The doctor examined the old director and confirmed that he had fainted due to emotional agitation.
Sitting beside him, the old director's wife gently held her husband's hand. But every time she thought that the person responsible was her own son, she truly had no words.
He had taken all of their retirement savings, leaving them with not a single cent.
Although HuMing had promised to cover their medical expenses, Zhao Qiong's actions had still left them heartbroken.
They had hoped that the few months he spent in prison would help him turn over a new leaf. But to their disbelief, the first thing he did upon his release was to steal their money.
"Ah Ming... sorry for causing you trouble again this time. We never imagined Zhao Qiong would come straight to our front door."
The old director's wife spoke in a frail voice, looking as though she might collapse at any moment.
HuMing comforted her, saying, "Don't worry. Focus on taking care of your health first. I'll take care of the money."
"Sigh..."
As HuMing and Lan Jun left the hospital room, HuMing's tone grew colder the moment they stepped outside.
"Stay here and look after them tonight. If anything comes up, give me a call. I have to go to deal with some things."
"Do you want me to drive you?"
"No need."
HuMing walked straight out of the hospital.
At the same time, Ye QiuXue received a call from him.
HuMing told her that a car had been arranged to pick them up, and they would be safely taken home.
However, Ye QiuXue sensed something off in his voice.
"Han HuMing, where are you going?"
"I'm at the hospital. Don't worry about me."
"Alright..."
Ye QiuXue didn't press further. Instead, she comforted Han YunXi, helping her calm down.
The other children began to clean up the trash around the courtyard, but it was clear that the earlier incident had left a significant impact on them.
With a sigh of resignation, Ye QiuXue could only hold Han YunXi tightly in her arms.
...
Zhao Qiong tilted his head back and gazed at the sky. The city streets and alleys had come alive as the evening lights flickered on. This was his favorite time of day when the city felt like a voluptuous woman shedding her layers and inviting him with a fiery passion.
The river reflected the neon lights from the bustling bars and clubs on both sides while energetic songs blared from every door open to the night.
People continuously spilled out from the clubs, many men holding scantily clad, provocatively dressed women in their arms.
Zhao Qiong reminisced about his past. Back in the day, he would walk out with a woman on each arm.
But luck hadn't been on his side---he lost all his money.
This time, he was determined to make a comeback!
With that in mind, he walked into the club with his head down, looking like a man about to gamble everything he had!
However, when he came out, his posture was hunched, his body curled in on itself.
His eyes were vacant, and just as he was about to cross the street, a Ferrari roared past him. The driver revved the engine, causing the exhaust to backfire with a loud bang.
Startled, Zhao Qiong jumped in fear, regained his composure, and cursed at the now-distant Ferrari.
"Dammit! Learn how to drive! What, rushing to your funeral?"
People on the street glanced at him but quickly returned to their own business.
After all, scenes like this were all too common in this part of town.
Zhao Qiong stuffed the remaining money into his pocket, cursing his rotten luck. In just a few short hours, he had already lost tens of thousands. With only twenty to thirty thousand left, he needed to come back next time to gamble!
Fueled by that determination, Zhao Qiong lowered his head and walked toward the temporary place he was staying.
He didn't dare reveal his true face so openly, knowing those students had already called the police. If they caught him again, he'd lose everything!
In his mind, Zhao Qiong was confident he could win back the money. Once he did, he would return it to the two old fools.
With that thought, he quickened his pace, heading deeper into the alley.
But something felt off. It was as though someone had been following him the whole time.
His heart raced wildly as he suddenly spun around, only to see a man in a black trench coat walk past him.
The man wore a baseball cap, his face hidden in the shadows.
Zhao Qiong watched as the figure passed by him without a word.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Zhao Qiong instinctively shoved his hand into his pocket---but then every hair on his body stood on end.
His eyes locked onto the man ahead, who suddenly quickened his pace, darting toward the corner.
Seeing this, Zhao Qiong's face flushed with anger, his teeth grinding.
"You bastard! You stole my money!"
He charged after the man, sprinting towards the corner. But just as he rounded it, a wooden stick flashed before his eyes, and the next thing he knew, darkness consumed him.
...
Water droplets fell to the ground from the steps above.
Zhao Qiong slowly regained consciousness. His head throbbed violently as if someone had forced his skull open with a drill.
Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself in a desolate, abandoned construction site. Countless industrial materials were scattered haphazardly across the ground.
A full moon hung high in the night sky above him.
He tried to get up, but to his horror, his hands and feet were tightly bound with steel wires.
Panic set in as he remembered the man who had stolen his money. Did he lock him up here as well?
His face paled in fear, and as he swallowed, the bitter taste of rust and paint spread through his mouth.
Tap... tap... tap...
Heavy footsteps echoed from the staircase, and Zhao Qiong stared intently as if expecting some ferocious beast to emerge.
A man dressed in black ascended from the stairs.
It was the same man from before!
Zhao Qiong wanted to ask who he was, and he'd even offer the man all his money if that's what he wanted!
But the man simply placed a table before him and threw a brand-new deck of cards onto it.
With a swift motion, the man pulled out the towel stuffed in Zhao Qiong's mouth.
Realizing he could speak, Zhao Qiong hastily blurted,
"Brother, let me go! I don't care about the money anymore!"
"Is that money yours?"
"Yes, yes, it's mine!" Zhao Qiong nodded frantically. But the next instant, a blinding flash of silver light streaked past his vision.
A silver-white dagger had embedded itself into his left pinky, severing it from his hand!
Zhao Qiong's eyes widened in disbelief. Just as he was about to scream, the man shoved the towel back into his mouth.
A muffled, desperate whimper escaped his throat.
His eyes filled with bloodshot veins as his body convulsed in pain.
"I'll ask you again. Is that money yours?"
The man picked up the severed finger and casually tossed it onto the ground.
This time, Zhao Qiong shook his head furiously, denying it with all his might.
"Good, I hear you like to gamble. So now, let's play a game, and the chips are... Your life!"