Silent Testimony - Chapter 108

The surrogacy den was located in a basement on the right side of the B2 parking lot. It was a four-room suite spanning at least 150 square meters, comprising a reception room, a lounge, an operating room, and a laboratory. The lounge held two hospital beds; the operating room featured a surgical table and ultrasound machines; the lab was stocked with prescription drugs, embryo storage tanks, and everything in between.

Li Hewei witnessed the egg retrieval process. In just fifteen minutes, twelve eggs were harvested from a young woman.

Her brow furrowed deeply. Beside her, Zhou Qi introduced with a smile: “See? A student from a top-two domestic university. She makes 150,000 in one go.” The agency charged 300,000, pocketing a 150,000 profit.

Li Hewei remained silent as he continued: “Look, we use anesthesia. The process is completely painless.”

“Mm.”

Zhou Qi was cheerful. “Sister, shall we go to the reception room to sign the contract?”

“Alright.”

Li Hewei followed him to the room at the end of the corridor. Unlike the sterile operating room, the reception area was elegantly decorated and warm. It had three armchairs, a tea table, and walls covered in photos of “successful cases.” Zhou Qi grew increasingly respectful. “Sister, please, sit.”

Li Hewei sat down, took the contract and pen he offered, and began to sign. Suddenly, Zhou Qi’s phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID: Brother Hao.

He looked up and gestured. “Sister, wait a moment. We still need to book the retrieval time. I’ll take this call first.”

“Mm.”

Zhou Qi left the room. He didn’t go far, and Li Hewei strained her ears to listen.

“Impossible. I checked; she’s from Yuecheng, came here for a trip a few days ago.” “Polycystic ovaries, can’t conceive.” “I checked her. No pinhole cameras.” “What if the police are investigating a theft and it’s not us?” “Fine, I’ll keep her here for now.”

Zhou Qi hung up. Li Hewei suppressed her racing heart, calculating an escape. There were no windows; ventilation relied on exhaust fans. The entrance was the only way out. She had to act.

“Sister, the booking system is under maintenance. It might take half an hour,” Zhou Qi said as he re-entered, his smile unchanged.

Li Hewei feigned impatience. “I have things to do this afternoon.”

“Oh, it can’t be helped. The booking requires a printed agreement with a signature and thumbprint.”

Li Hewei had no choice but to wait, her mind a storm of anxiety. About fifteen minutes later, Zhou Qi went out for another call.

“No way. Even if this is illegal, we’d only get a few months. Murder is different.” “I won’t do it. You guys come.”

Hiding behind the door, Li Hewei decided to stake everything on one move. She had signed the contract and transferred money—she knew their account. As for a witness, she had seen the doctor and memorized his face. If she escaped, she would have enough evidence to bury them.

She kicked off her cumbersome high heels. Hearing the footsteps approach, the moment Zhou Qi’s head appeared, she lunged, her left arm locking around his neck.

Zhou Qi struggled, his face turning beet-red, unable to speak. Li Hewei controlled her strength and delivered a sharp chop to his carotid artery with her right hand. He collapsed instantly.

The doctor was still busy in the lab, and the donor girl was in the lounge. She couldn’t alert them yet. Li Hewei moved silently toward the main hall. Just as she reached for the handle, the door swung open from the outside.

Hao Peng. Li Hewei recognized him from the photos.

In a blur, Hao Peng pulled out a fruit knife and lunged. She arched back to avoid it, grabbing his shoulder in an attempt to submerge him. However, Hao Peng was a regular at the gym and a boxer; he was powerful. His elbow slammed violently into Li Hewei’s abdomen.

The pain was agonizing. Li Hewei released her grip, forced into a corner, gasping for air. Judging by his punching power and the weapon in his hand, she realized the odds were against her.

Once he caught his breath, Hao Peng lowered his stance and charged with the knife. Li Hewei ducked and weaved, avoiding the slash, but he immediately dropped the knife and followed up with a lightning-fast straight punch.

She wasn’t prepared. The blow landed on her collarbone, and a wave of sharp pain radiated through her.

“This is the consequence of meddling,” Hao Peng snarled, grabbing a wooden stool to pin her down. Li Hewei grabbed the legs of the stool to resist, but after more than twenty-four hours without sleep, her strength was spent. Her eyes blurred. She bit her lip and screamed: “Doctor!”

The doctor in the lab froze. He heard her roar from outside: “You only want money! If you stand by and watch a person die in front of you, can your conscience take it?”

Hao Peng sneered. “Conscience? His annual salary at the hospital is 300,000. We give him a million.” “What use is a conscience?”

The doctor’s clenched fists trembled. He looked at the donor girl curled up on the bed and took a difficult step forward.

“If he helps you, he’ll not only go to jail, but his medical license will be revoked. Do you think he dares?”

As Hao Peng spoke, the doctor closed his eyes and reached out to shut the lab door.

Outmatched, Li Hewei’s breathing grew shallow. Her hands slipped from the stool legs, and the wooden seat pressed against her chest.

Hao Peng grinned savagely. “Five or six years ago, I personally dealt with a reporter. Today, I’ll send you on your way too.” He picked up the fruit knife, gripped Li Hewei’s left shoulder, and aimed for her heart.

Tao Ling… Tao Tao… The mission… I can’t die…

Li Hewei’s vision failed. Using the last of her strength to twist away, the blade sank deep into her shoulder.

“Heh, stubborn.” Hao Peng pulled the knife out to strike again, but a sudden scream erupted from the lounge: “Fire! There’s a fire!”

Two minutes earlier, the girl had knocked on the lab door and begged the doctor for two bottles of medical alcohol. She had set the trash can and the bed on fire.

The alcohol flared, and the flames spread instantly, reaching the adjacent reception room.

“I’ll deal with you in a minute!” Hao Peng let go, frantic. He grabbed a dry powder fire extinguisher from the corner of the hall and rushed toward the rooms.

The lounge was an inferno. To buy more time, the girl ignited the sofa and tea table in the reception room. As the chaos escalated, she ran for the exit. Just as she opened the security door to leave, she caught sight of Li Hewei collapsed in the corner.

The girl approached cautiously, nudging Li Hewei’s shoulder. “Hey… you okay?”

Li Hewei had multiple soft tissue injuries, a rib fracture from the stool, and her shoulder was bleeding profusely. She was unconscious.

The girl bit her lip. “Gosh, I’m not strong enough to carry you.” “They took my phone too…” “Wait here! I’ll find help!” She turned and ran out in a panic.

Old Fang, the informant, had been detained. Worried about Li Hewei, Qiu Wan immediately called for the K9 unit.

However, Zhou Qi was meticulous; he had worn shoe covers after getting out of the car. The police dogs couldn’t pick up a scent trail, forcing the team to search door-to-door.

Tao Ling was with Wang Cen’s team, searching Building 4. After a fruitless check of Room 502, they entered the elevator. Suddenly, Tao Ling reached out and hit the “Down” button.

“Xiao Tao?”

“Find Old Fang.”

“Old Fang? It’s no use; he refuses to talk.”

“He must be in contact with Zhou Qi or the others. He’s been to the den.”

“We need to hurry, there’s still one floor left.”

Tao Ling insisted. “We split up.”

“Captain Qiu said you must stay with me.”

“Captain Chen is here, isn’t she?” Tao Ling looked at the deputy leader of the K9 unit. “And her dog, Beta.”

The K9 officer smiled. “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

They went downstairs. Beta caught Old Fang’s scent and began tracking. Near a rockery, the Labrador paced indecisively. “The scent is too messy,” the officer frowned. “Old Fang has been all over the place.”

“Let’s go to the indoor parking lot. There’s less interference there.”

Captain Chen pulled Beta along. Suddenly, the Labrador began to bolt.

Chen’s face went pale. “Smoke! Why is there smoke on B2? Is there a fire?”

Tao Ling followed close behind. In the distance, the donor girl stumbled toward them, gasping, “Help… help!”

“Who is it?” Tao Ling’s voice trembled as she rushed forward.

“I don’t know… she’s dressed very stylishly… she was in a fight and fainted.”

Captain Chen asked, “Leather jacket? Wavy hair?”

“Yes! Yes!”

“How many people are still inside?”

“Two! Three!”

“Okay, thank you.” Captain Chen pulled out her phone as she ran. “Xiao Tao, stay calm! I’m calling Captain Qiu.”

“Captain Qiu, fire on B2. We need fire support. And an ambulance…”

Tao Ling’s ears rang with a deafening roar. She couldn’t hear a word Captain Chen was saying. Tears flooded her eyes instantly. She didn’t stop, charging toward the billowing smoke.

“Sister Wei, wait for me…”