Chapter 496
Although Professor Meng thought he had placed the right bet.
But a gamble is a gamble, and until the last moment, no one knows the real outcome.
There's a possibility that what Bai Yulan played for him was just a recording.
So, Professor Meng suffered from insomnia again, only falling into a drowsy sleep at dawn, but he was startled awake soon after, fearing he had missed the time.
But when he checked the time, it was only six in the morning.
He didn't choose to continue sleeping but got out of bed directly.
Even though he still felt very sleepy, it was unlikely he'd be able to fall back asleep.
Every minute and every second now was a form of torment for him.
He made himself breakfast but didn't eat a bite. He absentmindedly cooked an egg, something he prepared for Little Shi every day, but upon realizing it, he sighed and slipped the cooked egg into his pocket.
Then he sat on the wicker chair in the room, looking out through the old window at the bright sky outside.
It was just like that year when the doctor told him his son's surgery would cost eight hundred thousand. He sat here too, staring blankly at the sky, completely at a loss for what the future held.
"What you owe must be repaid sooner or later."
Professor Meng murmured softly to himself.
He knew Bai Yulan surely wanted more than just getting back the eight hundred thousand; besides, Bai Yulan didn't lack money at all.
She was seeking revenge, wanting his life.
Yet Professor Meng didn't feel afraid. If she wanted his life, she could take it, as long as Little Shi wasn't harmed.
Professor Meng didn't call his son to leave any final words. Instead, he sat there until after nine o'clock before finally taking the money and heading out.
The reason he left close to nine was because Changhe Park wasn't far. He hailed a cab and arrived in about ten minutes.
When he reached the appointed spot, there were still about ten minutes to go.
Half Moon Bridge is an arch bridge, shaped like a half moon, with narrow and somewhat steep steps, requiring many elderly people to hold the stone railing beside them to cross.
Professor Meng held onto the stone railing as he climbed up the bridge, surveying his surroundings. Nearly half of Changhe Park was within view.
He watched the pedestrians strolling along the lake, the residents exercising, everyone appearing to be Bai Yulan, yet not Bai Yulan.
He waited anxiously, frequently checking his phone, expecting a call and also keeping track of time.
As time ticked by, Professor Meng's heart sank into the depths. Just then, his phone rang, so he hurried to answer.
He impatiently questioned: "I'm already here, and I've brought the money; where are you?"
"Don't worry. Take the money to Changhong Science and Technology Hall now."
After Bai Yulan finished speaking, she immediately hung up.
Professor Meng quickly dialed back, but found the phone was turned off, so he had no choice but to take the money and rush to Changhong Science and Technology Hall.
Officer Ye, who had been monitoring Professor Meng, hurriedly followed.
Thus, throughout the morning, Professor Meng was manipulated by Bai Yulan, running in circles.
He changed locations within the city more than a dozen times, and by around three in the afternoon, Professor Meng was on the verge of collapse.
"What do you want exactly? Just say it directly. If you want money, take it quickly. If you want my life, say so now, and I'll rush into the street immediately…" Professor Meng yelled into the phone.
But on the other end, Bai Yulan merely laughed softly.
A laugh filled with extreme delight, yet indescribably sour.
"Do you want to see me?"
"Yes, I want to see you, anything is okay, you can do whatever you want with me, just spare Little Shi."
"You know where I am, don't you?" Bai Yulan retorted.
Professor Meng froze upon hearing this, then realized with full regret.
Eye for an eye, Bai Yulan was out for revenge. Naturally, she would be where her daughter had the accident.
So, Professor Meng immediately called a cab and headed towards Wangchun Ridge.
Officer Ye, following behind, gradually realized where Professor Meng was heading, quickly caught on, and overtook his car, rushing to Wangchun Ridge ahead of time.
What Officer Ye didn't know was that just on the road to Wangchun Ridge, Professor Meng received another call from Bai Yulan.
The road to Wangchun Ridge was scarcely populated, which was something Professor Meng had carefully chosen back then.
Upon arriving at the foot of Wangchun Ridge, Officer Ye saw a car parked far by the roadside. He hurriedly stopped his vehicle and peered inside, finding it empty. Without further thought, he proceeded along the mountain path, climbing towards Wangchun Ridge.
While climbing, he shouted loudly.
"Bai Yulan, don't do anything foolish, now that we've found the culprit, we, the police, will give you justice…"
He didn't know that on a peak beside Wangchun Ridge, Bai Yulan was quietly observing the scene.
And beside her, at the edge of a cliff, was a person hanging precariously, looking extremely dangerous.
Behind her, Professor Meng was laboriously climbing upward.
It turned out Bai Yulan had long noticed Officer Ye's surveillance of Professor Meng, so she had used this to lead him away, avoiding interference in her plan for revenge.
"I'm here, I'm here…"
Professor Meng, an elderly man, with his heavy bag of money, was exhausted by the time he climbed to the top.
Hearing his voice, Bai Yulan turned around, revealing herself clad in a yellow raincoat, wearing a mask resembling Sun Wukong, just like how Professor Meng dressed up back then; the only difference was, it wasn't raining today.
"The money, the money is here, please just release Little Shi." Professor Meng pleaded desperately.
"Release her? I pleaded with you back then, why didn't you release my daughter?" Bai Yulan questioned sternly.
She then took a step forward, making the rope she was stepping on quickly drop downward.
From below the cliff came the cries of Meng Shishi.
"Grandpa… sob sob sob…"
"No, don't." Professor Meng felt his heart wrenching at the sound.
Bai Yulan stepped on the rope again but then pulled out a knife, placing it against the rope.
"What would it take for you to let Little Shi go? Yulan, I really had no choice back then; Xiao Jun's surgery required eight hundred thousand, and I was at my wit's end. Xinyi was purely an accident; I never intended to kill her…" Professor Meng knelt on the ground, begging bitterly, but Bai Yulan didn't listen to his explanation and began to cut the rope.
"No, don't, I beg you, I beg you, what do you want?"
"Jump down." Bai Yulan replied coldly.
"What would it take for you to let Little Shi go? Yulan, I really had no choice back then; Xiao Jun's surgery required eight hundred thousand, and I was at my wit's end. Xinyi was purely an accident; I never intended to kill her…" Professor Meng knelt on the ground, begging bitterly, but Bai Yulan didn't listen to his explanation and began to cut the rope.
"No, don't, I beg you, I beg you, what do you want?"
"Jump down." Bai Yulan replied coldly.