Chapter 1025 - 990: Misdial

The sudden collision sent the Maybach off the road, rolling down the slope towards a small river ditch.

At the moment of impact, Qi Shuang held her son tightly, but he still flew out of her arms. She heard her son’s cries, the nanny’s screams, and as the car rolled down the slope, half of it entered the small river.

The impact was concentrated on the driver’s side, and Xiaowu lost consciousness from the collision.

Qi Shuang felt dizzy, but she couldn’t worry about herself and unbuckled her seatbelt to find her son. George woke up from the impact, crying loudly.

Qi Shuang held her son: "George, George, don’t be afraid, Mommy’s here, Mommy’s here."

Light from outside shone in, Qi Shuang locked the car door, and went to find her phone, which had fallen somewhere unknown during the collision.

She held her son tightly with one hand and fumbled for her phone with the other, while the nanny remained in panic, continually screaming.

Qi Shuang shouted angrily: "Shut up!"

Her roar startled her son, little George, whose cries abruptly stopped. Qi Shuang finally found her phone, while someone outside was shining a light into the car.

Qi Shuang first sent a location to Qiao Rulong and then left a voice message, trembling as she said: "Rulong, save me, save me..."

Then she dialed Qiao Rulong’s number, but he didn’t answer immediately, probably because he was busy; Qi Shuang knew Qiao Rulong well enough to know that he wouldn’t answer her call right away if he was inconvenienced.

Qi Shuang bit her lip. This man, when she and her son needed him the most, wasn’t there, couldn’t even answer the phone in time. People outside were trying to open the car door.

Qi Shuang dialed 110, but heard a busy signal. She called her father’s number, and it was actually occupied as well.

The driver’s side door was pulled open, and Qi Shuang had no time to think but to shrink back while frantically dialing numbers, accidentally calling Xu Chunliang’s number. A somewhat familiar yet somewhat strange voice came from the other side: "Hello, Miss Qi, what’s the matter so late?"

Qi Shuang’s mind briefly faltered before she realized, in her panic, she had mistakenly dialed Xu Chunliang’s number, and it was Xu Chunliang speaking.

Qi Shuang shouted: "Help me, someone has kidnapped my son and me, I’m at..."

A big hand grabbed Qi Shuang’s hair and punched her, knocking her unconscious.

Xu Chunliang had just left Secretary Zhou’s house and hadn’t even hailed a taxi yet when he received this unclear phone call.

Xu Chunliang’s last contact with Qi Shuang dates back to Qiao Rulong’s car accident, but at that time he and Mei Ru Xue were still in a relationship, and Qiao Rulong was his future brother-in-law, naturally having to help with Qiao family matters. But now he and Mei Ru Xue had long since broken up, and his relationship with Qiao Rulong was almost non-existent.

Xu Chunliang couldn’t understand why Qi Shuang would call him; if he disregarded the connections with Mei Ru Xue and Qiao Rulong, they weren’t even considered ordinary friends.

However, since Xu Chunliang received the call, he couldn’t stand idly by. He first confirmed it wasn’t a prank; it was indeed Qi Shuang’s number, but when he called back, it wouldn’t connect.

Xu Chunliang thought about it and still called Qiao Rulong, dialing twice but with no answer. Xu Chunliang considered it but didn’t call the police. Instead, he called Mei Ru Xue’s overseas number, which Ye Qingya had given him.

Xu Chunliang had never dialed it, mainly because Mei Ru Xue had blocked him, and even if she did answer, she might not say much. Why disturb others?

But today’s matter was of great importance, concerning the safety of Qi Shuang and her son.

The phone rang twice before Mei Ru Xue answered: "Hello?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Xu Chunliang felt a brief surge of emotions: "Xiaoxue, it’s me!"

Mei Ru Xue said: "What’s up?"

"Qi Shuang just called me saying she and her son have been kidnapped. I tried dialing back, couldn’t connect, and your brother won’t answer my calls."

"What?" Mei Ru Xue immediately tensed up, took a deep breath, knowing Xu Chunliang wouldn’t joke about something like this: "What’s the situation? Why did Qi Shuang call you?"

Xu Chunliang said: "I don’t know either. You’d better notify Qiao Rulong immediately. I didn’t dare call the police. You decide yourselves."

"Thank you!"

"No need for thanks; if you need help, feel free to ask."

Mei Ru Xue hung up the phone, realizing the situation wasn’t good, and immediately called her brother.

Qiao Rulong was having dinner with several Pinghai executives; tonight there were many calls, and he wasn’t convenient to answer. What puzzled him was that Xu Chunliang had also called him.

This call was from his sister. Qiao Rulong, who always doted on his sister, apologized to his guests and answered her call.

Mei Ru Xue urgently conveyed the situation Xu Chunliang had described to her brother.

Qiao Rulong’s expression changed immediately upon hearing those words. He then remembered that he had just hung up on Qi Shuang, quickly opened WeChat to see Qi Shuang’s message and address, and promptly stood up: "Apologies everyone, I have an urgent matter to attend to."

Qiao Rulong felt as if the whole world was about to collapse. Qi Shuang and his son were kidnapped together; who was so bold to target him, to target the Qiao family?

Qiao Rulong had his driver take him to the scene immediately, contemplating whether to call the police. He silently prayed that the kidnappers were only after money, as long as that was the case, Qi Shuang and her son would not be in immediate danger.

Qiao Rulong forced himself to stay calm. He first called his uncle, asking him to help get in touch with the Nanjiang police. This matter couldn’t be publicized for the time being. The bigger the commotion, the smaller the chances of Qi Shuang and her son surviving.

Qiao Yuanjiang was also shocked by the news. He suggested not telling their father for now. Elder Qiao was currently in Nanjiang, and if he found out about this, who knew how much it would upset him.

Qiao Yuanjiang directly contacted the head of the Nanjiang Public Security Bureau, requesting them to send the most experienced officers to handle this case.

Qiao Rulong also wanted to keep it from his grandfather, but before he reached the scene, his grandfather called. No need to ask, it was Mei Ru Xue who informed him. Mei Ru Xue decided to do so because she believed that neither Big Brother nor Uncle could handle this crisis well.

Elder Qiao’s tone was evidently tense: "Rulong, why didn’t you tell me?"

Qiao Rulong said, "Grandfather, I just found out myself. Please don’t worry; I will definitely bring them back safely."

"How can I not worry? How many times have I told you, why let them return?"

Qiao Rulong remained silent, deeply regretting his decision. He didn’t want Qi Shuang to return, but upon hearing about Pan Weidong’s assassination attempt, she insisted on coming back. Initially, she was supposed to go directly to Dongzhou, but he arranged for her and her son to come to Nanjiang. Yet, Nanjiang was also in trouble.

Qiao Rulong said, "Don’t worry, Grandfather. Uncle has already contacted the Nanjiang police and will do their best to ensure this matter doesn’t involve our Qiao family..."

Elder Qiao shouted, "Nonsense, at such a critical moment, why worry about such things? Getting the child out safely is paramount!"

"Grandfather, I understand, I’m on my way now."

As he spoke, several police cars sped past with sirens blaring. Qiao Rulong sighed inwardly, low profile, can you not keep a low profile? Hearing the sirens, would the kidnappers still be at the scene waiting to be caught?

Glancing at the time Qi Shuang made the call, twenty minutes had already passed since then. Qiao Rulong was filled with regret; if he had answered her call immediately, there might still have been hope.

Elder Qiao said, "No matter the cost, you must ensure their safety."

Ahead, police lights flickered, and a crowd had gathered by the small river. Qiao Rulong didn’t get out of the car immediately, worried that his relationship with Qi Shuang might be exposed. He sent his driver to check the situation first.

A still-unconscious Xiaowu was being carried on a stretcher into an ambulance. The neck of a Filipino maid in the car had been twisted. It was currently unclear whether it was a murder.

Experienced police officer Liu Qingshan was assigned to handle this case. After surveying the scene, his brows furrowed; this case was too tricky.

A young officer approached him, handing over a found cellphone: "Captain Liu, the phone has been unlocked. The owner made several calls and sent WeChat messages at the time of the incident. Although the phone is broken and can’t make calls, thankfully, there’s a record to review."

Liu Qingshan took the phone and looked at the call records, momentarily pausing when he saw the last call was to Xu Chunliang. It unexpectedly involved this young man.

Liu Qingshan had dealt with Xu Chunliang before, initially during Tong Nianzu’s abduction case, and later when the female anchor Su Qing’s Beetle exploded.

This time, it was reportedly a mother and son being abducted; how did Xu Chunliang get involved again?

Liu Qingshan took out his phone to call Xu Chunliang: "Director Xu."

"Captain Liu, what guidance do you have so late?"

"We just received a report; a Hong Kong woman named Qi Shuang and her son George were kidnapped forty minutes ago. Based on the current information, she called you at the time of the incident."

Xu Chunliang said, "That happened, but I don’t know why she called me. Maybe it was a misdial; I thought she was joking with me."

"Can we meet and talk?"

"Where are you?"

Liu Qingshan gave him the location, and Xu Chunliang said he would come over immediately.

Liu Qingshan initially planned to take Xu Chunliang to the station, but since he agreed to cooperate voluntarily, Liu Qingshan didn’t stop him.

Liu Qingshan continued to look through the call logs, dialing the most frequently called number.

In the car, Qiao Rulong’s phone rang. This number wasn’t registered with his ID; it was used to contact Qi Shuang. From the car, Qiao Rulong watched Liu Qingshan, already guessing it was his call, and decisively turned the phone off.

Liu Qingshan then called the number marked as Old Pan.

This time, Pan Tianhua answered the phone.