Risking Personal Safety

Just as he decided to say nothing, the phone rang again. Xiao Zhang nervously tugged at his hair before pressing the answer button. "Brother Shen."

"What is it?" Shen Yijue raised a hand, signaling the director to wait a moment.

The director smiled and flashed an OK gesture.

Although Shen Yijue's personality was a bit aloof, his work attitude had always been diligent and earnest. If he was being delayed, it must be something of utmost importance.

"Uh?" Xiao Zhang hesitated. Considering that this matter was indeed serious, failing to report it to Brother Shen would likely result in severe consequences later.

"Brother Shen, Mo Qi has been kidnapped."

"What?" Shen Yijue asked in a deep voice.

Makeup artist CC, who had just stepped forward, saw the sudden, chilling gloom on Shen Yijue's face and wisely backed away in silence.

Xiao Zhang briefly recounted how the crew had encountered the mudslide and how Mo Qi had gone to help the wolf cub. There was no sound from the other end of the line, making Xiao Zhang's heart leap into his throat. "The situation was unclear at the time; I shouldn't have let Mo Qi go alone. This is my dereliction of duty, both personally and professionally. I am willing to accept any punishment when I get back."

"What did the kidnappers say when they contacted you? How much is the ransom?"

"It wasn't the kidnappers, Mo Qi contacted me," Xiao Zhang said. "Brother Shen, do you remember the nurse at the Changle County Hospital who changed your dressing? She's the one who kidnapped Mo Qi. Mo Qi suspects she has mental issues, and she is very likely a psychiatric patient."

"What did Mo Qi tell you to do?" Shen Yijue's eyes narrowed slightly, brewing a tempest of unknown fury. Seeing him like this, even the director didn't dare to approach him.

"Mo Qi told me to tail that nurse, then notify the Changle County police, and only take action to arrest her when I receive further instructions."

"Call the police immediately and have her arrested."

"Brother Shen, we don't know where Mo Qi is being held. Arresting her like this without evidence won't work," Xiao Zhang said.

"Absurd!" Shen Yijue's expression at that moment was the calm before the storm. Mo Qi was using herself entirely as bait. Facing someone mentally unstable, any kind of emergency could happen; what she was doing was far too dangerous.

"Brother Shen." Xiao Zhang was actually very worried as well, but he was willing to believe that Mo Qi could handle the situation properly. Hesitating for a moment, Xiao Zhang continued, "Perhaps we can trust Mo Qi a little more."

There was silence on the other end of the line. Xiao Zhang quickly explained, "That nurse usually looks no different from a normal person. If we arrest her like this without evidence, even if she's sent to a psychiatric hospital for examination, nothing will likely be found. By then, startling the snake in the grass will only make her more vigilant, posing a potential threat to Mo Qi."

Shen Yijue furrowed his brow slightly, and after a long while, he said, "Do as Mo Qi says. I'm on my way."

"Alright."

Hanging up the phone, Xiao Zhang let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Xi Miaomiao walked over, looking at him with nervous concern. "Brother Xiao Zhang, is there still no news of Sister Mo Qi?"

Xiao Zhang shook his head and said, "Miaomiao, help me keep an eye on that nurse and don't let her leave the crew. I'm going to discuss with Director Tang how to search for Mo Qi."

"Okay, go ahead." Although Xi Miaomiao didn't understand why she needed to watch the nurse, she still followed Xiao Zhang's instructions and kept the nurse firmly within her sight.

Tang Bin had just finished negotiating with the forest park administrator. The administrator agreed to let them keep the cameras to continue filming the wolves' lifestyle, but the people had to leave.

This mudslide had come suddenly. Fortunately, the night shift staff discovered it early, and none of the crew members or actors suffered casualties, though a fair amount of filming equipment had been lost.

Tang Bin was arranging the crew's evacuation plan with the assistant director and the producer. Seeing Xiao Zhang approaching, he waved his hand, signaling the assistant director and producer to go make the arrangements.

After the two left, Xiao Zhang said, "Director Tang, Mo Qi just called back."

"Where is she? I'll arrange for someone to pick her up immediately."

Instead of answering, Xiao Zhang asked, "Director Tang, do you know if there is an abandoned textile warehouse in the forest park or nearby?"

"An abandoned warehouse?" Tang Bin frowned in thought before confirming, "There definitely isn't one inside the forest park, but our crew didn't scout the surrounding area beforehand. I'll call the forest park administrator to ask; maybe he knows."

Xiao Zhang nodded. Tang Bin dialed the landline in the administrator's office, and the call went through smoothly.

"Hello? This is the Changle County Natural Forest Park Management Office. Who are you looking for?"

"I'd like to ask, do you know where there is an abandoned warehouse near the forest park?"

Recognizing Tang Bin's voice, the administrator immediately frowned and said, "Why are you asking about that? Didn't we already reach an agreement? Are you still planning to stay and keep filming?"

Hearing this, Tang Bin knew there was a chance. "You misunderstood. I just heard that there is such a warehouse, so I'm asking out of curiosity and want to take a look."

"There is one, not far from the west exit of the park," the administrator said. "However, that place has been abandoned for a long time. It's overgrown with weeds and nothing much to see. I advise you not to go, so you don't waste your time."

"Ha-ha, you probably don't know this, but people in the movie business need to walk around and look for inspiration. Could you please help us lead the way? Of course, I will compensate you."

The prospect of making money clearly swayed the administrator. "Fine, I'll wait for you at the park entrance. There's a paved path from here that's faster than going over the mountain."

"Great, we'll be right down." Tang Bin hung up the phone and looked at Xiao Zhang. "Can you tell me now? Is Mo Qi over there?"

Xiao Zhang no longer hid it. "Yes. Mo Qi was kidnapped and is locked up over there."

"Kidnapped?" Tang Bin frowned. "I'm calling the police right now."

"You can, but Mo Qi asked us not to alert the enemy for now. We just need to ambush outside the warehouse and wait for her signal before going in to rescue her."

"Why?" Tang Bin was somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Zhang shrugged; he didn't understand why Mo Qi insisted on doing this either. Was there some other hidden reason why she had to deal with that nurse?

Tang Bin frowned at Xiao Zhang, and realizing he genuinely didn't know rather than intentionally hiding anything, he picked up his phone to call the police.

After a brief explanation, the police stated they would arrive as quickly as possible.

Unable to hear the conversation on the phone, Xiao Zhang couldn't help asking, "What did the police say?"

"They'll get here as fast as they can. Let's go wait at the park entrance first," Tang Bin said, putting away his phone.

"I need to keep an eye on someone and can't leave," Xiao Zhang said, his earnest expression tinged with a plea. "Director Tang, I'm leaving Mo Qi's safety in your hands."

"You've been by Heavenly King Shen's side for a few years, and while you haven't learned much else, you've mastered playing mind games to perfection. Even now, you still refuse to tell me the truth." Tang Bin snorted coldly, turned around, and called his assistant over to give instructions.

Xiao Zhang didn't mind the sarcasm and walked back on his own.

Xi Miaomiao hurried over, her eyes red, looking as though she was about to cry.

Xiao Zhang's heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition arose spontaneously.

Sure enough, Xi Miaomiao said, "Brother Xiao Zhang, the nurse is gone."