"Really?!" Li Caiyi exclaimed in shock.
Dai Zhiqiang nodded his head. "I'm not one hundred percent sure, but there is a possibility they will take her there."
"Where is this 'there'? How come you know about that?"
Dai Zhiqiang didn't answer immediately and only examined Li Caiyi's reaction. Feeling that something was amiss, Li Caiyi asked again. "What is it? Is it something you can't tell me?"
"No, it's not. Sorry, I was in a daze just now." Dai Zhiqiang paused briefly before he explained, "My guess is they took her to their base. It was located in a more secluded building downtown."
"Then, can you tell me the address?"
"What are you planning to do?"
Li Caiyi smiled. "Of course, I will inform my brother about it, so they can check that place as well! By the way, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"If that guy's testimony is dependable, then I suspect those loan sharks took your sister." Dai Zhiqiang said in a grave face.
Li Caiyi: "!!"
Why didn't she think of that? Although Li Chunhua was popular, she had never been close to anyone except her family and Meng Renshu. There was no way she had a suspicious acquaintance like that without her knowing. Then, Shao Jingfei's description was really similar to the man who beat Dai Shenqiang up last time.
If that was true, then the reason they took Li Chunhua….
Li Caiyi's complexion turned ashen. She gasped at the realization and covered her mouth with her hand. Then she muttered in a low voice. "It was all my fault."
"No," Dai Zhiqiang firmly said, "It was not your fault at all. It was our fault for involving you in all of this. If you want to blame someone, then blame me."
Li Caiyi looked up at Dai Zhiqiang, whose expression didn't falter at all. Usually, people would think of him as an unfeeling person if they saw how expressionless he was, but Li Caiyi could feel his kindness emanating from his tone.
Dai Zhiqiang continued, "Caiyi, I will save your sister, so don't worry too much."
"Wh-what are you planning to do?"
"You don't need to know that, but I'll surely bring your sister back to you."
"I'll come with you!"
Dai Zhiqiang shook her head. "No, can't do. Honestly, you are just going to be a burden if you come along, so just wait at your home patiently."
Li Caiyi knew Dai Zhiqiang said that to discourage her from following him. After spending time with him, Li Caiyi understood he was actually a caring person who would do anything for his close one, so she wasn't offended. Instead, she was worried and distressed about him.
"Zhiqiang, you don't need to do that. What if they beat you up as they did to Shenqiang? Don't forget, you are also their target." Li Caiyi hurriedly took out her phone. "Let me call Brother Renshu and explain the whole situation to him."
She was about to dial Meng Renshu's number, but he snatched her phone from above her head.
"Hey!"
Dai Zhiqiang raised her phone high above his head. The 160 cm height Li Caiyi couldn't stand a chance against his 185 cm height. She hopped in her place but still couldn't reach it. "Give it back to me! What are you doing?"
"Do you know why I didn't tell Senior Meng about it when he was here?"
Li Caiyi froze for a moment. Looking at Dai Zhiqiang's serious expression, she put down both of her hands. "Why?"
"It's because I don't want to look bad. If I told him, he would ask why you were involved in this mess. By then, you would have to explain about my debt and family's poor condition, isn't that right?"
"That's…."
"Pride is important for men. I'll take responsibility and save your sister, but don't do anything more than this. I don't want to look miserable in front of other students in this school."
Li Caiyi was stunned when she heard his reason. She recalled how Dai Zhiqiang doted on his brother so much and the story of their childhood, which she heard from Dai Shenqiang. He worked hard silently without asking for anything in return, and he would always prioritize his family above his needs.
Such a kind person like that, would he restrain revealing crucial information because he cared about his reputation more?
Not to mention, he should have known how close Li Caiyi was to her sister before this. Could he really close his eyes to other people suffering just because he wanted to keep his pride?
Li Caiyi pressed her lips into a hard line. "Fine. I won't tell this to Brother Renshu or the police for now. But let me come with you!"
"You are so stubborn. I said you will be useless even if you come, anyway." Dai Zhiqiang frowned.
"Even so, you will need one person to keep on a lookout. What if something happens and you both can't get out? You'd need another person to call for help."
Dai Zhiqiang sighed. "That won't be necessary. I have my own way of doing things. You will help me just by staying put and not doing anything stupid."
Li Caiyi didn't give up and held him by his wrist, preventing him from leaving. "I won't let you go to a dangerous place alone. If you go, I'll go to Brother Renshu and ask him to do a thorough search of the entire downtown area!"
Dai Zhiqiang stared down at her small hands holding his wrist, and a conflicted expression flashed across his face. If he could help it, he didn't want to show her his rough side. However, the more time they wasted here, the higher the risk was for Li Chunhua, so he reluctantly compromised.
"Fine. But you have to stay outside and stay out of my way."
"Yes, I'll do that!" Li Caiyi smiled, secretly relieved that Dai Zhiqiang was the type that was pretty easy to persuade.
Dai Zhiqiang couldn't look at her straight in the face, so he looked away quickly. "Then, let's not waste any more time."
"Yes!"
They walked out of the school grounds, and Li Caiyi immediately stopped a taxi. She was so worried about Li Chunhua's safety that she was totally silent throughout the trip.
Dai Zhiqiang, who noticed her uneasiness, wanted to cheer her up, but he didn't know how to. He had never spoken too much to girls because his piercing stare always intimidated them. Well, not that he ever had much interest in the opposite sex from the beginning.
He thought this side of him would never change. He was sure of that until he met Li Caiyi, this weak and clumsy-looking girl.
"It will be okay."
Those words left his mouth automatically when he saw her anxious side profile. Even if he didn't know how to say sweet words, he still wanted to let her know she wasn't alone in this.
"We are going to help her. Definitely, without fail."
Li Caiyi turned to Dai Zhiqiang, seemingly surprised at first, but later, her mouth curved up in a faint smile. "Yes, you're right. I'm glad you're here with me."
Dai Zhiqiang felt itchy like his heart had been scratched by a cat's claw. He was afraid Li Caiyi could tell how happy he was hearing that from her, so he looked away again and kept his gaze glued to the view outside the window. However, he would secretly sneak a peek at Li Caiyi's reflection in the window.
He knew it was inappropriate to feel happy under the circumstances like this, so he said nothing throughout the rest of the trip.
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