RPAGF Chapter 229 Do You Still Remember Me?
Chapter 229 Do You Still Remember Me?
Hopefully, Zhao Long can bring me some useful information.
Soon, the car arrived at its destination.
Lin Qingran took a deep breath, sorted out her thoughts, got out of the car and walked into the dimly lit room, which was filled with a damp and rotten smell.
The moment Lin Qingran stepped through the door, her heart began to race involuntarily. She was finally confronting the evil deeds Zhou Lan had committed.
Before coming, she had imagined Zhao Long's attitude countless times. He might be a stubborn and tight-lipped person, after all, he was closely connected with Zhou Lan's complicated illegal activities.
However, reality is quite different from what was imagined.
Before officially entering the room where Zhao Long was being held, Lin Qingran listened to a report from Zhao Long's subordinates in the corridor.
He said that after being detained for only a few days, Zhao Long's attitude changed drastically, and he even took the initiative to ask to see their "superior" before he would tell the truth.
This sudden change made Lin Qingran frown deeply, her heart filled with doubt.
Zhao Long's current humble posture is completely different from his strong resistance when he was captured by Lu An. There must be a hidden secret behind this. It may be a carefully designed trap to lure them in.
But when she recalled the few words Old Master Fu had previously revealed, mentioning the Lin family's use of drugs on Fu Xiuheng, she couldn't help but guess that Zhao Long's insistence on seeing her might be intricately connected to the Fu family's hidden past.
Lin Qingran took a deep breath and walked in steadily.
Zhao Long was sitting in the corner, clutching a dry biscuit tightly in his hand. He looked like he had been starving for a long time and was wolfing it down into his mouth.
Upon seeing Lin Qingran enter, his movements suddenly froze, as if he were startled. Then, a large piece of bread choked in his throat, and he began to cough violently, his face turning red and his body trembling.
Seeing this, Lin Qingran waved her hand gently, signaling her subordinates to bring Zhao Long a glass of water.
Zhao Long was overjoyed. He snatched the water glass, tilted his head back, and drank it down in large gulps. It took him a while to recover and his breathing gradually became steady.
Once he recovered, Zhao Long's eyes instantly turned vicious, as if he wanted to pierce through Lin Qingran. He said fiercely.
"Don't think I'll appreciate this little favor. Let me tell you, it's not that easy!"
Lin Qingran simply smiled faintly, a hint of sharpness in her eyes, and replied slowly.
“Zhao Long, you should know that even if you don’t appreciate it, you won’t be able to leave this place smoothly in this predicament. Unless you confess what shady things you’ve done.”
Upon hearing Lin Qingran's words, Zhao Long's face flashed with anger and resentment, but he also understood his current predicament and gritted his teeth helplessly.
Suddenly, he raised his head and stared intently at Lin Qingran, his eyes filled with complex emotions that were hard to fathom.
Then he spoke.
"Lin Qingran, you really have a lucky life. You actually managed to escape from that place that eats people up and can devour them alive."
Lin Qingran was stunned for a moment, her body stiffening slightly. She knew in her heart that Zhao Long was referring to her unbearable years of being sold to a mountain village.
Her eyes instantly filled with doubt as she stared intently at Zhao Long, trying to find more clues from his expression.
Zhao Long seemed quite satisfied with Lin Qingran's reaction. A strange smile appeared on his lips as he asked softly.
"What, Lin Qingran, don't you really remember me?"
Lin Qingran's heart sank suddenly, and her mind began to search for fragments of memories at lightning speed.
She tried hard to recall her vague and painful childhood. She was probably only three years old when she was abducted and sold to that remote, poor, and sinful mountain village.
During those dark days, there was a boy a little older than her who was a notorious bully in the village, running rampant and domineering.
It is said that this boy was also trafficked here, but he won the affection of the family that adopted him because of his clever mind.
Moreover, since he came to this family, they miraculously gave birth to their own child. As a result, the whole family regarded him as their benefactor and doted on him. This made the boy's personality more and more eccentric and violent. People in the village avoided him like the plague. Lin Qingran naturally had a deep impression of him.
At this moment, Lin Qingran stared intently at Zhao Long's face, carefully examining every feature of his face.
After a long time, the door to memory seemed to finally open a crack, and some blurry images gradually emerged.
A look of shock and realization flashed in her eyes. So, the Zhao Long in front of her was the little tyrant who had both terrified and frightened her back then.
Zhao Long seemed to notice the change in Lin Qingran's eyes, and his smile became even more smug, his eyes revealing a sense of vengeful pleasure.
"Well, do you remember now? Back in that village, you were just a pitiful little thing who was bullied by everyone, while I was living the high life. You never thought we'd meet again here."
Lin Qingran unconsciously clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, trying to keep herself calm.
“Zhao Long, the past is the past. We are not who we were back then. You had better honestly confess your affair with Zhou Lan and everything you know. That is your only way out.”
Although Lin Qingran's voice was steady, it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Zhao Long snorted coldly and turned his head away disdainfully. "Do you think I'd tell you so easily? I suffered so much in that village, barely managed to escape, and now I've been dragged into all this mess. Why should I help you?"
Looking at Zhao Long, Lin Qingran knew that he was deliberately stalling for time or testing her bottom line.
She took a step forward without making a sound, her eyes fixed on Zhao Long.
“Zhao Long, don’t be stubborn and ask for trouble. You should know how dangerous your situation is right now. If you cooperate, you might get a lighter sentence. If you continue to be obstinate, you will face even harsher punishment. Besides, do you think Zhou Lan and her people will let you go? You are just a pawn in their game. Once things are exposed, you will be the first one they abandon.”
A flicker of panic crossed Zhao Long's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
His expression shifted unpredictably, sometimes hesitant, sometimes resolute; in short, he was extremely conflicted and probably wouldn't be able to make a decision anytime soon.