Li Bao's voice was like a viper’s hiss. “If you're late, or if you try any tricks... Hmph, just think about what will happen to your sister-in-law and your nephew!”
His words were like poison-tipped needles, stabbing deep into Su Wan’s ears.
Her pupils constricted, and her aura instantly turned cold. The murderous intent in her chest nearly burst forth.
However, her reason held her back. Liu Xin and Lele were still in their hands; she couldn't afford to be impulsive.
“I have the money,” Su Wan forced herself to calm down, her voice returning to its previous icy steadiness. “I’ll bring it over.”
“But Li Bao, I’m warning you—you’d better not do anything reckless. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you don’t get a single cent!”
“Now, let me talk to my sister-in-law. As long as I know they’re safe, I’ll head over immediately!”
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Li Bao’s voice, now thick with irritation, rang out. “Stop fucking threatening me! For the sake of the money, I’ll let you talk!”
After a series of chaotic noises, Liu Xin’s gentle voice came through. “Wanwan, I’m fine, and Lele is fine too. Don’t worry too much.”
“Don’t be afraid, Sister-in-law. Wait for me,” Su Wan said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm, carrying a reassuring strength.
Li Bao snatched the phone back. “Heard that? Now hurry up! Bring the money and come alone! If you dare call the police or pull any other stunts... you know the consequences!”
“Wait for me,” Su Wan uttered those three words and decisively hung up.
She retrieved all the gold from her storage space and packed it into an inconspicuous canvas bag.
Then, she changed into a dark tracksuit and sneakers that were easy to move in, tying her hair back neatly.
Leaving the unfinished building, she hailed a taxi by the roadside.
“Driver, take me to the old district, Xingfuli Lane.”
The taxi stopped at the entrance of the crowded and filthy Xingfuli Lane.
Su Wan stepped out with the canvas bag on her back and immediately felt two malicious gazes land on her.
At the alley entrance, two men in gaudy shirts were smoking. They appeared to be chatting, but their eyes were constantly scanning the passersby.
Upon seeing Su Wan, the two exchanged a look. One of them immediately pulled out a phone and whispered, “Brother Leopard, the woman is here. She’s alone and carrying a bag.”
Su Wan didn't change her expression and walked straight into the depths of the alley.
The smell of damp mold, the piles of trash, the peeling graffiti, and the suspicious stains on the walls made the place feel suffocating.
The three-story self-built house at the very end had peeling paint and a rusted iron door.
She climbed the narrow, dim stairs to the second floor.
The wooden door on the left was slightly ajar, leaving a crack.
Su Wan didn't hesitate and pushed the door open.
The room was cramped and poorly lit, with only a small window letting in a bit of daylight.
The furniture was simple and worn out, and the air was thick with a stale odor and the faint smell of cigarettes.
Li Bao sat arrogantly on the only dilapidated sofa in the room. His face was bruised, and the gap from his missing front teeth made his current smile look particularly hideous.
Seeing Su Wan actually come alone, a flash of surprise and smugness crossed his eyes.
Liu Xin was huddled in a corner by a small dining table, clutching her son, Lele.
Her hair was a bit messy, but her delicate features and gentle temperament were still visible. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red, filled with terror and worry.
Lele, only four years old, was a fair and handsome little boy. He was currently clinging to his mother’s neck, burying his small face in her shoulder, neither crying nor making a fuss.
However, his tiny body was trembling slightly, his quietness making one’s heart ache.
When she saw Su Wan enter, worry flashed in Liu Xin’s eyes. Her lips moved, but she didn't dare make a sound, only shaking her head slightly to indicate they were okay.
Besides Li Bao, there were two other thugs in the room.
One was burly with a face full of scars, standing right behind the closed door to block the exit.
The other was tall and thin with a sinister gaze, standing next to Liu Xin and her son. One hand rested casually on the back of the chair, serving as a silent threat and monitor.
“Miss Su, you’re quite punctual,” Li Bao spoke with a forced smile. The air whistling through his missing teeth made his voice sound strange. “Where’s the money?”
Su Wan didn't answer immediately. Her eyes quickly scanned the room’s layout as she calculated her moves.
Five people total—Li Bao and the two thugs were the threats.
She had the ability to deal with the three of them, but the problem was the tall, thin man standing next to her sister-in-law.
Once a conflict broke out, he would likely be the first to seize Liu Xin or Lele as hostages, leaving her unable to act for fear of their safety.
Su Wan spoke, her voice calm. “Before we trade, let my sister-in-law and nephew go into the bedroom inside.”
She pointed to the closed bedroom door on the inner side of the room.
“Oh? You’re setting conditions now?” Li Bao sneered, clearly not taking Su Wan seriously. “On what grounds?”
“On no grounds at all,” Su Wan looked him straight in the eye. “Either do as I say and we continue talking, or you won’t see a single cent.”
Li Bao’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of wariness appearing in his eyes.
He looked at the canvas bag in Su Wan’s hand. Although it wasn't small, it looked a bit flat, not like it was stuffed with cash.
If Su Wan had hidden the money elsewhere, he really might end up with nothing.
His goal was to get the money and give Su Wan a lesson as Miss Bai had instructed. As long as Su Wan was under his nose, the others didn't matter.
Li Bao glanced at Liu Xin and the weak child, thinking that even if they went into the bedroom, they wouldn't be able to pull off any tricks.
“Fine!” Li Bao waved his hand with feigned generosity. “Ah Qiang, let them in.”
The tall, thin thug, Ah Qiang, heard this and somewhat reluctantly moved his hand from the back of the chair.
Liu Xin looked at Su Wan with concern. Su Wan nodded to her and whispered, “Sister-in-law, no matter what happens, don’t come out.”
Liu Xin bit her lip, picked up Lele, and quickly walked into the small bedroom, softly closing the door behind her.
With that done, Su Wan felt a bit more at ease.
At least if a fight broke out, her sister-in-law and Lele wouldn't be directly seized as hostages in the first instant.
“Now, can we see the money?” Li Bao asked impatiently, leaning forward.
“The money isn't going anywhere...” Su Wan placed the canvas bag by her feet and countered, “Where are the IOUs and the loan contracts? I want to see them first.”
Li Bao’s face darkened. “Cut the crap! Money first!”
Su Wan didn't back down an inch. “Contracts first.”
“Who knows if you’ll take the money and then go back on your word, continuing to harass us?”
The two were at a stalemate for a few seconds.
A fierce light flickered in Li Bao’s eyes, but ultimately, his greed for the money won out.
He gestured to the burly thug blocking the door. The thug reached into his shirt and pulled out a folded document along with a handwritten IOU.
Rate on N.U.
