bodyguard against fate

Chapter 46 Central Control Crisis

It turned out that Lao Zheng had gotten He Xiuli's phone number from the garment factory. Half an hour earlier, Lao Zheng had sent He Xiuli a photo of himself in the mental hospital. He Yong had already received a call from Director Gao and was heading to the mental hospital. After seeing the photo, He Xiuli naturally thought it wasn't safe for He Yong to go to the mental hospital at that time. However, Lao Zheng had timed it perfectly. When He Xiuli called He Yong, he had just entered the control room, and Lao Zheng had snatched his phone. Lao Zheng was worried that He Xiuli would call the police, so he didn't answer the call.

He Xiuli realized something was wrong and quickly called Feng Weida. She knew that if He Yongzhen encountered any danger alone, she wouldn't be able to help him. Wu Renxing was completely untrustworthy. The person she trusted and relied on most right now was this driver and bodyguard who had saved her several times. He Xiuli suddenly realized that as long as Feng Weida was by her side, she would feel at ease. This feeling was something Wu Renxing couldn't give her. Perhaps this was what it meant to have a sense of security.

Some people spend their entire lives searching for security. Some believe security is money—money can buy everything. Others believe security is power—power gives you confidence. But He Xiuli realized then that security is a feeling, a sense of peace that comes from knowing someone will never abandon you, even if the sky falls, just by having them by your side. This feeling is worthless when you're doing well, but you realize how precious it is when you need it! The only thing He Xiuli was grateful to Wu Renxing for was bringing Feng Weida into the company. If Wu Renxing knew, he'd probably cry his eyes out.

At this moment, Feng Weida had already brought He Xiuli to the central control room. The door was tightly closed, and Feng Weida tried to open it, but couldn't.

"Is anyone there? Is anyone there?"

Feng Weida pounded on the door.

"Dad, are you in there?"

"Xiuli, run! Don't worry about me!"

Hearing He Xiuli's voice, He Yong shouted from inside.

"Without the key, it can't be opened," Feng Weida said.

"Dad, who locked you up? I'm calling the police right now!"

Before He Xiuli arrived, she was unsure if her father would run into trouble. Now that He Yong is trapped, she has every reason to call the police.

"My dear niece," Old Zheng's voice rang out, "I heard from your father that you're going to compensate me. Uncle thanks you for your kindness, but Old He has kept me locked up for so many years, how much do you think is appropriate?"

"I'll give you as much as you want, just don't hurt my dad!" He Xiuli said anxiously.

"Twenty years, it's not about the money. I just want you to experience what it's like to live here, right, Xiao Feng?"

"Old Zheng, don't be impulsive. We can talk things over. Just release him first," Feng Weida said.

"Was I impulsive? Weren't you the ones banging on the door? Here's what we'll do: you take my niece to check in, and tell her that she has a mental illness and will stay here for a month or two. Maybe then I'll be happy and forgive Lao He."

Feng Weida whispered to He Xiuli to call the police, and He Xiuli was about to make the call.

"Hey, if you call the police, you'll never see Lao He again!"

Old Zheng could see Feng Weida and He Xiuli's every move on the surveillance camera. After he said that, He Xiuli and Feng Weida also noticed the camera above their heads and dared not do anything else.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, but I need to see my dad first!" He Xiuli said.

"Seeing Lao He...that's a bit difficult. How about this, you guys start a live stream, and we'll connect via voice chat!"

He Xiuli was completely confused: "What live stream?"

"Welcome, my dear niece!"

With Lao Zheng's guidance, He Xiuli and Lao Zheng successfully connected via live stream.

What exactly is going on?

He Xiuli never expected that a mental hospital would start live streaming.

"My eldest niece said she voluntarily checked into a mental hospital to pay off her father's debts. What do you all think?" Old Zheng asked netizens.

"Is it another script?"

"She's so beautiful, it's a shame she's in a mental hospital!"

"The son pays for the father's debts, no problem!"

"One month's stay is equivalent to twenty years of yours! My niece really hit the jackpot!"

Netizens were just joking; clearly, everyone still thought it was an internet joke.

Where's my dad?

He Xiuli did not see He Yong.

Old Zheng turned the camera around, and He Yong was already tied to a chair, with a rusty axe next to him.

Seeing her father like this, He Xiuli felt a pang of sadness, but she dared not suggest calling the police, and tears streamed down her face.

"That crying scene was excellent; the acting was superb!"

"The hostages don't seem to be acting; they're so real!"

"Could this be a real kidnapping?"

Finally, some netizens noticed the problem.

"How could that be? Unless he's mentally ill, live-streaming a kidnapping is practically suicide!"

"Daughter, did you see that?" Old Zheng said, "Your check-in process is to be live-streamed the whole time. I need to see both of your hands. If it's interrupted... you know the consequences."

He Xiuli nodded with tears in her eyes.

The entire process was being broadcast live, and they even had to see each other's hands, which meant that neither she nor Feng Weida could call the police. The problem was, nobody knew what Lao Zheng was thinking, so they could only take it one step at a time!

The mental hospital was getting out of control. The patients in white coats were unusually excited, running around and completely ignoring instructions. On the contrary, several caregivers in hospital gowns were locked up by them. Now, day and night were completely reversed. Dean Gao's phone was ringing off the hook, but Old Zheng simply wouldn't answer and kept it on silent.

He Xiuli and Feng Weida, two outsiders, stood out among the group of doctors in white coats, attracting curious glances from passing mental patients. Suddenly, one of the patients recognized Feng Weida.

"Number 356!"

As soon as he shouted that, a group of mental patients immediately surrounded him.

"What are they shouting?"

He Xiuli didn't understand; she didn't know that 356 was Feng Weida's code name.

Feng Weida hesitated, wondering whether he should tell He Xiuli that he had kept quiet before because he was afraid of affecting Wu Renxing. Now that Wu Renxing was no longer a problem, there was no need to keep the secret.

"Mr. He, I'd like to tell you something—"

"Let's talk about it when we get back!"

He Xiuli felt uncomfortable being surrounded by a group of mental patients and just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Is this your wife?" a fellow patient asked Feng Weida.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"Oh, I know, it's your ex-wife!"

Why isn't he wearing a work uniform?

"Anyone not wearing a uniform here is mentally ill!"

"His ex-wife is also mentally ill, otherwise why would they have sent him here!"

The mentally ill people were talking amongst themselves.

"Make way, make way—"

Feng Weida protected He Xiuli and tried to squeeze out of the crowd.

After finally catching her breath, He Xiuli suddenly realized that what she had just heard seemed a bit off.

"Xiao Feng, how do they know you?"

"I lived here for a while—"

"You're here...as a security guard?"

Because He Yong also frequently visited the mental hospital, He Xiuli didn't immediately think of that possibility.

"I--"

Just as Feng Weida was about to speak, he suddenly heard Wu Renxing's voice.

"Shuri! I've finally found you!"

Wu Renxing followed Feng Weida to the mental hospital. Before Qiang Ge arrived, he went in to take a look. Unexpectedly, he ran into He Xiuli and Feng Weida. He couldn't avoid them even if he wanted to!

What are you doing here?

He Xiuli didn't want to see Wu Renxing, and she never expected him to appear here.

"That's a long story, Xiuli, why are you avoiding me?"

Wu Renxing was unaware that Feng Weida was broadcasting live to the entire internet on his mobile phone.

"It's none of your business." From the moment He Xiuli decided to divorce, she had no intention of looking back. Her tone was devoid of any warmth, as cold as ice.

"I've been thinking about you!"

"Thinking about me? I think you're thinking about that little vixen!"

"I swear! Jiang Xue seduced me, and she even threatened me with pregnancy! Xiuli, we're husband and wife after all, and from beginning to end, I've only ever loved you!"

Viewers watching the live stream were browsing the mental hospital through Feng Weida's phone when they were caught off guard by this huge revelation, causing an uproar!

"He married such a beautiful wife and still cheated on her?"

"Who is Jiang Xue? Is she as beautiful as this Xiuli?"

"This man truly doesn't know how lucky he is—"

Old Zheng didn't expect such an unexpected gain. To prevent He Yong from shouting, he stuffed a rag into He Yong's mouth so that he couldn't make a sound. However, netizens couldn't see this scene.