After The Honest Person Was Discovered For Simultaneously Pursuing Three People - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Kneeling

Seven days had passed without any news of Tao Ning. Xu Jun had also barely slept for seven days, with a cumulative sleep time of no more than ten hours. Every day, he would go to the police station, but each time the response was, “Tao Ning’s disappearance is not related to Zhao Jingqun.”

Xu Jun said coldly, “Have you investigated him thoroughly? Do you have all the information about the real estate in his name? Have you investigated the employees at his company?”

The police officer was encountering a person who was neither a relative nor a friend of the victim but was excessively concerned about the victim’s situation for the first time. He said seriously, “We understand that you are the victim’s roommate and are concerned about him, but please also understand our work. We will definitely not overlook any information related to the case.”

Xu Jun pursed his lips. “My apologies.”

He knew he was too impatient and sometimes even wondered if his judgment was wrong. But Xu Jun didn’t dare to think that his judgment was incorrect, because he would rather Tao Ning be taken away by Zhao Jingqun than imagine what kind of suffering Tao Ning might be enduring in someone else’s hands.

The longer the time passed, the more precarious Xu Jun’s sanity became. Especially on the second day after losing track of Tao Ning, Xu Jun saw Zhao Jingqun at the police station.

Zhao Jingqun was wearing a casual T-shirt, but even the most casual clothing couldn’t hide his unruly presence. However, this somewhat thuggish face was marked by heavy dark circles, bloodshot eyes, and no expression at all, giving him a menacing aura.

Compared to the last time he saw this former boyfriend of Tao Ning’s, whom he had personally brought to Haizhou, Xu Jun was filled with resentment and jealousy. This time, Xu Jun couldn’t even control his expression.

He rushed over to block Zhao Jingqun’s path and questioned him coldly, “What exactly do you intend to do to Tao Ning?”

The chief of the police station was right beside Zhao Jingqun at the time. Regarding this young man who suddenly blocked the way, fearing that Zhao Jingqun would withdraw his investment in Haizhou out of anger, he signaled to the police officer next to him. A police officer tried to take Xu Jun away, but Zhao Jingqun raised a hand, and the others stopped moving.

The chief nervously broke out in a cold sweat, afraid that this “God of Wealth” would start a fight with the young man. If that happened, it would be hard for him to show favoritism, and the investment would be lost. But what the chief didn’t expect was that the “God of Wealth,” who had been expressionless since entering the police station, actually smiled.

Zhao Jingqun stood with both hands in his pockets, looking down at Xu Jun. Seeing Xu Jun’s seemingly indifferent but actually tense face, his heart was nearly filled with malice and killing intent. Yet, on his face, he merely smiled.

Walking down the steps one by one, Zhao Jingqun kept smiling and said in a voice only Xu Jun could hear, “If you kneel and kowtow to me, I’ll tell you.”

Because of the distance, the chief couldn’t clearly hear their conversation. Fearing the two would start fighting, he quickly scurried forward to persuade Zhao Jingqun to leave. However, before he could get close, something that completely astonished him happened: the young man in front of Zhao Jingqun actually knelt down with a cold face.

Hiss—

Not only did the chief gasp, but everyone else’s eyes widened.

Xu Jun was completely unconcerned about the stares of others. He knelt down straight with a cold face. It is said that a man’s knees are worth gold. In that moment, no one knew why he did this, nor could they understand his thinking, except for Zhao Jingqun.

The corrosive acid of jealousy had completely drowned Zhao Jingqun. Every inch of skin on his body was steeped in it, stripping away both skin and bone. Zhao Jingqun almost used all his strength to stop himself from killing Xu Jun in public. The thought that, besides himself, there was another person who deeply loved Tao Ning, and that they not only shared common interests but were also intimately close.

And now, for Tao Ning, this person would even kneel down to him, throwing away all self-respect.

Just the thought of it drove Zhao Jingqun mad with jealousy. After standing there for what seemed like an eternity, Zhao Jingqun pulled out a twisted smile. He neither paid attention to Xu Jun nor explained anything to the chief. He turned and left.

Since then, Xu Jun had never seen Zhao Jingqun again. Having lost the only way to get information about Tao Ning, Xu Jun started to use every connection he had to search, including Song Yucong. However, Song Yucong was also heavily constrained by the family business and, despite being overwhelmed with worries, was also looking for Tao Ning, but still to no avail.

Song Yucong smashed everything in the private room in front of Xu Jun and glared at him fiercely: “It’s all your fault, you useless thing! You let Tao Ning get kidnapped in broad daylight! Are you an idiot?!”

These words were like a thorn in Xu Jun’s heart. Regret and pain flashed in his eyes, and his voice was slightly hoarse: “…Do you have any news?”

“No!” Song Yucong punched the wall, his face revealing undisguised worry. “I’ve hired the best private detective and sent out all my bodyguards to look for him, but there’s still no news of Tao Ning.” However, he didn’t mention that the Song family company had also come under attack during this time.

Song Yucong was afraid that he had offended someone, and that person had kidnapped Tao Ning for revenge. Just the possibility made Song Yucong’s face turn pale, and he was physically trembling.

“You should look into Zhao Jingqun,” Xu Jun said coldly.

“Hasn’t Zhao Jingqun been cleared of suspicion? Tao Ning said Zhao Jingqun is his cousin…” Song Yucong’s face gradually turned pale. Even if he had the answer in his heart, he still couldn’t believe it. “Zhao Jingqun even mentioned to me that he has a wife.”

Xu Jun looked at him expressionlessly. “You were lied to. Zhao Jingqun is Tao Ning’s ex-boyfriend.”

“You… what the hell did you say?! Come back! Xu Jun, you explain yourself clearly!”

After trying all possible methods, Xu Jun started to personally investigate information related to Zhao Jingqun. With Song Yucong’s encouragement, he investigated a large part of Zhao Jingqun’s background, inferring the true situation by carefully sifting through the details, until he saw that Zhao Jingqun had spent some time in Tao Ning’s hometown half a year ago accompanying his younger sister on a sketching trip.

Xu Jun knew that Tao Ning had been with Zhao Jingqun during that time. He put down the file, only a third of which was accurate, and called Zhao Jingqun’s younger sister, Zhao Jingsui, clinging to a sliver of hope.

The phone rang a few times, and then it connected. “Who is this?”

Zhao Jingsui’s voice was clear and cold, cutting straight to the chase and asking for the caller’s identity. Xu Jun also got straight to the point. He said calmly, “Your brother kidnapped someone. The media is about to expose this. If you don’t want the Zhao family scandal to escalate, tell Zhao Jingqun to let the person go.”

To Xu Jun’s surprise, the person on the other end of the line was silent for a few seconds before saying unhurriedly, “My brother kidnapped Tao Ning, didn’t he? What is your relationship with him?”

This last glimmer of hope was extinguished. Xu Jun’s fingers turned white as he gripped the phone. He hung up immediately.

Zhao Jingsui looked at the disconnected call and slightly raised an eyebrow. He Niannian, who was sitting on the swing, eating ice cream, and dangling her legs, turned her head. “Sui Sui, why did you stop? Who called?”

Zhao Jingsui smiled and continued to swing her. “Nothing. Let’s keep playing.”

In the evening, Zhao Jingsui gently pulled away He Niannian’s arm that was holding her. She tucked the blanket around He Niannian and got out of bed, going outside the bedroom. She called a number that had only a string of digits saved as the contact name.

She waited patiently for more than thirty seconds until the phone finally connected. Zhao Jingsui heard a faint sob on the other end, followed by Zhao Jingqun’s cold voice: “What is it?”

Zhao Jingsui could tell that she had interrupted her generally indifferent biological brother’s intimate evening, so she kept it short. “Someone said you kidnapped Tao Ning and warned you to release him, or they would cause a media frenzy.”

The voice on the other end replied coldly, “Let them do it.”

Bang! The phone was instantly smashed into pieces. Zhao Jingqun’s eyes were bloodshot. He pressed down on the soft body beneath him, pinched his chin, and said sarcastically, “Tao Ning, Xu Jun and Song Yucong are looking for you everywhere. You still dare to say you’re not having an affair with them? What do you think they’ll think of you if I send them the video of us making love? Huh?”

Even though he knew Zhao Jingqun wouldn’t actually do that and was just trying to scare him, Tao Ning still felt inevitable shame and anger. His weak hand gripped Zhao Jingqun’s hot wrist, trying to push him away. He said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t, if you do that, I’ll hate you…”

Tao Ning had been in this room for seven days. For most of these seven days, he had been enduring Zhao Jingqun’s angry lust. At first, Tao Ning could tolerate it, but later, he begged for mercy to the point where his pupils lost focus. Still, Zhao Jingqun refused to let him out.

Especially on the second day, after Zhao Jingqun returned from outside, he demanded intimacy almost frantically, his eyes filled with distorted jealousy, forcing Tao Ning to tell him who he loved the most.

Tao Ning said he loved him, but Zhao Jingqun didn’t believe it. He called him a liar and said he wouldn’t believe his words or be fooled by him again.

Tao Ning couldn’t communicate with him. Because of the even greater guilt and heartache that followed the slap, he could only silently endure Zhao Jingqun’s calm yet manic behavior.

Today, for some unknown reason, after hanging up the phone, Zhao Jingqun not only smashed the phone but also started talking nonsense again. Perhaps the word “hate” had provoked him again. The hand gripping his chin tightened. Tao Ning watched the man whose eyes were red with anger and sneered, “Hate me? Fine. It’s better than you being heartless, Tao Ning. If you want to hate me, then hate me for a lifetime. Tomorrow, I will definitely send the video to those two wild dogs. I even want you to see their reaction when they receive the video with your own eyes.”

“Lunatic… you really are a lunatic…”

If Tao Ning were to judge Zhao Jingqun by his past self, he would have been certain that Zhao Jingqun was only threatening him. But up close, the ruthlessness in the man’s eyes was so clear. Tao Ning realized that the formerly gentle, overbearing, and slightly thuggish personality was only part of Zhao Jingqun. Perhaps the current, completely insane Zhao Jingqun was his true self.

…What should I do… what should I do? It turned out there was also a camera in this room. If Zhao Jingqun really sent the video to Xu Jun and Song Yucong, how could he ever face them again?

Tao Ning’s despairing expression deeply wounded Zhao Jingqun. He tasted the pleasure of “revenge” but his heart ached as if it were about to split open. Zhao Jingqun could only continuously hypnotize himself: he wanted Tao Ning to have him in his heart, even if it was only with hatred.

There was no turning back for him.

Zhao Jingqun kissed the lips of the person beneath him, grinding ruthlessly. But because of Tao Ning’s illness, he was afraid of drawing blood and didn’t dare to use too much force. He could only suck relentlessly, as if only this could slightly calm the sanity that was clouded by jealousy and pain.

This time, Tao Ning struggled more violently than ever before. Tears mixed with saliva, making it impossible to distinguish which was more bitter.

Until another silent sexual encounter ended, Zhao Jingqun washed his body and then hugged him tightly. Even when asleep, his grip was so strong that Tao Ning couldn’t break free.

Tao Ning couldn’t sleep. He opened his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling. After a long time, Tao Ning said calmly to the system in his mind: Get me out of here. If I don’t leave, I won’t be able to complete the final mission.

Tao Ning clearly heard an ambiguous laugh from his mind. Tao Ning, Zhao Jingqun is right. You truly are a complete liar.

Thanks to you. Tao Ning’s tone was cold. I refused from the start.

The system’s voice was full of amusement. But you don’t have the right to refuse. Answer one question, and I’ll get you out.

Tao Ning said nothing.

Out of these three people, who do you like?

Tao Ning fell into a rare silence. It wasn’t that he couldn’t answer, but that he had no answer at all. His heart was already a mess. Whether it was Zhao Jingqun, Xu Jun, or Song Yucong, he could no longer treat them as simple math problems and missions.

But before Tao Ning could speak, the system sneered, as if it already knew the answer. You can’t answer, because… you like all three. If Zhao Jingqun knew what you were thinking, I doubt he would just be confining you here.

Tao Ning closed his eyes, his face calm, but his tightly clenched fists under the blanket were trembling. Perhaps sensing Tao Ning’s fear, Zhao Jingqun, although not awake, instinctively hugged Tao Ning tighter, gently patting his slender back, and murmuring “be good,” comforting him.

He abruptly opened his eyes. In the darkness, Tao Ning held back his tears and used his gaze to carefully trace the face that carried his joys and sorrows. He had never been so certain: he finally felt a trace of hatred for this face.

It was no longer simple joy or sorrow, but real, genuine hatred. Why did Zhao Jingqun have to dig for the truth? Why did Zhao Jingqun have to humiliate everyone? Why did he hurt him and then treat him so well? Since he thought he was a fickle liar, why wouldn’t he let him go?!

This emotion was too complex. It flashed through his mind so quickly that Tao Ning couldn’t even understand it before it was already gone. Then, the system’s voice sounded with a condescending tone: “Tomorrow, those two will know your location.”

Tao Ning sighed, closing his eyes again as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden. He repeated in his heart over and over, Let it end, let it end like this.

But… could it really end?