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"Oh? You really agree to anything?" Shao Jun's arrogant voice came through the microphone clearly, like the shadow cast by a giant eagle, untouchable yet so dark it made one dizzy. "Even if I said I missed your taste and wanted you to serve me one more time?"

A burning rage of humiliation surged within me, but I could only suppress it, gripping Zimo's trembling hand tightly. His pale face flushed crimson, his eyes shifting between fiery passion and icy despair. I swear, if Shao Junyi were standing before him right now, I would tear him apart without hesitation.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came from the other end of the phone. Shao Junyi's voice seemed to be further away from the receiver, becoming muffled and indistinct, but the smugness, madness, and ferocity in his words were crystal clear: "...I'll show you how arrogant you can be! I'll show you how arrogant you can be! You think you're so great just because you're Xu Tian's heir? You're still going to wear the green hat I gave you! Huh?!...I slept with your wife and you're angry? You feel humiliated?...Hahahaha...Go ahead and be angry! Go ahead and be angry!...I just love seeing you like a stray dog!"

"Shao Junyi!!" I yelled into the microphone, "If I dare touch Xu Lie again, I swear you won't get a single penny!!"

I clenched my fists, my anger boiling and roaring inside me: Shao Junyi! I'll make you regret it! I'll make you regret being born!

Shao Jun's panting voice finally drew closer. In a hoarse voice, he said in a gloomy tone, "How did you know?"

I tried my best to calm myself down, and put on a slightly trembling voice: "If you want to escape, if you want to go abroad, you naturally need Xu Tian's help... I... I just want you to release Xu Lie. I'll give you whatever money you want."

After a long silence, Shao Jun snorted and said coldly, "You're smart to know what's good for you. Bring twenty million to the abandoned building at 3588 Jiangnan Avenue, XX Road before six o'clock. Don't take a car, don't tell anyone, and don't bring anyone with you. You better not try anything funny. If I find anyone following you, I'll immediately slit your husband's throat. Do you understand?!"

"I...I heard it," I said, my voice trembling and choked with sobs. "You have to promise me that once I give you the money, I'll...I'll release Xu Lie."

Shao Junyi's cold, arrogant laughter came through the receiver. Then, with a snap, the phone hung up, leaving only a busy tone.

I rubbed my forehead, which was starting to throb again, and my legs went weak as I collapsed onto the sofa. I said weakly, "Do you think Xu Lie will be in that abandoned building?"

“Perhaps.” Zi Mo sat down beside me and said calmly, “When I was searching for his trail, I investigated all the possible hiding places around here. As I recall, the area around the abandoned buildings at the end of Jiangnan Avenue was almost deserted because of the piles of garbage. He could easily monitor a radius of 200 meters from those buildings. Besides, he thinks you are cowardly and worried about Xu Lie, and would never dare to call the police. Twenty million is just a drop in the ocean for Xu Tian, so… Galan, what do you plan to do?”

“Shao Junyi was probably really driven to desperation.” I murmured, still rubbing my temples. “He was thinking of burning his bridges and going down with him. And he desperately needed the money, so he couldn’t wait a moment longer and set the transaction time for 6 PM. But his goal wasn’t to use Xu Lie to exchange for those 20 million, but rather…”

I looked up, and Zi Mo met my eyes. He nodded solemnly and said, "He wanted to capture you to threaten Xu Lie. After all, I'm just Xu Tian's daughter-in-law, I don't have much power. Xu Lie, as the president of Xu Tian and who dotes on you so much, is different. As for Xu Tian, he's worried about losing more than he gains, so he probably doesn't have the guts to threaten you. I'm just wondering, with Xu Lie's skills, how could he be captured by Shao Junyi without alerting any of his bodyguards?"

I was jolted by Zi Mo's question, my face turning deathly pale. I could still hear Xu Lie's shouts when he answered the phone last time. I stammered, "It's probably... because of Meng Xue'er."

Zi Mo showed no unusual reaction, only the eerie light in his brown eyes grew even colder. He sneered, "There's no point in digging into the past. Why don't we discuss how to plan to catch that stray dog?"

The murderous intent in Zi Mo's evidence sent chills down my spine. I thought to myself, "I probably won't be able to get revenge myself." Despite my self-deprecating remark, my heavy heart remained unmoved. I sighed, took out my phone, and said, "I'll have Wu Jing come over first, and I need to get 20 million immediately. I'm afraid this can't be kept from Mr. Xu."

Zi Mo nodded calmly: "Have Wu Jing bring a group of bodyguards over directly. Remember to have them and Xu Tian go through the underground passage. I'm afraid Shao Jun will send people to monitor the area later. I'll go online and find a detailed map of the area near the abandoned building."

Two hours—not a long time, not a short time. Zimo and I started working non-stop. Ten minutes later, Wu Jing joined us, and half an hour later, Xu's father rushed back anxiously. At first, they watched with almost astonishment as Zimo and I laid out the plan, arranged the routes, and calculated the worst-case scenario—all with tacit understanding and speed.

Especially Mr. Xu, perhaps recalling the past, was momentarily unable to believe it. However, no matter how many questions we had, we couldn't think too much about it, because time was of the essence; his son, my nominal husband, was now in a dire crisis. Despite all the changes and doubts, at this moment, our purpose and worries were the same.

Outside the window, the setting sun disappeared behind the mountains and high-rises, leaving only a sky full of bright red afterglow. It unconsciously brings to mind that poignant phrase—"the setting sun...like blood."

Chapter 42 Crisis

As I arrived alone at the abandoned building, carrying a huge money box, it was already getting dark. Looking at the dilapidated building without windows or doors, all I saw was desolation. The moment I stepped closer, I unconsciously touched my lower abdomen.

Here, another child is being conceived, a child of mine and Xu Lie's. I will not start a new family with Xu Lie, but I still want to have this child. This child that I once lost, and now has returned.

But what happens after the child is born? What will this child's life be like? He might be without a father, or without a mother, and might not even have a stable and peaceful life. But can I deprive him of his right to live?

I know how much Mr. and Mrs. Xu long for a grandson, and how much Xu Lie desires his own child. Undoubtedly, this child will receive everyone's sincere love and be cherished like a precious treasure from the moment he is born. And me? Can I deprive him of his right to enjoy love and life?

I sighed softly and walked into the abandoned building. The building was quite large, and although the ground was messy and dirty, it was still walkable. However, the dampness that permeated the area due to the lack of human habitation and sunlight made me shiver involuntarily.

"Lin Jialan!" A gruff, harsh voice suddenly shouted from above my head, followed by a bang as a huge hanging basket was thrown in front of me. "Get on this!"

I frowned and looked up. Because of the angle, I could only see a blurry outline. I was certain that he could see my every move clearly.

I glanced at the filthy, sour-smelling hanging basket, trying my best to suppress the anger boiling over from the humiliation, and put on a terrified, tearful expression: "I...I need to see Xu Lie."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Shao Junyi roared impatiently, "If you don't come up here, I'll kill him right now!"

My voice remained trembling and choked with emotion, but my tone was absolutely resolute: "I must see Xu Lie first!"

No matter how much Shao Junyi threatened me, even shooting a bullet near my feet, I was terrified, tears streaming down my face. But I stubbornly clung to the suitcase, insisting on seeing Xu Lie first. Shao Junyi, enraged, hurled all sorts of profanities, but ultimately gave in after kicking me hard, scattering dust all over my face. This made me even more certain that his target wasn't just the money, but me; otherwise, he could have easily shot me dead and then calmly stolen the money.

Shao Junyi was probably on the third or fourth floor. I tried my best to look up, but I still couldn't see his face clearly, so I shouted, "Xu Lie... say something! Shao Junyi, let him speak!"

Shao Jun snorted, and a crisp tearing sound came from above, followed by Xu Lie's hoarse and urgent shout: "What are you doing here alone?! Go back!! Do you hear me? Go back!!"

I just wanted to slap him twice in my heart. I really don't understand why he had to drag me down with him after all the trouble he went through for Meng Xue'er. I rushed over to save him, only to get yelled at for no reason! What did I do to deserve this?!

Of course, I could only think these things in my mind; I dared not show it on my face. I looked up and said firmly, "Xu Lie, I... I've come to save you. You'll be alright!"

Xu Lie seemed stunned, remaining silent for a moment. Shao Junyi snapped impatiently, "You've seen the person, why aren't you coming up here yet!"

I nodded hastily, and reluctantly stepped into the suspended basket. I held my breath, focusing my attention on my nose and mind as I swayed and rose unsteadily. This basket, which was supposed to be for transporting building materials and had an automatic hoisting mechanism, now reeked of a foul, sour, and rotten smell. I really didn't know if Shao Junyi had come to humiliate me on purpose, or if this was truly the only basket available!

The basket hung there for a long time before finally stopping. As soon as I jumped out, I subtly looked around. The place was about the same size as downstairs, but much cleaner. Clearly, Shao Junyi had been hiding here to evade capture.

Shao Junyi stood about five or six meters away from me. Xu Lie lay curled up at his feet, his clothes disheveled, his exposed arms covered in bruises. Thick hemp ropes were tightly bound to his body, even digging into his flesh, drawing blood. His face, obscured by his loose hair, was pale, and a piece of adhesive tape covered his mouth; he was utterly disheveled. But the way he looked at me—those extremely beautiful, slightly narrow eyes were filled with concern and worry, like a clear glass mirror reflecting a deep, ocean-like love, so beautiful it dazzled me.

"Where's the money?" Shao Junyi's words jolted me out of that beautiful vortex.

I steadied myself, gently squeezed the black bracelet on my right wrist, and whispered, "It's all in this box."

"Open the box!" Shao Junyi pointed his gun at Xu Lie's head and shouted sternly.

I did as he instructed, entered the password, opened the box, and placed it facing him: "The money's all here. You...you can release Xu Lie now, right?"

Shao Junyi chuckled coldly twice, kicked Xu Lie a few steps further away, and walked towards me with his gun. I casually closed the box, gently flicked the lock, and cried out in panic, "You...you stay away! Let Xu Lie go first...if you come any closer, I'll jump down with the money box!"

Shao Junyi gave me a look of utter disdain: "You can go see your precious husband right now! I won't stop you!"

My face showed a struggle between two sides. I looked at Xu Lie in the distance, then at the money box in front of me, and finally shouted "Xu Lie!" and rushed over. In the instant I passed Shao Junyi, I saw a smug and contemptuous smile on his face.

I rushed to Xu Lie's side without stopping, already out of breath and almost unable to stand. I simply knelt down and, with lightning speed, pulled a silver thread from the black bracelet on my wrist, neatly cutting the thick rope binding Xu Lie's hands.

I don't know exactly what this thing is, I only know that Father Xu calls it "the ultimate." The silver extracted from it can cut through gold and jade, and it doesn't require any sawing time; it breaks easily with a flick of the wrist.