Qin Yuheng's grandfather's voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. "Yuheng, before history repeats itself and the Qin family loses another member, do something quickly."
Qin Yuheng clenched the photo, his eyes turned dark with fury. His voice was low, trembling with barely restrained rage.
"I swear, if I find that bastard, I'll kill him."
--------
"Did you find any clue?" he asked, his tone sharp as he entered his office.
"Just that they didn't leave the country yet," Assistant Wang replied, his expression grave.
Qin Yuheng's jaw tightened. Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
The call was connected after a couple of rings.
"Second brother, you suddenly remembered me?" a familiar, teasing voice greeted him.
"They kidnapped Ah Ning... Leng Jing, your family has a strong security background. I need your help..." His tone was heavy with urgency.
"Second brother, you just have to order me," Leng Jing replied, his voice instantly turned serious.
"Hmm... Hurry up."
Fear, anger, and determination collided, but he couldn't afford to falter.
"Wang Xu," he called, his voice breaking the heavy silence.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Mobilize all our private investigators. Tap into every surveillance feed in the city. I want results within the hour."
"Understood," Assistant Wang replied before rushing out to carry out the orders.
Left alone, Qin Yuheng closed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly.
Fu Sinan and Huo Siang received the news and rushed to the ShengTian Group headquarters.
"When did this happen?" They asked as soon as they entered his office.
"Yesterday... She went out of the house to find me and clear the misunderstanding while I was still at the company." Qin Yuheng said.
Just then, an email notification appeared on his phone. He clicked it open, his heart hammering in his chest.
The text accompanying the video sent a chill down his spine.
[Say how should I kill her? Slow death or quick death?]
The video showed Shen Ning, bound to a chair, her mouth sealed with black tape. Blood, once flowing, had now congealed at her temple, trailed to her jaw.
Seeing this video, his mind flashed with the nightmare he saw when he was at Hong Kong.
"Ah Ning!" He gasped, his breath caught in his throat.
Fu Sinan and Huo Siang also saw the video and exchanged a worried glance. Huo Siang placed a steadying hand on Qin Yuheng's shoulder. "Hey! Calm down first. We will save sister-in-law."
"Siang," Qin Yuheng said, his voice trembling, "I can't lose my Ah Ning."
One hour later, his phone rang again. Leng Jing's name flashed on the screen. Qin Yuheng answered immediately, his voice taut. "Leng Jing?"
"Second brother," Leng Jing's voice was steady but urgent, "we've traced the signal. The kidnappers are at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. But there's heavy surveillance. We need to be careful before taking any action."
Qin Yuheng's grip tightened on the phone. "Send me the location. I'm on my way."
Leng Jing's tone turned firm. "I've already dispatched my team to secure the perimeter. But, Second brother, don't act recklessly. We need a plan."
"Plan?" Qin Yuheng's eyes burned with anger. "I have no time for plans. They're hurting her!"
"Second brother, you have to understand! Sister-in-law is just a bait to lure you into their trap. Their main goal is to destroy the Qin family."
"Trust me," Leng Jing said sharply. "We'll get her back. I'll meet you there."
-------
Qin Yuheng, Huo Siang, Fu Sinan, and Leng Jing arrived soon after. They parked their car in a concealed spot, a short distance from the abandoned factory
"Second brother, the plan might not be foolproof but it's our best shot," Leng Jing said.
Qin Yuheng hummed.
"Leng Jing, you handle the security system. We'll split up. I'm going to Ah Ning," Qin Yuheng said decisively.
"Okay," Leng Jing agreed.
As Qin Yuheng opened the door. Fu Sinan suddenly called out, "Hey!... Be careful."
"Yeah," he replied without looking back.
Then Fu Sinan and Huo Siang also went to handle the guards.
--------
Inside the factory corridors were dimly lit, the air heavy with the stench of rust and oil. Qin Yuheng's sharp eyes scanned the area. Two guards stood ahead—one close, the other farther down the hall.
In an instant, he moved. The first bodyguard barely had time to react before Qin Yuheng struck him with precision, his fingers closing around the man's throat. The second guard didn't have the chance to register the danger before Qin Yuheng had already moved past him, his actions were swift and silent.
After that he kicked the door open. He stepped inside, there he found his Ah Ning.
"Ah Ning!" He rushed to her side, untangling the ropes that bound her. He gently patted her cheek. "Ah Ning, wake up. Open your eyes."
Shen Ning slowly blinked open her eyes. When she saw it was Qin Yuheng, a flicker of relief crossed her face before it dimmed with worry.
"Why did you come here?" she whispered hoarsely. "They will kill you."
"Shh," he said softly, placing a finger on her lips. "Don't worry. I'm here. We'll be safe."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room.
"Tsk, tsk," a scornful voice said from the doorway. "Lovers' reunion, huh?"
Qin Yuheng turned to face the intruder, his expression icy. "Why are you targeting the Qin family? What grudge do you have against us?"
The man sneered. "Oh, it's not just a grudge. This is justice."
Qin Yuheng tried to distract him and wait for his friends. With Shen Ning, he couldn't act recklessly.
One thing was clear— the man before him wasn't the mastermind behind this plot.
And whoever was pulling the strings wasn't done yet.