Chapter 293

Chapter 293

The sheet of paper contained seven names and seven different addresses.

What they shared was that all seven addresses were in Lanjiang City.

I hurriedly photographed the page, then immediately slid it back into place.

I remained stunned for a long time, wondering who the seven people on that list could be.

Boss Lin was from Lincheng, and almost all his business interests were there. Why would he keep a list in his study containing the names of seven people from Lanjiang City?

I needed Song Xiaotian to investigate their backgrounds.

Once Seventh Master’s medicine was ready, Lin Yin thoughtfully packed it for me.

She offered to drive me to the hospital. I told her there was no need. It was almost dinnertime, and she would be taking Seventh Master his evening meal shortly. Driving back and forth would only be a nuisance.

But she insisted on taking me.

I felt utterly helpless. The word “like” was practically written across her face.

Lin Yin was beautiful, came from a wealthy family, had a gentle personality, and was brave enough to love and hate openly. She was such an outstanding woman, yet unfortunately, I was destined to remain single for life.

I figured that once the matter in Lincheng was resolved and I returned to Lanjiang City, we would lose contact. Perhaps her feelings would fade before long.

…

That evening.

Only after returning to the hotel from the hospital did I tell Song Xiaotian about the list of seven names I had found in the Lin residence.

I had not been able to mention it at the hospital. The list had been discovered in Boss Lin’s study, which meant that if there was anything suspicious about it, then Boss Lin was suspicious too.

Seventh Master had always trusted Boss Lin. Until we learned what the list meant, I decided not to trouble him with something that had neither beginning nor end.

Song Xiaotian frowned when he saw it. “Seven names. Could this be another Seven Deaths for Life Exchange? Why does it feel like everyone knows about that damned method?”

Meng Yifan said, “It’s probably a coincidence. It could be some other kind of list. Boss Lin is rich and has both a son and a daughter. Why would he involve himself in anything so sinister?”

I told them about Lin Xiaohua’s illness. “Boss Lin may have a son and daughter, but his son has leukemia and doesn’t have long to live. And Boss Lin really is researching this kind of sinister material.”

Song Xiaotian and Meng Yifan’s eyes widened at once.

“Leukemia?”

“Could this really be a list for the Seven Deaths for Life Exchange? Does Boss Lin want to exchange their lives for his son’s?”

“Didn’t Seventh Master say Boss Lin was a great philanthropist? Could a good man really do something like that?”

I told them that the human heart was impossible to fathom.

This was his own son. Even a good person might resort to something extreme when facing the death of a loved one.

Had my father and grandfather not done exactly that back then?

“If he really intends to do it, why would he make a list entirely composed of people from Lanjiang City?”

Meng Yifan was confused. “Wouldn’t it be more convenient to do it here in Lincheng?”

I shook my head. “There’s no point making too many guesses. Let’s investigate these seven people first. If we’ve misunderstood him, that would be best.”

Song Xiaotian took out his phone and immediately began calling in favors, asking people to investigate the seven names.

While we were discussing it, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

When we opened it, Pan Xiaorou stood outside.

She wore a formal outfit and exquisite makeup, as though she were about to go out.

“Xiaotian, I want to look around Lincheng’s scenic area. Come with me.”

“Why would you visit a scenic area at night? I have work to do.”

Song Xiaotian was typing messages on his phone and did not even look up.

I could see Pan Xiaorou growing unhappy, but she restrained herself and said, “We rarely come all this way. Let’s have a look around. Everyone can come. The holiday is almost over.”
Song Xiaotian still did not raise his head. He replied impatiently, “If you want to go, then go by yourself. I’ll pick you up when you’re finished.”

This was bad. The man was far too insensitive. Whatever else had happened, she was his girlfriend now.

Sure enough, Pan Xiaorou’s smile vanished completely. Even from several yards away, I could feel the chill radiating from her.

I quickly shoved Song Xiaotian twice. Only then did he look up. “What? I’m busy.”

Pan Xiaorou drew a breath. Without another word, she turned and left.

Honestly, even I thought Song Xiaotian had gone too far this time.

“What’s wrong with you? She only wanted you to walk around with her. You could have gone,” I scolded.

He complained irritably, “I don’t like shopping at all. What grown man spends every day following a woman around the shops? If she wants to go, she can go by herself. She’s an adult. It’s not as if she’ll get lost.”

Meng Yifan cursed, “That’s too much. She’s the chairwoman of a major corporation, yet she pursued you. Can’t you treat her a little better? Is this how you treat your girlfriend?”

Song Xiaotian put down his phone and said solemnly, “I never admitted she was my girlfriend. I was enjoying my vacation in Qiongzhou when she started following me like a ghost. She tracks my phone and goes wherever I go. I feel like I have no personal freedom at all.”

I sighed. “You’ve already slept in the same bed. Why not give the relationship a proper chance? Other than having been married before, there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s completely devoted to you. And if you really don’t like her, why do you keep stringing her along?”

Song Xiaotian abruptly stood. After a long silence, he nodded. “You’re right. I’ve been too indecisive…”

Meng Yifan and I breathed sighs of relief, thinking he had finally come to his senses.

But then he said, “I need to make things clear with her this time. I don’t like her at all! I’ll book another room!”

With that, he walked out.

Meng Yifan and I were speechless. We had no idea how to persuade him.

It was his private life. When it came to relationships, only he could make the decision.

I checked the time. It was only a little after eight, not yet nine.

Meng Yifan returned to his room. I took a shower and lay down to rest.

I played on my phone until eleven and was preparing to sleep when someone knocked on my door.

It was Song Xiaotian.

Looking anxious, he asked whether Pan Xiaorou had returned.

I froze. “Why are you asking me? I don’t share a room with her.”

Song Xiaotian said, “It’s already eleven, and she still doesn’t seem to be back. I knocked on her door for ages, but no one answered.”

“Maybe she’s angry with you?” As I spoke, I walked to Pan Xiaorou’s room and knocked several times, calling her name. “President Pan, it’s Chen Mo. Are you inside?”

I knocked and called for a long time, but no one opened the door.

“Did you call her?” I asked Song Xiaotian.

He looked embarrassed. “I couldn’t bring myself to…”

I glanced at him, then quickly called Pan Xiaorou from my own phone.

It rang twice before someone answered.

I hurriedly asked, “President Pan, where are you?”

No one spoke. The other end was utterly silent. After several seconds, a man’s voice said, “Pan Xiaorou is with me. I thought none of you cared whether she lived or died.”

The instant we heard that deep voice, Song Xiaotian’s expression and mine changed dramatically.

Something had happened to Pan Xiaorou!