Chapter 110: Hidden Agendas
The abandoned factory district.
Zhou Jing Hui’s wife and child, along with the driver, were now being held here. Guarding them were a few street punks recently recruited by Lai Hou Wang Zhen Dong. These men were nothing more than small-time thugs, far inferior to Wang Zhen Dong’s usual crew. However, keeping watch over three people tied up with ropes was an easy enough task.
The thugs sat together, passing time by playing cards.
Suddenly, a phone rang.
The man who answered was Cheng Yong, an old acquaintance of Wang Zhen Dong, personally recruited by him. Cheng Yong glanced at his phone and muttered, “It’s Brother Dong.”
“You guys keep playing. I’ll see what’s up.”
He stepped aside, keeping the conversation private.
The other thugs paid him no attention and continued their game.
Lowering his voice, Cheng Yong answered, “Brother Dong, what’s the situation?”
Wang Zhen Dong’s voice came through the receiver. “Proceed as planned.”
“Yes!” Cheng Yong responded.
After ending the call, he glanced back to ensure the others were still engrossed in their game. Then, he quietly approached one of the factory’s support columns, where the driver was bound.
“Don’t make a sound,” Cheng Yong whispered.
“Brother Hui paid me a good sum to get you out of here.”
“There are too many people around right now, so I can’t release you immediately.”
“I’ll loosen your bindings—when the time is right, make your move.”
The driver’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.
Cheng Yong carefully cut the tape off the driver and undid the ropes, retying them into a slipknot. At a glance, it would appear nothing had changed, but with a single bite and tug, the driver could free himself. It was almost as if he weren’t tied up at all.
Once done, Cheng Yong whispered, “Hold out a little longer. Wait until late at night when they’re asleep, then take Sister-in-law and the child and get out.”
“Brother Hui said—no matter what—keep them safe.”
“If you get them out alive, there’s a million waiting for you.”
A million.
The driver nodded firmly. A reward like that was worth risking everything for.
Cheng Yong returned to his seat and resumed playing cards, blending in seamlessly. The other thugs never noticed what had transpired. They barely paid attention to the hostages at all.
Meanwhile, outside the dimly lit factory, several figures slipped in through the darkness, navigating the shadows with ease.
The thugs remained oblivious to their presence.
These figures moved stealthily through the compound, reaching the room where Zhou Jing Hui’s wife and child were held.
The door was locked, but it wasn’t a problem for them. One of the intruders pulled out a tool, swiftly unlocking it within seconds.
Inside, Yu Xia sat slumped on the floor, clutching her child tightly.
As the door creaked open, her body tensed. Panic flashed across her face as she instinctively prepared to scream.
A voice whispered, “Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. We’re here to rescue you.”
Yu Xia froze, eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces before her.
“Who are you?” she asked warily.
A familiar voice cut in from behind.
“Relax. We’re not your enemies.”
Yu Xia looked up and, to her shock, recognized the woman stepping forward.
It was Lu Jin Huan.
“You?” Yu Xia asked in disbelief.
Lu Jin Huan smiled. “Don’t worry. My husband has joined forces with your husband. Tonight, we’re taking down Chen Xue Wen.”
“I’m here to make sure you’re safe.”
“Let’s go.”
Lu Jin Huan waved her hand dismissively.
He Yu Xia finally let out a small breath, feeling slightly relieved.
Outside, a group of street thugs who had heard the commotion rushed over, just in time to run into Lu Jin Huan and her crew. Seeing the situation, they froze, unsure of what was happening.
One of them, summoning his courage, barked out, “The hell do you think you’re doing?!”
“Do you even know who we roll with?!”
“Listen up! My big brother is Chen Xue Wen!”
Before he could finish, one of Lu Jin Huan’s men stepped forward and delivered a brutal kick, sending the thug sprawling onto the ground.
“Chen Xue Wen!?” The enforcer scoffed and spat on the ground. “Pah! We roll with Snake!”
The moment the name Snake was mentioned, the color drained from the gangsters’ faces. They had, of course, heard of his reputation.
Lu Jin Huan cast a cold glance at them, her lips curling in disdain. “Chen Xue Wen is a dead man tonight.”
“As for you worthless trash—if you don’t wanna die, get the hell out of my sight!”
“Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
The gangsters exchanged panicked looks. Someone in their group made the first move, and the rest quickly followed, scrambling away as fast as they could, not daring to linger.
The sight of their retreat made Lu Jin Huan and her crew burst into laughter.
Leading He Yu Xia and the child, Lu Jin Huan headed toward the factory exit when He Yu Xia suddenly recalled something. “Sister Lu, my driver was taken too! Please, can you get him out as well?”
Lu Jin Huan nodded and motioned to one of her subordinates, simultaneously giving him a subtle look. The enforcer immediately understood, nodding once before dashing back into the factory to search.
It wasn’t long before he found the driver tied to a pillar. He loosened the rope securing the man to the post but intentionally left his hands bound, then led him out just like that.
Lu Jin Huan’s glance earlier had been a silent order.
Though Snake had claimed he was cooperating with Zhou Jing Hui, he had his own plans in motion. Killing Chen Xue Wen was only part of it. He also intended to use this opportunity to squeeze something out of Zhou Jing Hui.
With Zhou Jing Hui’s wife and child in their hands, they now had the perfect bargaining chips.
So from the very beginning, Lu Jin Huan had instructed her crew to rescue He Yu Xia and the child—but to keep a tight watch over them.
Once Chen Xue Wen was dead, Snake would use the hostages to negotiate further with Zhou Jing Hui and demand his price.
Under these circumstances, Lu Jin Huan naturally wouldn’t untie the driver’s hands. She wasn’t about to take unnecessary risks.
The driver, on the other hand, noticed this immediately. He wasn’t an idiot—if they were keeping his hands tied, it was because they had other plans in mind.
He said nothing, pretending to be compliant.
But what they didn’t know was that the knot on his wrists was a slipknot. At any moment, if he so desired, he could free himself.
[This must be part of Zhou Jing Hui’s plan,] the driver mused. [Pretend to ally with Snake, but secretly bribe someone among the captors to loosen my ropes. When the time comes, I’ll be able to save He Yu Xia and the child!]
Each person harbored their own thoughts and schemes.
With the hostages secured, Lu Jin Huan and her group made their way back toward the Snake Farm.
No matter their hidden motives, one thing was clear to everyone—tonight, the key to everything was the fate of Chen Xue Wen.
Only by killing him could the next stage of the game begin.
Now, they were heading to the Snake Farm—to lay siege to Chen Xue Wen.
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