After calming the anxious Zhao Manlin, Yu Zhiwan instructed her to send occasional messages to Chen Tingjia, ensuring they were brief and to the point. Zhao Manlin followed these instructions carefully, while Pei Yujang and the people she and Yu Zhiwan had sent approached the neighborhood.
There was a man and a woman with Pei Yujang, and though she initially expected the tall man to accompany her inside, it was actually the quiet, petite woman who would join her. The petite woman, a Beta, stood almost a head shorter than Pei Yujang and was even shorter than Yu Zhiwan. Noticing Pei Yujang's scrutinizing gaze, the petite woman smiled and said, "Ms. Pei, I'm a top-level outdoor parkour competitor and trained in karate and Muay Thai. I won't be a burden."
The man, who wore a mask the entire time, nodded politely and said, "I'll stay here. I'm not as agile, so I won't trouble you by going inside."
If Pei Yujang could see the man's face, she might recognize him as the doctor who had once argued with Yu Zhiwan at the hospital. Initially, he had suggested a drastic plan to sacrifice Pei Yujang to distract the A Organization and divert their attention. However, after some time, he had gradually come to respect Yu Zhiwan's leadership.
The people following Yu Zhiwan were not entirely her subordinates; they were more like comrades. Yu Zhiwan played a leading role in major operations, providing direction to prevent chaos and ensure discipline. The organization operated on a merit-based system, and this doctor was observing the "strategist's wife" for the first time as they prepared for the mission.
Meanwhile, Zhao Manlin had discreetly placed a small hidden camera in her hair, cleverly concealed by a hair tie. The camera's feed was linked to Pei Yujang, allowing her to see the situation inside and better locate their target.
When Zhao Manlin initiated a video call with Chen Tingjia, the latter's appearance had deteriorated even further. Concerned, Zhao Manlin inquired about her condition, just as an elderly woman entered the room to bring Chen Tingjia food.
The old woman peeked at the screen, asking, "Is it that friend of yours again?"
Chen Tingjia's expression soured with annoyance. "Why are you people from Yue Rong so bothersome? I already signed the resignation contract and completed my work handover. Why can't you let me go and keep bothering me?"
As Chen Tingjia spoke, Pei Yujang sensed something was amiss. She quickly took a screenshot of the room's layout, then scaled the wall to avoid the cameras and enter the complex with her companion, Liu Xijing.
While Pei Yujang and Liu Xijing moved stealthily through the night, Chen Tingjia ended the call and blocked Zhao Manlin's contact. The elderly woman who had appeared so kind snatched Chen Tingjia's phone, her demeanor turning contemptuous. "You're not some precious princess, so why are people constantly calling you? Hurry up and get ready to move!"
Chen Tingjia, shaking with dread, reluctantly climbed out of bed. She had a sinking feeling that they were about to be taken to an even darker place.
The scene outside her room was a stark contrast to the cozy interior. The hallway was packed with people, making it hard to even find a place to stand. There were Alphas and Omegas, men and women, but very few Betas. The Betas were the enforcers, arrogant and domineering.
The sight reminded Chen Tingjia of a pig farm. Though the conditions weren't as bad, she knew they would soon be moved. This place was merely a front, designed to allay suspicion. The other rooms were dressed up as offices, rest lounges, and even beauty salons.
Chen Tingjia moved with the crowd, outwardly compliant but inwardly preparing to escape.
In the pitch-black night, Pei Yujang signaled Liu Xijing to stop and hide. They were in a blind spot from the cameras, and they could hear footsteps descending from the building. Wearing night-vision goggles, Pei Yujang scanned the area, her senses heightened.
She spotted Chen Tingjia among the crowd, who was discreetly assessing her surroundings, looking for a chance to escape. Pei Yujang signaled to Liu Xijing to get ready.
As the group descended, Pei Yujang identified the key figures: two men wielding electric batons and several others who appeared to be enforcers, totaling around seven or eight people.
If they only had electric batons, Pei Yujang could take down five of them alone. However, she wasn't sure if they had guns, and she had to consider the safety of the nearby residents.
Liu Xijing was reluctant to leave Pei Yujang's side, citing Yu Zhiwan's instructions that Pei Yujang shouldn't leave her line of sight. So Pei Yujang decided to stay together.
As the last of the group exited the building, Pei Yujang and Liu Xijing sprang into action. Pei Yujang silently knocked out the rear guard with a single punch, while Liu Xijing, though petite, delivered a brutal blow that echoed through the night. Before the group could react, Pei Yujang blended into the crowd and grabbed Chen Tingjia's arm, whispering, "Zhao Manlin." Chen Tingjia's eyes welled up with tears as she clung to Pei Yujang.
Chaos erupted. Liu Xijing used her small stature to weave through the crowd, helping Chen Tingjia slip away unnoticed. However, a man grabbed Chen Tingjia's arm, pleading quietly, "Take me with you!"
Chen Tingjia tried to shake him off, but he held on tightly, his grip leaving her arm raw and bleeding. Liu Xijing drew a small folding knife, prepared to defend them, but the commotion had already drawn attention.
Chen Tingjia kicked the man in the groin, but the movement was too noticeable, and it caught the attention of the enforcers. Some victims tried to escape, while others, desperate and hopeless, attempted to hinder their escape.
Liu Xijing, hardened and unflinching, had been ordered to save only Chen Tingjia. If they had been in a deserted area, she wouldn't have hesitated to silence the man permanently. But for the other captives, this was their only chance at freedom, and they began to panic.
Just as the situation reached a boiling point, a gunshot rang out in the darkness, cutting through the chaos. Pei Yujang, hidden in the shadows, knew it was time to act. She opened the live stream she had set up earlier, aiming her camera at the scene.
Notifications alerted her two million followers that she was live. As the viewer count surged, the chat filled with confused messages.
"Bang!" Another shot was fired.
Pei Yujang dodged skillfully, taking down one of the attackers. As the chaos unfolded, she shouted into her phone, "Human trafficking! Yujing Yuan Ting complex! Call the police!"
Three more shots rang out, but Pei Yujang was already on the move, taking down another target with her silenced pistol. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.
As the police sirens finally sounded in the distance, Pei Yujang was struck in the back, the bullet hitting her ribs through her bulletproof vest. Despite the searing pain, she pushed forward, taking down another assailant before finding temporary cover.
She had just enough time to see Liu Xijing and Chen Tingjia slipping away before she felt a sharp pain as she was stabbed in the side by an attacker she hadn't seen coming. The police arrived just in time, and as the situation stabilized, Pei Yujang finally allowed herself to collapse, confident that the worst was over.
When Pei Yujang awoke in the hospital, her body was wrapped in bandages, and she mused about the possibility of getting a VIP membership for frequent hospital stays.
The nurse attending to her, an Omega with a sweet voice, was thrilled to see her awake. She chatted away, offering to bring Pei Yujang food and suggesting they exchange contact information. Pei Yujang, still groggy, realized the nurse was the same one from her last hospital stay. Politely, she declined, explaining that her girlfriend was strict about such things.
The nurse paused, surprised. "You really have a girlfriend?"
Pei Yujang was about to explain when the nurse suddenly remembered, "Is it the pretty Omega in the wheelchair who looks like a fairy?"
Pei Yujang was about to nod, proud of the praise for Yu Zhiwan, when the nurse's expression turned serious. "She told me yesterday she doesn't really know you. Are you one of her delusional fans?"
Once, when asked if she liked Yu Zhiwan, Pei Yujang would deny it outright.
Now, when asked, Pei Yujang could only respond, "No, I do, and she loves me too."