Chapter Forty-Three: Trouble Has Arisen

Shangguan Rannan, her chin gripped tightly, could not utter a word. She forced her eyes open with all her strength, and they glittered with mockery.

A sharp slap landed across her face.

“I despise that look in your eyes the most. You want to call him, don’t you? Let me help you. It’s time he saw what becomes of someone he cares for—a bastard he favors—when that person lands in my hands.”

Though she hadn’t saved his number, Huangpu Qingyin knew Huangpu Shenqing’s phone by heart.

“Rannan?” The call was picked up almost instantly.

They’d spoken only once before, and Shangguan Rannan hadn’t even labeled the contact.

“Huangpu Shenqing, surprised? Your Rannan is in my hands now.”

“Huangpu Qingyin.” Huangpu Shenqing’s voice was cold, his presence icy, as if the very air had frozen over.

“That’s right, it’s me. You like her, don’t you? Then I want you to transfer all your company shares to me. I’m sure you can do that. Come alone now, bring the signed transfer documents. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee she’ll…”

“I want to hear her voice.” Huangpu Shenqing’s tone allowed no refusal.

“Fine.” Huangpu Qingyin held the phone to Shangguan Rannan’s face. “Speak.”

Shangguan Rannan kept her eyes shut tight, her face pale, biting her lower lip until it nearly bled.

“I told you to speak, did you hear me?” Huangpu Qingyin squeezed her throat, leaning in to whisper, “You don’t want to die, do you?”

“If anything happens to Shangguan Rannan, Huangpu Qingyin, you’ll regret what you’ve done today,” Huangpu Shenqing’s furious roar echoed from the phone before the line went dead.

He knew it was her—he could hear her breathing. So fragile, so faint.

“Mo Yi, draft a contract transferring all my shares in the Group to Huangpu Qingyin. Have Mo Jiu trace this number’s location. I want results in five minutes.”

Huangpu Shenqing sped toward Huangpu Group.

Mo Yi and Mo Jiu were already waiting outside the building.

“Sir, here’s the contract you asked for. The location pings near the outskirts of Dazhao City, seemingly en route to the Shangguan Group…”

Before Mo Yi could finish, Huangpu Shenqing snatched the contract and left at once.

“Mo Yi, has something happened to the master?” Mo Jiu asked, rarely having seen him drive so recklessly.

Mo Yi ignored him. The outskirts of Dazhao City were desolate, a lonely road leading to the Shangguan Group. Shangguan Group, Shangguan…

Something was wrong. Miss Shangguan.

“Mo Jiu, something’s happened—Miss Shangguan is in trouble!”

“Who is Miss Shangguan?”

“Hurry, call Young Master Gong and Young Master Ouyang!”

—

“Ye Zuo, Miss said she’d return to the company soon to review their reports, but it’s been over an hour and she still hasn’t come. I called, but her phone’s off, and now I can’t reach her at all. What should we do?”

“Something’s happened.” Gripping the car keys, Ye Zuo rushed out.

Ye Xin hurried after him.

“Mobilize everyone immediately. Also, send me the footage from the route Miss took, and track her phone’s location.”

Ye Zuo contacted the ‘Nightfall’ operatives in City A as he sped away.

…

“So you really came, Huangpu Shenqing?”

Only Huangpu Qingyin and eight men stood there.

Beside them was a crashed, mangled car. Shangguan Rannan’s phone lay on the ground, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is she?” Huangpu Shenqing’s fists clenched, his voice deep and level, yet cold and merciless—he was an ancient glacier incarnate.

“Give me the transfer documents first, then you’ll see her, won’t you?”

Huangpu Shenqing tossed the documents at her feet. “I’ll ask once more: where is she?”

A bodyguard stepped forward, picked them up, and handed them to Huangpu Qingyin.

“A real transfer, imagine that.” Huangpu Qingyin opened the file, her surprise genuine.

“To think you’d go this far for that wretch. But it’s a pity—she’s dead. I ran her over, and now…”

Bang!

One of Huangpu Qingyin’s men was kicked aside.

He was a beast unleashed—fury and violence consuming him.

He attacked them with mad ferocity, his eyes glinting with bloodlust.

Just the thought of the girl he’d searched so hard for, now tormented by these people, drove him past all restraint. He wanted to destroy them, utterly and completely.

Watching his wild rampage, Huangpu Qingyin was terrified. She clutched the contract and hurried to her car.

Huangpu Shenqing, eyes bloodshot, kept pummeling them until none drew breath.

He tore off his tie, eyes blazing as he watched Huangpu Qingyin try to start the car and flee.

“Don’t… don’t come closer.” Huangpu Qingyin’s hands shook as she jammed the key into the ignition.

Step by step, Huangpu Shenqing advanced.

Terrified, Huangpu Qingyin turned the wheel, only for the window to shatter instantly.

“Ah… Huangpu… Huangpu Shenqing, what are you—”

He kicked open the door, glass shards digging into his bleeding arm. His face was expressionless, as if he’d risen from the depths of hell.

“Where is she?” His voice was colder than death, his gaze sharp as knives, his aura merciless.

“She… she was taken by Shangguan Miaomiao… it… it has nothing to do with me…”

“So, you ran her over.” His voice was barely above a whisper, the chill of the abyss.