Ouyang Haitao made the wrong choice.
Three days were nowhere near enough to pay his more than a year long debts, and he was getting anxious as much as desperate.
It was on the third day that Ouyang Haitao and Jun crossed paths once again. It was when Jun was waiting outside his school with the twins as usual for Nana to pick them up.
Ten year old Jian lazily laid back on the soft grass and had a faraway look in his eyes as if he was thinking deeply about something. But what came out of his mouth was,
"I am craving ice cream."
Nian joined his twin. "I am craving hotpot."
Jun said with disdain, "I am craving to be away from you two."
"..."
The twins smothered their little brother into a hug from both sides and laughed. "You are so cute when you are salty, Jun."
Jun escaped from their vicious clutches with great difficulty. "Stay away from me! I still haven't forgiven you for stealing my octopus from my lunch! I will tell this to Mom," he snorted.
"Why do you always rattle us to Mom!?" They cried with protest.
"Why do you always steal my food then? You are the elder brothers. Does it really suit you?"
They pouted. "Because our cute siblings are too well-behaved. So we sacrificed ourselves to become the mischievous troublemakers!" They put up a serious expression as if they were suffering so much.
He grimaced.
"I will be standing on the other side alone till the car comes."
"Why?"
"To have some mental peace."
"..."
Little Jun stepped out of the gate and breathed out. He stretched his arms and felt relaxed.
Always so noisy…
He casually leaned in and looked over some pretty flowers on a flower bed nearby to pass time.
I should get a lock for my lunchbox, Jun seriously thought. Wait, I better lock myself in the washroom to finish my lunch.
Jun wondered if the twins would go as far as climbing up the door and barge inside the stall.
They can do anything for food…
On the opposite side of the road, Jun caught a familiar figure rushing somewhere. He blinked and quickly recognized him as Ouyang Haitao, who he had passed by just three days back.
Jun felt an odd and impending discomfort, especially when Ouyang Haitao was carrying a little girl in his arms. Her face was turned towards the other side, but from her position, he guessed that she might be sleeping.
Or unconscious…?
Jun remembered the conversation with his father and the choice Ouyang Haitao would soon make. From his expression, it was clear that he was up to no good. He felt his chest fill up with anxiety upon seeing the helpless girl, and he wanted to save her. His feet took a little step forward, but he stopped.
Calm down, Jun, he breathed in.
This is not the same time as when I had saved Siying from getting kidnapped five years ago. I had guards with me that time. But now I am alone. The car is yet to come…
Jun quickly opened his bag and took out a small phone. The twins and he were given a small handset to contact the Liu family in case they smelled trouble when the guards weren't around.
I will inform Dad and he will-
Jun suddenly felt a shadow loom upon him, and he froze. He slowly raised his head and met Ouyang Haitao's gaze.
"You…" Ouyang Haitao was shaken up. "You are his son. I saw you that day in the base."
Jun said nothing.
"Who were you going to call?"
Jun said nothing.
Ouyang Haitao unconsciously brought his arms closer, making Jun say, "She will suffocate," he narrowed his eyes. "Stop holding her so hard."
He stiffened. But he was focused on getting an answer to something else. "Who were you going to call?"
Jun maintained his calm despite having an urge to give him a disdainful retort. "Mom. I am waiting for her to pick me up."
Ouyang Haitao stared at him. His movements were slightly fidgety. "You were going to call because you saw me, right?"
"Where?"
"Across the street. You saw me and that's why you took out your phone," he said impatiently.
"I just saw you right now. Did you see me seeing you?"
He didn't know. He had simply recognized Jun from across the street who was taking out a phone from his bag. Panicked, he hurried towards him.
"I just want to call Mom. She is late and I am hungry. Is there really anything questionable in calling my mother?"
But Ouyang Haitao had become paranoid by that point. "Come with me."
"Where?"
"Just somewhere we can talk."
"We are already talking here."
"Just come with me," he gave a harmless smile.
Since he was holding a little girl in his arms with her hands wrapped around his neck, they looked like any other father-daughter pair.
Jun stared at him and said, "You do realize who I am, right?"
His smile faltered slightly.
"More importantly, you do realize who my father is, right?"
He trembled.
"What you are doing right now is taking me hostage and don't even bother sugarcoating it. What I want to ask is do you understand the consequences of taking me with you?"
Ouyang Haitao gritted his teeth. "Just come with me."
"There will be no going back after this for you," he said, expressionless.
He couldn't waste more time so he played his last card. "I have a small blade in my palm. If you don't listen to me, don't blame me for stabbing this girl with it."
Jun didn't respond, but he remembered Jinhai's words.
'I have dealt with far worse and shittier people in this world.'
I understand you now, Dad. I already saw that during Siying's attempted kidnap, but this world keeps showing me more and more such people.
Jun hung his bag around his shoulders and looked up. "Let's go. Just don't regret it later."
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