Chapter 90 - Negotiation

Her mother closed the closet door.

Inside, Qin Yu saw everything outside, through the gaps of the shutters.

Her heart suddenly stopped beating as she realized that something wasn't quite right.

As her breathing quickened, her heartbeat began rising rapidly.

She suddenly opened her eyes and locked gazes with the man and the doctor.

They were shocked.

"One more jab!" The man in black ordered coldly.

Qin Yu was returned to her dream once again. It wasn't the same this time, however.

In this dream, she sat on her mother's laps, who held her in her arms. Meanwhile, she recited a poem along with her father,

"I grew to favor the teachings of Taoism in my middle age,

By the foot of the Zhongnan Mountains I've come to retire now I am old.

I'd go out for a walk alone when I so please,

What a pleasure this brings, only I would know.

I'd stroll to seek the fountainhead,

And there take a seat to admire the sky and watch clouds grow.

Sometimes I'd cross path with a greybeard in the woods,

And become too engrossed in a friendly chat to return home.

"Night lights a thousand tress in bloom,

A shower of stars blown,

By the Easter wind.

Ornate carriages drawn by gallant horses,

Filled the boulevards with sweet fragrance.

The magic flute chimes,

Turning the jade urn,

As the fishes and the dragons danced all night.

Butterflies, willows, and charms of gold.

Gone-- that angelic laughter, that subtle fragrance of perfume.

In the crowds I searched for her,

One thousand times.

Perchance I turned,

And there she was,

Where lights were few and dim."

She squirmed around in her mothers' lap, "Mommy, I can't remember it, it's too hard!"

Mom comforted her with a pat on the back, saying, "Be good, my love and memorize the poem. Mommy will bring you for ice cream and a ride on the wooden horse on the carousel!"

While Dad said in a stern voice, "What I taught you, Xiao Yu, you have to remember it as if it's your life. Do you understand?"

Xiao Yu did not understand and could not remember the words to the poem.

The scene changed to both of her parents lying in a pool of blood. Her mother held her hand and said, "Xiao Yu, do you still remember the poem Daddy taught you? You must remember it. It's all we have. You must remember it!"

Qin Yu's blood pressure and heart rate rose.

Panting heavily, she opened her eyes and looked at the man in black and the doctor. "Who are you?"

The man in black stared at Qin Yu. "What was the poem your father taught you?"

Qin Yu looked at him and smiled. "My mother told me not to tell anyone even if I die."

The man in black pursed his lips and ordered the doctor, "Give her another injection!"

The doctor became a little hesitant. "We can't give her more. This is the limit. I'm afraid she won't be able to take another shot."

"More!" The man in black ordered coldly.

The doctor reluctantly pulled out the needle

Qin Yu looked at them and smiled. Speaking word after word, "You better let me die here today. Otherwise, I'll make your lives a living hell!"

The doctor's hand paused.

The man in black suddenly said, "So you've been faking it all this time."

Qin Yu looked at him. "I think I know you."

The man quivered.

Qin Yu said word by word, "Lao Zhang!"

His gaze never leaving Qin Yu, the man slowly reached out to remove the hood on his head. It was the driver of the Qin family, who squatted at the side like a meek little man when they were kidnapped.

Qin Yu smiled. "I knew it. How could someone know our movements so well? We have a snitch right here."

Lao Zhang said coldly, "How did you find out it was me?"

Qin Yu said calmly, "I didn't recognize you. I just guessed. Nothing would happen if I guessed it wrongly, if I guessed correctly, however, --"

There wasn't much to it. She'd probably never live to see the other day.

Lao Zhang looked at Qin Yu and said, "So you're not retarded. It was only but an act."

Qin Yu smiled and said, "A little trick to survive, just like what you did."

They locked gazes before Lao Zhang raised his hand and ordered the doctor, "Another shot."

The doctor remained hesitant.

Qin Yu said, "You won't get anything if I die."

It was spoken of lightly, as though the matter of life and death wasn't much of her concern.

Old Zhang grinned sinisterly. "You'll reveal all after this shot."

Qin Yu looked at him indifferently. "Some things are embedded so deep inside me that you can't force it out of me if I refuse. Besides, I think you used to worked for my parents, right? You know them better than I do.

"You don't have to force me. If the drug was useful, I would've confessed right at the beginning. There's nothing else you can do but to kill me. If I die, I'm afraid you can't explain that to your superiors."

Qin Yu looked at them with a snarky expression.

The doctor had already put down the syringe and looked at Lao Zhang in uncertainty.

Lao Zhang suddenly softened his tone. "Young Madam, why don't we work together? You tell me where the box is and I'll keep your secret safe with me. I may help you out in the future too."

What's this sudden change of attitude?

Qin Yu could not help but laughed in her heart. Did he think she was a fool or was he too naive himself?