We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 25

The landlord arrived before Tao Ying did. He called twice to hurry her along while she was still on the way.

As soon as she reached Jinhua Gardens, she got out of the car and hurried over the curb beside the parking spaces into the apartment building.

Passing the second floor, she glanced instinctively at a door that had been left ajar.

She was about to pull it shut when a powerful hand seized her arm. Before she could scream, a rough, cold palm clamped hard over her mouth.

Tao Ying fought with all her strength, her fingers digging into the doorframe.

The cheap cigarette smoke clinging to the man smelled horribly familiar. It made her stomach turn.

“Mmph—”

She was no match for his strength. Pain shot through her waist as he locked an arm around her and dragged her inside.

The door slammed shut, sealing off every sound of her struggle.

The man closed one hand around her throat. With her airway crushed, Tao Ying could only gape and rasp for breath. Not a single syllable came out.

Just as the suffocation rushed to her head, his grip loosened slightly. Tao Ying seized the chance to gulp in air.

“Ms. Tao, you’d better not scream. Otherwise, I can’t promise you’ll stay alive.”

Keeping him calm was her best chance. She nodded slowly.

He seemed pleased by her obedience. “Why did you move, Ms. Tao?”

She had barely opened her mouth before he squeezed her neck again.

“You don’t have to tell me. I already know. You’re smart—you must have noticed something.”

He bent to sniff at her neck. Tao Ying stretched away from him, muffled sounds of protest trapped behind his hand.

“Is that man with the SUV really your boyfriend? Are you living with him now?”

He was like a cold, venomous snake, trying to coil himself around her body…

When Qin Zheng could no longer reach Tao Ying by phone, his heart sank.

He called the police without another thought. He did not even pull fully into a parking space before shifting into park and yanking up the hand brake by reflex.

He leaped from the vehicle and raced into the building, kicking up clouds of dust behind him.

Taking the stairs two and three at a time, he charged up to the third floor and pounded on the door.

“Tao Ying!”

The door opened to reveal a round, heavyset man glaring at him. “What the hell are you doing?”

Qin Zheng grabbed him by the collar. “Where’s Tao Ying?”

The man flinched, but still lifted his chin defiantly. “Why are you asking me? I couldn’t get through to her either.”

“And that didn’t strike you as wrong?” Qin Zheng released him with a hard shove that sent him sprawling, then turned and ran for the fourth floor.

The landlord cocked his head and thought about it. It was strange. He had spoken to Tao Ying only a few minutes ago.

He hauled his bulk upright and puffed his way after Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng hammered on the fourth-floor door, but no one answered.

An ugly, frantic rage churned in his eyes. Face dark and frighteningly taut, he stepped back, lowered his center of gravity, and drove one foot into the door.

The panel buckled inward under the force, but only a narrow crack split open.

The landlord staggered at the sight. What kind of monstrous strength was that?

“What’s going on? Is Ms. Tao missing?”

Qin Zheng had no time to waste on an answer. When he spotted an iron security door beyond the wooden one, he made an immediate decision and ran back downstairs.

He had tools in his vehicle. Something there might help.

On his way back up, he reached the landing between the second and third floors and abruptly stopped.

Then he spun around, descended a few steps, and picked up a horseshoe-link bracelet from the corner by the wall.

It was Tao Ying’s. It had to have fallen off while she struggled.

Qin Zheng closed his fist around the bracelet. As he raised his head, his gaze swept across the doorframe—and froze.

A thin layer of dust had collected along its edge. Several frantic, unmistakable finger marks had been carved through it.

He straightened and scanned the floor. There were scuffs from something—or someone—being dragged.

His head snapped up. By the time the realization hit, his fist was already crashing into the door.

“Tao Ying… are you in there? Tao Ying!”

For Tao Ying, it was a lifeline dropped into utter despair. She struggled even harder.

“Qin—mmph!”

The hand around her throat tightened brutally once more.

Qin Zheng opened his toolbox, found a flathead screwdriver, and wedged it into the crack beside the door.

He located the latch and forced the screwdriver down with his full arm behind it. Using the tool as a lever, he pinned the retracting latch in place. Tendons stood out along his other hand as he braced it against the door and shoved with all his strength.

There was a click.

The door opened.

The iron security gate inside stood half open. Qin Zheng kicked it aside and rushed in. A weak figure stumbled toward him and collapsed against his chest.

“Tao Ying.” He caught her and wrapped both arms around her.

Kong Chengping’s pupils contracted. He had not expected Qin Zheng to get in so quickly, and he took an involuntary step back.

Qin Zheng shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around Tao Ying, then carefully helped her sit on the sofa.

“Wait here.”

Still dazed with terror, Tao Ying could not speak. She only nodded blankly.

Qin Zheng turned and kicked Kong Chengping between the legs without warning.

Kong Chengping folded onto the floor in agony, cold sweat soaking his body.

Qin Zheng gave him no chance to recover. He seized him by the collar and drove him backward to the balcony in a few long strides.

“What are you doing?” Kong Chengping finally panicked.

“Your parents have worked honestly all their lives. They get up before dawn and scrape by selling a few crates of honey, all to support a piece of trash like you. If you want them to have any peace in their old age, you’ll listen to me.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“A fall from the second floor won’t kill you.” Qin Zheng’s face was grim, the chill in it enough to make a man tremble. “When the police arrive, remember to tell them you panicked, tried to run, and fell on your own. Then confess, take your punishment, and keep your head down. Understand?”

“You… you…”

Kong Chengping was too frightened to think. As he tried to shrink away from Qin Zheng, he leaned too far back and toppled over the balcony railing.

“Qin Zheng!” Tao Ying lunged toward them in disbelief.

“It’s fine.” Qin Zheng caught her and pulled her into his arms. “A fall from the second floor won’t kill him.”

“Did you—” She had not been able to see clearly from where she stood. “Did you push him?”

Qin Zheng shook his head with an innocent expression. “He fell all by himself.”

He would have liked to push him. He simply had not expected Kong Chengping’s nerve to collapse so quickly.

The police arrived at just the right moment. Kong Chengping landed almost at their feet, covered in scratches from the tree branches and groaning in excruciating pain.

The sounds from below made Tao Ying sick. She edged closer into Qin Zheng’s arms.

He held her by the shoulders. “Don’t let him become the nightmare that follows you for the rest of your life.”

She looked up at him, lost. “What should I do?”

Qin Zheng smiled, his voice unexpectedly gentle. “Remember his face. Then send him to prison.”

“Okay.” A string of tears rolled down Tao Ying’s face.

As soon as she spoke, the police burst into the apartment.

Her neck had been injured, so she had to go to the hospital first.

Qin Zheng naturally went with her. Her car would have to remain there until they had time to retrieve it.

He helped her into his vehicle. When she did not move, he leaned across her, pulled out the seat belt, and fastened it for her.

Neither of them spoke on the drive. When they reached the hospital, Tao Ying remained in her seat. Then she asked in a faint voice, “Will he go to prison?”

“He will.”

“Probably not for long.”

A cold gleam flashed through Qin Zheng’s eyes. “Long or short, he’s going inside.”