Chapter 105: Unexpected Complications

Chapter 105: Unexpected Complications

School was out for the afternoon. Su Xiaoran offered to drive Guoguo and Qiu Yan home, but Qiu Yan firmly declined; she was far more self-aware than Xu Yun. Guoguo, being obedient, followed Qiu Yan to the bus stop without a fuss.

Knowing that Guoguo’s older sister was as cold as frost, Su Xiaoran didn't press the issue. She stuck out her tongue, got into her car, and drove away from the school. Having ridden with Xu Yun several times, her driving skills had improved significantly, and she arrived back at her residential complex in under twenty minutes.

However, just as Su Xiaoran stepped out of her car, a large black Jeep Grand Cherokee cut in and blocked her vehicle from behind.

Su Xiaoran froze, but quickly recognized the car as belonging to Liu Tianyi.

Liu Tianyi stepped out with a smile on his face. He had changed his clothes, and apart from some bruising around the corners of his eyes and mouth, there was no trace of the disheveled state he had been in at noon. Su Xiaoran couldn't help but be shocked; the guy recovered remarkably fast.

In her mind, someone beaten to that extent would normally be hospitalized for three to five days, or at the very least, suffer a few broken ribs. Yet, while Liu Tianyi still had minor facial injuries, his body seemed completely fine.

"Teacher Liu, are you... are you alright?" Su Xiaoran was inherently kind; even though she despised Liu Tianyi’s harassment, she couldn't help but ask.

Liu Tianyi smiled faintly. "Xiaoran, it seems you still care about me. I'm fine; these minor injuries are nothing."

Seeing the smile on his face, Su Xiaoran quickly regained her composure and asked guardedly, "Why are you here?"

Liu Tianyi looked around the complex. "Xiaoran, this place is getting on in years, isn't it? I just finished renovating a new place—a 240-square-meter duplex. It’s been sitting empty. If you like it, you can move in! It’s a hundred times better than this."

"I'm sorry, Teacher Liu. Thank you for the offer, but I’m used to living here," Su Xiaoran said, her brows furrowing.

Liu Tianyi glanced at the buildings with disdain. "The largest units here are only 120 square meters. How could that possibly be enough?"

"I'm not used to living in such a large place," Su Xiaoran replied expressionlessly. "It feels too empty for one person."

"Xiaoran, if you feel it's too empty, I can move in with you," Liu Tianyi said, a look of anticipation flashing in his eyes—a scenario he had clearly been fantasizing about for a long time.

Su Xiaoran glared at him. "Teacher Liu, you’d better watch your words. I’ll emphasize this one last time: we are just colleagues. If you continue like this, I’m afraid we won't even be able to remain casual acquaintances."

Liu Tianyi suddenly dropped the pretense of politeness. He stared down at Su Xiaoran with a condescending gaze. "Oh? Is that so? Heh, Teacher Su... have you always wanted me to call you Teacher Su? Then I’ll satisfy your request today. But let me tell you, I never intended to just be your casual acquaintance."

Seeing the sinister expression on his face, Su Xiaoran felt a surge of tension. "What are you doing?"

"I want you to be my woman." Suddenly, Liu Tianyi pressed a handkerchief against Su Xiaoran’s face.

Before she could even struggle, Su Xiaoran lost the ability to resist within three seconds. Liu Tianyi hoisted her up and threw her into his car.

Liu Tianyi gave a cold laugh. This anesthetic concoction of methoxyflurane and isoflurane was truly potent. He hadn't expected it to take effect so quickly; it seemed the guy who sold him the potion hadn't lied. The five hundred yuan was money well spent.

Worried about being seen in the residential area, he didn't dare linger. In his panic, he threw the handkerchief away and sped off, failing to notice Su Xiaoran’s handbag lying on the ground where she had lost consciousness.

...

After Qiu Yan brought Guoguo back to the medicinal restaurant, she urged Guoguo to go upstairs and do her homework before the girl could start gushing about Xu Yun’s exploits from earlier that day.

It was then that Guoguo suddenly remembered something. "Oh no! I left my schoolbag in Teacher Su’s car!"

At the time, Guoguo had expected Su Xiaoran to drive them home and had tossed her bag into the car. When Qiu Yan refused the ride, Guoguo had completely forgotten about the bag. Now, faced with her homework, she realized something was missing.

"Are you sure?" Ruan Qingshuang asked, reaching for her phone to call Su Xiaoran to confirm.

"I'm absolutely sure, it's in Teacher Su’s car," Guoguo insisted.

Ruan Qingshuang patted Guoguo’s head while dialing. "Don't worry. If it’s with her, I’ll go get it for you."

Xu Yun chuckled. Watching Ruan Qingshuang dial, he said, "Just have Teacher Su bring it over; we’ll treat her to a meal. It’s rush hour right now, and the buses are packed. I really need to get them another car."

"No one’s answering," Ruan Qingshuang said after the line went to voicemail. She tried again.

This time, someone answered, but it was a man’s voice. "Hello?"

Ruan Qingshuang paused. "I’m looking for Su Xiaoran. Who is this?"

"I’m from the security office at Yupeng Residential Complex. We found this phone in a bag left on the grounds. If you know the owner, please notify her. I assume she’s a resident here," the man said. "The phone’s contact list is locked, so we couldn't reach anyone. Since you called, could you please help?"

"Yes, of course," Ruan Qingshuang said, hanging up the phone and explaining the situation.

Qiu Yan, appearing indifferent, walked upstairs; she certainly wouldn't be involved in such matters. With the full staff back at the restaurant, she no longer needed to act as a waitress.

"I’ll go," Xu Yun said. "Where does she live? We don't have any other way to contact her, so I’ll just have to knock on her door."

Guoguo chimed in, "Unit 808, Building 16, Yupeng Residential Complex."

Xu Yun noted the address and left.

Ten minutes after Xu Yun departed, Ruan Qingshuang saw the woman with the ponytail from earlier walk into the restaurant. "Welcome back. What would you like to have for dinner?"

"Anything is fine," the woman replied with a faint smile. She sat in the same seat as before, glancing around the room and noting that the person she was interested in was not there.

...

Xu Yun followed the address Guoguo had given him and knocked on the door of 808 for a long time. "Teacher Su? Teacher Su, are you in? If you are, please open the door!"

Instead of Teacher Su, he ended up knocking the neighbor out. A plump woman from across the hall impatiently said to Xu Yun, "Young man, are you done yet? If she were home, she would have answered by now. Obviously, she hasn't returned! Why do you keep knocking?"

"Sorry, ma'am. I just wanted to ask, is the person living opposite you Teacher Su, Su Xiaoran?" Xu Yun asked, puzzled.

"Of course it is. If it weren't, I would have told you already," the woman replied, though she was impatient, she was clearly a kind-hearted person.

Xu Yun frowned. He had seen her car downstairs, which clearly meant Su Xiaoran had returned. Why wasn't she home?

Failing to find her at home, Xu Yun went to the security booth. Sure enough, he saw Su Xiaoran’s bag. After explaining things to the guard, he was taken to the spot where the bag was found—right next to where Su Xiaoran’s car was parked.

Suspicion began to mount in Xu Yun’s mind. How could this happen? Then, he accidentally spotted a handkerchief lying on the ground. It looked very new.

In this day and age, most people used tissues; only the elderly used handkerchiefs. But an elderly person wouldn't possess such a pristine handkerchief—they wouldn't be willing to use something so clean.

Xu Yun picked it up, and suddenly, the scent of ether-like chemicals wafted into his nose. He quickly held his breath and dropped it!

This handkerchief had clearly been soaked in isoflurane! Xu Yun knew very well that isoflurane was an anesthetic agent used for surgery. Using it on a handkerchief was a clear sign of an abduction attempt.

"Damn it!" A terrifying thought crossed his mind. "Is there surveillance here?"

The guard frowned. "The cameras here aren't active; only the ones at the entrance are."

"Take me to see the footage!" Xu Yun commanded. Based on his calculations, he could easily determine the approximate time Su Xiaoran had returned.

"You can't just look at it whenever you want," the guard said, sounding annoyed.

Xu Yun bluffed, "I’m telling you, I’m a police officer! I suspect the owner of this bag has been kidnapped! If you don't cooperate, be prepared to take responsibility if something goes wrong!"

It worked like a charm. The guard immediately took Xu Yun to view the footage.

Very quickly, based on the estimated time, Xu Yun saw Su Xiaoran’s car pull into the complex, followed closely by a familiar black Jeep Grand Cherokee. Xu Yun’s mind buzzed. About three minutes later, that same black Jeep left the complex.

"Stop!" Xu Yun ordered. He immediately dialed Qin Wan'er’s number, his eyes glued to the monitor. "Qin Wan'er, I suspect Teacher Su is in trouble. Can you contact the traffic department and help me track a black Jeep Grand Cherokee that just left Yupeng Residential Complex? The license plate is... the footage isn't clear, I can't see the plate, but it’s a black SUV!"

Qin Wan'er, who hadn't finished her shift yet, was stunned. "Xu Yun, are you joking? I'm still at the station. I’ll bring people over immediately."

"Don't worry about an official dispatch. This is just a hunch. If it’s true, by the time you officially respond, it will be too late. Just cooperate with me; I won't let anything happen to Teacher Su." Xu Yun had that much confidence. If that bastard had really kidnapped her, he would make sure the guy learned his lesson today.

Qin Wan'er had no reason to doubt Xu Yun. Since he had said so, she would give him her full support. After hanging up, she immediately called the traffic police department. Fortunately, she had a few connections there, or else it wouldn't have been easy to get someone to pay attention.

Xu Yun hung up and grabbed Su Xiaoran’s bag. Fortunately, the car keys were inside. He dashed toward where her car was parked.

The security guard, believing he was a police officer and fearing the kidnapping case, didn't dare say another word. When he saw Xu Yun driving the owner’s car toward the exit, he quickly raised the barrier to let him through.