Inside a vast golf course far from the city, in a relatively secluded spot, several people were busy moving items from a room into a minivan parked at the entrance.
Two men in camouflage stood by with their hands behind their backs.
While Lin Ying and Yan Bin were conversing at the teahouse, Lian Zijian, with a dark expression, was roaring at Li Hanlong on the phone.
"We can't wait any longer. I'm giving you three days to get the goods back."
After slamming down the phone, Lian Zijian punched the coffee table fiercely.
They had tracked the incident from that morning all the way here so quickly.
The minivan was easy to explain, but if they followed the trail, it could lead to the golf course address, and that was critical.
To be safe, they had to move the cargo temporarily, and even those 'camouflage' men had to leave first.
Thinking of this, Lian Zijian's eyes blazed, wishing he could kill Li Hanlong immediately to vent his anger.
The room from which Yan Bin had been taken was now filled with a chaotic clamor.
Li Duo'er, hands on her hips, was berating her subordinates.
"All of you shut up! Yan Bin was taken, and none of you said a word. What's the use of arguing now?"
"All hindsight. If you have the guts, go take them down."
The seven or eight subordinates exchanged glances and immediately fell silent.
However, the communication in their eyes was incredibly rich.
'Easy for you to say. Who can afford to mess with those guys? Otherwise, we wouldn't be locked up here.'
'Aren't you, the young lady, also locked up here like us?'
'Even Boss Li Hanlong left after hitting you. What's the point of taking it out on us?'
The darting glances of the subordinates, combined with their expressions, revealed everything they were thinking but dared not say.
Li Duo'er finished speaking hatefully and turned to sit on the sofa, still panting.
She understood the meaning behind their expressions.
She was a carefree, straightforward girl, without guile or scheme, but not unintelligent.
But that didn't matter. They were all here for the money, and as long as they didn't annoy her, it was fine.
Expecting them to treat her like Yan Bin did, as a genuine confidante, was impossible.
Human hearts were the most susceptible to tests in the world.
"Calm down. You're only making things worse like this."
"We'll ask when they come. Don't rush."
Li Chonglou stood up and moved closer to Li Duo'er.
Since Yan Bin was taken, Li Chonglou had been capitalizing on Li Duo'er's worry for Yan Bin, and the doubts and whispers of the subordinates, to escalate the emotions about the potential serious consequences of this matter.
This had also somewhat reduced the tension from the previous brawl.
This was precisely the effect Li Chonglou desired – to ignite their emotions.
With no way out at the moment, creating some commotion might yield unexpected results.
Li Duo'er nodded obediently.
Li Duo'er, who always commanded attention from men, inexplicably showed no trace of her usual arrogance towards Li Chonglou.
It was a very subtle feeling; she couldn't quite explain why. The feeling just flowed naturally.
"Shh, they're here."
Li Chonglou, already by the door, made a gesture.
As usual, the door opened at mealtime, but this time, only two people came.
Li Duo'er jumped up without hesitation and rushed to the door.
The subordinates in the room also flocked towards it.
"Wait a minute! Where did you take Yan Bin?"
Before the newcomers could put down the food boxes, Li Duo'er loudly questioned them.
The two who had set down the food boxes frowned, looking at the crowd surrounding them.
They exchanged glances, seemingly taken aback.
But they didn't answer and were about to turn away.
Li Chonglou was slightly surprised by the change in the newcomers, but there was no time to ponder. He quickly grabbed the back of their necks as they turned and dragged them into the room.
"Help out! What are you standing there for?"
Li Chonglou shouted at Li Duo'er and her subordinates, who were momentarily stunned by his sudden action.
The subordinates, after a brief pause, simultaneously lunged forward.
Li Duo'er, however, ran towards the exit.
After quickly incapacitating the two men, Li Chonglou didn't have time to figure out why they had almost no combat ability.
He also hurried towards the door.
Just as Li Chonglou, his subordinates, and Xiao Qiang, who had just begun to react, reached the corner of the corridor outside the main door.
A long gun barrel was pointed at them.
Four men in camouflage, armed with firearms, their faces expressionless, forced Li Chonglou and his group to retreat step by step.
One of them even pressed the muzzle of the gun against Li Chonglou's forehead.
After closing the room door and taking away the two who delivered the food boxes, Li Chonglou realized that Li Duo'er was nowhere to be seen.
Li Duo'er, who had sprinted out the door, was trembling. She had walked this path many times. Before her freedom of movement was restricted, she remembered it clearly.
Fortunately, she was familiar with the layout, and she had run in time. A moment later, she would have been captured and brought back like them.
Li Duo'er patted her chest, still shaken. m..oΓg
As Li Duo'er's heart was still pounding, she suddenly saw more than a dozen 'camouflage' men get into three cars outside the room they had just left, and drive away in a hurry.
She shrank back, continuing to crouch beneath the slope behind the building, and wondered why they weren't looking for her.
It seemed they had more important matters. What was going on?
Mustering some courage, she peeked out again. Seeing no one returning and no one else in sight, Li Duo'er cautiously crept towards the main exit.
At the same time, in Qinzhou.
Jiang Yuxin, after days of fluctuating emotions, finally reported to the police out of worry.
Li Chonglou was missing!
Lü Yunxu had already gone to Yongan and reported that there had been no news of Li Chonglou.
This made Jiang Yuxin's unease grow overwhelming.
After doing this, she went to the hospital, to the room of Li Chonglou's mother, Zheng Xiumei.
"Godmother, sister-in-law, you two talk. I'll go out for a bit."
Xu Lie, not wanting to interrupt their conversation, excused himself and went to the restroom.
Since the two people who had appeared in the ward last time were repelled by Xu Lie, there had been no further trouble for Zheng Xiumei, and Jiang Yuxin often came to visit.
"Yuxin, I know you're upset, but don't come so late in the future. It's not safe for a girl."
"Sigh, I wonder what Chonglou is so busy with."
Zheng Xiumei looked at the weary-looking Jiang Yuxin with concern and helplessness.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm going to Yongan tomorrow."
"Chonglou has been a bit busy lately, but he'll be back soon. You don't need to worry."
"If you need anything, have Xu Lie call me. Just focus on recuperating."
Jiang Yuxin couldn't bear to tell Zheng Xiumei about Li Chonglou's disappearance, while Zheng Xiumei knew very well that her son was likely in trouble. However, neither wanted to worry the other, so they didn't explicitly say it.
Xu Lie, returning from the restroom outside the ward, did not go in.
Perhaps the recent peace had reduced Xu Lie's vigilance. Just as he was standing in the corridor outside the ward as before, waiting for them to finish their conversation before going in, the ward was already empty.