Chapter 346 - 344: Surviving the Disaster
Yue Feifei immediately understood. She quickly slipped into a blind spot next to the dumpster, keeping low and shrinking her entire body into the shadows.
The footsteps drew closer. She held her breath, not daring to move an inch. Her fingers gripped the handgun she had taken from the bodyguard so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"Have we searched everywhere?"
"Everyone in the private room was knocked out. Those three brats ran away, but they definitely couldn’t have gone far. They must still be nearby."
"Damn it! Did the top-floor security cameras catch anything?"
"They did, but the intruder’s face wasn’t visible. We couldn’t get a clear look at their features, and we have no idea how they snuck in. They injured all those young masters. We’re in massive trouble now."
"Forget it. The higher-ups said the priority is to transfer the targets out first. We’ll put this matter on hold and wait until the heat dies down."
The footsteps gradually faded away until they disappeared completely.
Yue Feifei let out a soft breath and stepped out from the shadows, a thin layer of cold sweat coating her palms. She turned to Yang Xun and whispered, "They really are planning to transfer the captives. I don’t know which bastard those guys meant by ’higher-ups’."
"Don’t overthink it for now. You take them out of here, and I’ll stay to look around and see if I can find any more clues," Yang Xun said, pointing at the dumpster.
"No, it’s too risky for you to be alone. We leave together." Yue Feifei quickly grabbed his arm, her tone exceptionally firm. "Those other two girls have probably already been taken away. We wouldn’t be able to catch up to them anyway, so staying here to investigate is completely pointless."
Yang Xun thought for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright."
"We’re too conspicuous together, so we should split up. I’ll take the main entrance and slip out amidst the chaos. You take the three girls out." Yue Feifei had already formulated an escape plan. She possessed the Disguise Technique and held the badge Yang Xun had given her. By changing her clothes and pretending to be a departing guest, she wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
"No, you’re coming with me. If we run into anyone, I’ll just fight our way out. Besides, you just promised me you wouldn’t take any risks," Yang Xun said in a deep voice.
"Those people are acting like rabid dogs right now. The moment we’re discovered, they’ll swarm us. Don’t forget they have guns. What if they end up hurting these three little girls?" Yue Feifei furrowed her Liu Mei, looking at him disapprovingly. Her tone softened as she patiently coaxed him, "Yang Xun, trust me. I’ll be fine. Time is running out, so hurry up and take them away.
"Wait for me in the car for ten minutes. If I don’t come out by then, you guys leave first.
"I have the ability to protect myself. If it comes to it, I’ll just say I’m from the Zhou family. They wouldn’t dare act rashly out of fear of the Zhou family’s power."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yue Feifei quickly left the alley, giving Yang Xun no chance to retort.
Yang Xun shook his head helplessly, praying silently. Wasting no more time, he pretended to be taking out the trash and pushed the dumpster out the side door. He took a long detour through the alleys until he finally merged onto the main road.
Fortunately, Yang Xun had the foresight to park the car in just the right spot. As soon as they reached the main road, they swiftly got inside.
The three girls squeezed into the backseat, all revealing smiles of relief at having survived the ordeal.
Yang Xun checked the time and started a countdown. Ten minutes quickly passed. His heart sank. Just as he was about to open the car door and check on her, he caught sight of a slender figure sprinting toward them.
The moment their eyes met, Yang Xun quickly started the engine and drove toward Yue Feifei. Having been a detective for so many years, Yue Feifei naturally had good reflexes. She swiftly pulled the door open and jumped in.
The instant the car sped away, a bullet struck the door. Their pursuers were left too far behind to catch up. Everyone let out a long breath, their hearts feeling as though they were about to leap out of their chests.
The car drove along the empty night streets toward a hospital in East City. Yue Feifei handed her phone to the trio. "Call your families and tell them to pick you up at the hospital."
The long-haired girl took the phone first. She quickly dialed her mother’s number and burst into loud sobs. Without time to explain much over the phone, she simply stated that she was relatively unharmed but needed to go to the hospital to get her wounds bandaged before passing the device to the second girl.
After both had made their calls, they handed the phone to Lin Xiaoyue. However, she simply clutched it, hesitating to dial.
"What’s wrong? Xiaoyue, why aren’t you calling?" Yue Feifei asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I... I..." she mumbled, hesitating to speak.
"It’s okay. If you’re having any trouble, just tell me. I’ll do my best to help you solve it." Yue Feifei’s tone was exceptionally gentle, afraid of frightening the timid girl.
"Feifei, can we not notify my family? My parents have passed away, and I only have my grandpa. He’s getting on in years, and I don’t want him to worry." As Lin Xiaoyue spoke, her eyes turned red.
"Xiaoyue, you’ve been missing for two days. Your grandpa must be going crazy with worry. It’s best to inform him as soon as possible," Yang Xun said.
The other two girls also chimed in to persuade her. Only then did Lin Xiaoyue nod and dial her grandfather’s number.
Soon, the car stopped at the hospital’s emergency room entrance, and Yang Xun escorted the three inside to have their wounds treated.
Half an hour later, the parents of the other two girls arrived one after another. Both mothers hugged their daughters, crying so hard they could barely stand. Their fathers remained silent throughout, merely clutching their daughters’ hands with red eyes.
Yang Xun and Yue Feifei stood in the corner of the emergency hall. Watching the families weep in each other’s arms made their hearts ache. These young, blooming girls had been locked up in a place like that. If they had been rescued even a day later, their lives would have been ruined.
Another half hour passed. A hunchbacked elderly man hurried through the hall’s entrance. He wore a faded, washed-out coat, and his trouser legs were stained with mud and ash as if he had taken a fall. His face was covered in dust and fraught with anxiety.
"Xiaoyue! Where is Xiaoyue?"
Lin Xiaoyue, who was currently receiving an IV drip, jerked her head up at the sound of his voice. Her eyes instantly welled with tears. "Grandpa!"
The old man jogged forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her back. His calloused hands trembled slightly, and his voice was hoarse and choked with emotion. "Xiaoxiao... you scared me to death... If anything had happened to you, how could I ever face your parents..."
"Grandpa, I’m sorry! It’s my fault for making you worry."
The grandfather and granddaughter held each other and cried for a long time.
Lin Xiaoyue’s grandpa wept as he continuously patted her back. "As long as you’re safe... as long as you’re safe. It’s not your fault."
Standing a few paces away, Yang Xun quietly watched the scene unfold. He couldn’t help but think of his own grandfather—that hunched old man planting herbs in the courtyard.
Once Lin Xiaoyue and her grandfather had calmed down a bit, she softly recounted what had happened. Meanwhile, Yang Xun and Yue Feifei quietly slipped out of the emergency hall after settling Lin Xiaoyue’s medical bills.
