Those specific words instantly caught Tang Qin Hao’s undivided attention. No matter where he was in the world, or how inconvenient the timing, Tang Qin Hao always took patient-related emergencies with the utmost gravity.

"They also mentioned that since Dr Tang is already here at the hotel, they brought the patient directly to the premises to meet you." The woman added, striking while the iron was hot.

"Where exactly are they waiting?" Tang Qin Hao asked, stepping forward.

"They are currently waiting in one of the private hotel rooms over in the eastern wing." The woman answered, gesturing toward the adjacent corridor.

"Bring me there immediately." Tang Qin Hao stated without hesitation.

Even though a faint sliver of suspicion crossed Tang Qin Hao’s analytical mind regarding the unusual protocol, the matter supposedly concerned a human life hanging in the balance. As a dedicated surgeon, he could not simply ignore a medical emergency to rest. Therefore, he changed his original direction and followed the swift pace of the staff member.

Meanwhile, from a secure private lounge several floors above, Angelica Lee stood rigidly beside a floor-to-ceiling window, looking out. One of her trusted security subordinates approached her quietly from behind.

"Miss Lee." The subordinate murmured, lowering his head respectfully.

Angelica Lee did not bother to turn around from the window. "Has he taken the bait?" she asked coldly.

"Yes, Miss Lee." The subordinate nodded.

"Did he suspect the setup?" Angelica Lee asked again, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass.

"It seems that he had some minor doubts because he hesitated for a brief moment before agreeing. However, his sense of duty won out, and he still followed our operative." The subordinate answered.

A highly satisfied, triumphant smile slowly appeared on Angelica Lee’s face. "Excellent."

"Everything down there has been thoroughly arranged according to your strict instructions." The subordinate assured her, lowering his head once more.

Angelica Lee gently swirled the deep red wine in her glass, watching it coat the crystal.

"Good. Make absolutely sure that no one on the conference committee notices his absence until it’s far too late." Angelica Lee stated.

"Understood, Miss Lee." The subordinate nodded.

"Leave," Angelica ordered.

The subordinate bowed deeply and silently exited the luxurious room.

Meanwhile, Tang Qin Hao followed the young woman through the labyrinthine corridors leading into the hotel’s eastern wing. The woman eventually swiped a key card and ushered Tang Qin Hao into a spacious executive room.

"Where is the patient?" Tang Qin Hao asked sharply the moment he stepped inside and noticed that the living area was completely empty and devoid of any medical equipment.

"Another representative will explain the exact details to you, Dr Tang. Please wait here for just a little while." The woman stated quickly before slipping out the door.

As if perfectly responding to Tang Qin Hao’s growing scepticism, a middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit entered through a side door. He approached Tang Qin Hao with a flawless, polite smile.

"Dr Tang, the patient experienced a sudden, severe respiratory emergency just moments ago, so we had to temporarily move him back down to our mobile medical transport. I was hoping Dr Tang could come with me down to the garage and take a look at him there." The middle-aged man stated smoothly.

Tang Qin Hao stopped and studied the man’s face carefully for several tense seconds. The middle-aged man maintained his professional, calm expression without a single flinch. Absolutely nothing appeared suspicious on the surface. After a brief, calculated pause, Tang Qin Hao gave a concise nod and agreed to follow him down.

The two of them walked briskly toward a service elevator at the end of the hall. They stepped inside and descended straight to the secluded basement level where the private parking lot was located.

When the heavy elevator doors finally slid open, Tang Qin Hao’s eyes narrowed, and a deep frown marred his face. Waiting directly outside the threshold was a formidable group of burly men dressed in matching black suits.

Before Tang Qin Hao could even think to turn around and press the elevator’s override button, he suddenly felt the unmistakable, freezing pressure of something incredibly hard and metallic pressing fiercely against the centre of his spine.

The shape was impossible to mistake. Tang Qin Hao was a brilliant man. He knew instantly that it was the barrel of a gun.

At that exact microsecond, several digital surveillance cameras overlooking the isolated basement corridor suddenly rotated away from the elevator entrance, their lenses pointing blankly at the concrete walls.

"Walk forward out of the elevator, Dr Tang. Please follow my order, otherwise... You know what will happen." The middle-aged man stated, his polite voice instantly turning cuttingly cold and menacing.

With a weapon trained directly on his vitals, Tang Qin Hao had absolutely no choice but to comply. He stepped out onto the cold concrete. The men in the black suits immediately swarmed forward, taking over from the middle-aged man. Within a matter of seconds, Tang Qin Hao’s arms were forcefully pinned behind his back, completely restraining him.

Only then did Tang Qin Hao look back at the middle-aged man’s face. The professional, courteous smile had completely vanished, replaced by an expression of pure, unbothered indifference.

"Who are you, people? What is the meaning of this?" Tang Qin Hao demanded, his voice remaining remarkably steady despite the danger.

"You have absolutely no need to know who I am." The middle-aged man replied smoothly. Then, he turned his cold gaze toward the black-suited operatives. "Bring him to the van."

The men immediately executed the order, dragging a tightly restrained Tang Qin Hao toward a waiting black vehicle with tinted windows.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***