Chapter 49: Striking Back

Page 1 of 3

"Heh, you don't believe me? Want a video call?"
"We're not stupid. If we show our faces, our location will be exposed. Here's the deal: if you want to save this woman, figure out a way to transfer a hundred million to this account right now! If by this time tomorrow I can't get the money, the hostage dies."
"Fine, that's a minor detail. But if anything happens to her, I'll make sure you share her fate."

His voice was not loud, but it was colder than the ebony wood around him.

The kidnappers hadn't expected this. They were aiming for tens of millions, casually asked for a hundred, and the other side brushed it off as a trifle.

Maybe they should have asked for more!

This was more than their employer had promised.

Just as one of the kidnappers turned with his gun, he saw that two people had broken free from their ropes and were running! Their figures were still visible!

They'd thought that with guns in hand and two college students tied up, the hostages would be helpless. But their attention had been distracted by the wood and the phone, and now the hostages were fleeing!

"After them!"

On the other end, Fu Yanyan seemed to have heard everything. He hung up immediately.

The kidnappers were furious—fortune was right within their grasp, and they couldn't let it slip away.

Zhong Huayan and Xu Chuyin sprinted through the forest, gunshots echoing behind them, startling flocks of birds into flight!

Suddenly, she felt a wave of heat overwhelming her, but she couldn't stop.

Xu Chuyin noticed something was wrong. He took her hand, quick and strong, leading her on.

They had no idea how far they ran, but at a tangled fork in the woods, they finally lost their pursuers.

He was amazed by her composure—she hadn’t cried in that moment, had kept her wits, and hadn’t abandoned him; instead, she’d helped untie him.

"Thank you," he said, breathless, his face flushed but still strikingly handsome.

By contrast, Zhong Huayan was on the verge of collapse, trembling and feverish, as if in the grips of a fever.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I feel terrible, I just..." she began, but bit back the rest with the last shreds of her sanity, though she wanted nothing more than to press closer.

Xu Chuyin understood instantly, his expression shifting from concern to alarm.

Page 2 of 3

In the desolate wilds, alone with a man, drugged, with not a trace of the city in sight.

She gripped a stone so hard her fingers bled.

Her vision blurred, even speaking was exhausting, let alone running.

The aphrodisiac was too potent, draining her strength in an instant. Had she not been so worn out from the escape, she might have done something reckless.

Suddenly, Zhong Huayan, overwhelmed by hunger, weakness, and the heat she struggled to contain, fainted.

When she awoke again, the psychedelic swirl before her eyes faded, replaced by the furious sound of shouting.

Several voices were all too familiar.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Fu Yanyan dressed in black. Usually, his demeanor was untouched by worldly affairs, but now he seemed rougher, almost bandit-like, especially as he hurled his phone against the floor-to-ceiling window, shattering it to pieces! The servants hurried to clean up, while several well-dressed men sat in stiff silence.

A doctor approached to change her bandages. When he saw she was awake, he spoke gently, conducting a series of checks. Then Fu Yanyan came over.

His voice suddenly softened.

"Ah Huan, don't worry. I've already caught those kidnappers. Today, I'll make them wish for death," he said.

He rarely lost control, but this time, he was visibly more ruthless and cold than ever before—anger so intense it was almost tangible, veins bulging on his hands, the whole room thick with a quiet menace.

After a cold glance at the doctor, he summarized, "Chairman Fu, she was injected with something. I've already treated her; she should be fine now."

Memories flooded back—she wasn't dead after all.

Fu Yanyan smoked, a ring of black jade on his thumb—a touch old-fashioned for a man not yet middle-aged, but on his strong, elegant hand, it suited him, even lending a certain charm, especially when he gently stroked her.

His hand brushed her injured wrist.

She winced at the pain, shrinking back, her body covered in countless small cuts and bruises.

His face darkened, his tone brooking no objection.

"Ruin their hands."

"Yes, sir."

The assistant glanced at a silent man on the edge of the sofa—a burly Northerner missing a finger.

"Chairman Fu, these are underworld people, not bound by rules. But the men working for Old Guo of the border are crucial to this shipment. Perhaps we should wait until after the delivery?"

"I don't just want their hands ruined. I want their lives. As for Guo? I gave him a chance to make money, but he was never meant for fortune."

The man on the sofa stood, pulling a knife from his pocket. "As you wish, Chairman Fu. I'll go bleed them now."

Zhong Huayan blinked, dazed—rarely was she so lost.

Page 3 of 3

"When did you get here?" she asked.

Fu Yanyan's voice was gentle, nothing like the grim reaper he'd been moments before.

"I had people track you using your phone's IP address. By then, Xu Chuyin was carrying you on his back. The private jet arrived ten minutes after you passed out. The kidnappers are under control now. Ah Huan, how do you want to take your revenge, hm?"

She could see in his eyes that he hadn't slept all night.

Across from them sat the president of Capital University, several police officers, and the fierce-looking man from before had already left with his bodyguards.

The doctor, assistant, and servants waited quietly behind the sofa.

"Thank goodness you came quickly. Otherwise, I might have..." The thought still frightened her, though at the time, she had been perfectly calm.

The more critical the moment, the clearer her mind became.

"Ah Huan, I'll make sure they never have children!"

"Let the police handle them," she said hoarsely, needing his help to sit up, but her bearing undiminished.

"No, they almost—"

"Listen to me. Let the police investigate. We need to find out who hired them."

Though her voice was rough and she leaned on him for support, her presence was undiminished.

Fu Yanyan thought for a moment. As he helped her drink water, he explained, "Xu Chuyin said these men wanted money, so they decided to kidnap Capital University students. You heard someone call for help and got caught."

"No, this was no ordinary kidnapping. Their guns weren't cheap, and their car was mid-range, not what you'd expect from desperate criminals. If they were professionals, they wouldn't snatch random people without a target. It just doesn't add up."

A police officer on the sofa agreed, standing up. "Given all the clues, this doesn't look like a simple kidnapping. We police will see this through to the end."

Fu Yanyan nodded.

He sat by her bedside, radiating a reassuring presence. His hands rested on his belt, his back muscles evident, and he carried the heavy scent of sandalwood cologne.

A servant brought in food. Rolling up his black shirt sleeves, Fu Yanyan began feeding her in front of everyone.

His movements were smooth and meticulous.

The bystanders could only stare in shock.

This was the same man who, moments ago, had been a cold-faced demon, ruthless and untouchable.