Chapter 868: Xiao Dong’s “Diagnosis”

At 7 am, everyone stood at the scene where a Volkswagen covered in mud was abandoned by the roadside. Not far away, apples were piled up; those scattered on the road had already been crushed. The police found the body of the truck driver who had been murdered among the apples.

“This is a crossroads. Calculating the truck’s maximum speed, they could now be up to 600 kilometers away. This means the surrounding towns could all be potential hiding spots for them.”

“The worst part is, there aren’t many surveillance cameras in the suburbs to check. Even if we find something, it’s hard to track them down.”

“What are you thinking about, Lao Chen?” Faced with Lin Dongyu’s question, Chen Shi came out of his daze, rubbed his nose, and said, “Nothing, I’m just too tired… Let’s split into two groups and follow along the two roads, asking around.”

There was no better option. They split up, one group inquiring at gas stations and restaurants along the way. Around noon, Lin Dongyu and Chen Shi arrived at a roadside restaurant where the staff mentioned a truck passing by last night. It was empty, with its trailer hanging loose, making a distinctive noise that the staff remembered vividly.

The truck described by the staff matched the stolen vehicle, narrowing down the search area considerably. However, it was still like finding a needle in a haystack.

The two rested at the restaurant until other officers arrived. They had only slept six hours over the past two days. Lin Dongyu had no appetite, just drinking water incessantly; her sleep-deprived body needed hydration.

“Did you two have a fight with Yueyue?” Lin Dongyu suddenly asked.

“Huh? Why do you ask?” Chen Shi stalled. There was no point in telling Lin Dongyu now; it would only add to her worries.

He put on a relaxed expression and said, “Yeah, we argued a bit. I haven’t been home these past two days, so she’s not very happy.”

“Damn Zhou Xiao, causing trouble for everyone.”

At that moment, Lin Dongyu received a call. After listening, she said, “There’s a lead on Zhou Xiao at Sili Bridge.”

“Sili Bridge isn’t far from Long’an, right?”

“Witnesses there saw them around noon—a man, a woman, and an elderly lady, driving a truck.”

“Here, the staff saw them last night. They took a detour around the suburbs and came back!?”

“What should we do?”

“Let’s go!” Chen Shi got up wearily. He felt heavy-headed and light-footed. Zhou Xiao was waging a war of attrition, constantly draining their energy and patience. Just today, a police officer had almost crashed while driving, saved only by his alert partner.

On the way, Chen Shi said, “Now that Zhou Xiao and Ling Shuang are together, who will deliver this ‘diagnosis’ to them? Are they giving up their criminal style?”

“I don’t think they will deliver it.”

“No, they will!” Chen Shi affirmed, “Zhou Xiao is paranoid, and Ling Shuang is arrogant. They both treat the police like kindergarten kids. They kidnapped Mrs. Dong, showing they still have a plan. This time is probably no different.”

“What do you think Xiao Dong’s ‘diagnosis’ will be about?”

Looking at the bleak sky outside, Chen Shi said, “Xiao Dong’s ‘illness’? I think it’s a psychological dependence. They’ll manipulate this.”

Thinking of the ordeal Xiao Dong was about to face, Lin Dongyu felt saddened. If he lost his mother, he might become a different person.

She even felt guilty. It was Liguoxiao who caused all this, her blood relative. She wished she could bear some of Xiao Dong’s pain.

Finally, at 4 pm, they arrived at Sili Bridge. Other police officers were there, waiting in a restaurant filled with cigarette smoke. Lin Dongyu was surprised why the search had stopped. Could something have happened?

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“The ‘diagnosis’ has been delivered.” A policeman took out his phone.

This time, the “diagnosis” was sent as an email to the police department’s public mailbox. The contents were as follows—

“Patient: Xiao Dong;

Gender: Male;

Age: 28;

Condition: Dependence.

Due to growing up in a single-parent household and his mother’s over-indulgence, the patient has been unable to psychologically wean himself even in adulthood. He exhibits various childish behaviors in words and actions, seeking to maintain a lively image to gain more indulgence. This childish behavior creates a gap between him and the outside world, making the family his only warm harbor, further deepening his psychological dependence on his mother, creating a vicious cycle.

Recommended treatment: Xiao Dong, face this crisis bravely and independently. Your mother is held in Wangcheng Xinyuan Phase III. Come alone to rescue her. If you play any tricks, you will find her body!”

Seeing this special “treatment plan,” Chen Shi and Lin Dongyu were shocked. Chen Shi had previously imagined that Ling Shuang might force Xiao Dong to do something against police principles, but he didn’t expect her “challenge” to be this simple!

But it was also the most difficult challenge!

“These people are crazy. They’ve told us the address. I think there’s no need to listen to them. Let’s send the SWAT team to rescue the hostage.”

“Wouldn’t that play into their hands, giving them a reason to kill the hostage?”

“Have you forgotten what happened before? The choices they gave us were never real choices. They’ve already set everything up.”

“What do you think the outcome will be?” The officer glanced at Xiao Dong but didn’t voice his thoughts.

“This is psychological warfare. Ling Shuang is adept at this. She has already predicted our choices. But I want to point out—if she wanted Xiao Dong to go alone to rescue his mother, why did she send this email to the police’s inbox? Letting all of us see it, she wants to embarrass us and we’ve been jumpy, we can’t take a step forward.”

Xiao Dong stood up and said, “Lao Chen, should I go or not?”

“You absolutely can’t go alone! My sincere belief is—defying them will end badly. Complying with them will end worse!”

“No matter what, my mother will die!” Xiao Dong’s eyes widened, tears falling.

Chen Shi couldn’t bear to lie to him again, nor could he bear to tell the truth. Mrs. Dong was like prey in a wild animal’s mouth, and she had already escaped death nine times…