Chapter 38 — Don't Shoot!
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"That whole van full of them are the type who cling to life and fear death. With a gun to their leader's head, they wouldn't dare make a move. But the moment you disarm them too, they know they're finished, and then they'll certainly make one last desperate stand," Wei Zhao said.
"But you had their leader as a hostage, didn't you?" Gu Mengyao asked, still puzzled.
"When a man's own end is upon him, does he still care about his leader? Come on, don't be so naive, all right?" Wei Zhao said with some helplessness. "Getting out of this alive was pure luck. Hey — just who did you offend, anyway? These people were obviously after you."
"Hmph, so full of yourself," Gu Mengyao said, thoroughly displeased with Wei Zhao's attitude. "You're my lackey, aren't you? Is that any way to talk to your master?"
"..." Wei Zhao was speechless. This woman — she really was beyond reasoning with.
Shen Yushu sat in Uncle Qing's car wiping her tears. Gu Mengyao and Wei Zhao had been taken, and who knew how it would end? At best the two of them might be released; at worst... Shen Yushu truly did not dare to think further.
Uncle Qing, his face equally clouded with worry, kept dialing the phone. Of all times, it had to be this critical moment when Gu Pengzhan was unreachable, and it left him thoroughly on edge.
Suddenly the phone rang. Uncle Qing started, picked it up, and saw the caller ID — his face at once lit with an expression half joy, half dread.
It was Gu Mengyao's number, though it was not necessarily Gu Mengyao herself calling. It might also be the kidnappers using her phone to reach him. But no matter what, at least there was finally some word.
"Hello? Yes?" Uncle Qing answered cautiously.
"Uncle Qing, come get me, quick..." For the first time, Gu Mengyao felt that Uncle Qing's voice was so dear to her.
Along with Uncle Qing came Qiu Lingshan and the others — the police contingent.
"Yao-yao!" Shen Yushu was the first to bolt from the car and threw her arms around Gu Mengyao in a tight embrace. "You scared me to death — I thought I'd never see you again!"
"You silly girl, always talking nonsense," Gu Mengyao said. She had already recovered from her earlier fright, and hearing Shen Yushu carry on like that left her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Mr. Lin, are you all right?" Seeing the blood on Wei Zhao, Uncle Qing asked hurriedly.
"Took a bullet in the thigh. Nothing too serious, I think." Wei Zhao rose unsteadily to his feet, hobbling. Truth be told, it did rather hurt — the thing had a nasty way of catching up with you afterward.
Uncle Qing now genuinely admired Wei Zhao. Shot and still saying it was nothing — now that was a real man, a man's man through and through. If Wei Zhao could have known what Uncle Qing was thinking, would a few black lines have appeared over his head? Because he seemed to recall that some actress had been jokingly dubbed a "man's man" too, hadn't she?
"You're Mr. Lin, correct? Please come back to the station with us to give a statement." Qiu Lingshan walked over and addressed Wei Zhao in a purely businesslike tone.
Wei Zhao's brow furrowed at once. Was this girl blind or what? Couldn't she see he was wounded? "Shall I drop my pants and show you?" he snapped, thoroughly annoyed.