Chapter 63: The Canary’s Code of Conduct (28)

Ling Qiong was jolted awake and sat up from the back seat. The black cloth was still wrapped around her head, plunging her into darkness. She reached up to remove it, but someone roughly stopped her and barked an order.

“Get out of the car!”

Ling Qiong muttered, “No need to be so fierce. Aren’t I cooperating with you?”

The young woman’s voice was soft and a little drowsy, making even the sternest hearts waver. The person who had barked at her seemed to lose some of their bluster. “Then hurry up and get out.”

“I can’t see anything. What if I trip and fall?”

So delicate, so precious.

The black cloth was finally removed from her head. In front of her stood three men, all wearing black masks that obscured their faces. Ling Qiong glanced at them only briefly before turning her gaze out the car door.

Outside, wild grass stretched everywhere. Not far away loomed a pitch-black building, engulfed by weeds. The ground was nothing but mud from the rain.

“Hurry up and get out.”

Ling Qiong plopped down right by the car door. “There’s so much mud—I’m not getting out.”

She was dressed in an exquisite little cocktail dress, her shoes beneath sparkling silver, as if encrusted with tiny diamonds. She sat upright, as if she were a princess in a magnificent palace.

—

Shen Han Deng and Ling Qiong had been separated, each in a different car. At first, Shen Han Deng was worried. But then he remembered how she’d made Pei Ziqing strip on the spot in just two minutes—those people couldn’t possibly pose much of a threat to her. Gradually, he calmed down.

Their eyes had been covered for the entire journey. Shen Han Deng counted the time; after leaving the city, they drove for nearly two more hours.

Now, Shen Han Deng was dragged into an abandoned building and tied to a pillar. The hood was pulled off his head, and he blinked against the sudden light to see the man standing before him: tall, masked in black, only a pair of eyes visible.

Shen Han Deng glanced around but didn’t see Ling Qiong. He asked coolly, “Where’s the person who came with me?”

Where had she been taken? Surely nothing had happened...

The man sneered. “No need to worry, young master Shen. You’ll be reunited soon enough.”

His hands were tied behind his back. Shen Han Deng tried to break free, but the knots were expertly done—there was no easy escape.

“If you want something, take it out on me. Don’t trouble a girl.”

The man gave him a glance. “Don’t worry, young master Shen, we won’t harm your little girlfriend.”

Shen Han Deng wouldn’t believe a word until he saw Ling Qiong safe.

The man went aside and spoke with someone. “Why aren’t the others here yet?”

“Weren’t they right behind us?”

“Could something have happened?”

“I’ll go check.”

Just as the person stepped out, commotion erupted outside.

—

Ling Qiong entered with several people, one of whom was even holding an umbrella over her. She lifted her skirt and walked in at a leisurely pace. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought she was the boss.

Shen Han Deng was speechless.

“Boss, what’s this?” What on earth is happening? Why are we holding an umbrella for the hostage?

The leader waved a hand. “The girl just got caught up in this. No need to make things hard for her.”

What are we even doing? Isn’t this completely against the plan?

The boss cleared his throat. “Find her a clean spot and keep an eye on her.”

Was the boss under some kind of spell?

Ling Qiong put on an innocent, harmless look. “Lead the way, then.”

The contrast between Ling Qiong’s treatment and Shen Han Deng’s could not have been starker.

She sat comfortably, sipping a drink and nibbling on snacks, a light blanket draped over her legs. Quite the picture of leisure.

Meanwhile, Shen Han Deng was tied to a pillar, utterly miserable.

If someone told him Ling Qiong had orchestrated all of this, he wouldn’t doubt it for a second. That girl simply never let herself suffer, no matter where she ended up.

Knowing Ling Qiong was safe, Shen Han Deng finally breathed a little easier.

—

The kidnappers did not question Shen Han Deng or make any demands, but placed a few phone calls. He had no idea how long it would take Kelly to find him and just prayed nothing unexpected would happen in the meantime.

About an hour later, after her fill of food and drink, Ling Qiong stood and stretched.

“Sit down!” snapped her guard at once.

“My hands and feet have gone numb. Can’t I move a little?” Ling Qiong lifted her delicate, slender wrists. “Do I look like I could possibly overpower you?”

He had no idea if she could or not. The henchman hurried to ask the boss.

The boss replied, “As long as she doesn’t run or cause trouble, just keep an eye on her.” He gave a cold laugh and waved the henchman away.

—

With the excuse of stretching, Ling Qiong strolled around the edges of the room. Her guard could do nothing but follow, completely unsure what she was up to.

She glanced out the window now and then, but outside was pitch black—the rain made it impossible to see a thing.

The guard, not really noticing where she was looking, asked suspiciously, “Aren’t you worried?”

Was this really a hostage? She acted more like a pampered little boss.

Ling Qiong replied, “Didn’t your boss say this isn’t about me? What’s there to worry about?”

“You’re being kidnapped right now.”

“I know.”

“And you’re not scared?”

“I’m frightened,” Ling Qiong said, crossing her arms over her chest and putting on a terrified expression. “I’m very scared.”

Was he supposed to be an idiot?

Ling Qiong watched him from the corner of her eye for a few seconds, then nonchalantly finished her loop and sat back down.

The boss came over to Shen Han Deng. “Young master Shen, once your family brings the ransom, you’ll be free to go. Don’t worry, we’re only after money. No one’s going to hurt you.”

Ling Qiong’s eyes darted as she listened, nibbling on a chocolate stick, her ears pricked for every word.

“You want money?” Shen Han Deng asked.

“Why else would we kidnap you?” the boss grumbled, lighting a cigarette.

Shen Han Deng looked at him meaningfully. “So you’ve already contacted someone to ransom me?”

The boss even tried to comfort him, “Your family’s rich. They’ll have the money ready in no time, don’t you worry.”

With that, the boss walked away, cigarette dangling from his lips.

Ling Qiong propped her chin on her hand, eyeing his back thoughtfully.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she suddenly announced to her guard.

“Why are you so much trouble?” the guard complained impatiently.

Ling Qiong shrugged. “Nature calls. What, you want me to just go here? Are you really that cruel? Or are you all just bewitched by my beauty?”

The guard grumbled, “Fine, hurry up.”

Shen Han Deng frowned, watching her, unsure what new trick she was up to. She winked at him, then disappeared around the corner.

—

Shen Han Deng counted silently. About three minutes later, he saw Ling Qiong return—alone, her hands behind her back. The little dress swayed elegantly as she walked, a flash of grace in the bleak, battered building.

As she passed him, he caught a glimpse of a thick wooden stick in her hand.

He shot her a silent glare—what are you doing?

Ling Qiong paid him no mind and strode straight toward the group of people.

What followed was a scene out of a comedy—she knocked them all out one by one, like she was harvesting carrots, leaving everyone sprawled unconscious on the ground.

For the first time, Shen Han Deng realized she really could fight. There were so many of them, yet she handled them all like a troupe of monkeys, running circles around them while they couldn’t even graze the hem of her dress.

—Little Fairy—

Ling Qiong: I’m a professional at wrangling monkeys!