Chapter 153 - Siying's Questions To Xinyi And Zhiyuan
*Thirty minutes earlier*
The only sound that could be heard in the study room was that of Xiaosi's rapid typing on his keyboard. With his state of the art software that he had designed himself, it was a child's play for him to recover the cut part of the recording and also clarify the pixelated image.
He raised his brow. "Hoo…"
Zhiyuan was anxiously pacing back and forth in the room and at Xiaosi's amused expression, "he asked, "Did you find something?"
"A child."
"Siying!"
"Him and one other too."
"Huh?"
He along with Liang, Yunru and Han Huizhong gathered around him. Xiaosi pointed at the recording. "I have decoded the cut part and patched it up with the original recording."
He pressed the Enter key and the recording began. They already saw the part of Siying walking with the two men. The important part came next.
In the video frame came a little boy, wearing spectacles and a school bag on his shoulders. He stopped the two men. There was no audio so they couldn't hear the conversation. But it was evident that the more the boy talked, the more panicked the men got. In the end, one of them charged to attack him, but two men in black uniforms came out of nowhere and subdued the men. They bowed and kneeled before the little boy. He seemed to talk to Siying for a few minutes after which he left with them in his car.
They were so shocked that they were too speechless to say anything. Liang had his mouth wide open. "Did that boy actually figure out that Siying was getting kidnapped?"
Han Huizhong snorted. "At least, somebody is smart and fearless."
Yunru narrowed his eyes and played back the recording to the point when the shadow guards appeared. "These guards. They are his personal bodyguards. He is not just any kid."
Xiaosi chuckled. "Some wealthy family's heir."
Zhiyuan nodded. He knew about many such rich families who appointed shadow guards for their heirs and heiresses. They would closely watch them wherever they went, keeping a tight watch. Only those families took measures that had a strong business rivalry with someone else that could potentially harm their family members or…
"Underworld," Zhiyuan said. "I understand why that man altered the recording. The boy's father wouldn't want his son to be on display like that who dealt with some local gang and beat up the thugs through his guards."
Just before he could ask Xiaosi to find that boy's identity, he got a call from an unknown number.
"Han Zhiyuan here."
A calm and quiet voice came from the other end, "A little birdie told me that Han Zhiyuan is trying to find me."
He blinked his eyes.
"I see that you called an expert hacker for help."
His eyes slowly widened. "You are that boy's father."
Liang and Yunru were stunned. Xiaosi raised his brow.
"Yes."
"They were your guards, right who dealt with those thugs. And Siying? What about my son? Where is he? Where did your son take him? How is he? He-he is alright, right?" The distress in his voice was clear.
"My son took him to my wife's restaurant. I will text you the address. Your son is safe. Also, tell your hacker friend to destroy the clip."
He hung up before Zhiyuan could say anything else. Liang quickly asked, "What did he say?"
His knees turned weak and he finally collapsed on the couch. "... Safe. Siying is safe. That boy took him to his mother's place."
A bright smile lit Liang's lips. Yunru felt relieved as well.
"Who is that man?"
"He cut the call before I could ask that."
"Liu Jinhai," Xiaosi said. "He is the CEO of Liu Corps, Liu Jinhai and that boy was his third son, Liu Jun who met Siying."
Zhiyuan was taken aback by surprise. Of course, he knew who Liu Jinhai was. They had met before at a few business parties, but they didn't have many close connections. As one of the top corporations rivaling his, they belonged to the same social class.
Yunru nodded. "Makes sense now. Liu Jinhai has deep Underworld connections and in fact, he has helped the police force quite a few times to catch criminals involved in drugs, smuggling and illegal prostitution. With him being in that world, it was easy to get hold of them."
Zhiyuan finally felt as if the heavy mountain on his shoulders crumbled away. Siying was at a safe place, unhurt and it felt that he could finally breathe.
"Xinyi...I have to tell this to Xinyi!"
He rushed out of the room and Liang and Yunru followed him. Xiaosi and Han Huizhong were the only ones left.
Xiaosi smiled. "Grandpa Han. You remember your promise, right?"
Han Huizhong said nothing and only squinted his gaze.
He chuckled. "There is still time before Siying returns, so be ready."
*Present*
Not only Zhiyuan and Xinyi but Caihong and Xiaosi decided to come with them too. Xiaosi wasn't interested because his job was done, but Caihong insisted that she wanted to be with Xinyi. She was going anyway, with or without him. So, he grudgingly had to agree. As the investigator of this case, Yunru tagged along, too, to ensure Siying's safety and know about that local kidnapping gang. Ah Cy and Liang stayed back to take care of Grandpa much to his annoyance.
Xinyi restlessly asked, "Where is Siying? He is in this restaurant, right?"
Zhiyuan nodded. "Yes. I asked the waitress. He will be here now-"
From upstairs, they heard the sound of someone stepping down. Then they saw a woman with three little boys following her. She carried a baby in her arms.
She politely smiled at them and said, "Hello."
Xinyi rapidly blinked her eyes at her that slowly widened as she recognized her.
Mrs. Liu Nana.
Nana was just as surprised to see her. She clearly remembered the day she met her when Jun was born.
"Oh Mrs. Han! Such a surprise. Meili said that Siying's parents are here. Gosh, I had no idea it was you!"
Xinyi was in a stupor for a while. "Yes. I-It's really nice to meet you too."
She quickly asked, "Siying! Where is Siying?"
"Oh? He is here." Nana turned and saw Siying hiding behind her, clutching her leg.
Jun grimaced and pulled him out of his hiding spot. "Don't be a coward!"
Nana placed Jin in the cradle and Jian and Nian hopped to their brother's side. Then she rubbed his head and smiled. "They are your Mama and Dada. You don't have to be afraid."
Xinyi and Zhiyuan finally got to see Siying who rushed to his side. They bent on their knees and hugged him hard. "Siying!"
Xinyi burst into tears. Zhiyuan's hand trembled as ruffled his head. He forced himself to stand strong and not shed any tears. But now that they finally found Siying, he finally had the liberty to cry.
"Siying…" Tears escaped the corner of his eyes and a relieved smile etched on his lips.
Xinyi cried hard and let out all the fear and dread she felt for her son's safety. Only she knew how hard it was to stay sane in that horrible situation.
"Siying... Siying…" she sobbed, "You are safe... Thank God. You are alright...You scared us so bad…"
Her shoulders quivered and she looked at him. She checked him from head to toe at least a hundred times to make sure that he wasn't hurt. His son was in front of her all safe and sound. Only then her thudding heartbeats calmed down.
Tears pooled in Siying's eyes too and he wailed. "Waaaaaaaa…"
He tremblingly clutched onto Xinyi's chest and sobbed. "Ma-Mama…"
After seeing her, he realized just how much he missed her. She sniffled and gently rubbed his head. "En. Mama and Dada are here now."
Zhiyuan's heart ached to see him crying so loudly. It felt as if somebody was stabbing his heart.
"Siying," he softly called his name.
Siying gasped and slowly looked at him, his chubby cheeks all wet with tears.
He patted his head and asked, "Siying. Do you know how much you scared us? Why did you leave the school on your own?"
He asked in the gentlest way possible because he didn't want to make him feel as if he was reprimanding him. He was already scared and didn't want to add any more fear and anxiety to him.
Siying lowered his gaze and hesitated. He glanced at Nana, who smiled at him and nodded her head in reassurance.
She mouthed. 'Go ahead. Ask.'
Siying felt nervous and his small fists tugged Xinyi's dress harder.
He slowly parted his lips. "M-Mama Dada n-not want Siying anymore?"
Xinyi and Zhiyuan looked at him in shock and rapidly blinked their eyelids.
"Huh?" They both exclaimed together.
Xinyi asked, "What did you say?"
Siying pursed his lips. "Mama Dada h-hate Siying a-and want to send me away? Siying hurt Mama Dada so you n-not love me anymore…?"
Xinyi was stunned. "You are asking if we don't want you anymore? Not love you anymore? Of course not! We have always loved you and we always will!"