"The brat is ungrateful. If they could find it, they would have taken it."
The old man treasured this thing immensely back then, even sleeping with it held in his arms. How could the brat dare to sneak into his embrace to steal anything?
Shen Qing knew, but after flipping through it carefully, it was all the old man's understanding and insights into poisons. There was nothing suspicious at all.
"Why was this name left on the car door?"
Shen Qing felt like she was trapped in a fog.
Pei Lie guessed, "Could it be that Pei Xi took Pei Ji away? He knows about this definitive work by the Poison Doctor and wants us to deliver it?"
"It's not impossible."
As soon as Shen Qing finished speaking, the old man immediately said, "No way! This is my treasure!" The old man was extremely stingy and, fearing his belongings would be taken, immediately snatched it back and held it in his arms.
Shen Qing was somewhat helpless, "What are you doing?"
The old man snorted, took several steps back, and created a safe distance from them before saying, "My life's pursuit is not fame or fortune, not money, but this little notebook. Nothing you say will matter. If that brat really wants this thing, I will never give it to him!"
After saying that, he ran off clutching the booklet.
King shrugged his shoulders, "It seems it will be difficult to get the old man to agree."
Pei Lie was anxious, "Miss Shen, I beg you, find a way to save my brother. He can't be in trouble. Pei Xi is cruel and ruthless. If he really wants it and we don't give it to him, what will he do? My brother will surely be in grave danger!"
Seeing that he was almost out of his wits, Shen Qing quickly said, "Don't rush. Isn't it still unconfirmed that he wants that book?"
"But..."
Pei Lie knew in his heart that this matter was very likely to be true.
Pei Xi wouldn't do anything useless. Leaving this clue on the car door must have been for a purpose, not just a random scribble.
Shen Qing sighed, "I think, instead of us guessing wildly, let's just wait for the phone call."
"Wait for what phone call?"
Pei Lie's concern made him flustered, his mind a mess, and he didn't react for a moment. He looked a bit foolish, but Shen Qing didn't think so.
She said softly, "No one would take someone involved in a car accident away. Only Pei Xi. Since he left a clue, it means he has a purpose. Don't worry, Pei Ji will be fine for now. Let's wait for news."
"Okay, wait for news, wait for news."
Pei Lie murmured, his face still showing panic and worry.
Shen Qing felt pity seeing him, but she didn't know how to comfort him. If her own family member were kidnapped, she would surely be just as frantic.
Just like King back then.
She gave the others a look, and they quietly withdrew, leaving the room to Pei Lie.
As the door closed, King's expression became slightly grim, "The car accident was so serious. Pei Ji might be injured. Will Pei Xi find a doctor for him?"
Shen Qing looked at the door and shook her head slightly. This was also what worried her.
As Shen Qing predicted, the rest of the afternoon passed quietly, except for a visit from the police stating they hadn't found Pei Ji.
There were no more phone calls or visitors.
That night, everyone was destined to be sleepless until midnight, when the phone downstairs suddenly rang.
In the quiet night, the ringing of the phone was piercingly sharp and clear. Those upstairs were all awakened and rushed downstairs in their pajamas.
The phone kept ringing, but no one dared to answer it.
King was already preparing the location tracking.
Shen Qing glanced at the caller ID; it was an unknown number. She looked at the Queen.
At this moment, the most suitable person to communicate with Pei Xi was the Queen. Pei Lie, Pei Xing, and the King were all unsuitable and prone to arguments, which could easily enrage Pei Xi.
The King, who had been intending to answer the phone, suppressed his anger and sat down on the sofa.
Pei Lie and Pei Xing stood behind him.
The Queen took a deep breath and answered the phone, "Hello."
"Hello, everyone, did you miss me?" a voice came from the other end, incredibly familiar and intensely hated.
The voice sounded very cheerful and relaxed.
"Everyone, I missed you all. I've been waiting for you, but you've disappointed me so much, you couldn't even find me."
He sounded a bit smug.
The Queen's voice was calm, "Pei Xi, is Pei Ji with you?"
Pei Xi hummed, "Yes."
"I want to speak with him."
"Queen, don't be so impatient." Pei Xi suddenly changed the subject, "Shen Qing, you haven't left, have you? If you leave, I'll kill Pei Ji directly."
His tone carried no hint of malice, yet it was precisely this calmness that indicated his words were not to be taken lightly.
He would really kill Pei Ji.
The Queen glanced at Shen Qing and said, "She hasn't left."
Pei Xi's voice became cheerful again, "That's good. I still have something for her to do. Of course, she can't leave."
"What do you want?" the Queen asked impatiently.
Shen Qing suddenly looked at her.
The Queen first felt bewildered, then suddenly realized she had been led by Pei Xi's tune, completely forgetting her original request.
Pei Xi seemed very satisfied with the current situation, his voice laced with laughter, "The Queen is indeed sensible. Then I'll get straight to the point. I want you to bring the '21 Theoretical Laws,' a car, and three hundred million, and Shen Qing alone, to meet me."
"Dream on."
Fu Jingshu coldly uttered two words.
The previous demands were already bizarre enough, and now they wanted his wife to meet him. Who did he think he was?
Pei Xi's voice turned cold, "So you disagree then? Master Fu, can you make decisions on behalf of your wife? If the negotiation breaks down, then there's nothing more to discuss."
"Wait a moment!"
Shen Qing gave Fu Jingshu a look and shook her head.
Fu Jingshu took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and remained silent.
"It seems Miss Shen still has the final say." Pei Xi seemed unsurprised by this. "These are my demands. If you fulfill them, Pei Ji will be returned as he is. If not..."
He let out a light laugh and hung up the phone.
Shen Qing immediately looked at King. He shook his head, "The time was too short, less than a minute. The other party must have known our methods and deliberately set the time limit."
Just one more second, and they could have traced the other party's location.
The Queen's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the phone, but she paid it no mind. "What do we do now? Do we really have to do as he says?"
This question was actually directed at Shen Qing's stance.
With her son in someone else's hands, she had no right to refuse.
But the other party's demand was for Shen Qing to go alone. She had no obligation to save Pei Ji, and whether she went or not was her own right.
The King commanded as a matter of course, "You must go!"
Shen Qing looked at him with dissatisfaction, "Why must I go? Do I owe you anything?"
The King was momentarily choked, then resumed his kingly demeanor, "I am the King. What I say, you must obey, otherwise..."