Chapter 669: Chapter 669: Real Danger Waits for No One
“Hmm, he saw that I was under too much stress from studying, so he suggested taking me on a trip. Who knew we’d encounter a shady hotel, and then…”
Jingjing covered her face, choking back sobs.
Lin Zhiyi looked at her, “With final exams approaching, no boyfriend with a bit of sense would take you on a trip, even if the study stress is high. If something goes wrong, it not only disrupts your studies but also doesn’t explain well to your family. Besides, how would a hotel target you unless you go to an unlicensed one? Unless…”
Lin Zhiyi stopped just short of saying her boyfriend wasn’t a good person.
Jingjing glared at Lin Zhiyi.
“You don’t even know my boyfriend. How can you talk about him like that? He’s very good to me, even understands me better than my parents. He must have accidentally booked the wrong hotel.”
“Miss, hotels confirm bookings over the phone, how did your boyfriend make a mistake?”
Lin Zhiyi directly countered her explanation.
“His family is also ordinary, maybe he just wanted to save money momentarily. We’re just students; there’s nothing wrong with being frugal.”
As she gave this reason, she blinked guiltily.
Xiaorui pulled her aside, “Wake up, will you? During the time you two were dating, your so-called boyfriend sent me love messages. I rejected him. He claimed he sent your message to me because he was drunk.”
“Later, I found out that it was a mass message. Many girls in our school received it, but no one paid him any attention.”
“I know you’re strong, and I’ve been hinting at you to break up. But you still followed him on a solo trip. I was worried you’d get in trouble, so I secretly followed you and was discovered by the hotel staff…”
Then she was captured too.
Jingjing shook her head vigorously.
Her already pale face turned slightly green, looking ghostly in the dim light.
“Xiaorui, you really misunderstood him. He only sent mass messages because he was drunk.”
Xiaorui gasped.
Lin Zhiyi pulled her back, “Stop talking, she won’t listen. Leave the poison here, and let’s go quickly. If we get caught, none of us will escape.”
After advising, she turned to the children.
“Stay quiet and wait for Auntie, okay?”
They nodded.
On the way back, Lin Zhiyi held Xiaorui back.
“I don’t trust your friend.”
She was straightforward, not wanting to waste time explaining.
“Miss, give her a chance. She’s not usually like this. I promise we won’t hold you back,” Xiaorui pleaded.
Lin Zhiyi hesitated for a few seconds. She didn’t want everyone to act on emotions.
If they couldn’t unite, no one would get out.
“Alright.”
She finally agreed.
Xiaoxi went back to get sedatives, and Lin Zhiyi distributed them to the stronger girls.
Then she explained her plan.
After explaining, Lin Zhiyi and Xiaoxi returned to their original compartment.
Xiaoxi, exhausted, fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Chu Yin hugged Xiaoyi, watching Lin Zhiyi with worry.
“Zhiyi, there’s no news from the Bai Family. Do you think Third Young Master and Mr. Sang aren’t looking for us?”
Lin Zhiyi looked at her and smiled reassuringly.
“Regardless of whether they can find us, we can’t just sit here and wait to die. All along, Third Young Master taught me how to escape, not to wait for him to rescue. He understands more clearly than I do that real danger waits for no one.”
…
On the cruise, the engagement banquet.
As the ship set sail, all the guests walked into the third-floor banquet hall.
Bai Ruoshu wore haute couture, and the heirloom jewelry on her chest shone exceptionally under the lights.
She stood gracefully and elegantly beside Gong Yao.
Although they had no feelings for each other, they acted extraordinarily sweet.
On the other side, Yang Jingwei was happily greeting the guests for them.
At this moment, the crowd naturally parted to make way.
Gong Chen and Sang Li walked in.
Gong Yao smiled as he looked at the two with gloomy expressions.
“Welcome, Third Young Master and Mr. Sang. I’ve seen you searching everywhere for someone lately and thought you might not come. How’s it going? Have you found the person?”
Gong Chen’s dark eyes suddenly locked, exuding a chilling aura.
“What do you think?”
Gong Yao’s smile deepened, even carrying a hint of provocation directed at Gong Chen.
“Third Young Master, Mr. Sang, no need to rush. The person will be found sooner or later.”
As for when, it’s hard to say.
Whether they’ll find a person or a corpse is even harder to predict.
Gong Chen glanced at him, silent.
But in that silence, he overwhelmed Gong Yao’s strained smile, leaving no momentum behind.
Gong Yao wanted to retort, but Gong Chen never considered him an opponent and simply ignored him.
Sang Li lightly remarked to the group, “Mr. Gong, you and Miss Bai are truly a well-matched pair.”
Even Bai Ruoshu couldn’t maintain her smile this time.
Sang Li knew perfectly well how she and Gong Yao were forced together.
She clutched the bouquet tightly to hold back.
After Gong Chen and Sang Li left.
Gong Yao, unable to contain himself, looked at Yang Jingwei.
“Mrs. Bai, my father said that as long as you handle things well, this trip will ensure the Bai Family’s peace.”
“Fourth Master, don’t worry. We’re family now. Once your engagement music plays, the gift will be silently sent to where it belongs.”
Yang Jingwei and Gong Yao exchanged smiles.
Yet they both harbored hidden intentions.
The ship sailed into international waters, and the guests returned from touring the cruise to the luxurious banquet hall to attend the engagement ceremony.
As the music played, the engaged couple made their entrance.
Gong Chen and Sang Li exchanged a nod, waiting for something.
When the ceremony ended, the Bai Family raised their glasses.
Bai Zhengxian and Second Master Bai smiled brightly, with shrewd eyes.
“Thank you all for coming. I toast everyone on behalf of the Bai Family. Cheers.”
The crowd raised their glasses.
Moments later, as the music grew louder, the guests began feeling weak.
Some tried to leave, suspecting something was wrong, only to be knocked down by bodyguards storming in.
Old Mr. Gong and Gong Yao were taken aback on stage.
Old Mr. Gong regained his composure and looked at the Bai Family, “What is the meaning of this?”
Second Master Bai set down his glass and slowly approached, supporting his cane.
“Old man, after over twenty years, you don’t recognize me at all?”
“You…”
Old Mr. Gong stared at Second Master Bai’s face, unable to recall their connection.
Second Master Bai was infuriated by his reaction.
After harboring hatred for over twenty years, his enemy hadn’t even kept him in mind.
How could he not be angry!
“You had someone injure my leg, saying if I was willing to kneel and beg for mercy, you’d show leniency. And what happened?”
“You set traps against me, took advantage of my plight. How many of you here are innocent?”
“If you weren’t kicking me when I was down, you were standing idly by.”
“Now, I’ve finally got you in my grip.”
Second Master Bai’s crazed laughter finally jogged Old Mr. Gong’s memory.
He looked at Second Master Bai in disbelief, “Y-you, you’re… you’re not dead.”
Second Master Bai stopped pretending and laughed, “Old man, you’re the one who ought to die.”
“You…”
Old Mr. Gong wanted to say something, but the drug in the wine took effect.
Along with Gong Yao by his side, he passed out.
Second Master Bai turned to the hall, speaking loudly, “Separate the family members, imprison them apart to threaten each other until they transfer the money. Those previous videos can also be released to those families, making them pay to take them down.”
“If anyone resists, throw them into the sea in front of everyone as an example.”
“Don’t worry about the consequences. The world knows this journey has the Gong Family protecting it. If anything goes wrong, they’ll clean it up for us. We just need to do what we’ve always done… slip away like a golden cicada shedding its shell.”