Chapter 122: Take Me Away

I stared at Wang Yazhuo. She was still gazing out the window, her profile turned toward me. I could not fathom her current state of mind, only sensing a faint, lingering trace of sadness. I had not met her many times, but the impression she had left on me was one of playfulness and willfulness. I always felt that such quiet, sorrowful emotions had no place in her.

She did not seem to be lying; and if she were telling the truth, then the transaction Wang Jianming conducted in that karaoke room must have been a sham. A sudden possibility dawned on me: perhaps that deal was merely a smokescreen, using the guise of a drug trade to hide something else.

Because it was just a facade to conceal a secret, it made sense that Wang Jianming did not have his men standing guard outside the private room—he could not allow anyone else to know what was truly happening.

Years later, Wang Jianming would use drug trafficking to carve out a route connecting the port district, Yu City, and the capital to achieve his own ends. It was entirely possible he had been doing the same thing years ago. His plan was undoubtedly covert, but that only applied to the police.

Most people in the underworld certainly knew what Wang Jianming was doing. The police were in the open, and Wang Jianming could guard against them, but those in the underworld operated in the shadows. No matter how cautious he was, he could not judge whether a stranger walking toward him or passing by was one of them.

He could not guarantee that he wouldn't be seen by small-time thugs scattered everywhere, which created the risk of his secrets leaking. Perhaps the transaction in that room was performed specifically for the eyes of the underworld forces he could not guard against; that was why he hadn't bothered to cover the small glass window. As for the true purpose, I fear only Wang Jianming knew.

What Wang Jianming had not anticipated was that while he guarded against the police and warded off other underworld factions, he had inadvertently drawn his own granddaughter into the fold. Until then, he had kept the truth of his criminal activities hidden from her, likely intending to keep it that way so she could live a normal, wealthy life.

As I pondered this, my mobile phone rang. The number was very familiar. I answered it and smiled calmly into the receiver: "Old Man Ming, have you returned to the courtyard house?"

The response was a surge of fury from Wang Jianming. He had clearly returned. He barked at me, asking what I was playing at and why I had abducted Wang Yazhuo. I laughed, telling him not to worry, that she was safe. Fearing she might overhear, I opened the car door and stepped a few paces away.

Wang Jianming continued to roar, threatening to tear me limb from limb if he found me. His tone made me deeply uncomfortable, and I gave a cold laugh: "Old Man Ming, I actually saved you."

His temper was uncontrollable. The background noise on his end was immense—his subordinates were likely busy plotting how to rescue their young mistress. He coldly demanded to know what I meant. I glanced back at the car and said calmly, "Your granddaughter said you had imprisoned her; she was on the verge of calling the police. If I hadn't taken her out, the authorities would likely be at your residence having tea right now."

Wang Jianming sneered: "Fang Han, tell me, what exactly are you after by abducting Yazhuo?"

I replied: "I told you, she begged me to take her out. I'm just taking her for a stroll. In an hour, at the train station, I will return her to you."

Wang Jianming did not believe a word of it. He asked if I wasn't afraid of meeting a gruesome end once he found me. He emphasized that the capital was his territory, and finding someone was only a matter of time. He had thoroughly threatened me, but I was not afraid in the least. I simply smiled: "Old Man Ming, I said I would return her, and I will."

Wang Jianming: "Fang Han, where do you get the confidence to talk to me like this? Do you think Luo Feng can protect you?"

I scoffed: "Old Man Ming, do you dare to move against Luo Feng?"

I was certain he would not, and dared not. Although Luo Feng had few men in the capital, if anything happened to him, the gangs from the port district would swarm the city like a tide. The port gangs were far more terrifying than the local criminal groups when they went wild, and Wang Jianming knew it.

"He's lucky if he can protect himself. Fang Han, in my eyes, you are nothing but an ant!" Wang Jianming bellowed.

I didn't want to tangle with him any longer. I said, "I said I would return her, and I will. See you at the train station in an hour. Don't be late. If you want your partnership with Luo Feng to continue, you had best not act rashly." With that, I hung up.

After getting back into the car, I drove straight to the train station. I found a crowded area near some patrolling police officers, ensuring that Wang Jianming's men wouldn't dare strike at me directly. Unless they were truly desperate, they would not want to attract the attention of the police or the public.

I checked the time; the train was leaving in half an hour. I received a call from Luo Feng, who said Wang Jianming had brought a large group of men to his home. Wang Jianming claimed that if I dared to deceive him, he would move against Luo Feng immediately. Luo Feng was unfazed; he was certain that unless Wang Jianming had lost his mind, he wouldn't use such a mutually destructive method.

I told Luo Feng to remain calm and promised that once the time came, I would return Wang Yazhuo.

Luo Feng and I had already discussed this. After this incident, Wang Jianming would certainly hate me and might even have people come after me in secret, but that would only happen after his plan was complete. I told Luo Feng to cooperate with Wang Jianming to keep him steady, prevent him from doing anything extreme, and use the opportunity to find out the true purpose of his plan.

As I hung up, I noticed someone approaching Wang Yazhuo. I tensed, but upon closer inspection, it was just a regular person. Wang Yazhuo had found someone and given them all her money to trade their ticket to Yu City to her. I was slightly taken aback—she wasn't naive. She must have started to suspect I would abandon her.

However, she didn't call me out. As the agreed time drew near, I stood up. The kid suddenly grabbed my hand, crying and begging me to take Wang Yazhuo with us. Wang Yazhuo also grabbed my hand, saying the kid had told her everything while I was on the phone.

The kid had overheard my plan to return her. I glanced at the kid, who lowered her head: "Brother Fang Han, I'm sorry, I just want Sister Yazhuo to come with us."

I scanned the surroundings and spotted several men in the crowd. Given their attire, they were clearly Wang Jianming's subordinates. They had spotted us and were closing in. Seeing them, Wang Yazhuo became truly desperate. She gripped my hand tightly: "Fang Han, take me with you! Please!"

"You'll be in danger if you follow me. At the very least, your grandfather won't hurt you." I tried to pull away, but she held on tight. I dared not make a scene; if I drew the police's attention, none of us would get away.

Tears streamed down Wang Yazhuo's face: "Take me with you, please, I don't want to stay in that courtyard anymore. I don't want to be locked up."

I raised my voice: "Let go! Can't you see? I'm just using you!"

Wang Yazhuo shook her head and repeated her request: "Take me with you. I just want to be with you."

I cursed under my breath. The loudspeaker was announcing the train's imminent departure, and Wang Jianming's men were getting closer. The kid was tugging at my pant leg, pleading as well.

Wang Yazhuo bit her lip until it bled, tears rolling continuously from her eyes. Staring at her fair, beautiful face, I furrowed my brow.

"Fang Han, take me with you, please!"

The fourth time.

"Take me with you!"

The fifth time.

The men were now very close. They gestured for me to hand her over immediately.

Just as Wang Yazhuo was about to say it for the sixth time.

"Damn it, come with me!"