Wenjie didn't manage to completely shut off thoughts about his father. The Weiqi board alone reminded him of him. But he did not mention him again after Ding Wei's insistence on distracting him.

He found it difficult to classify the older's behavior. He was almost tempted to believe him and even ask him about Captain Luo. Buried under the fear of what Uncle Xu was capable of, a spark of hope still burned. For it was entirely reasonable for Xu Zhengqing to lie to him. 

"You need an anchor," Xiao Dao said later, at dinner. "That's what you're holding on to. But you don't tell me what your anchor is. You hide it as best you can. Then he won't win."

Wenjie didn't know what that anchor should be. His friends were out of the question because Uncle Xu was using them as leverage. Nor did his father get him anywhere, or Captain Luo. With both of them, it was unclear whether they were alive. That left only Ding Wei. 

So if this was all Uncle Xu's plan after all, he now had Wenjie right where he wanted him. Then he would laugh up his sleeve because the young man had no choice but to put his hopes in Xiao Dao. That would either lead to him being able to play them both off against each other, or to him pulling the rug out from under him if he did kill Ding Wei.

Wenjie definitely did not want the latter to happen, which surprised him, because until today he had rather felt an increased dislike towards the older. Where did this concern come from all of a sudden? After all, this could all be a silly game played by Xiao Dao. The whole situation stressed Wenjie, which was why he was trying to focus on playing together. 

It actually distracted him, but caused time to feel like it was slipping between his fingers. And just as he began to recover, Xu Zhengqing returned.

He had a large backpack and a suitcase with him. He unloaded both in the living room where Wenjie was playing with Xiao Dao Weiqi. 

A satisfied smile played around Uncle Xu's lips. "I see you two are getting along better by now. I'm glad." He approached the table and looked over Wenjie's shoulder. "You're becoming a good team." 

Wenjie froze inwardly. Ding Wei grinned at him, which could mean one of two things: he was amused about Xu Zhengqing falling for his trap, or his behavior was part of Uncle Xu's plan. The former meant he might have been a better actor than Wenjie thought. 

All his muscles tensed as Xu Zhengqing put his hands on his shoulders. "Did you miss me?"

Wenjie stared at Xiao Dao and bit his lower lip. He would love to shout no and break free from the grip. But they didn't stand a chance against the two men upstairs and Xu Zhengqing, especially since he was still unsure if he could trust Ding Wei. 

"Yes, Uncle Xu," he finally pressed out.

Xu Zhengqing let go of him and turned to Xiao Dao. "I will call you more often in the next few weeks."

Ding Wei smiled. Ever since Wenjie knew him, the older usually ran around with such a grin or smirk. Maybe that smile was just a facade. And yet it was so hard for him to put his hopes in the other. If he betrayed him, the last spark of resistance in him would die. 

Xiao Dao stood up and raised a hand in farewell. "See you around buddy. Next time I'll beat you at weiqi." He winked at him and disappeared out the door. 

Wenjie watched him go without saying anything back.

"I'm surprised," Xu Zhengqing snapped him out of his thoughts. "How well you're getting along all of a sudden. But I don't want to complain." He sat down in the seat where Ding Wei had sat before. 

Wenjie avoided his gaze and stared at the Weiqi board.

"Do you want to sleep in a real bed in the future?"

Wenjie looked up in surprise. 

Uncle Xu smiled. It was the same, gentle gesture he had often given him in the past. 

Slowly, Wenjie nodded. 

"Then we'll play a little game. If you can answer yes to all my questions without hesitation, we'll move to a nice house. There you'll get a nice room, with a bed, a desk, an easel, your own bathroom."

The old man's change of heart irritated Wenjie. Surely there was a catch to this. Or did he think he now had him to the point where he was finally developing Stockholm Syndrome? In fact, not much was missing. For Wenjie had already begun to long for Uncle Xu to stop tormenting him. 

"Let's start with something easy," Xu Zhengqing began his question and answer game. "Do you like going to college?"

This really wasn't hard. "Yes, Uncle Xu" The question released the tension in his body. 

"Are you very interested in art?"

Wenjie nodded. "Yes, Uncle Xu."

Xu Zhengqing laughed. "It's enough for you to say yes. Let's move on. Do you care about your friends?"

"Yes." He exhaled in relief because the offer to just say yes took the pressure off his shoulders. 

"Do you wish your father was still alive?"

The question again raised the stress level minimally. But again, it was easy to answer yes. 

"Did Xiao Dao treat you well?"

The change of subject unsettled Wenjie. But he still managed to respond promptly with a yes. 

"That's good. You will spend more time together in the future. Don't worry, I won't make you steal. You like art. You're talented. The paintings in your apartment, are like realistic duplicates of the original Water Lily painting." He nodded appreciatively. "You will make copies like that for me. But we'll discuss that when the time comes. Let's move on to the next question. Do you appreciate my company?"

Wenjie swallowed. He took a deep breath. "Yes," he pressed out between his teeth. 

"Are you looking forward to having your own room?" 

"Yes, Uncle Xu." His voice trailed off.

Push and Pull. Wenjie understood what Xu Zhengqing was doing. He increased the difficult questions and intentionally inserted easier ones in between. In this way, he calmed Wenjie's nerves and conditioned his brain to associate all questions with a positive event. The meaning was that Wenjie could no longer distinguish whether his yes was serious or not. By answering yes to the questions honestly, it would become more difficult to resist the conditioning from the difficult questions. 

"Are you getting tired? We have a few more questions to go."

"I'm fine." 

Xu Zhengqing smiled. "Good, let's continue. Do you want to study art?"

Wenjie squinted his eyes in irritation. "Yes." But really, it was just a hobby. 

"Are you relieved that the police think you're dead."

What, Wenjie gasped. Dumbfounded, he stared at Xu Zhengqing. He wanted to shake his head, but he was paralyzed. 

Uncle Xu raised a hand and began to count. "1, 2..."

Wenjie's breath quickened. "Yes," he said quickly, though every nerve of his body was screaming no. 

"That was close. Do you want three meals a day again?" he asked another easy question. 

"Yes." Wenjie breathed hastily. The stress level had reached a new peak. 

"Do you like playing weiqi?"

Wenjie was able to answer in the affirmative as well. 

"Have a drink." Xu Zhengqing stood up and fetched a glass of water.

Gratefully, Wenjie accepted it. He emptied it in one gulp. It cleared his mind and calmed his nerves. Uncle Xu had not added any additives to it. It was clear, fresh water. 

"Relax. It'll be over in a minute." Lurking, he looked at him before asking his ultimate question, "Are you glad Captain Luo is dead?"

This was too much for Wenjie. Tears welled up in his eyes. The air rippled and seemed incredibly thin. Dizziness overwhelmed him. Shortly after, his chair was pulled back a little. He felt Xu Zhengqing's embrace, but found himself unable to answer him. 

"You answered almost all the questions," Uncle Xu whispered. "You did fine. You don't have to lie. I know you miss Captain Luo. He was a father figure. I'm not taking away your grief."

"Please stop torturing me." Tentatively, Wenjie returned the hug. 

Xu Zhengqing helped him to his feet and took him up to where a new getaway camper was waiting. "I won't mention him again," he said gently. "You'll like our home. I will treat you well from now on."

to be continued...