Iren's words made Yihshyong jump out of the car instantly. His eyes widen. "When did it happen?" Yihshyong's hand swung and landed right on Iren's shoulder.
Iren straightened his back before opening his mouth again. "About an hour after Shinnshiow and Jenqyih left the house, someone called me."
"Let's go inside first. It's not nice to shout in front of the house like this. Our neighbors will think we're fighting." Shannchyuan, who also got out of the car, said firmly. Although the Dahge tried to appear calm, Iren could see that Shannchyuan's facial muscles were tightening, and his voice was shaking a bit.
"Dahge is right," Yihshyong said. His face was full of anxiety.
After Yinqyueh also got out of the car, Shannchyuan immediately said to the car driver. "Thank you, Sir! You'd better go back to the exhibition site."
The driver said nothing. But, his face was tense. He started the car right away and drove from there. Without waiting for the car to disappear from their sight, the four of them went straight into the house. Arriving in the living room, they all instantly sat on the sofa, which had been a silent witness to all their conversations.
"Now tell me slowly and steadily about what happened." Shannchyuan's voice sounded slightly trembling. Iren knew that Sang Dahge was trying hard to control his emotion.
<
Iren swallowed. He began to say in a slightly shaky voice. "An hour after Shinnshiow and Jenqyih left, I received a call. The caller said that Shinnshiow was in their hands."
"Did they allow Shinnshiow to talk to you on the phone?" Shannchyuan rubbed his chin with the palm of his right hand. Maybe it was a way to calm him down.
"They said that Shinnshiow was unconscious, so he couldn't speak."
"So what's the proof that they've kidnapped Shinnshiow?" Yihshyong asked.
"They'll call again tonight when Shinnshiow wakes up."
"What time will they call again?" Yihshyong asked.
"Hmm, hmm, maybe around ten o'clock!" Iren stuttered while trying to remember the conversation on the phone between him and the kidnapper.
"They said it was a possibility, or surely they would call at that time?" Shannchyuan's voice was a little softer but still firm.
"They said they'd call at ten," Iren said in a tone of voice that he tried to be full of confidence.
Shannchyuan and Yihshyong looked at each other. Their eyes looked so weird.
<
"I remember now. They actually said they'd call back tonight at ten. They even said your name." Iren added the information he conveyed. "They want to talk to Duanmuh Shannchyuan."
Shannchyuan's face changed slightly when he heard Iren's last words.
<
"Did they say why they wanted to talk to me?" Shannchyuan's eyebrows rose.
Iren just shook his head.
"What about Jenqyih? Didn't he go with Shinnshiow earlier?" Shannchyuan leaned forward.
"Yihge called here. He called not long after the kidnappers contacted me. So I told Yihge the news right away."
"How did Jenqyih react when he heard this?" Yihshyong rubbed his palms together.
<
"Of course he was surprised, too. I told him to come home straight away. But just like yesterday, it seems he has something else on his mind."
"What other things?" Shannchyuan asked.
"He said he would find a way to solve this problem."
"Jenqyih said so?" Shannchyuan asked.
"Right! So maybe Yihge won't be home soon," answered Iren.
"This is a serious matter. I think we should call the police!" Yihshyong stared at Shannchyuan intently.
"They said they would know if we called the police," said Iren.
"All kidnappers say that," Yihshyong said. "It could just be a bluff!"
"But maybe they are serious about it," said Iren.
"Did they say anything else that made you think that way?" Yihshyong asked.
"I only use logic," said Iren. "In fact, they've been watching us since yesterday." He turned his gaze towards Shannchyuan. "What do you think of Dahge?"
"I have to admit that there is a possibility that they are still watching our house right now!" Shannchyuan lifted his head. "So indeed, we have to be very careful if we want to report to the police."
"Have you told anyone else about this matter?" Yihshyong asked. "Take our neighbors, for example."
Iren shook his head. He didn't go anywhere at all.
<>
"Earlier, after you received the call, did you have time to see how things were outside the house?" Shannchyuan asked.
"About ten minutes after receiving the call, I did went outside. But I was not going anywhere. I was just standing on the fence. Just like when I greeted you a moment ago."
"Back then, did you see any suspicious people outside the house?" Yihshyong asked.
"I just saw a boxcar from an electronics shop stop at the house next door," said Iren. 'They came to deliver the television to this neighbor to the left of our house.'
"Did you say something to them? I mean, not telling them about this kidnapping, but sort of saying hello, or just making small talk to them," Shannchyuan said.
"Absolutely not. Earlier, I was very confused and panicked, so it didn't even occur to me to be friendly with our neighbors. Especially with the people who deliver television to our neighbors."
"How did you know those people were delivering televisions?" Yinqyueh, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
"Because we already knew that our neighbor was waiting for the electronics shop to deliver the television to his house. So, four days ago, he bought a new television. Then the next day, the television had no picture and sound. He reported it with no delay. But, he had to wait until yesterday when a technician from an electronics shop finally came to check. Our neighbor demanded that the television be replaced with a new one, not just repaired. So when I saw a truck bearing the auto electronics shop logo, I instantly thought they were delivering a new television. Besides, the big cardboard to wrap the television in, the writing is pretty clear." Iren waved his hands while explaining that.
Yinqyueh looked deep in thought. "Let's just tell Brother Tsaehorng. Maybe he has a better way out."
"Earlier, the driver had also heard what Iren said. So he must have reported this to Tsaehorng in a flash after he got there," said Yihshyong. "I think Tsaehorng will be here soon."
"Let's wait for Jenqyih and Tsaehorng to come before we decide to report this to the police. Maybe they will bring a little surprise," said Shannchyuan.
"What surprise?" Iren asked.
"You'll see," said Shannchyuan.
"Dahge isn't worried about Shinnshiow?" Iren asked.
"Of course I'm anxious. But I don't think they will hurt him. At least for the time being. They want some of the things we currently have in exchange for Shinnshiow," Shannchyuan said. He then patted Iren's shoulder. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"In this situation, will I still have an appetite?"
"Eating is an important activity and you must do it. We won't be able to think clearly when we are hungry," said Shannchyuan.
Iren looked at his friends. "What about you guys?"
"We've all had lunch. Tsaehorng treated us to lunch earlier. Here we brought some food." Yihshyong pointed to the two plastic packages still lying on the living room table.
"Please, bring these foods to the kitchen first." Shannchyuan smiled at Yinqyueh.
The girl nodded. She swiftly carried the package of food into the kitchen.
Iren still doubted. He really didn't know what their priorities should be.
"Now, you're panicking like this. I don't think it's any good," Shannchyuan said.
Iren understood that Shannchyuan was trying hard to be calm, to keep his friends and also Yinqyueh from panicking. If he panicked now, it would be the same as sabotaging Shannchyuan's efforts. Therefore, Iren would follow what Shannchyuan said. He walked to the kitchen. There, Yinqyueh had already unwrapped the food and transferred it to several plates. Iren brought the plates containing the dishes to the living room and started eating there.
Several kinds of food were all delicious. At first, Iren thought a situation like this would eliminate his appetite. But it didn't. He could eat voraciously. However, because there was so much food, it took Iren quite a while to finish it all.
Before Iren finished eating, it turned out that someone had come to their house. Exactly as Yihshyong said, Tsaehorng was already in front of the gate. Yihshyong came out to open the gate and let Tsaehorng in.
"How did it happen?" When he came into the house, not yet sitting down, Tsaehorng had already asked them about it.
"We don't know for sure either. You sit down first," Shannchyuan replied.
Iren quickly tried to finish his lunch. He waved his hand at Tsaehorng.
"Why don't you eat slowly? Don't be in a hurry." Yihshyong shouted from the living room. "Didn't you say the thugs would be calling us tonight, not soon after?"
"I'm almost done eating." Iren pointed at his plate. Between the living room and the dining room, there was another room. But there was no partition between each of those rooms. So, Iren could clearly see what they did, and hear all their conversations.
Yinqyueh came out of the kitchen with a tray of tea for them all. She put the teacups on the table in the living room.
"Brother Tsaehorng, please have some tea," Yinqyueh said.
"Thank you." Tsaehorng nodded.
They all then drank the tea.
"Eh?" Yihshyong let out a short exclamation after taking a sip of the tea.
"What's wrong, Uncle?" Tsaehorng asked.
"It's okay. I think this tea is specially made for someone," Yihshyong said. He looked at Yinqyueh with a small smile.
"This tea is just so sweet!" Shannchyuan gave a thumbs up.
Unlike the people in this city, the people from Yeuandong usually add sugar to the tea so that it tastes sweet. However, Shannchyuan was different from the ordinary Yeuandong people. He didn't really like sweet tea. So, usually, he only drank plain tea at home. Apparently, the tea that Yinqyueh made this time wasn't sweet tea, but it wasn't plain tea either. Iren guessed she had added a bit of sugar to the tea. Shannchyuan sometimes drank tea like that, which was tea to which very little sugar was added. It turned out that Yinqyueh had learned Shannchyuan's taste in tea. Shannchyuan hardly ever told anyone about his drink preferences. Maybe Jenqyih or Shinnshiow told the girl about Shannchyuan's habits.
"Where's your driver?" Shannchyuan asked.
"I told him to wait in the car."
"Why don't you take him into the house?" Yihshyong asked.
"He's used to it. He's waiting for me in the car. So if I have to leave again, he's ready."
"Please, give a glass of water to the driver outside. He must be thirsty." Shannchyuan looked at Yinqyueh.
"No need, Uncle! In the car there is a supply of drinks," said Tsaehorng.
Yinqyueh looked at Shannchyuan. The girl seemed to be asking for consideration from their dahge.
"You just sit here, please." Shannchyuan patted the girl's shoulder gently.
Yinqyueh nodded. "I'll return this to the kitchen first."
Yinqyueh returned to the kitchen to return the tray. Afterward, she walked into the dining room and sat down on one chair in front of the dining table. She looked at Iren, who was busy finishing his food.
"Isn't it delicious?" Yinqyueh's voice was so slow. Almost like a whisper.
"Of course, it's delicious," replied Iren. Also, at a low volume.
"There's still a lot in the kitchen if you still want to add more portions."
"The other portion is for Yihge. He'll be angry if I eat his portion." Iren smiled.
"Don't worry. There are two plastic packages. The first one contained food for you, while the second one was for Uncle Jenqyih. What I have opened is only the first plastic bag. The second one, I put it in the fridge at once. So the food that's still in the kitchen isn't food for Uncle Jenqyih."
"Well then, I'll just eat again later. Right now, there are much more important things to do." Iren tried to be as firm as possible.