Some time ago, Sen Kui had returned.
There was no need for a thorough check; just a glance through the small window on the door was enough to confirm they had caught the wrong person.
“Su Qingyu isn’t this tall, or this big. Most importantly, she’s blonde!”
In the abandoned apartment, Sen Kui berated his seven or eight subordinates mercilessly.
“Are you all colorblind?”
Can’t even tell the difference between blonde and white hair?
The ones responsible for driving and pushing were both tall, muscular men.
They looked fierce, but now, under the scolding, they only dared to protest quietly.
“Captain, we did everything according to instructions.”
“That’s right. After coming out of the plaza, she was the only one who walked onto the main road, and she was on the far right.”
Hearing this, Sen Kui’s expression shifted.
“So you mean, she was the least affected?”
The subordinate didn’t have time to reply, because at that moment, a phone rang.
The buzzing sound was particularly jarring in the empty house.
“Captain,” someone whispered, “this is the phone of the girl we captured.”
Sen Kui glanced at him.
The subordinate understood, stepped forward, picked up the phone, and turned on speaker.
“Hello?”
“The person you’re looking for is me.”
A clear, soft voice, like the song of a lark.
Sen Kui raised a hand to stop the subordinate who was about to speak, and asked himself:
“Su Qingyu?”
“That’s right. It’s me.”
***
Under the shade of a tree beside the main road, Su Qingyu exhaled softly and spoke into the phone.
“I know what you want. Fine. I’m willing to exchange the Magic Flute for the hostage, but you absolutely cannot hurt my girlfriend. Otherwise, we’ll go down together.”
Hearing the word ‘girlfriend’, Bai Xia’s eyes flickered beside her, but this time she said nothing.
The people from the Association hadn’t expected Su Qingyu to play her trump card right away.
The call fell into silence, with only occasional whispers in the background.
After a while, they spoke.
“The address has been sent to you. We’ll only stay here for two hours. You’d better not play any tricks, or I can’t guarantee what we’ll do to your little girlfriend.”
In the abandoned apartment, Sen Kui hung up and ordered the others.
“Pack up. Clean up the traces. We’re about to abandon this place.”
Giving up such a suitable base wasn’t easy, but if they could obtain the Magic Flute, the price was acceptable.
The first person who answered the call earlier was also pale-skinned, but shorter.
He was Sen Kui’s Vice-Captain.
“So she’s a girlfriend,” the Vice-Captain said with a laugh.
“That Miss of the Family really has some unusual tastes.”
He felt the atmosphere was too heavy and tried to lighten things up, to boost morale.
But Sen Kui glared at him.
“Su Qingyu wielded the Magic Flute at thirteen, made repeated achievements during the Family’s internal turmoil, and participated in the Final Pacification Battle. For someone like that, any interest or hobby isn’t strange—and it’s nothing to laugh at.”
After speaking, Sen Kui stood up and addressed everyone in the apartment.
“When she arrives, I want all of you on highest alert. Understood?”
***
Two girls walked quietly along the Commercial Street.
Because Xinglong International was nearby, the events at today’s press conference had drastically reduced the number of people on Commercial Street.
Bai Xia and Su Qingyu walked down the latter half of the street.
Aside from them, there were no other visitors.
It felt like they had the whole place to themselves.
“The location is in the west of the city. A forty-minute drive. We only have one hour to prepare.”
Su Qingyu spoke as she walked.
Time was tight.
There was no chance to visit a big mall, but fortunately, there was a Commercial Street nearby, and she had found the store she needed.
A musical instrument shop.
“Welcome, beauties! Take a look around—anything you want, just ask. Genuine brands, handmade, everything you could want!”
The shopkeeper greeted them enthusiastically.
They were the only two customers around.
Business in the other stores was dead, so the shopkeeper was delighted.
Su Qingyu looked around, then picked up a pale flute.
“Boss, do you have one in a whiter color?”
“Of course. Just a moment.”
The shopkeeper went to the back to look for stock.
Bai Xia walked forward, gazing at the flutes on the shelf.
“You plan to bring a fake one?”
“Of course. If I brought the real thing, they’d kill me immediately.”
Su Qingyu whispered.
“If they want to know where the real one is, I still have value alive.”
“But then you won’t be able to use the power of the flute…”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll target my flute no matter what. Whether I use it or not makes no difference.”
Bai Xia nodded.
“I understand.”
At that moment, the shopkeeper emerged with a long box.
“Beauty, here’s the white flute you wanted. Look—it’s brand new, white as jade.”
“Thank you.”
As Su Qingyu reached out, Bai Xia quickly snatched up the flute.
“I’ll pay.”
The girl said.
“The flute will stay with me.”
Su Qingyu seemed to realize something, swallowing the question that had risen to her lips.
After buying the flute at the instrument shop, Bai Xia held onto it while the box was handed to Su Qingyu.
A strange arrangement, but Su Qingyu didn’t ask.
At this moment, trust was everything.
“There’s nothing else we need to prepare. Let’s go.”
***
Bai Xiaoya didn’t know how long she’d been held.
She was sure lunchtime had passed because her stomach was growling from hunger.
But Xiaoya didn’t dare speak or make a sound, afraid of attracting the attention of the people outside the door.
A big-breasted girl must protect herself when out in the world… though now, she had clearly failed at that.
I’m so hungry.
Will someone come to save me?
In her mind, the tall figure of a black-haired girl flashed by, followed by the petite shadow of a Blonde Loli.
Bai Xia was always cold-faced, rarely spoke, and liked to act like an expert.
Her words often sounded like ‘not important’, giving a sense of mystery, but in truth, it was just nonsense.
Yet for some reason, a voice inside Bai Xiaoya whispered that Bai Xia would come—no matter what.
As for Su Qingyu, she didn’t need inner monologues.
Last night, the Blonde Loli hugged her big bunny tightly and promised to take her back.
She might seem weak but determined, and just like her words, her voice was soft and gentle, but filled with sincerity.
Emmmm…
Now that I think about it, has it gotten quieter outside?
There wasn’t a sound from beyond the door.
The sudden silence made Bai Xiaoya nervous, and she silently returned to the sofa.
Her senses were correct.
The abandoned apartment was now extremely quiet.
Including Sen Kui, there were nine people, all stationed around the perimeter.
Most wore thick noise-canceling headphones, standing guard at the only entrance.
Several minutes later, two girls appeared on the path.
A black-haired girl and a Blonde Loli.