Ding Wei grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the hallway. "I don't know whether I should hug or slap you. You just told him what's going on? Are you sure they won't find out you informed the cops?"

Wenjie sighed in relief. Obviosly, there weren't new messages from the kidnappers. Xiao Dao who was worrying too much. "Calm down. It was a conversation between friends. Captain Luo will know what to do. We'll keep quiet and cooperate with the kidnappers."

Ding Wei shook his head and let him go. "My dad will expect, that you will try something. That is, if you're right about your wild guess." His facial expression changed from concern to hardness. "Do you really think he's in contact with Xu Zhengqing? My dad, I mean."

"How much have you overheard?"

"Hey," his friend said. "Don't answer with a counter-question." He reached out with his hand. 

Wenjie ducked away before he caught him. 

Ding Wei laughed. "I followed you, when you left the room. From that look on your face, I knew you were planning something. So, what about my dad and Xu Zhengqing? He hates Monsieur, did you forget?"

"You heard me. Your father doesn't know the position on the Weiqi board. But the gift was definitely from Xu Zhengqing. The police discovered a watch from his old store and are after the messenger. He's their only lead." He described the current state of the police investigation in Qingcheng. 

Ding Wei listened to him attentively. The more Wenjie said, the more thoughtful his expression became. "Zhiyue wasn't abducted at this time of day."

"Perhaps the time refers to your father's prison break, which might happen at the same time as the deal your father's men have planned with Xu Zhengqing. I wouldn't be surprised, if they faked a break-in somewhere in Qingcheng at the same time to keep the police busy. That is, unless it's all a big conspiracy by Xu Zhengqing and your father has nothing to do with it." 

Perhaps they didn't go that far. The action with the parcel and the watch almost reminded Wenjie of a kind of scavenger hunt, in which the participants couldn't win. 

"Wait a minute. You think it's abour handing you over? To Xu Zhengqing?" Ding Wei grabbed him by the shoulders and looked at him urgently. 

Wenjie freed himself from his grip. Then he walked towards the living room, where his father and Zhijian were waiting. "I'm the bait for Xu Zhengqing. Your father's aim is to use Monsieur to break out of prison and me to lure Monsieur into a trap. You're right, his people will expect me to contact Captain Luo. If my suspicions are correct, that's part of the plan."

"And if you're wrong? If Xu Zhengqing deliberately makes it look like my father is involved."

The younger man stopped abruptly. Ding Wei bumped into his back, but didn't complain about it. He was pale around the tip of his nose, when Wenjie turned to him. 

"The approach bears Ding Shenghuo's signature." Wenjie didn't know who he was trying to convince, himself or Xiao Dao. It wasn't as if he didn't expect it. He just preferred that option, because that meant, the kidnappers would allow them to leave traces for the police. Besides, it wouldn't matter if his father returned to Qingcheng. The police would catch the criminals.

"Yes. And Monsieur knows them just as well, as he knows the position on the board."

Wenjie sighed. Then he thought about what Captain Luo had said about his visit. Ding Shenghuo had inquired about his well-being. Why would he do that? Certainly not out of true concern. Had he intended to tip Luo Jian off, that something was wrong? "He was asking about me."

Xiao Dai narrowed his eyes in irritation. "My dad?"

Wenjie nodded. 

"Why would he do that?"

Wenjie shrugged his shoulders. 

"So he's really involved?" Ding Wei speculated.

This time it didn't reassure Wenjie, regardless of the circumstantial evidence. What if it was a coincidence? What if it was all an elaborate plan by Xu Zhengqing? What if something went wrong and the police lost their trail? He tried to shake off the thoughts, to no avail. 

"Hey, I didn't want to worry you." Ding Wei put an arm around his shoulder.

Wenjie let him. "We can't rule anything out. Otherwise, he'll win."

"Did Captain Luo tell you what the police will do? Or what we should do?" 

Xiao Dao's attempt to divert his thoughts from Monsieur brought a faint smile to his lips. "He'll get in touch again in the morning. We shouldn't act too hastily." Which meant keep your feet still and stay in the bungalow. Don't go to the harbor on your own and respond to the demands. 

Yaobai and Zhijian were already waiting for them in the living room. Wenjie didn't want to leave his father or his friend in the dark about what he had discussed with Captain Luo and what conclusions Xiao Dao and he had come to. 

Yaobai listened to him carefully. "You want to wait for the police's instructions?" 

Wenjie nodded. "There's nothing else we can do at the moment, is there?" His gaze wandered to Zhijian, who was closing his laptop. 

"The kidnappers will expect me to leave for the airport in the morning."

That meant he wouldn't be able to help them if the mission didn't take place until later in the morning. The kidnappers would certainly be keeping an eye on them. They would want to make sure Yaobai got on the plane. All they had to do was tap into the camera surveillance at the airport. 

"It was very brave, to go around the instructions."

"No, it was a reflex reaction. Captain Luo asked the right questions. Should I call him again?" Since he had already filled him in, it probably didn't matter, whether he spoke plainly or not. In any case, they should clarify whether the police could do anything to prevent Zhuang Yaobai from having to fly back. 

His father was silent for a moment. "Let me talk to him."

Wenjie handed him the phone. 

to be continued ...