Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

I was utterly shocked when the woman waved that knife at me out of nowhere.

What happened? A thief? Like seriously, now of all times!?

She squinted her gaze. "Don't move, or I will hurt you."

I didn't move an inch.

"Grrr... "

"Cocoa, stay," Bai Li instructed him, and Cocoa obediently listened to him.

But I sensed Bai Li stiffen a bit. I could see that his breathing was a little ragged and unsteady with the way his chest was heaving up and down. He was roughly glancing down at our direction. His fingers were slightly twitching as if he was ready for action the moment he got a chance.

It was the same situation as to how the goon caught me outside Micro Pub.

He didn't want to show himself as weak, but I felt how he must be worried about me. His anxiety was showing up again. My heart ached to see him helpless just like that day.

Damn you, woman! You are making my Bai Li hurt!

Bai Li asked, "What do you want?" The seriousness in his tone was unmistakable.

The woman firmly grabbed my right arm, with the tip of the knife in her other hand, pointing at my neck. She turned to glance at Bai Li.

As her attention was on him, I slowly and quietly crept my free left hand in my pocket, where I still had some needles coated with anesthesia while she was busy looking at Bai Li.

The woman looked a little agitated. "That is what I want to ask you. What do you want?"

Huh? You were the one who jumped in front of the car!

Bai Li said, "I am not in the mood to joke with you. Release her."

His voice was so low and certain that it could make one's skin crawl in goosebumps out of fear.

I felt the woman jolt a little, but she didn't budge the knife. "No. First, you give me answers, and only then, I would set her free."

"What answers?"

The woman stared at both of us and narrowed her eyes. "Why were you at the hotpot restaurant asking the owner about what happened in Langfang?"

Wait, was she there? I didn't see her in the restaurant.

Bai Li didn't immediately answer.

"We were just normally chatting with him. Can we not?"

The woman smirked. "Sure, it was only chatting. I think the part where the officer and the army both wanted to take you two with them also was a part of just chatting, I guess?"

This woman saw everything!

My hand was in my pocket now, and my fingers felt the shape of the metallic needles.

Just a little more. I hoped that she continued to busy herself in talking to Bai Li.

Bai Li said, "Why are you so interested in our talk?"

"Because what happened in the parking lot confirmed my suspicion that you deliberately gossiped about the case to know more."

"So?"

I was just about to take out my needle.

"I am interested in the woman you were talking about later."

I stopped.

Wait…

Bai Li also seemed to realize it.

"I see...you must be the younger sister that the owner talked about."

The woman was surprised for a moment. "Yes, I am Liao Chuntao's younger sister, Liao Huifang."

I knew it!

I noticed Bai Li's distressed expression ease up a bit. He said, "Well, then, you can withdraw whatever you are pointing at her."

"Why?"

"Because we are all on the same side here."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because you heard us, right? We also want to know what happened with the little girl and your sister. They both are the victims."

Liao Huifang wasn't still ready to let her guard down.

"You understand why I am interested in this case. But why are you two?"

Eh? Didn't she see our sketches?

"I think you still haven't seen the news and our photos being circulated as the wanted criminals."

Liao Huifang frowned.

"We are in the same boat. Xin Lei's father was also kidnapped. He is Fu Ting's lawyer."

It looked like she finally realized it. "I see. So you are the lawyer's daughter."

I nodded.

"And you? Why are you involved?" She asked Bai Li.

"Your sister's case was the last case that I handled before I left the Army. I want answers just like you."

She looked surprised. "…I see."

I glanced at her arm, holding the knife at my neck and signaled her.

Liao Huifang withdrew the weapon.

Phew!

I took my phone and typed. "You came at the right time. We were also looking for you. We wanted to know about Liao Chuntao to get any clue with this case."

Liao Huifang slowly nodded. "Okay."

I stood and went beside Bai Li. He felt my hands and asked, "You okay?"

I pressed his palm in return.

The crease lines on his forehead now finally eased as if a great burden lifted off his chest, though I was still a little mad at Liao Huifang.

Liao Huifang asked, "Can we talk?"

I shook my head, and she frowned.

Bai Li said it. "Right now, we got no time. The people behind your sister's death have kidnapped another victim. He is a teenage boy, Chu Jie."

I typed. "And we think that they might have taken him to their base somewhere in Andingzhen.

"We got to find him. So you stay somewhere safe until we deal with it. And then we will talk about her."

"No," Liao Huifang shook her head.

"What do you mean?"

"If Chu Jie is a victim like my sister, then I will come with you as well. I will help you. I can't sit here knowing that there might be a lead about…"

She choked a little. I felt the grief in her voice as she found it difficult to talk.

But she looked determined.

"...my sister. I am looking for answers, and if I could find them in that base or wherever, then I will come with you."