Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 102: I Want To Be Free

The staff members in Phoenix Ablaze were divided into two categories; the ordinary ones who served on the bar, and the special ones who were responsible for the VIPs. Of course, the latter would have to go through a stringent background check and meticulous training before they could go on duty. Owing to the VIP guests’ playing style which could sometimes get a little too wild, they were already accustomed to seeing and ignoring everything, starting from the fantastic, miserable, laughable to the bizarre sight.

The one sitting in front of Li Zhi was included in the second category, named Qin Zhen. He was a thirty six years old Beta who had been working in Phoenix Ablaze for nearly eight years. Toward the unique trait of Li Mingzhao who preferred to bring in minors, he knew quite well compared to others because he had been tasked to clean the aftermath a few times before.

Li Zhi placed Zhao Xinya’s photo on the table and pushed it toward him. "Do you know her?"

Qin Zhen’s face was still a little pale, presumably having gotten a fright from sitting inside the interrogation room for the first time in his life. When he glanced down and saw Miss Zhao’s black and white photograph, his complexion became even paler. "Y–Yes..." he squeezed out weakly. "I know her..."

—If only Su Xieren was here, then he would be able to testify that this man surnamed Qin was the one whom he had seen walking arm in arm with Zhao Xinya in the shopping district... the so-called new boyfriend of hers.

"What’s your relationship with her?"

Qin Zhen fidgeted on his seat, clearly nervous and apprehensive. But in the end, he still answered honestly, "T–There’s no special relationship to speak of. I only... helped her escape once."

Li Zhi’s eyes narrowed sharply. "From Li Mingzhao?"

Qin Zhen gave a jerky nod.

"Tell me everything you know about Zhao Xinya and Li Mingzhao, and also what has transpired that day."

Li Mingzhao was an old VIP of Phoenix Ablaze. Because of his close relationship with the owner of Phoenix Ablaze, the staff members tended to turn a blind eye no matter what kind of shenanigans he was up to. Actually, every staff member had one or two secrets to speak of regarding the VIPs, but it was just the matter of whether they dared to do it or not.

As for Qin Zhen... he had a hunch that Li Mingzhao had been targeting him ever since that day he let Zhao Xinya escape. It was only because he was under the protection of Phoenix Ablaze that Li Mingzhao did not dare to touch him. However, this protection was very flimsy and would not last forever. That’s why he had to take this advantage to strike Li Mingzhao when he was down and get rid of him once and for all!

"I remembered that Christmas was around the corner..." Qin Zhen started to speak, his gaze turning unfocused as if he was seeing something through Li Zhi. "I heard some rumors that Boss Li has bought someone again. At first, I assumed that it would be another minor just like any other time, but it turned out... that person was Miss Zhao Xinya."

"Wait," Li Zhi cut him off. "So you’re saying that... Li Mingzhao bought Zhao Xinya?"

"N–No, actually, I am not too clear about that matter either." Qin Zhen scratched his head, confused. "As I said, it’s just a rumor amongst the staff members. I was relieved that it was not a minor, so I didn’t think too much of it. But then... I started to realize that something was off. Miss Zhao did not seem like a willing party. To be exact, it looked like she was... drugged."

***

Qin Zhen received the order from the manager to prepare Boss Li’s room as usual and hence, he started to do his job. Vacuuming the floor, changing the bedsheets, restocking the toys and lubrication in the cabinet... it was the usual routine. Alas, just as he was heading out, the door suddenly slammed open and Li Mingzhao came in with a disheveled-looking woman.

Shocked, Qin Zhen only had the time to register that it was an adult this time before he hastily lowered his head. "My apologies, Boss Li! I will leave the room for you as soon as—"

"Wait." Li Mingzhao suddenly said.

Qin Zhen clamped his mouth shut and stood on the corner, politely keeping his eyes to the floor and awaiting any future orders.

Li Mingzhao hauled the woman into the room and tossed her carelessly on the sofa. Then he groaned and rotated his sore shoulders. "You’re the one surnamed Qin who usually cleans up after me, right?"

"Yes, sir..."

"Keep an eye on her for me." Li Mingzhao pointed at the limp woman, his lips stretched out into a malicious grin. "Make sure that she doesn’t run away. I have had a lot of difficulty catching this little mouse who ran away from me all those years ago..."

Qin Zhen was trained not to be a busybody in any VIP’s business. As such, no matter how many questions were swirling in his mind, he still nodded. "Yes, sir. Don’t worry, I will keep an eye on her."

Satisfied, Li Mingzhao strolled deeper into the room and in the next moment, there was the sound of the bathroom door closing followed by shower running. Only then did Qin Zhen dare to let out a long sigh of relief.

At first, he was planning to just stand there to guard the door. After all, it would also be considered preventing the woman from running away, right? He knew that some VIPs would be unreasonably protective toward their ’prey’, especially an Alpha like Li Mingzhao. As such, he did not dare to get close to Miss Zhao at all for fear that he would be innocently implicated.

But then... his plan went haywire when the woman started to grunt and moan in pain.

Qin Zhen’s ears twitched, but he resisted the urge to look over and trained his gaze somewhere on the floor.

"H–Help me..." a weak sob. "I beg you... please..."

Qin Zhen was not going to go over and screw himself. Just as he was giving himself another prep talk, there was a loud thud coming from the sofa. Entirely by reflex, he whipped his head up and his eyes flew wide in shock when he saw that the woman had somehow fallen to the ground and was crawling her way toward him. If this went on, she would be hurt!

Qin Zhen cautiously weighed his choices and finally moved to offer a hand toward her. He had an extremely troubled look on his face as he whispered, "Miss, please don’t be unreasonable—" In the next second, he abruptly choked on his words because Miss Zhao suddenly reached out to grab his arm, so tight that her nails left a series of red trails down his skin.

Qin Zhen glanced at the bathroom door and saw that Li Mingzhao was still showering, then he finally helped Zhao Xinya up with a nervous and apprehensive demeanor. "Miss, I’m truly sorry but..."

Upon closer look, he belatedly realized that the woman’s cheeks were unnaturally flushed, and beads of cold sweat were running down her face. There was already an ugly bruise forming on her cheek, it was evident who had inflicted it on her. In spite of that, her eyes were startlingly bright and sharp, catching Qin Zhen off guard.

The woman spat out through chattering teeth. "I have... evidence. That bastard will go to hell... I will make sure of that! Please... let me go out! Let me go out! I want to be free..." As she spoke, fat droplets of tears started to slide down her pale cheeks, making her look particularly feeble and delicate.

"This..."

Seeing that Qin Zhen was still hesitant, the woman gripped him tighter and her gaze gained a hint of crazed glint. "You have also been sick of him, right? Ask your conscience... Can you keep watching him harm one innocent person after another? Can you?! I have had enough...!" She gritted her teeth, and extreme hatred and disgust flared out of her beautiful eyes. "I truly have had enough! Even if I have to die... I won’t let anyone have the same fate as me! I will end this nightmare once and for all!"

***

Qin Zhen let out a trembling laugh and rubbed his face. "I was moved by her words..."

"Then you let her go? How?"

He pursed his lips, brushed away the hair in front of his forehead to reveal a two-inches long scar across his temple. "I showed her the way out and then... I returned to the room and slammed the vase on my own forehead. I told Boss Li that Miss Zhao had caught me off guard and attacked me. See, I still have the scars from that time."

Li Zhi glanced at the one-way mirror. Even if he did not say anything, the officers in the monitoring room knew what he wanted. One person went out to check the truth of this matter as well as investigate the hospital Qin Zhen had gone to.

"But then... I never expected that she would truly die..." Qin Zhen buried his face into his palms, his shoulders trembling ever so slightly. "Li Mingzhao, that bastard, is really inhumane!"

Li Zhi tapped his fingers on the table. He did not give Qin Zhen any chance to stabilize his emotion before throwing another question. "We have not given an official statement regarding Miss Zhao’s status yet. How are you so sure that she has died?" His eyes were deep and meaningful as he scrutinized the Beta in front of him.

"Ah...?" Qin Zhen was startled, and a brief panic flashed through his eyes.