Chapter 128 : Dongfang Jenqyih

Jenqyih was relieved when he heard something from inside the hole. The sound of the iron rod being hit was not loud at all, but was quite audible to the person right next to the hole. Shortly after, Yihshyong emerged from the hole.

"Where are the others?" Jenqyih looked into the hole when he realized Yihshyong had only come home alone.

"Dahge still has other things to do. Iren said Dahge would stop by the drugstore for a while. I don't know what kind of medicine he wanted to buy," Yihshyong answered.

"So, where is Iren now?"

"Of course, he's still in the passage. He's got to stay there. He'll be back with Dahge."

"Then, the things that Dahge brought with him? Where are they now?"

"Here, it's all with me," Yihshyong pointed at the plastic bag containing the things they had taken away earlier.

"What time will they be back? Shouldn't we all be on standby here to await a call from the kidnappers?"

"Don't worry too much. I think they'll be here soon too. Don't worry too much," Yihshyong said.

<<Shyongge must be trying hard to calm me down. I can't seem to panic.>>

"Okay! You rest for a while inside. I'll just wait for them here," said Jenqyih.

Yihshyong nodded. In a flash, he went straight into the house. Jenqyih walked to the terrace near the kitchen. He took a chair that was there and carried it towards the hole. He put the chair right next to the spot. After that, he sat there.

"Why didn't I think of something like this yesterday? It's much better than squatting until you're sore at the edge of the hole," Jenqyih muttered to himself.

Jenqyih then waited for Shannchyuan and Iren to return. Unlike what Yihshyong had just said, it turned out that the two friends didn't arrive soon after. For a moment, Jenqyih thought that something terrible had happened to them. But quickly, he pushed aside the lousy image that appeared in his mind. The underground mall was a very crowded place. It was almost impossible for criminals to injure people intentionally in such a crowded place. Although they might also have a little trouble in the underground passages. However, Jenqyih was sure that these would definitely be easy to overcome.

Jenqyih turned towards the kitchen. At first, Jenqyih thought Yihshyong would only come into the house for a moment to drink some water or lie down on the sofa a bit. After that, he would return to the backyard to be together with Jenqyih, awaiting the arrival of Shannchyuan and Iren. But after Jenqyih waited so long, Yihshyong didn't show up. Apparently, his friend really rested at home.

<<I think he's exhausted. I must not forget that he is older than me.>>

The old adage that waiting is a very tedious job was not nonsense. It had been proven true. In no time, Jenqyih was dozing off in the chair. He almost fell asleep. Fortunately, a familiar sound emerged from below the hole, namely the sound of metal being hit.

"They've finally arrived! Two minutes from now, if they hadn't arrived, I would have fallen asleep here!" Jenqyih grumbled to herself.

Shannchyuan and Iren emerged from the hole.

"You took too long," Jenqyih said.

"Where's Yihshyong?" Instead of answering Jenqyih's question, Iren asked back.

Jenqyih pointed towards the house. "Maybe he's resting. Or maybe he's asleep inside."

Shannchyuan smiled. "Sorry, I had some business to attend to. The important thing is that we're back now. So now we can both wait for the call from the kidnappers."

After placing the iron plate in its original place to close the hole and returning the large pot to its original position, they entered the house. They found Yihshyong lying on the sofa in the living room.

"It turned out that my guess was right that he fell asleep here," said Jenqyih.

Iren shook Yihshyong's body. "Wake up! Come on, wake up!"

Yihshyong squirmed. He opened his eyes. "What time is it now?"

"It's not ten o'clock yet. But now we have to get ready to receive calls from the kidnappers." Shannchyuan opened his mouth.

"Why are you sleeping here?" Jenqyih asked.

"I didn't sleep. I fell asleep while waiting for Chioujen to come home," Yihshyong replied.

<<It's just the same!>>

Jenqyih looked at the clock hanging on the living room wall. "Chioujen said he'd be home at ten. But I don't think he arrived at ten. He could be home at half-past eleven or even twelve."

Shannchyuan looked at Yihshyong. "If you're really sleepy, you should just sleep in your room. Let us wait for Chioujen to come home and wait for the calls from the people who kidnapped Shinnshiow."

"It's okay. I'm not sleepy now!" Yihshyong insisted on joining the wait.

"Wash your face first," said Iren to Yihshyong.

"I don't think Yihshyong is the only one who has to wash our faces. We all should wash our faces, so we feel refreshed," said Shannchyuan.

After that, they all took turns washing their faces in the bathroom.

"Are any of you feeling hungry right now?" Yihshyong suddenly said that while rubbing his stomach.

Iren laughed. He looked at the faces of his friends one by one. "Do you think we should eat before we receive calls from the kidnappers?" Iren answered Yihshyong's strange question with a question that was no less strange.

"Isn't there a lot of leftovers from our dinner last night?" Jenqyih said.

"It's not just our dinner last night that still has a lot left." Shannchyuan smiled. "The lunch we bought for Iren and Jenqyih has not been fully eaten either." After saying that, Shannchyuan walked straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

Shannchyuan's three friends walked in groups, following Shannchyuan. Their footsteps could be heard so clearly.

<<Turns out Shyongge isn't the only one hungry!>>

"Well! That's right! There are still a lot of leftovers!" Shannchyuan pointed to the contents of the refrigerator. He then looked at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall. "I think we still have a little time. Enough to fill our stomachs."

Iren took a glass. Then he took a bottle out of the fridge. The bottle contained cold water that they had previously boiled to a boil. He seemed to be more thirsty than hungry.

Before they could take the food, there was a sound coming from their gate. Someone's coming. Tonight they did not lock the gate. Jenqyih walked into the living room to open the door. After the door opened, a figure walked in. He looked tired. He was out of breath as if he had been running after something.

"You drink first," said Iren. He gave a glass of water filled with cold water to their guest, who had just arrived.

"Thank you, Uncle," said the man. He took the glass from Iren's hand and drank the water instantly until it ran out without a single drop.

"Is all your business done?" Jenqyih asked.

"It's all right, Uncle! Now I can concentrate on our problem."

"Tsaehorng," Shannchyuan said, "we were just about to eat. Would you like to join?"

Their guest, who turned out to be Tsaehorng, couldn't hide his surprise. Perhaps he did not expect the house's occupants would feel hungry again so quickly. They had had dinner before.

<<Eating is an important ritual in our group.>>

Jenqyih laughed. "This is our habit. Always eat to overcome nervousness."

Tsaehorng also laughed. "Okay, Uncle. I'll try to eat some."

<<Fortunately, what Dahge hoped for, did come true. I had completely forgotten that I had to be on standby in case Tsaehorng came at any time. If only he had come earlier, I don't know what to say!>>

Jenqyih shook his head at the thought. Shannchyuan looked at him. It seemed that he also realized what he was thinking.

<<Maybe Dahge realized I had been negligent. Luckily, everything went well.>>

"Okay! Now let's eat first." Shannchyuan smiled.

Iren took the food from the fridge. He reheated the food briefly using the microwave. After that, with the help of Yihshyong, he served the food at the dining table. They all sat down at the dining table to eat the dish.

"Did Miss Dihwuu call you when they arrived at your apartment?" Shannchyuan asked Tsaehorng.

"Earlier, when I was in the exhibition building, I had a chance to call my apartment. They are fine. Even Mrs. Dihwuu said that Miss Liuchiou looked thrilled," replied Tsaehorng.

"Thank goodness," said Shannchyuan, "I was a little worried about her."

"Don't worry, Uncle. I've told Miss Dihwuu to report every six hours. My employees are on standby at the exhibition hall, so even if I'm not there, there's always someone who will receive news from Miss Dihwuu."

"Thank you," said Shannchyuan.

"You're welcome, Uncle!"

They then quickly finished their second dinner. Just as Shannchyuan finished swallowing the last piece of his meal, the clock on the wall was already ten o'clock.

"Now is the time," said Shannchyuan.