Seizing Dreams

Xiao Jian caught up with the car key in hand and said, “It’ll be safe after going through this door, don’t be afraid.”

Yu Hao tried his best to calm down. Qin Guodong was currently on the phone and motioned for Yu Hao to sit down first, then said into his phone, “I’ll try to get the address as soon as possible…thank you…all right, okay…”

“What happened?” Qin Guodong said, “Explain everything in detail. If there is any further concealment, then please go back. You guys have no one else you can trust now, or you can try to resolve it by relying on your own strength.”

Yu Hao asked Chen Yekai, “Is Zhou Sheng still in the dream?”

Chen Yekai described the scene then. Yu Hao finally believed that Zhou Sheng was really caught, and that this wasn’t another dream again. Fu Liqun said, “So Ren Chong suddenly made a move and captured him. First of all, how did he know that the Golden Crow Wheel he got was a fake?”

“He placed a spy among Zhao Liang’s subordinates.” Qin Guodong said, “He has always been waiting, though I’m still not very sure what he was waiting for. But just this evening, he left the office and went to Yanqing…”

“He was waiting for us to deal with Zhao Liang.” When Chen Yekai thought of this, all his hairs stood on end. He muttered, “That’s what he was waiting for! That’s why he took action then!” Then he said anxiously, “What Ren Chong said was that he had taken over the research institute, that must be it…We miscalculated. We didn’t expect that even Zhao Liang himself was under Ren Chong’s control!”

“Damn it.” Fu Liqun said, “He’s really patient.”

Ou Qihang’s voice could be heard outside, “Let me in!”

Xiao Jian, “Aren’t there people on watch at the back door? Why did they let him in?”

Fu Liqun, “I called for him.”

“Let him in.” Qin Guodong ordered.

Ou Qihang came in with a bag on his back. He had obviously just gone to the gym, and without saying a word, he sat at one side.

Xiao Jian opened up her laptop and said, “Do you guys remember the address?”

“I can’t remember the exact location clearly anymore,” Chen Yekai said, “It’s an abandoned factory in Yanqing.”

Yu Hao described how the area looked like from what he saw in Huang Ting’s memories. Xiao Jian began typing on the keyboard to search for the place and its location.

Ou Qihang, “Why didn’t you guys inform us again?”

Chen Yekai said, “We thought we could deal with it at first! And we did solve it, we just didn’t expect Ren Chong…”

Yu Hao stood up and quietly left the conference room. For a moment, everyone’s gazes landed upon him. Yu Hao took a deep breath; his mind was all muddled, the news came so suddenly that he couldn’t snap out of his stupor for a while.

Yu Hao walked out just like that. He passed by an office desk; two of Zhou Sheng’s colleagues were rubbing their wrists. They weren’t able to stop Ou Qihang.

“You can’t leave this place.” Xiao Jian chased after him and said.

“I’m taking a breather at the back door.” Yu Hao answered.

He went to the alley at the back, took in a breath of cold air. Someone in the conference room was shouting for Xiao Jian again, so she had to head back.

Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky. Yu Hao sucked in a few mouthfuls of cold air, then sobered up again. He didn’t know why, but his mind was filled with the last words Zhou Sheng had said to him.

In the conference room.

“If it’s in Yanqing, then it’ll be easy to handle.” Xiao Jian said.

“I’ll confirm it again.” Qin Guodong said, “Ren Chong didn’t take the Golden Crow Wheel away at the very beginning. The Golden Crow Wheel has always been with you guys.”

“Yes.” Chen Yekai frowned.

Qin Guodong said, “I don’t want to play another Switch Out Plan again.”

“It has been taken away by Ren Chong now.” Chen Yekai said.

Chen Yekai rubbed his face, he was thoroughly exhausted. Although he had just woken up, he cut a very sorry state. It was dead quiet in the conference room, only the sound of Xiao Jian tapping the keyboard and clicking a mouse could be heard.

Yu Hao stood in the snow. Ou Qihang’s voice rang out behind him, “Hey, are you okay?”

Yu Hao looked back, pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Ou Qihang asked, “Wanna smoke one? I’ll go buy cigarettes. Don’t worry too much, Qin Laoshi can rescue him and Huang Ting. He’s a good person.”

Yu Hao said, “I won’t smoke.” Instead, he thought of something else and asked, “Why are you so sure that he’s a good person?”

Ou Qihang said, “Ren Chong and Zhao Liang are both students he nurtured. He couldn’t change their minds, yet he can’t do anything to them either, otherwise he wouldn’t have resigned and left. Do you not trust him? Suspect that he actually has selfish motives too and is currently waiting to stab us in the back later on?”

“Why do you know these things?” Yu Hao said.

Ou Qihang said, “He was the one in-charge of contacting the CCDI to relay the inside information of my Dad’s case ah. We’ve met before.”

Yu Hao thought that that was true, then said, “After that, was Huang Ting the one who told you about the dissolution of the Special Investigation team?”

“No.” Ou Qihang said, “After I came to Beijing for college, I went to his house just to pay him a visit; he told me himself then. At that time, he said that his ideas clashed greatly with that of Ren Chong’s and Zhao Liang’s, because of a problem regarding the jurisdiction over an important clue, but I didn’t know anything then…let alone notice that he was hinting to me that the two of them wanted the Golden Crow Wheel.”

Yu Hao, “Something like that happened?!”

Ou Qihang shrugged helplessly. “Just recalled it.”

Yu Hao said, “I believe him, because there’s no one else I can trust right now. No matter if he wants the Golden Crow Wheel, at least we have the same goal now. But since he had already hint at this to you two years ago…un.”

Ou Qihang uttered an “un” and nodded, then continued, “The two of them will be fine.”

Yu Hao knew that the ‘two’ Ou Qihang was referring to was Huang Ting and Zhou Sheng. Huang Ting is Ren Chong’s subordinate; if Ren Chong really had been waiting in the dark for a long time as he had said and took over Zhao Liang’s entire research institute, then Huang Ting should have been released by now. With Huang Ting around, then there’s at least someone playing the role of a mediator, so they shouldn’t end up falling out too badly. But when he recalled the scenes in Zhao Liang’s memories— of Zhou Sheng being tied to that chair, he could vaguely sense dread creeping up on him.

Yu Hao fell silent. He looked back at the company, Ou Qihang continued, “They’re preparing the cars. Qin Laoshi will go find Ren Chong personally to negotiate.”

Yu Hao said, “Actually, Zhou Sheng already anticipated that Ren Chong would come long ago. It just deviated a little from his plans.”

Ou Qihang frowned deeply. He wanted to say something, but reined it in. Yu Hao thought of the words Zhou Sheng last said to him in front of the Golden Crow Wheel; if everything went smoothly, what would he do next? Assist Zhou Sheng in seizing his totem back from Satan first, then like the day Yu Hao gave his totem to Zhou Sheng, make Zhou Sheng to separate a part of his totem and give it to him?

Then, Yu Hao would obtain the rights to activate the Golden Crow Wheel. However, Zhou Sheng has already been captured now, and the Golden Crow Wheel is in Ren Chong’s hands as well…Can they continue with the plan?

“What’s wrong?” Yu Hao noticed Ou Qihang’s expression.

“Nothing.” Ou Qihang shook his head.

“Is there a problem?” Yu Hao was trying to keep his calm now. He has always been different from Zhou Sheng; before Zhou Sheng’s plans succeed, he seldom revealed his ideas to anyone, but Yu Hao was really afraid that something would go wrong in this process. He observed Ou Qihang’s expression and said, “If you have something to say, please say it straight, Qihang. I’m really quite panicked right now.”

Ou Qihang began laughing instead and said, “You look pretty calm.”

“My mind’s in a mess,” Yu Hao said, “I’m on the verge of a breakdown, but there’s no use in panicking. Right now, what’s most important is to get Zhou Sheng back. Qihang, do you want to tell me something?”

“Zhou Sheng doesn’t really trust people,” Ou Qihang said, “Even his best friends.”

Yu Hao wanted to tell him that Zhou Sheng tended to think that he could solve some of the problems by himself and didn’t want to drag his friends down, especially when facing enemies like Ren Chong and Zhao Liang. However, Yu Hao had to nod and say, “He doesn’t want his friends to be in danger, but you’re right.”

Zhou Sheng has many thoughts and ideas. Yu Hao often felt that when he was with him, Zhou Sheng could already be considered to talk about everything under the sun, but what he presented to his lover was still just the tip of the iceberg. These sorts of misgivings and sense of prudence was nurtured in Zhou Sheng’s family. Zhou Sheng had always grasped a certain degree of intimacy in his heart— Chen Yekai, Huang Ting, Ou Qihang, and even Fu Liqun all regarded Zhou Sheng as a very good friend. Zhou Sheng understood how to give and reciprocate as well and faced all of them squarely. However, Yu Hao knew very clearly that in this kind of friendship, something always seemed to be missing.

Ou Qihang said, “The only one he trusts is you. But looking at your reaction today, are there many details that even you don’t know?”

“He doesn’t doubt you guys, it’s just—you guys are used to your impressions of him, but he’s actually not as brave as he looks.” Yu Hao said, “Sometimes, he’s like a child instead.”

Yu Hao didn’t answer the question. He thought of the first time he had entered the colosseum arena in Zhou Sheng’s dream and the scene he saw. Zhou Sheng also has times when he would struggle in a fight while soaked in blood, and times when he would be knocked onto the ground and get back up again because he was unwilling to give up. He had times when he would be so exhausted that he didn’t want to persevere any longer, and he also has times when Yu Hao would expose his thoughts, rub his face to stop the tears he was about to shed, and pretend that nothing happened.

“That’s how he’s like ah.” Yu Hao raised his head and looked up at the sky. Snow was still drifting down. “He looks very strong, like he isn’t afraid of anything, but he still has soft places in his heart. Qihang, he has always greatly valued his friends like you guys…” Then he looked at Ou Qihang and explained, “It’s just that he has times when he would make mistakes too, and goals he can’t accomplish by relying solely on himself…”

“So he really doesn’t need to be like that.” Ou Qihang said, “I admit that when we went to save Liqun Ge, Zhou Sheng understood him very well. I thought that perhaps he had that kind of character as well. However, when he encounters trouble, can’t he take the initiative to ask his friends for help?”

“If it were me,” Yu Hao said, “I would. But don’t forget, he’s Sun Wukong. Isn’t the Great Sage like that? He’s always only had himself, and he wouldn’t look back even if he knocks into a wall and would just use his jingubang to smash it into pieces.”

Ou Qihang and Yu Hao looked at each other quietly. Yu Hao asked, “Was that what you wanted to say?”

Ou Qihang nodded. Yu Hao said, “Thank you, Qihang.”

“Just did what I should.” Ou Qihang said with a smile.

Chen Yekai called for Yu Hao from inside. Yu Hao went in, and Qin Guodong said, “Let’s go together ba.”

Xiao Jian glanced at Yu Hao, but Qin Guodong said, “Letting him wait here is impossible. If he were to sneak over later, it would be even more troublesome if the situation goes out of control.”

Yu Hao said, “Hold on, there are still some things I have to think through clearly before I can leave. Wait for me for a while, I won’t take long.”

“I’ll help you think.” Fu Liqun said, “What is it?”

Ou Qihang watched Yu Hao’s eyes. Yu Hao pondered for a moment, then said, “Can I borrow the conference room for a moment?”

“Go to my office ba.” Qin Guodong said, “There are surveillance cameras in the office. Although I don’t know what you guys want to discuss, it’s better to avoid rousing suspicion.”

Xiao Jian opened the door. “I’ll get the car ready.”

Qin Guodong said, “Try contacting Huang Ting. He’s the one who can play the biggest role right now.”

“His pupils are in good condition.”

Someone lifted Zhou Sheng’s eyelids and shone a flashlight on his pitch dark pupils.

“Now, wake him up.” Ren Chong said.

Needles were inserted into Zhou Sheng’s arm, and a drug was injected into him. Zhou Sheng convulsed slightly for a moment, then opened his eyes, blankness evident in his gaze. Ren Chong walked to the sink at one side to wash his hands, then wiped them down.

“Thank you for helping me resolve a major concern,” Ren Chong said, “Otherwise, it’s hard to say if I could make Zhao Liang yield to me. That guy’s a tough nut to crack.”

Zhou Sheng immediately understood. He got up from the bed and flexed one of his arms. He looked down at the Golden Crow Wheel — it was still on his wrist.

“Don’t be nervous,” Ren Chong said, “I promised Qin Laoshi that I won’t do anything over the top, as long as you cooperate.”

Zhou Sheng said, “Looks like my boss is a well-regarded senior ma.” Then he turned his head sideways, and saw that on another sickbed at the side, Huang Ting was lying there unconscious.

“In a certain sense,” Ren Chong said, “Zhao Liang and I are considered his students. However, his ways are clearly outdated. You must find it really strange — why have I never caused trouble for you guys when I clearly got a fake?”

Zhou Sheng answered, “No, that’s not strange. I understood the moment you appeared. You wanted to erase Zhao Liang’s memories through me, right? What I find strange is how you found the address of my hotel.”

“As long as you register your ID at the front desk, it’ll enter the front desk system.” Ren Chong said, “I can find out with just one call. Come, I’ll take you to go see something. Can you walk? Are you hungry? You guys should have been asleep for a long while.”

“I’ll give Yu Hao a call.” Zhou Sheng answered.

—