mei away, but upon their return to house number 66, Tang Mei discovered that Tang Xiaowan, who had been in the master bedroom on the third floor, was gone.
She hadn’t woken up when they had left, and if she encountered any danger, she would have no ability to resist.
Tang Mei’s face suddenly changed color, realizing she had been tricked, so she shouted for Granny Yu and Cheng Shi as she went downstairs.
But she only received Cheng Shi’s response.
"Madam, Granny Yu and the others are in the kitchen, they seem to have been poisoned, should we call the police?"
"No, don’t call the police yet, contact Leng Lingxiao immediately, tell him Tangtang is missing, possibly kidnapped, about five minutes ago."
"Hurry up, make the call quickly."
"Oh, okay, right away."
At this moment, the kitchen was filled with a faint aromatic scent, and sunlight streamed through the window, shining on the steaming pot, giving off a warm and serene vibe.
However, Granny Yu and Wang Meijuan lay motionlessly on the cold floor.
Their hands lay limply by their sides, and there was an expression of anguish on their faces, as if they had experienced something before passing out.
Upon seeing this, Tang Mei quickly opened the window.
"Cheng Shi, come help."
Upon hearing her outside the door, Cheng Shi immediately hung up with Leng Lingxiao and hurried into the kitchen.
"Madam, Mr. Leng said he will immediately check the surveillance cameras. Have Granny Yu and the others been poisoned? Might the young miss be in danger? Could it be those night raiders? Shouldn’t we call the police?"
"For now, don’t worry about that, come on, let’s move them to the sofa in the living room."
"Oh, okay, alright, Madam."
Cheng Shi said no more, promptly doing as instructed.
Subsequently, Tang Mei carefully checked Granny Yu and Wang Meijuan’s pulse and respiration.
Cheng Shi stood by anxiously.
Meanwhile, he constantly checked his phone, waiting for news from Leng Lingxiao.
Feelings of guilt and self-reproach surged through him; he believed that had he not taken Tang Mei to see those two suspicious men, none of this would have happened, and Tang Xiaowan wouldn’t have disappeared.
This incident unavoidably reminded him of the night raid.
Both incidents were strikingly similar.
"Granny, I remember the faces of those two people just now, should we..."
"Indeed, they were poisoned, but it’s okay, you don’t need to blame yourself, it’s not related to you," Tang Mei said softly to comfort, then quickly went upstairs to get a small white medicine bottle and handed it directly to Cheng Shi, "Two pills each, and have them drink some light salt water."
"Yes, Granny." Cheng Shi nodded and hurriedly took the small medicine bottle.
Immediately after, Tang Mei began to check around the house.
When she found that the front door, the back door, and the attic were all locked, but only the study window was wide open and Tang Xiaowan’s dress thrown on the sofa had disappeared, she realized she had been tricked, and twice at that.
"Diverting the tiger from the mountain!"
"Tangtang, I hope... you’re already awake."
A few minutes later, Granny Yu and Wang Meijuan slowly opened their eyes and gradually regained consciousness. Seeing Tang Mei burdened with heavy thoughts, they immediately had a very bad feeling.
"Granny, where’s the young miss, is she alright?" Granny Yu asked with trembling lips.
Tang Mei took a deep breath and tried to respond with a calm voice, "Don’t worry, Tangtang is not in any immediate danger. Leng Lingxiao has gone to check the surveillance; I believe we’ll have news soon."
A hint of despair and self-reproach flashed in Granny Yu’s eyes. In a weak voice, she said, "I should have noticed, but I didn’t, I was careless."
Tang Mei’s heart ached, and she empathetically comforted her, "It’s not your fault, rest assured, Tangtang will be safe."
Granny Yu, holding back tears, nodded, "Granny, oh... my apologies!"
Wang Meijuan also couldn’t help but start crying. She quickly grabbed a few napkins and hastily wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Granny Yu, don’t worry, the miss will be alright. We need to trust Mr. Leng; he will surely bring the young miss back safe and sound. She’s very smart and will protect herself."
"Yes, I know, it will be fine."
Although everyone was encouraging each other, the atmosphere only grew heavier, suffocatingly quiet.
No one spoke again; everyone frowned.
"All right, don’t worry, Tangtang will be fine; they just want to create chaos."
Tang Mei’s eyes were sharp, her voice was powerful, like a shot of adrenaline, stabilizing everyone’s panicked hearts a bit.
At that moment, the urgent and forceful knocking of Wang Jinhui came from outside the door.
"Tang Mei, Tang Mei..." The source of thɪs content is novelFirｅ.net
Cheng Shi set down his cup and hurried to open the door.
Wang Jinhui came in and went straight to Tang Mei without saying much, "Are you hurt? Why didn’t you call the police, is it a kidnapping? How much money do they want? Don’t worry, I’m here."
Seeing Wang Jinhui dripping with sweat, Tang Mei felt somewhat disoriented.
She had faced all sorts of troubles alone over the years, yet at this moment, a few words broke her defenses, and tears filled her eyes.
She stood still, her mind in a whirl, without her usual composure and coolness.
"Tang Mei, Tang Mei? Are you okay?"
"It’s all my fault, why did I choose this time, what would a few days later have changed? Jinhui, am I too selfish? It’s all my fault!"
"Nonsense, how can this be your fault?" Wang Jinhui quickly comforted her, but after a pause, he suddenly grabbed Tang Mei’s arm and looked into her eyes, "What did you just call me?"
A surge of ecstasy burst in the man’s heart, although a bit inappropriate, it couldn’t hide his excitement.
He hadn’t misheard. She didn’t call him the ceremonious Mr. Wang, nor the harsh Wang Jinhui, but the long-missed Jinhui.
"You... you’ve finally admitted it?"
Tang Mei shook her head, her eyes anxious, "Now is not the time for this; I need to go to Jin City. Let’s talk when I return."
Wang Jinhui was stunned, then realized Tang Xiaowan was still in danger. He hurriedly said, "Okay, let’s go together. Don’t worry, no matter how much money they want, it’s not a problem."
With that, he directly took Tang Mei’s hand. Though she hesitated, she didn’t refuse, and they left the living room together.
Wang Meijuan looked confused.
"What are you thinking? Let’s move!" Cheng Shi pulled out his car keys and quickly followed behind.