116: kidnapped

It looked like Wen Hengtang had been there for a long time.

"Where did you find this place? It's so winding, it's like a maze," Yan Zhuohua said with a smile as he took a seat.

"This place used to be a horror-themed escape room, so the layout is a bit chaotic." Wen Hengtang signaled the waiter to serve the food and poured a glass of water for both of them.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Wen Hengtang shook his head and gave a gentle smile. "Not long at all. But since I'm having dinner with Madam Yan, I wouldn't mind waiting another hour."

"Are you still angry? You've even started calling me Madam Yan." Yan Zhuohua took a sip of water. "The reason I was grounded is hard to explain, so I made up an excuse and didn't tell you."

Wen Hengtang looked up at him and finally couldn't help but chuckle, returning to his usual sunny and cheerful self. "Don't worry, I'm not holding it against you. Your family is... unique. I can understand."

"That's good." Yan Zhuohua also relaxed. "How have you been lately? Did you find a new job?"

"No. I'm planning to head back to my hometown after seeing you today. My family arranged a job nearby for me; they don't want me traveling far anymore."

"So you're still in City A? Just waiting for this one meal with me?"

"That's right!" Wen Hengtang played along. "I've been waiting exactly for you!"

After saying that, the two shared a smile. Before Wen Hengtang could say anything else, a waiter suddenly knocked and entered.

"Gentlemen, your dinner is here."

Plates of exquisite food were brought to the table. Wen Hengtang's attention was immediately diverted, and he quickly picked up his utensils, ready to start eating.

"Are you hungry? You're in such a rush."

Wen Hengtang happily took a bite of sushi. "It's already this late, of course I'm in a rush! You should eat too, have more." As he spoke, he placed a few pieces of sushi into Yan Zhuohua's bowl.

Yan Zhuohua smiled and didn't refuse, eating all of them.

However, before they could chat much more, Yan Zhuohua, who had just finished the sushi, began to feel drowsy.

"You drugged me." Yan Zhuohua struggled to keep his eyelids open as he looked at Wen Hengtang, whose face had become expressionless at some point.

"Sleep."

When he opened his eyes again, Yan Zhuohua found himself tied to a chair. His head was still foggy; it seemed Wen Hengtang had used quite a heavy dose of the drug.

After taking a few deep breaths, Yan Zhuohua's head finally cleared a bit. He looked around; it was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything. He didn't know what time it was or if Yan Qinghe had noticed he was missing.

Just as Yan Zhuohua was thinking about Yan Qinghe, there was a "snap," and the room suddenly lit up.

The dazzling white light immediately stung Yan Zhuohua's eyes, which had been in the dark for so long. It took him a few seconds to adjust before he looked up again toward the source of the sound.

Wen Hengtang was standing at the door, and several people could be vaguely seen guarding the area outside.

"Such a grand display?" Yan Zhuohua suddenly chuckled.

"Without such a grand display, how could I catch you?" Wen Hengtang closed the door, walked over slowly, and sat on the table not far from Yan Zhuohua.

He couldn't see clearly before, but now that the lights were on, Yan Zhuohua looked around the room again with interest.

The space wasn't large. On the four bare walls, there was nothing except the door and the light switch. As for the interior of the room, there was only the chair he was tied to and the table Wen Hengtang was currently sitting on.

"How does it look?" Wen Hengtang waited patiently for him to observe the room thoroughly.

"Not bad, no information to be found." Yan Zhuohua leaned back against the chair. The ropes were tied quite tightly, feeling a bit constricting.

"Aren't you even a little surprised?" Wen Hengtang had completely shed his usual energetic image; the light hitting him made him look very cold.

"You've already kidnapped me, and this is what you ask?"

"Of course not. You're so smart, you must have guessed my intentions."

Yan Zhuohua let out a snort of laughter, then his eyes turned deep, remaining calm and natural.

"I can guess. But since we were friends once, I have a few questions for you too."

Wen Hengtang stared at him expressionlessly for a long time.

"Fine, ask."

"Was that restaurant yours?"

"No. Just a stronghold."

"No wonder you were so familiar with its past." Yan Zhuohua brushed it off casually and then continued to ask with feigned curiosity, "Where are my bodyguards?"

"They're experts too. Kidnapping more people would have made the operation much harder. We didn't alert them."

"That's good." Yan Zhuohua nodded and continued to ask, "What time is it now?"

Wen Hengtang, who had been answering all of Yan Zhuohua's questions until now, hesitated this time.

After a long while, Wen Hengtang let out a sneer.

"Stalling for time?"

"Is it working?"

"It's useless. This is a stronghold we've operated for over a decade; no one knows about it. Your phone was confiscated and sent to be cracked, and we've searched you—there's no tracking system. So, absolutely no one will know where you are, and no one will come to save you. Even if they call the police, it will take days for them to find this place. Do you think you can hold out until then?"

So they didn't even find the chip inside me. What a bunch of garbage.

"Since there's no rush, why can't we chat?" Yan Zhuohua relaxed a lot, adjusting his body to a more comfortable angle as much as possible. "For example, how much do you know about the things I've been investigating?"

"It's not time for us to chat yet, no rush." Wen Hengtang flatly refused Yan Zhuohua's request. "Once we start, we'll have a deep and detailed conversation."

"So eager to start? Are you afraid that if I'm found, you won't be able to get anything out of me?"

"Why must you try to provoke me? It won't do you any good." Wen Hengtang sighed. "While I don't need to rush, kidnapping and interrogating someone important on their own turf is still a rather tense and serious matter."

As he spoke, Wen Hengtang stood up and walked over to Yan Zhuohua. "So, it's better if we start early and get results quickly. That way, I can complete my mission and achieve my goal sooner, and you can be relieved sooner. Don't you agree?"

Wen Hengtang pressed his hands onto the armrests of the chair, his entire body blocking most of the light in front of Yan Zhuohua.

Silence filled the room for a long time.

Yan Zhuohua finally gave another light chuckle.

"By that, you mean you plan to kill me after the interrogation?"

"Of course. If I don't pull up the roots, should I wait for you to come back and kill me?" Wen Hengtang spoke as if it were obvious. "Killing you brings us enormous benefits."

Indeed, Yan Zhuohua's death would certainly be a major blow to Yan Qinghe and the rest of the Yan Family, leading directly to instability. What was even more terrifying was that if the heirs capable of supporting the Yan Family and the Xingfeng Group in this generation were either dead or driven mad, the Yan Family would have no successors for at least a decade.

"Tsk, tsk. You're truly cruel." Yan Zhuohua shook his head helplessly.

"Don't worry, since we were friends once, I'll do my best to make sure you die in one piece and look decent. Of course, that's only if you're cooperative enough."

"I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed then."

"We'll have to try and see."

After saying this, Wen Hengtang turned and opened the door.

A burly man walked in from outside, clearly a foreigner.

"Go and bring the things I prepared."