Chapter 85: The Director’s Stage

“Lin Qing, your body is too stiff. Try to relax a little.”

After leaving home, Su Yao walked beside Lin Qing, suddenly speaking with a suppressed chuckle.

It was just catching someone; there was no need to be so tense.

When Lin Qing heard this, his steps faltered. After taking a deep breath, his tense body immediately relaxed, becoming a little lighter.

He quickly returned to his usual demeanor.

It was as if the person who had been tense moments ago wasn’t him, but someone else entirely.

Su Yao watched Lin Qing, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes as she observed his swift change in mood. Yet, she kept her expression neutral, maintaining their original pace as they continued forward together.

For an ordinary person, even knowing that tension is detrimental, it’s impossible to instantly control such emotions.

Only when a situation reaches its conclusion, or fully resolves, does the persistent feeling of nervousness finally dissipate.

However, Lin Qing could seemingly control his emotions at will, which was peculiar.

Especially for an ordinary high school student.

It was far from normal.

Still, considering the many unsolved mysteries surrounding Lin Qing, she found herself unsurprised.

‘She just had to get used to it.’

For now, her focus remained on the present, for a grand spectacle was about to unfold.

On the vast stage, the arranged actors were already in position, awaiting only the director’s command for the show to begin.

Su Yao was precisely that director, holding the switch that would set everything in motion.

She merely waited for the opportune moment.

The thought of finally having her wish granted sent Su Yao’s heart into a rapid frenzy. Excitement flushed her cheeks with a delicate pink, and her glistening dark eyes shimmered with anticipation.

Her breathing grew quick and shallow.

Yet, her formidable self-control allowed Su Yao to swiftly conceal every trace of it.

She returned to her usual composure.

Lifting her gaze, she looked ahead, recalling her earlier deductions. If Wang Fanran truly intended to act, he would undoubtedly choose the corner near the community’s garbage collection point.

Although the recycling area had surveillance cameras, their indicator lights were not illuminated.

This signaled they were currently out of order.

Many residents passed through the community daily, yet no one seemed to have noticed the cameras were no longer functioning.

Even with dog thieves rampant in the community and numerous reports made to property management, they hadn’t taken the matter seriously. After all, it was just a lost dog, not a lost person.

‘The collected property fees were remitted; there was no need to be overly diligent.’

‘And there was no extra money to be gained.’

Even the police, after receiving calls, merely came to investigate, stated that the incidents were on record, and then—nothing. Their efforts vanished like a stone sinking into the sea.

It was precisely for this reason that the more discerning residents of the community decided to take matters into their own hands and apprehend the dog thieves themselves.

Lost in these thoughts, Su Yao observed the corner ahead. The iron fence separating their community from the adjacent one had been damaged, with four or five bars broken, creating a ready-made ‘door’ before her eyes.

She then noticed an electric tricycle, illegally parked, which hadn’t been there yesterday. A few children played on the lawn, their movements unnaturally stiff as they handled their toys, their gazes frequently darting towards Su Yao and Lin Qing.

Normally, weekends would see many people out, yet this corner, apart from the few children, was deserted.

It hinted at something out of the ordinary.

Upon seeing this, Su Yao immediately deciphered Wang Fanran’s plan: nothing more than using these children to distract them, allowing someone hidden in the tricycle to snatch the dog and escape through the broken iron fence.

‘Such easily deceived children, unaware of good or evil, could be readily bought with a few candies and some money.’

‘She had expected Wang Fanran to create chaos in a crowded area. Now it seemed he was merely resorting to petty tricks.’

‘He didn’t want to draw too much attention.’

However, considering Wang Fanran’s physique, he was clearly not part of *this* particular plan.

‘What a pity, then.’

‘This plan was doomed to fail.’

‘Because it hadn’t lured out Wang Fanran himself. Su Yao had initially thought that given Wang Fanran’s resentment towards Lin Qing, he might seize this opportunity for revenge.’

‘After all, Wang Fanran wasn’t a clever man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up in his current predicament.’

‘She wondered if he was hiding behind the scenes simply because he hadn’t found an opportune moment to strike.’

‘Well, she would just have to disrupt his plan herself!’

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Su Yao bent down and patted Shirley’s head. Discreetly, she loosened the leash, and as Shirley turned, panting with her tongue out, Su Yao smiled and made a gesture for it to run.

She pointed in a specific direction.

The next moment, Shirley joyfully broke free, darting forward with surprising speed.

“Oh my goodness, why did the leash come loose? Lin Qing, quickly, chase after it!”

Just then, Su Yao, feigning a look of surprise, quickly raised her hand and patted Lin Qing’s arm, urging him to chase after the dog.

Seeing the children ahead startled by Shirley, Lin Qing had no time for further thought. He immediately set off, pursuing the fleeing dog.

While Lin Qing’s physical strength didn’t match Su Yao’s, his agility was remarkably impressive.

Su Yao, still feigning panic, maintained a leisurely pace. As she passed the illegally parked tricycle, she noticed the tightly secured tarpaulin covering it, and a hint of mockery involuntarily touched her lips.

Without another glance, Su Yao picked up her pace, heading towards where Shirley had gone.

‘Since they had decided to steal a dog, they wouldn’t leave empty-handed.’

‘To that end, Su Yao had given him a subtle push, hoping he wouldn’t disappoint her.’

Su Yao looked up at Lin Qing, who was still chasing the dog ahead. He was quite a distance from her, but steadily closing in on Shirley.

Given that Shirley, having received its command, wouldn’t hold back, it was clear just how fast Lin Qing truly was.

However, the surroundings were deserted, and Lin Qing was now far ahead of her.

An unforeseen event.

It often chose moments like these to strike.

“Shirley, stop!”

Unaware that Shirley’s escape was entirely Su Yao’s doing, Lin Qing’s breathing grew ragged. Seeing Shirley so close, he quickly calculated the distance, then gritted his teeth and lunged directly at the dog.

He managed to seize Shirley’s head, tumbling onto the nearby grass.

Fortunately, neither the boy nor the dog was injured.

Just as Lin Qing was about to check on Shirley, a sudden pain shot through his calf. Then, Wang Fanran burst out from an unknown hiding spot, launching a furious series of kicks at Lin Qing’s leg.

His laughter was chilling, carrying a distinct note of vindictive satisfaction.

Even though Wang Fanran wore a hat and a mask, his familiar, corpulent figure was impossible to conceal.

Lin Qing’s eyes narrowed. While the attack was somewhat sudden, his ‘lure the snake out of its hole’ plan had succeeded.

Now, it was his turn.

Ignoring Wang Fanran’s kicks, Lin Qing swiftly reached up and pinched the Achilles tendon of one of his assailant’s feet. As Wang Fanran cried out in pain, his assault immediately ceased.

Lin Qing seized the moment, quickly rising to his feet and delivering a powerful punch squarely to Wang Fanran’s stomach.

Wang Fanran’s face immediately contorted in agony, his features twisting together. He clutched his aching abdomen, stumbling backward, unable to suppress dry retching sounds.

Witnessing this, Lin Qing’s assault did not falter; he continued to target the body’s vulnerable points.

In Lin Qing’s experience, petty skirmishes like this with Wang Fanran were merely child’s play, incomparable to fighting for one’s life.

Ultimately, Wang Fanran was just an ordinary person.

No matter how many dogs Wang Fanran stole, without having faced life-or-death situations, he was only capable of petty schemes.

In a crucial moment, he couldn’t protect himself.

It was precisely for this reason that Lin Qing could turn the tables with such effortless ease.

Wang Fanran’s failure to take him seriously had been his first fatal mistake.

Now utterly incapable of resistance, Wang Fanran found himself hoisted by his collar. With an icy gaze, Lin Qing effortlessly lifted Wang Fanran’s upper body clear off the ground.

A sense of dread filled Wang Fanran. ‘He never expected Lin Qing to be such a formidable fighter!’

“Wang Fanran, we finally meet.”