The edge.
“If you don’t come with me, that child will be in danger…”
Jiang Lai thought of her daughter. The anger she had barely managed to suppress began to surge again, like an extinct volcano on the verge of eruption.
Looking at Si Yina, who waited with a look of pure enjoyment, Jiang Lai eventually relaxed her tightly clenched fists. For now, she could only continue to compromise.
“Fine, I’ll go with you. But you must guarantee that you’ll never target her again.”
Jiang Lai knew perfectly well that Si Yina was an untrustworthy bastard. But what could she do now? It had not yet reached the point where she was willing to let everything burn to the ground.
Jiang Lai was greedy; she did not want the people around her to suffer even the slightest bit of harm. However, this “no harm” policy did not include herself. As long as those close to her were safe, Jiang Lai was willing to pay any price.
She never considered herself or her own well-being. As long as the people around her were okay, she did not care how much she lost or how much it cost her.
“Sure, I promise.”
Si Yina agreed easily, as if it were nothing more than a passing cloud she could wave away. But what she treated so lightly was Jiang Lai’s fatal weakness.
‘I hope she keeps her word…’
Jiang Lai could only pray that Si Yina still had a shred of conscience left, but she had ultimately underestimated how vile the woman truly was.
Si Yina was already in a desperate situation. To achieve her goals, she had long ago decided to use any means necessary.
She was well aware that someone was currently rushing to the girl’s side. She had no intention of letting the two meet. Even if Jiang Lai was willing to go with her, Jiang Lai would surely resist to the death once they were in a private room.
Si Yina knew her credibility was at an all-time low. Aside from using malicious threats, she could not think of any other way to make Jiang Lai obey her commands.
Therefore, Si Yina had to keep that person firmly in her grasp. It was the only effective way to control Jiang Lai. Regardless of whether Jiang Lai cooperated, the girl had to be kidnapped.
The order Si Yina had given from the very beginning remained the same: find an opportunity to bring the girl to her. To achieve her goals, she had long ago become unscrupulous.
***
Inside the crowded subway, Jiang Leyi received a message from her aunt. She gripped Shen Ruxue’s hand tightly and searched for the nearest Police Station.
Even though Shen Ruxue looked confused and had no idea what was happening, Jiang Leyi did not waste time explaining because time was of the essence.
To be honest, even Jiang Leyi was not entirely sure what was happening. Her aunt’s message had been short and clear: she sent the location of the nearest Police Station and told Leyi to get there as quickly as possible and stay safe until she arrived.
Besides messaging Jiang Leyi, her aunt had also called the police. She gave them a description of what Jiang Leyi was wearing and hoped they would act quickly. Though the danger might not materialize — and she might even face a penalty for a false report — she could not take any chances. This was a task entrusted to her by her brother-in-law.
No matter what, she could not let him worry. Only by ensuring Jiang Leyi’s safety could she seek her out with a clear conscience.
Jiang Leyi did not know why her aunt had sent such a message, especially as a voice note. In the recording, her aunt sounded extremely urgent — so urgent she did not even have time to type.
She did not know what was happening or what danger she might face, but since her aunt said so, she would follow the instructions unconditionally.
She would save her questions for when they met. After finding the nearest Police Station on her phone, she pulled Shen Ruxue along and began to run.
Shen Ruxue was caught off guard by her daughter’s sudden change in behavior. However, as they started running, she noticed several people in the distance moving in sync with them, closing in rapidly.
It was clear that her daughter’s sudden panic was directly related to these people.
Shen Ruxue knew that at their current speed, they would not be able to outrun them. Judging by how the pursuers wove through the crowd, they were clearly trained professionals. Moreover, they were closing in from all directions.
As Shen Ruxue observed the people surrounding them, she realized they would run into someone no matter which way they turned. Although she did not know what these people wanted, she was determined not to let her daughter get hurt.
While running toward the Police Station, Shen Ruxue told Jiang Leyi what she had noticed. Jiang Leyi’s face instantly darkened. She had not expected to be in such a situation.
According to her friend, there were at least a dozen people clearly moving toward her.
A dozen people…
Jiang Leyi had never seen such a spectacle even in television dramas. Even someone like Master Xu Ruobing probably only received this kind of treatment!
Faced with such a daunting situation, Jiang Leyi felt her legs trembling. But thinking of Shen Ruxue beside her, she gritted her teeth and persisted.
“Ruxue, these people are probably here for me. You need to split up and run now. I don’t want you to get hurt, and I don’t want you to get involved because of me.”
Shen Ruxue was her most important friend, and Jiang Leyi did not want her to be in danger. In this regard, she was a perfect reflection of Jiang Lai — taking everything upon herself. But if she did that, who would protect her?
Faced with this request, even as the perimeter closed in, Shen Ruxue’s only response was to grip Jiang Leyi’s hand even tighter.
She did not know what these sudden strangers would do, but Shen Ruxue would never allow them to harm her daughter.
For the past dozen or so years, she had not fulfilled her duties as a mother for a single moment. Now, she would not retreat a single step.