I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 315

Su Shaoqing writhed his lips as he untied the string holding the white robe around him. "There's a cafe downstairs. Do you want to check it out, Mr. Lai?" Lai Jingdong was a bit flummoxed but he still nodded. "Sure."

The two of them came to the cafe. Su Shaoqing sat down comfortably and ordered a sugar-free Americano, whereas Lai Jingdong ordered a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. The two of them sat facing each other. Being next to Lai Jingdong whose outfit was nothing out of the ordinary, Su Shaoqing looked like an eccentric madman.

Twiddling his fingers while they waited for their drinks, Su Shaoqing made a welcoming gesture when the coffees were served. "Hmm, how tasteful of you, Mr. Lai! The Blue Mountain is indeed a special blend." Lai Jingdong spaced out for a while. Then, he picked his lower lip and asked, "Mr. Su, why did you ask me out? Do you have something to tell?"

"What if I say I have news of Pei Huan?"

At the mention of Pei Huan, Lai Jingdong's hand trembled and he almost spilled his coffee.

Lai Jingdong scrunched his brows and stared Su Shaoqing in the eyes. "What do you know? Do you have anything to do with Fu Jiaqi's disappearance?" For some reason, Lai Jingdong had an ominous feeling pooling in his heart. Yet, Lai Jingdong did not want to trust his sixth sense. At that moment, he prayed hard that what Su Shaoqing was going to tell him had nothing to with Pei Huan nor Fu Jiaqi.

Su Shaoqing wriggled his lips. "Mr. Lai, you are a smart man. You should know that I will not simply divulge secrets to anyone."

Lai Jingdong pursed his lips. "Mr. Su, please tell me!"

"Haha, alright!" Su Shaoqing chuckled as he pinched his chin. "Do you still remember what happened four years ago?"

Four years ago?

Lai Jingdong's eyes narrowed into one line as he coiled his fingers around his cup. "Are you suggesting that Fu Jiaqi was the one who made Pei Huan leave?"

"Hmm," Su Shaoqing arched one of his brows. "I didn't say so."

"Then, do you know where Fu Jiaqi is right now? Or have you been holding her hostage all this while?"

Lai Jingdong was indeed a smart man. His guess was not the least bit inaccurate. "Then, what is your purpose of seeing me today? Do you not know that Fu Jiaqi is my wife?"

"May I ask you a question, Mr. Lai? Have you ever treated Fu Jiaqi as your wife?"

Lai Jingdong took a deep breath. "Just cut to the chase, Mr. Su. What do you want me to do for you?"

Lai Jingdong knew there was no reason for a clever man like Su Shaoqing to show up just to inform Lai Jingdong that he was the one who kidnapped Fu Jiaqi. The only explanation was that Su Shaoqing needed something from Lai Jingdong.

"Awesome! Mr. Lai, it is a pleasure to work with someone as straightforward as you," Su Shaoqing said as he took out a USB drive from his pocket. "This is the actual security footage from the hospital. The one you guys saw just now has been tampered with by yours truly. At the moment, I have all the reasons to believe that Pei Huan's disappearance has something to do with Fu Jiaqi. In the past three years, even Fu Chengyan and Li Heng could not identify her whereabouts. Who do you think is responsible for this?"

"Then it's even less likely to be Fu Jiaqi." Even though Fu Jiaqi was a cruel woman, she was not capable enough to hide her tracks from Fu Chengyan and Li Heng. Lai Jingdong figured that the person who abducted Pei Huan must be someone with great power.

"Yes, I know Fu Jiaqi isn't competent enough for us to suspect her, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have someone instructing her." Su Shaoqing looked stern. "Do you not want to know where Pei Huan has been for the past three years? I remember she was pregnant before she went missing..."

Lai Jingdong's face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He clenched his fingers tightly. "Okay. I'll do whatever you want me to do."

Su Shaoqing curled his lips. "You don't have to give me an answer right away. Think of what you actually want out of this."

"It's fine. Where is Pei Huan? Bring me to her." Lai Jingdong's chest rose as he inhaled deeply. "As long as Pei Huan can return safely, I'll do whatever you want me to do!"

Su Shaoqing lifted one brow in astonishment. "Tsk, no wonder Fu Jiaqi wanted to get rid of Pei Huan so desperately. If I were in her shoes, I think I'll also do the same thing."

Lai Jingdong looked morose but Su Shaoqing still rambled on. "If Li Heng knew that his old love rival still has a thing for his wife, I think he will-"

"If I recall correctly, Pei Huan and Li Heng are no longer together." Lai Jingdong interrupted Su Shaoqing. "He was the one who chose to leave Pei Huan in the first place."

Su Shaoqing shrugged his shoulders. "I am not interested in your romance whatsoever. Let's not waste time, shall we? Since you seem to have agreed to my offer, I will bring you to her. But before that, I want you to contemplate one last time. Do you really not want anything else? For instance, you can ask for Fu Jiaqi to be completely removed from your life."

Lai Jingdong furrowed his brows. "That's my own business. I'll take care of it myself."

"Okay then!" Since Lai Jingdong had already made up his mind, Su Shaoqing didn't want to nag at him any longer; that would be pointless.

The two men left the cafe. Su Shaoqing brought Lai Jingdong to the basement of Prosperous Dynasty. It was the first time Lai Jingdong visited this section of the building. He was in awe because he never knew such a place existed. Lai Jingdong was even more surprised by the people running it.

"Master Shaoqing!"

Jiang Hu saw Su Shaoqing and ran up to him. "What are you here for?"

"Where is she?"

"She's inside." Jiang Hu glanced at the man next to Su Shaoqing warily. "Master Shaoqing, Mr. Li ordered us to not let any outsiders in. Who is this-"

"It's alright! If Li Heng knows about this, he will even thank me!" Su Shaoqing waved his hand dismissively. "How is she now?"

"Mr. Fu said as long as she's alive, she's well!" Jiang Hu pushed the doors apart. The place was instantly pervaded with a metallic smell of stale blood.

Lai Jingdong frowned. "What did you guys..." He didn't expect them to torment Fu Jiaqi in such an inhumane way, especially since he had learned that Fu Chengyan was involved in all of this just seconds ago. "Jingdong!"

Fu Jiaqi could recognize Lai Jingdong's voice from inside. Out of joy, she tried to get up on her legs, but she tripped and fell the next instant. She let out a painful groan. "Jingdong, are you here to save me? I know you won't abandon me! Come and save me! They want me dead!"

Lai Jingdong's senses were lagging when Fu Jiaqi's voice hit him. Again, Fu Jiaqi tried to stand up. "Jingdong! Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me!" Lai Jingdong responded, "I'm here to see you!" Having said that he turned to Su Shaoqing. "Could you let us have some time alone?"

Su Shaoqing flexed his shoulders. "Of course, you may."

Only after Lai Jingdong heard the doors close up behind him did he approach Fu Jiaqi and squat down in front of her.

The room was poorly lit. Lai Jingdong could not clearly see how Fu Jiaqi looked at that moment, but the smell of blood was so strong that he could imagine wounds scattering across her body. "Jingdong!"

Fu Jiaqi grabbed Lai Jingdong's hands. "Are you here to get me out of here? Please, take me away from this place as fast as you can! T-they are-"

"Fu Jiaqi." Lai Jingdong clasped his fingers around Fu Jiaqi's arms. He continued to speak, "They say you know where Pei Huan is."

Fu Jiaqi loosened her fingers in an instant. She shoved Lai Jingdong away from her. "Are you on their side? Haha! You want to know where that skank is?"

Lai Jingdong heard Fu Jiaqi's words and frowned, "So you do know where she is?"

"Hah! So what? I won't tell you anyway." For the past few days, Fu Jiaqi went through so much torture that she felt like her body was no longer hers. She couldn't believe that the first thing coming out of Lai Jingdong's mouth was about Pei Huan instead of herself. Instantly, her hatred for Pei Huan resurfaced. "Pei Huan is nothing but a wretched girl from a small town. I have no idea why she always gets everyone's attention! I am the lady of the prestigious Fu family, not her!"

"That's enough! You are crazy! Pei Huan is the direct kin of the Fu family. Your mother stole her away and left you behind in her stead. All these years, you've been taking what Pei Huan was supposed to have, but has Pei Huan ever asked you to repay her? Even when Pei Huan was reunited with the Fu family, did they kick you out? Since when have you ever been mistreated by them?"

Lai Jingdong could tell from the contorted expression on Fu Jiaqi's face that she still hated Pei Huan to the bones after all these years. Now, he found himself one more reason to believe Su Shaoqing's words. Now, Lai Jingdong was certain that Fu Jiaqi knew where Pei Huan was. In other words, he knew Fu Jiaqi was to be blamed for Pei Huan's disappearance.

"Tell me! Do you know where Pei Huan is?"

"Of course I know! How can I not? But the more you guys are worried about her, the less likely I am going to tell you guys her whereabouts," Fu Jiaqi sneered. Suddenly, she whimpered as she felt a sharp pain coming from her knee. But she continued to talk, "Why are you guys only looking for her after three years? Aren't you guys scared that Pei Huan is already dead? Hahaha, how about I let you in on a secret? She died three years ago! Hahahaha!"

"I am going to kill you!"

The door burst open. Li Heng stood at the doorway, his deadly gaze fixed on Fu Jiaqi. "If she's dead, I'll strangle both you and your mother alive!"

Li Heng walked over and placed his arm on Fu Jiaqi's arm. With one twist, he broke her arm.

"Aaaaaaah! F*ck you, Li Heng! You will die a painful death!" Fu Jiaqi's harrowing wail echoed in the room. "Hah! I still won't tell you a thing! Kill me if you dare!"

"I won't kill you, but I will make you regret being born into this world." With that said, Li Heng wrapped his fingers around Fu Jiaqi's other arm. Lai Jingdong saw the cold gleam in his eyes and hurriedly uttered, "Li Heng, stop."

Li Heng narrowed his eyes. "What now? You still have feelings for her?"

Lai Jingdong writhed her lips. "Do you not want to know Pei Huan's whereabouts? Hand her to me. Trust me, I'll make her spill the beans. Don't hurt her anymore." After all, Fu Jiaqi was still Lai Jingdong's wife he could not watch her suffer an agonizing death.

Li Heng loosened his grip on Fu Jiaqi. He glared at her, who was now sprawled on the ground. "Even if you don't tell me, I still have my ways to replace out Pei Huan's location. Your life means nothing to me." Fu Jiaqi began to tremble. Her hands were shaking as she grasped the cuff of Lai Jingdong's sleeve. "Jingdong! Jingdong!"

"Mr. Li, please head outside."

Li Heng glanced at Lai Jingdong and then Fu Jiaqi. He tucked his lips in. "How many months has it been?" Fu Jiaqi raised her head in horror. Even in the darkness, she could see the frigid gleam in Li Heng's dark eyes.

Upon noticing the apprehension on Fu Jiaqi's face, Li Heng slanted his eyes at Lai Jingdong before leaving the room.

Once the doors closed up behind Li Heng, Lai Jingdong let out a breath in relief. He helped Fu Jiaqi up and looked her in the eyes. "You know what Li Heng is capable of. Since you are my wife, I will not allow him to kill you. If you tell me where Pei Huan is, I promise to not divorce you when we go back to Jiang City."