《Once Upon a Time in a Foreign Land》Chapter 184 : Dongfang Zhengyi
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Zhengyi looked at the clock hanging on the dining room wall. He could not deny that his heart was filled with turmoil. He took several deep breaths. However, no matter what he did, nothing could change the way he felt.
It's almost three in the afternoon. The clue they got yesterday from the kidnappers was clear enough. But their previous experience had taught them that the kidnappers changed their plans very quickly. It was possible that at any moment, a few minutes from now, the kidnappers would send additional instructions. Instructions that would most likely make them even more dizzy.
None of the residents of the house, or Caihong, had returned from their investigation yet. This morning Yixiong and Yiren went with Xuande Zhanji to look for the bag that the kidnappers had asked for. Mingzhu Caihong also went with Qiuzhen to the hospital. Apart from seeing Zhuge Qiuwei's condition, they also intended to find out more information about the whereabouts of Shanquan and Yingyue.
Earlier they had argued about whether or not they should go to the police hospital to meet the two people who were found while hiding in the Dafeisi Tower. Zhengyi wanted to ask them directly, but Qiuzhen didn't agree. The police certainly wouldn't easily give them permission to meet the two people, which one of whom was still unconscious. After all, they didn't officially know about the matter yet. They couldn't possibly say that someone from the special government agency had informed them. Because Qiuzhen's argument made sense, they finally abandoned the plan.
Today was Zhengyi's turn to stay at home. Actually, there was no specific schedule regarding who should be at home. It's just that Zhengyi was the one who was the least likely to be at home, so it was only natural that Yixiong asked him to be on guard at home. At such critical times, their house simply could not be empty.
Zhengyi was happy to look after the house. He thought today he could keep watch while also resting. Even though his body was big and strong, he still had to maintain his health. He couldn't overdo things. Zhengyi knew fully that if he pushed himself too hard, he would get sick. If he was sick during such times, not only would he be a burden to himself, but he would also be a burden to others.
He was not alone at home. Caihong told Jingkang to accompany Zhengyi. If suddenly the kidnapper called and asked to talk to Shanquan, then Jingkang was ready to act. Even though they didn't know how long they could trick the kidnappers in that way, they still had to do it as best they could.
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In Zhengyi's eyes, Jingkang was a good kid. He was very diligent. The young man tried to help clean the house. However, because the place was not his home, Zhengyi understood he did not dare to go too far. The young man was not determined to clean all parts of the house. Zhengyi knew that several times Jingkang glanced at several parts of the house that really needed to be tidied up. The kind-hearted young man didn't seem to want to invade the privacy of the occupants of the house. So, Jingkang only tidied up the living room, family room, dining room, and some parts of the kitchen.
Zhengyi felt bored and a bit anxious at the same time. Luckily, not long after that, one resident of the house came home. At exactly three in the afternoon, someone opened the gate. Zhengyi immediately got up from the couch and opened the living room door. He saw Yixiong walking towards him.
"Good evening, Zhengyi." Yixiong smiled as he waved.
"Good afternoon Xiongge." Zhengyi nodded.
It was ridiculous. Zhengyi laughed inside. There was almost never such greeting between them. Such things sounded too formal. Zhengyi didn't know what Yixiong was possessed, so he said such unnatural words. Perhaps Jingkang's presence had made Yixiong act a bit formal.
"How did it go, Sir?" The voice of the young man standing behind Zhengyi sounded like someone who was so desperate to hope for something. "Did you manage to get the bag?"
Yixiong did not immediately answer Jingkang's question. He just smiled at the young man. After entering the house, he threw his body on the sofa in the living room. He closed his eyes for a few seconds.
Zhengyi did not see Ximen Yixiong carrying any bags. He only brought a plastic bag. Anxiety arose in Zhengyi's heart.
What will happen if we don't get the bag?
"Yes. We managed to get a bag that is exactly the same as the one in the photo." Yixiong opened his eyes while still smiling.
Zhengyi felt a sense of relief.
I hope tonight all goes well!
But he couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. He immediately sat beside Yixiong.
Yixiong turned to Zhengyi. From the light in his eyes, Yixiong seemed to know what sentence would come out of Zhengyi's mouth.
"Now, where is that thing?" said Zhengyi.
"Ah!" Yixiong smiled broadly. "Right now, the bag is still in Mr. Xuande's car. I was in too much of a hurry because I really wanted to sit on this sofa."
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"Eh?" Zhengyi did not expect that Yixiong could actually use such a strange reason.
"It took a while to separate the bag from the rest things," said Yixiong.
"What other things?" Zhengyi was a little confused hearing that.
"Besides that bag, Mr. Xuande also brought home several other items. We put all of these things together in a cardboard box."
"Ah! It turned out like that." Zhengyi smiled. "It's okay if it stays in Mr. Xuande's car for a while."
Yixiong nodded. He closed his eyes again.
"It seems Xiongge is so tired. Xiongge should rest first in the bedroom." Zhengyi couldn't help but comment like that when he saw Yixiong, who at that second looked like someone who was ready to fly to the dreamland.
"What do you mean?" Yixiong suddenly opened his eyes. Not only did he open his eyes, he even widened his eyes in such a way that his eyes looked so big. "I'm not tired. I just want to feel the softness of our couch. Soon we will move from here. In the future, we can no longer enjoy this thing."
What kind of reason is that? Xiongge doesn't seem to want to admit that he's not young anymore.
Zhengyi just nodded. He did not refute Yixiong's words.
"Has there been no update from Qiuzhen or Caihong?" Yixiong quickly shifted the subject to something else.
"Qiuzhen couldn't convey anything important over the phone. He's still worried that our phones are being tapped. Caihong said, this morning, before they left, that maybe they'd be back in the afternoon. But he also said that he would try to get here before dark."
"They have a lot of things to do. So most likely they will not arrive soon. Maybe later, just after sunset." Yixiong nodded. The palm of his right hand rubbed his smooth chin.
"Has Xiongge eaten lunch yet?" Asked Zhengyi.
"I already ate around ten o'clock. I don't know if it can be called lunch. After that, I haven't eaten anymore. Ah! Have you two had lunch yet?"
"Earlier there was still pizza left. So we just ate the pizza," Zhengyi replied.
"You guys only have pizza for lunch? Why not buy some food?"
"Don't I have to look after the house? So I don't have time to go out to buy food," said Zhengyi.
"I think Jingkang would be willing if you told him to go out of the house to buy food!" Yixiong said.
"But Jingkang has to be on standby here. We need his voice. What if suddenly the kidnappers call again when Jingkang goes to buy food?"
"I think you are exaggerating," Yixiong said. "Going shopping for twenty or twenty-five minutes should be fine. In fact, the kidnappers haven't contacted us today."
Zhengyi only grinned at Yixiong's words.
"Are you still hungry now?" Yixiong looked at Zhengyi and Jingkang.
"I eat quite a lot. But because it's pizza, so I am not really full," said Zhengyi.
Jingkang just smiled. He didn't answer. Zhengyi had not known the young man for a long time yet. So he didn't know whether Jingkang was a person who likes to eat or not.
"It's too long if we have to wait for the others to get here. So how about we eat together now? I bought some food on the way home earlier." Yixiong pointed at the plastic bag he brought home.
"This is just right!" Zhengyi clapped his hands happily.
Jingkang nodded with a big smile.
Without saying anything else, they all walked into the dining room. For a few seconds, Yixiong watched the dining table when they got there. In the middle of the table, there was only a kettle still filled with boiled water. At the end of the table, there was a piece of paper and a pen.
"What's wrong Xiongge?" Zhengyi guessed the objects reminded Yixiong of something important.
"Nothing." Yixiong did not elaborate further. "Jingkang, you just sit here. Let me and Zhengyi go to the kitchen to prepare plates and cutlery."
Jingkang seemed to feel bad about letting Yixiong and Zhengyi prepare everything. He walked to follow Zhengyi and Yixiong, but Zhengyi held him back. Jingkang obeyed. He finally put his ass on one chair in the dining room.
Zhengyi and Yixiong entered the kitchen. They quickly prepared lunch. In the plastic packages that Yixiong brought, there were several portions of food. Because this time only three people were going to eat, Yixiong only took three servings. The rest he kept in the fridge.
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