Life and Death Insurance – CH 035

Chapter 35

“Thank goodness things are cleared up now; otherwise, I’d be more wronged than Dou E.”

Ling Zhengzhong muttered to himself before starting to complain to Xiang Tian. “Did you see something wrong with them from the beginning? Why didn’t you stop me? You made me look foolish.”

I did shout, but you were jumping faster than a rabbit; I couldn’t stop you.

Faced with Ling Zhengzhong’s accusations, Xiang Tian could only smile wryly.

“That Yang Yiqing, he’s quick on his feet. They just broke up, and he’s already jumping in. Come to think of it, of all people, he had to pick that arrogant peacock Yu Shenglin…”

Xiang Tian listened to Ling Zhengzhong’s constant grumbling from outside the living room while he was making dinner. When he heard Ling Zhengzhong describe Yu Shenglin like that, Xiang Tian finally couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Dinner was quite lavish. To compensate Ling Zhengzhong for his so-called emotional distress, Xiang Tian made seven or eight of his favorite dishes, which Ling Zhengzhong thoroughly enjoyed. As he ate, he secretly pondered, “No, no, Little Hamster’s cooking is too good. No wonder Chu Feng said that after eating his cooking, he wouldn’t want to go out to restaurants anymore. It was really good. Hmm, I must find a way to keep him here. But how?”

This thought continued until someone rang the doorbell and delivered an express mail package.

This time it was a thin paper package. After taking it, Ling Zhengzhong placed it on the table and asked Xiang Tian, “Do you think this could be another prank?”

Someone wants you dead, and you think it’s just a prank?

Xiang Tian helped Ling Zhengzhong open the mail. Several photos fell out of the envelope. The subjects were all Ling Zhengzhong, but the backgrounds were different—some were taken on the street, others in front of an apartment building. Because they were taken from a distance, the images were somewhat blurry, but Ling Zhengzhong’s neck had several fine cuts from a sharp object; at first glance, it looked like his neck had been severed.

“Shit, who’s so bored as to take my picture without my permission and even curse me…”

“It was taken before, Zhengzhong. You haven’t worn any of these clothes recently.”

“So what?”

“Was it before Shen Meimei’s accident? Or after?”

When Xiang Tian asked, Ling Zhengzhong stared at the photos for a moment, then pointed to one and said, “This outfit was definitely worn before Shen Meimei’s accident. It shrank a bit after being dry-cleaned, so I haven’t worn it since.”

Xiang Tian looked at the envelope and found a letter inside. He took it out and unfolded it.

On the snow-white paper were only three large red characters: Ling Zhengzhong, with a dagger drawn in the center.

This time, Ling Zhengzhong was so angry he couldn’t even speak.

It was obvious that someone had been watching him long before Shen Meimei’s car accident. They not only secretly took his photos but also plotted to steal his car and frame him. If Xiang Tian hadn’t coincidentally visited him so early that day, he would probably still be a suspect.

But…who was it? Why did they hate him so much? Even his ex-girlfriend wasn’t spared?

Xiang Tian took out a pen and paper and handed them to Ling Zhengzhong. “Zhengzhong, draw the face of the woman who drank with you that night.”

“It’s been so long, I can’t remember clearly at all. Besides, my drawing skills are really bad…”

“It’s okay; just try your best.”

“But I don’t know that woman at all, Xiang Tian; you’re too suspicious.”

“Zhengzhong, this woman is strange. From the time you drove off that morning until the car keys disappeared, I’ve checked everyone who could have taken the keys, and the only one I couldn’t find is her.” Seeing Ling Zhengzhong’s reluctance, Xiang Tian sighed. “Zhengzhong, are you planning to go to the police station to do a composite sketch?”

Threatened by Xiang Tian to go to the police station, Ling Zhengzhong immediately stopped talking and started drawing.

“I was a little drunk then; I don’t remember very clearly…”

Ling Zhengzhong held the pen, drawing as he thought. With his drawing skills, he could only produce a rough outline. After finishing, Ling Zhengzhong put the pen aside.

“Xiang Tian, ​​I’m going to take a shower. Remember to come with me to get a good luck charm tomorrow.”

“I remember.”

Xiang Tian took out another drawing from his briefcase. This was a copy of the picture drawn by the thug. He placed the two drawings side by side on the table.

Aside from their similar tall stature, they shared no other significant similarities. Ling Zhengzhong’s portrait featured straight, flat hair, an oval face, large eyes, and bright red lips, while the thug’s portrait was most notable for her large, wavy hair; her face was completely obscured by sunglasses and a mask.

They were two opposed images. Psychologically speaking, when people intentionally concealed themselves, they often dressed in a way that was the opposite of their usual appearance. Xiang Tian was almost certain they were the same person, but what grudge did this woman have against Zhengzhong?

“Xiang Tian, ​​do you think this talisman really works?”

Ling Zhengzhong examined the yellow talisman in his hand, turning it over and over, then asked with some skepticism.

Works? Of course not. Someone’s trying to harm you; you aren’t being haunted by a ghost.

Xiang Tian, ​​of course, dared not voice his thoughts.

Because of Ling Zhengzhong’s stubbornness, Xiang Tian only clocked in at the company that morning, then used the excuse of running to a client to escape. He then drove with Ling Zhengzhong for over two hours to a remote mountain where not even a sparrow could be seen. After listening to a long string of incomprehensible incantations, they finally obtained this talisman.

“Obtaining” it was actually buying it for five hundred yuan. For Xiang Tian, ​​who had never believed in ghosts or spirits, praying to gods and Buddhas was utterly absurd. But if the person involved felt at peace, then it was a different story, and he couldn’t say anything.

Zhengzhong was just buying peace of mind.

Xiang Tian drove today because he noticed that Ling Zhengzhong seemed quite tense from the high-speed, seemingly life-threatening traffic. In this state of mind, it was better not to drive for long periods.

Listening to the melodious music in the car, Ling Zhengzhong started doing the “chicken pecking at rice” exercise, which was also due to waking up early. Soon, he turned his head to one side and officially fell asleep. Seeing that he was asleep, he turned the music down a bit. His eyes glanced at the rearview mirror. The car behind them had been following them ever since they came out of the temple, and it seemed to be getting closer and closer. There were five or six people in the car, and they were obviously coming for them.

The road after descending the mountain was rather secluded. Xiang Tian saw the car behind him suddenly accelerate and approach, knowing they were about to make a move. Just as he was about to stop, he vaguely saw several buses appear behind the car. Taking advantage of a red light at the intersection ahead, Xiang Tian deliberately got out of the car, pretending to check the windshield wipers. He glanced back and saw that it turned out to be several chartered tour buses, apparently belonging to a tour group. Man proposes, God disposes; those people following behind had wasted their time.

Xiang Tian got back into the car and started driving again. Ling Zhengzhong was still sound asleep, completely unaware of the danger that had brushed past him.