Crimson Instinct

Chapter 123: That woman (1)

*Xin Lei*

Bai Li said, "I kind of had my suspicions on Duan Deming since Ming died. Once I figured out that he was a mole, Tian Song's identity became clear to me."

I pouted. I typed. "I see. That is why you stopped me from telling about the recording to Duan Deming."

He nodded.

Somebody knocked on the door, and I saw Yuan standing at the entrance.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course." Bai Li said.

Yuan said, "I heard that you were here, so I came by to check on you. How are you feeling now?"

Bai Li slowly nodded. "Better."

I anxiously glanced at Yuan, but he just nodded at me.

"I know Xin Lei must have talked to you, but I am here as a professional. Did you remember my tips when you got that attack?"

Bai Li said, "I did. I did everything you said but-"

"It's alright, Bai Li. You did well. Initially, people don't immediately remember the methods to calm down. The anxiety consumes them so fast that it is hard to think about anything else. It is an achievement even if they did any one technique, and you tried all of them. That's a very good start."

Ha patted him on the shoulder.

"If you could calm down with the tips, then that would have been excellent, but my main motive was to see how much you can remember and control your emotions in that state."

Bai Li said, "I did feel a little better just for a few moments."

Yuan smiled.

"That's great. Soon, your duration would increase to stay calm. Now it is a few moments; then, it would be a few minutes until eventually when you would be all fine. We will do our next session when you get some time free. Until then, practice breathing techniques and exercise daily. It helps in the long run."

I thought about it. I typed. "Why don't you come with us? Tian Song is taking us with him to meet a big brother. If you come with us, then you two will get a chance to have your next session."

Yuan paused. He seemed a bit stiff.

"Oh"

I wondered what happened. Wasn't he feeling comfortable?

I typed. "Is there a problem?"

"Eh? Ah, no, no. I don't mind. What do you say, Bai Li?" He quickly glanced at Bai Li.

He nodded too. "That's a good idea."

I frowned. It seemed that he was a little tense. Wait. Was he worried about big brother?

Ah...now I kind of understood.

But it had been a long time since our dating. I hoped big brother don't trouble him.

It was Tian Song who knocked. "Everything is ready. We will leave in thirty minutes."

We nodded.

"Zhang Ning is awake now. She has asked if you could meet her."

"Of course." Bai Li said, "We need to talk to her."

We went into Zhang Ning's ward. She faintly glanced at us and weakly smiled. Naturally, Zhang Chao was also there.

"Ning"

His gaze shifted at us, and he nodded. 

I typed. "How are you now?"

She looked pale and weak.

"I-I am good."

I typed. "What did the doctor say?"

Zhang Chao said, "Ning needs to be kept in observation for twenty-four hours. Sheshe bled a lot, so she is weak." he choked.

"Dad... stop. I am fine."

I nodded.

He looked at Bai Li and said, "Ning just told me how you saved her again. I...I don't think there is anything in my power to thank you enough after how you saved her thrice."

Bai Li said, "I didn't save her from getting shot. Why are you thanking me?"

Yuan and I shared glances.

We sighed. It was still a long way before he stops to unconsciously blame himself.

Zhang Chao looked at him, surprised. "But you saved her from Yi Xing again. She told me how you fought with his goons and even defeated them. If not for you, then I don't know where that bastard might have taken her."

"And" Zhang Ning said, "Bai Li... really, I don't blame you for that person who shot me. Anybody would have been helpless in your position. Please don't be too hard on yourself."

Bai Li didn't respond.

I typed. "What about Yi Xing?"

Zhang Chao sneered. "He is as good as finished. He dared to kidnap my daughter. Now even Yi Xiaosi wouldn't be able to save him. Once he wakes up, his next stop is jail."

He looked at Kang Yuan and seemed as if he was sizing him up. "Who is he? I feel like I have seen you somewhere."

Yuan smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang. I am Kang Yuan. I am Xin Lei's friend and Bai Li's doctor."

The father-daughter pair exchanged glances with each other.

"Doctor for what?" Zhang Ning asked. As I watched her staring at Bai Li, I felt as if she was really worried about him.

"Is he hurt?" 

My brow twitched.

Ugh...Was it okay to tell them?

Zhang Chao said, "Right, I remember now. You are that famous psychologist. I have heard a lot about you."

"Yes, I am that Kang Yuan. Don't worry. Bai Li is fine."

Zhang Ning looked at Bai Li, concerned. "Bai Li...what's wrong? Why do you need a doctor?"

Yuan said, "I apologize, Miss. But doctor-patient confidentiality."

"Oh...I-I am sorry."

"No problem."

Bai Li said, "Actually, we came here to ask you something. Do you remember anything about that woman who shot you?"

Zhang Chao and Zhang Ning widened their eyes. "Woman? It was a woman?"

I nodded.

Zhang Chao gritted his teeth. "Who was she? How dare she harm Ning!"

"That's what we want to know."

Zhang Ning said, "I don't know...I didn't even recognize that she was a woman. I could barely see. It was all dizzy and spinning at that time."

Bai Li tilted his head. "But she shot you. There must be a reason."

I wondered. That woman could be the boss, but why did she shoot Zhang Ning? Shouldn't her enemy have been Bai Li?

"She said, 'Shouldn't you know it better than me?' when you asked her why she wanted to kill you. I think you didn't hear it clearly in your condition, but I felt that it was personal."

Zhang Ning blinked her eyes. For a few moments, she looked confused, but then she widened her eyes as if something dawned upon her. Her expression turned pale, and she looked at Zhang Chao, frightened.

Zhang Chao also seemed to realize the same thing, and I saw his body stiffen and tense up.

Silence.

Bai Li said, "I think this silence means that you have realized the identity of that woman."

Both of them didn't look good. They seemed to hesitate, saying anything further.

I typed. "If you know anything about it, then tell us. We need to know."

After what it looked like much contemplation, Zhang Ning softly spoke but not to us. She asked Zhang Chao, "Dad...i-is she back?"

Zhang Chao pursed his lips. "It cannot be possible, Ning. She cannot be here. There must be a misunderstanding. I didn't get any such news about her coming back."

But it seemed as if he was convincing himself.

"B-but, who else could it be? Only she has a grudge on me, Dad! Only she can do this"

"We would appreciate it if you two stopped talking in circles and directly come to the point." Bai Li said.

Zhang Ning stared at us for a long time before she slowly said, "If that person was a woman and if what Bai Li felt was true then...then it could be my... little sister, Zhang Xiulan."

I frowned. I typed. "Zhang Xiulan? But didn't you say that she is abroad for studies?"

Silence again.

"She is supposed to be, but"

"From your tone, it doesn't seem like she went abroad for studies."

Once again, they stiffened.

There was something really wrong. It was clear that there was some big secret they were hiding.

Zhang Chao seemed grim. "We are sorry, but we cannot tell you about it."

"Mr. Zhang. I don't care what family secret you have, but that woman has something to do with the murders and the answer that we are looking for. So we want to know."

They said nothing.

"Bai Li, please try to understand-"

"Take it as I am asking in exchange for saving your daughter three times. Didn't you say you want to repay me? Telling the secret is in your power."

"You"

Zhang Ning bit her lip. She said, "Dad. Bai Li is right. We promised that we would give him any help if he needed it."

Zhang Chao tiredly sat down on the chair beside her and rubbed his temples.

"That is a long story."

Bai Li and I glanced at Tian Song's direction. He plainly said, "We can leave a little later."

Bai Li said, "So tell us. What secret is it about Zhang Xiulan?"

Zhang Chao instructed his party members not to come inside the ward and disturb us until he came out.

He sat back again, and so did we.

"We doubt that Xiulan is back for revenge."

I typed. "What revenge?"

He took a deep breath.

"Revenge about how we punished her."

"Punished, why?" Liao Huifang asked.

"My wife Qiyue's death. Thirteen years ago, it was" he clenched his fingers in a fist, "it was Xiulan who killed her."