"Don't worry about it."

He clearly evaded the question. Wenjie exchanged an alarmed glance with Xiao Dao. The suspension rose. 

"Tell us everything," he asked his father. The suspicion, that Yaobai had met Xu Zhengqing grew. "We discovered, the kidnappers aren't working for him. They want to meet us as soon as possible."

His father remained silent. 

"I wrote them a message. Their reaction suggests that," Ding Wei added. 

"I do believe you."

But that didn't make their situation any easier.

"Please don't keep us out. How else are we supposed to make the right decisions?", Wenjie said.

"I don't want to worry you." 

So something had happened, something that was causing his father serious concern. Problems, of the category - so bad that he didn't want to tell them about them. 

"There are complications with the return flight?" Wenjie speculated.

"That too. I'm trying to get a private plane. If you can delay the meeting, that would be good. But be sure to go through with your plan. If that means meeting the kidnappers earlier, don't wait for me. I'll find you." 

Before they could react, he hung up. Wenjie didn't like that at all. He was already reaching for his cell phone to call his father back. That's when Zhijian drew attention to himself.

"I know what the problem is." His friend pointed at the laptop screen.

Ding Wei stood up and sat down on the sofa with them. This way, all of them could see what Zhijian wanted to show them. The screen showed the latest news about Qingcheng and the airport. 

"They've canceled all flights to and from Qingcheng. Because of a bomb alert."

But that was not all. Further news reports were about the accident, which had happened during the night. The press remained vague about the status of the police investigation. Captain Luo's team was probably keeping the information under wraps for the time being. 

These were not the only disaster reports. There had been an explosion and a fire in the prison. The press reported several deaths and numerous injured people, including guards and inmates. Ding Wei immediately pricked up his ears and searched for the names. Unfortunately, they were not mentioned. 

Instead, his cell phone rang. Someone was calling with a suppressed number. It was Xu Zhengqing. Xiao Dao put a finger over his lips.

Wenjie nodded. He had understood. They should pretend not to be present while Ding Wei talked to monsieur. Zhijian also put a finger over his lips and grinned conspiratorially.

The phone crackled. "Have you read the news today?"

Ding Wei scowled at the phone. 

Wenjie guessed how he felt. Just the sound of the voice was enough. He clenched his hands into fists and pressed his lips together. 

Xiao Dao's cheekbones grinded. "Your demonstration of power won't get you anywhere any faster. You haven't even given me the chance to answer you." He was alluding to the suppressed number. 

Xu Zhengqing laughed. "That's not necessary."

"Yes, it is." 

There was a moment of silence. 

Wenjie swallowed. Whatever Ding Wei was up to, he prayed it would work.

"Did you seriously think I switched sides?"

Wenjie blinked in surprise. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Zhijian was about to say something. He quickly covered his mouth. They must not sabotage Xiao Dao's plan. 

"You're not asking about your father?"

"Don't distract from the topic. I know what you've done. I don't know if it was part of the plan to get him out of prison or to make an example of him. I assume he's still alive," Ding Wei replied.

"Oh, he's fine. According to the circumstances." 

Wenjie could just imagine Xu Zhengqing laughing up his sleeve. Once again, he had managed to put them in a difficult position. 

"My loyalty has alway been with my father," Ding Wei said.

"Is that so? What do you think he thinks of your lifestyle?"

"More than about your intervention. I would have thought you'd see through me straight away. Obviously, I was wrong." Xiao Dao took a deep breath. 

Wenjie couldn't help noticing how difficult it was for the older man to keep up the façade. But his demeanor seemed genuine. Under other circumstances, Wenjie would probably have bought the story, that his friend had been lying to him all along. But he was pretty sure Xiao Dao really meant it and was just trying to fool Xu Zhengqing.

"The police didn't leave me many options to get my head out of the noose. I had no choice but to play along. After Wenjie was released from the  hospital, I thought you were dead. Besides, Wenjie had begun to trust me. I thought I could take advantage of that, manipulate him."

 "You surprise me Ding Wei." 

Wenjie doubted, Xu Zhengqing would fall for it so easily. But he listened to him. Too bad, they hadn't made contact with the police yet. If they had, it would certainly be possible to trace the call using their technology. 

"His loyalty is with his friends. The closer our friendship is, the easier I can get him to do things for me. He'll help me, when I need help and pay less attention to whether I sabotage his attempts to involve the police." 

Wenjie raised his thumb. Ding Wei was doing a good job. So far, he couldn't see any breaks in logic in his reasoning. In fact, it was even conceivable that it was true. The thought triggered a temporary pang of fear. The fact,  Xiao Dao had let them listen in could theoretically be part of the plan to lull him into a false sense of security. 

"So he trusts you?" 

"Yes," Xiao Dao replied. "He considers me his friend."

"Then you were waiting for your father to break out of prison or for me to contact you?" There was a lurking undertone in his voice. 

Ding Wei smiled. "I had expected a message from you earlier, after Wenjie told me he had seen you. But I couldn't find you or contact you. Where are you now? Can we meet up?" 

to be continued ...