The young man continued to spew lewd comments, and Gu Yining played along, feigning interest.
With her foot pressed firmly on the gas pedal, she sped out of the city and into an isolated mountain road in the outskirts.
As the scenery transformed from urban landscapes to dense forests and greenery, the man began to feel uneasy, clutching his seatbelt tighter. "So, do you like outdoor adventures, beautiful?" he asked, glancing nervously around.
Gu Yining let out a cold snicker but didn't respond.
Her silence led him to believe she was simply coy, and he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "Honestly, I also enjoy the thrill. By the way, I don't even know your name."
"I go by 'Wuqing,'" Gu Yining replied, forcing a smile that barely masked her icy demeanor.
"Uh… that's quite a unique name! Can I call myself 'Lengxue' then?" he joked, thinking he was clever.
Gu Yining smirked and replied, "For us, it's just casual fun. No need to know each other's real names, don't you agree?"
"Indeed! A true expert knows how to keep it casual," he grinned, feeling increasingly at ease.
Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt halt, screeching to a stop at the end of the road.
Ahead of them lay nothing but trees—a dead end.
Gu Yining's smile vanished as she stepped out of the car and opened the door. "Get out," she commanded.
The man, still cheerful, exited the vehicle, surveying their surroundings.
The mountains loomed around them, lush with trees and the sounds of birds chirping.
The sunset cast a golden hue over the landscape, the ground damp with the cool moisture of early autumn, hinting that the night would soon turn chilly.
"Hey, beautiful, I'm not sure about this. It feels a bit much out here. Why don't we just go back to the car?" He suggested, stepping closer and opening his arms as if to embrace her.
In the next instant, Gu Yining seized his arm with a vice grip.
With a swift move, she executed a shoulder throw, slamming him onto the ground.
He landed harshly, gasping for breath and clutching his chest. "What the hell, woman? What are you doing?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the forest.
The sudden commotion startled a flock of birds into flight, their wings beating frantically in the dusk.
Gu Yining produced a small knife from her pocket and pressed it against the man's carotid artery. "Hand over what I want," she ordered, her voice cold and unwavering.
The man's bravado crumbled as fear washed over him. He had thought this was just a rich woman looking for a thrill, but things had spiraled dangerously out of control.
"I'll give you whatever you want! Just don't hurt me!" he pleaded, his eyes wide with terror.
"What's the deal with that woman you were with in the hotel today? How long have you been seeing her?" Gu Yining pressed her boot down on his stomach, pushing the blade closer to his throat.
"What woman? I don't know what you're talking about!" he feigned ignorance, hoping to protect himself.
Given the amount of money Chen Huilan likely offered him, he was not willing to betray her easily.
"Speak!" Gu Yining commanded, her tone harsh, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.
For a brief moment, her fierce presence mirrored that of Fu Hanyan, sending a shiver down the man's spine.
The knife's blade grazed his skin, leaving a thin, shallow cut that oozed blood, stinging with the sensation of a thousand pinpricks.
"You really are 'Wuqing,'" he stammered. "Please, don't kill me! I'll tell you everything!"
His fear was palpable; he never expected her to actually go through with it.
Realizing he could lose his life over a fling, he made a quick calculation. He had already received a handsome sum from Chen Huilan and had enjoyed his time with her; it wasn't worth dying for.
"Alright, I'll talk," he surrendered, his voice shaking. "Her name is Chen Huilan. She's a lady from the Gu family. She's been my regular benefactor for two years. We always meet at this hotel, and she gives me extravagant gifts, as long as I keep her satisfied."
Unbeknownst to him, Gu Yining's phone, tucked safely in her pocket, was recording every word.
With a gleam of triumph in her eyes, Gu Yining took a step back, withdrawing the knife slightly. "Good choice. Now tell me everything you know about her," she said, her tone shifting from threatening to inquisitive.
The man, now visibly trembling, nodded fervently. "I swear, I'll tell you everything. Just don't hurt me!"
Gu Yining kept the pressure on, knowing that this was her opportunity to expose the deceitful relationship that had jeopardized her family.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an ominous shadow over the woods, she knew this was just the beginning of a much larger game—one that she was determined to win, no matter the cost.