"Roasted Duck, where did you run off to? Roasted Duck, come out now!" Sunny rustled through the grass, her face filled with anxiety.
Damn it! It was just the first time she had taken it out of the Longmen Society building for a walk, and it had excitedly run off in all directions, leaving her in a panic when she turned around and couldn't see it anymore.
Suddenly, Sunny faintly heard a small, delicate sound not far ahead. She thought it was Roasted Duck and, without suspicion, walked over. Following the sound, she arrived at a dark alleyway, her eyes irresistibly drawn to the surrounding environment. The nearby dilapidated houses, mostly abandoned, sparked a natural curiosity within her, making her eyes shine with wonder, causing her to forget her original purpose of searching for Roasted Duck.
Lost in the sight of the old, worn houses, Sunny felt that this place was completely different from the world she had seen since arriving in the twentieth century. However, the atmosphere was not very comfortable— it was somewhat eerie and cold, reminiscent of a haunted house from a horror movie.
As she casually scanned the area, she noticed a group of people entering an old, dark warehouse with extreme caution and silence. Curiosity piqued, Sunny quietly followed them inside.
What were these people doing? Questions flooded Sunny's mind—filming a movie? Last time she heard Ray say that in this era, to seek realism, they often used empty houses as props to create better scenes. But as she looked closely, she saw that they were divided into two groups, each holding bags of white powder and speaking in hushed tones, which didn't resemble a movie set at all. Perhaps she was mistaken.
Just as she was about to leave, the two groups suddenly erupted into a heated argument. Everyone quickly drew weapons from their waists, and in an instant, the air was filled with gunfire—thunderous and deafening.
Seeing this, Sunny darted back to her previous hiding spot, wide-eyed with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Aha! Now she was sure they were indeed filming a movie, and it was a gunfight scene—so thrilling! She almost applauded in delight.
To see more clearly, she stealthily approached the scene, found a spot to crouch behind for cover, and rested her hands on her knees, captivated and wishing she could join in this simulated shootout.
"Wow! This feels so real!" Sunny shook her head in awe, her eyes darting left and right to observe the two groups.
On one side was a tall, thin middle-aged man with a sinister expression, while the other side featured a short, chubby young man with a bright complexion. The battle was intense.
For some reason, Sunny found herself hoping that the young man would win, not the devious middle-aged man. However, it seemed that the detestable middle-aged man's group was gaining the upper hand.
As expected, within moments, the young man's team was falling apart—some dead, some injured, and others fleeing in panic. Only the young man and two of his remaining subordinates continued to fight side by side.
The young man was growing weak, and the ruthless middle-aged man seized the opportunity to shoot him from behind during the chaos.
Seeing this, Sunny's heart sank, and she instinctively shouted, "Watch out!" but it was too late; the young man fell slowly to the ground, his vibrant life extinguished.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sunny felt a chill run down her spine—this wasn't a movie; it was real! She had just witnessed a bloody gunfight!
"Who's there?" The middle-aged man's group immediately became alert.
At that moment, Sunny understood she was in danger and quickly urged herself to escape.
As she prepared to sneak away, someone spotted her.
"Boss Jiang, there's a girl hiding over there," one of the thugs pointed her out.
"Take her out. We can't leave any witnesses," Jiang Kunhong ordered coldly.
"Understood!" One of Jiang's men aimed his gun at her.
But Sunny refused to accept her fate. Just as she was about to make a desperate run, a colorful smoke grenade exploded among Jiang's group.
Seizing the moment, Sunny sprinted away as fast as she could, having never run so quickly in her life.
In no time, she evaded the pursuing group and found refuge in a dark thicket, leaning against a wall, gasping for breath.
Just as she intended to sit down and catch her breath, a large hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind.
"Don't scream." A deep, powerful male voice whispered coldly in her ear, as if anticipating her next move.
Why should she listen to him? Sunny thought defiantly—who did he think he was?
Was it bad luck? Or was it Friday the 13th? How could she have just escaped death, only to encounter a kidnapping?
However, she wasn't going to comply quietly. She wasn't stupid enough to let him control her.
Thus, Sunny used all her strength to struggle and kicked back with her legs, but her attacker seemed stronger, holding her firmly without giving her a chance to escape.
"Please, I'm trying to save you, not hurt you. Don't be so foolish!" The shadowy figure growled softly, frustrated that he had to encounter someone so troublesome at such a crucial moment.
Though "Comet" Lan Feng had admired her greatly since their last meeting and often praised her in front of "Meteor" Xia Yun, tonight's situation made him doubt Lan Feng's words.
After all, she was the renowned genius scientist Sunny from the twenty-third century! How dare he call her foolish? Hmph! If she didn't show him some colors today, she might as well reverse her name!
Deciding to act, Sunny kicked his knee with surprising force, causing him pain, then bit down hard on his hand, determined to inflict damage.
"Damn it!" The shadowy figure cursed, his expression momentarily showing pain. He quickly withdrew his foot and used a handkerchief from his pocket to cover her mouth, then grabbed a rope tied to his waist.
In less than two minutes, Sunny found her hands and feet tightly bound, unable to move.
The shadowy figure finally breathed a sigh of relief, glad he had these supplies on hand; otherwise, she would have left him battered and unrecognizable.
"Mmm…" With her mouth covered, Sunny glared at him fiercely, wishing she could take revenge on him.
The shadowy figure understood her thoughts, but given the circumstances, there was little he could do. His priority was to ensure her safety and report Jiang Kunhong's actions to Long Yang.
Thus, with a cold, beautiful face, he hoisted the still-struggling Sunny and placed her in the back seat of a hidden black car before taking the driver's seat.
In less than half a minute, the car roared away, disappearing into the silent night…
Silence! Yes, it was so quiet that no one noticed the glowing red wrist controller that had fallen from Sunny during her struggle, blinking ominously in the shadows...
What a mysterious atmosphere.
On the top floor of the luxurious Longmen Society building, six solemn-faced men sat with a girl who looked like an angel.
"Long, this is the whole situation," the Shadow exhaled deeply as he finished his report, leaning back into his chair with a solemn gaze.
After hearing the Shadow's report, Long Yang's handsome face bore a serious and heavy expression, his cold, indifferent eyes fixed intensely on Sunny across the table, resembling the dark skies before a storm.
"Sunny, I won't allow you to be so curious and reckless in the future," Long Yang finally spoke coldly, his tone flat but laced with unmistakable frost.
Sunny felt a surge of defiance and replied, "Why?" She met his gaze head-on, questioning why she should change her curious nature.
Long Yang suddenly stood up in a fit of anger, his movement startling everyone around him, including Bai Haoran, Lei Jie, and the members of the Samsung Group.
"Why? You dare ask me why?" Long Yang was visibly struggling to control his fury, but it was futile. "Damn it! Do you know how worried everyone is about you? Do you even realize that?" He roared in rage.
Sunny seemed unfazed, almost accustomed to his angry demeanor. She cheekily made a face at him, softly saying, "I didn't do it on purpose."
"Not on purpose?" A deadly glint flickered in Long Yang's eyes, his mouth twitching as he clearly struggled to suppress a deeper, more dangerous rage.
The others, including Bai Haoran, couldn't help but break a sweat for Sunny, simultaneously feeling admiration for her boldness.
"Cough! Cough!" Seeing this, "Meteor" Xia Yun quickly cleared his throat, realizing that if no one intervened to ease the tense atmosphere, they would all likely be scorched by Long Yang's fury.
"Sunny, I think you might not fully grasp the severity of the situation. Tonight, you not only witnessed a significant drug deal, but you also saw a murder take place. Not only were you discovered, but your face was also seen by Jiang Kunhong's group. Although we have a handle on their actions so far, Jiang Kunhong is ruthless; he will certainly send people to investigate your background and whereabouts. He will not let you go," Xia Yun said seriously, gazing intently at her. Though it was their first formal meeting, he had actually observed her many times without her noticing.
"So what?" Sunny responded nonchalantly, maintaining her fearless demeanor. "Didn't Long Yang have a vendetta against those called Jiang Kunhong and Fang Yongsheng? We might as well use this opportunity to engage in a big showdown with them; it would definitely be thrilling and fun!" She became more excited as she spoke, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, completely unaware that her words darkened the expressions of those around her.
Bai Haoran, Lei Jie, and the Samsung Group exchanged incredulous looks, surprised that she would treat such a serious conflict like a game, yet admiration shone in their eyes for her uncharacteristic boldness.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Sunny asked, smiling innocently at them. Since she learned that the person who kidnapped her was a member of the Samsung Group, specifically the one she had longed to meet—Ming Xing—she had long since let go of any grievances about being tied up by him that night.
The others chose not to comment, leaving the floor to their leader, Long Yang.
"Sunny," Long Yang, who was lost in thought about something else, fixed a stern gaze on her, his voice chillingly cold, "how did you know about my feud with Fang Yongsheng and Jiang Kunhong?" The question surprised not just him, but also Bai Haoran and the others, who suddenly realized they had overlooked this important point.
Sunny blinked innocently, "Huh! Strange, didn't Meteor just mention it?" She silently stuck her tongue out at herself, realizing how coincidental this situation was.
Ever since she discovered that Long Yang and his group were hiding something from her, she had been secretly observing them, taking note of their every move. Although they were good at hiding it, there's always a slip, and she finally uncovered the information Long Yang had commissioned a detective agency to gather, revealing the entire situation.
"Did Meteor mention that?" Bai Haoran asked incredulously, confusion etched across his face.
"Yeah! Did he mention it?" Lei Jie also looked doubtful.
"Of course he did! Otherwise, how would I know?" Sunny shot them a look, frustrated that these two always seemed to be against her. "I think you two must have some form of amnesia; otherwise, how could you forget something you just heard so quickly? Don't you think so?" She smiled brightly, cleverly turning the tables on them.
Ignoring their bewildered expressions, she proudly turned away, only to catch the Samsung Group exchanging knowing glances. Sunny made a face at them, realizing they were on the same wavelength, and felt a sense of camaraderie worth pursuing.
Long Yang, observing the exchange, frowned slightly, feeling a strong dislike for the way Sunny and the Samsung Group seemed to share a mutual understanding. Not only did he dislike it, but it also made him uneasy.
"Long!" Lei Jie looked at Long Yang, whose expression shifted ominously, and asked, "What do you plan to do about this? Should we continue with the original plan?"
Long Yang's eyes darkened with complexity, a faint, humorless smile forming on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Let's talk about it tomorrow. I still have accounts to settle with Sunny, and I don't want to discuss this now. You all should rest first!" He dismissed them coldly.
Upon hearing this, all five of them exchanged worried glances, concerned for Sunny.
Long Yang's expression was too frightening that night, and even they felt a twinge of fear. Leaving Sunny alone here, they were uncertain if they would see her tomorrow.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Long Yang shot them a piercing glare, his voice icy and harsh, sending shivers down their spines.
The five men exchanged silent glances with Sunny, sending her a message to take care of herself, before quietly leaving the hall.
Once they departed, the atmosphere in the room turned eerily silent, so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
As Long Yang remained silent for a long while, Sunny, who had been sitting on the sofa, began to feel an unsettling chill creep into her heart. She cautiously looked at his expressionless, handsome face, her feelings a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"Long Yang…" Sunny stepped closer to him, her voice soft and tentative, having lost all the courage she had when teasing him earlier.
Long Yang's face remained dark and foreboding, his gaze fixed on her without a word.
Sunny pouted, grasping his cold hand. "Long Yang, why aren't you saying anything? Are you still mad at me?" It was unusual for someone to stay angry for so long.
"Damn it! Do you have any idea that you almost lost your life tonight?" Long Yang shouted, tightening his jaw, the veins in his neck pulsing rapidly.
"I know," she quickly replied, realizing that the roast duck had been brought back by Lei Jie, who happened to return at just the right moment. No wonder she couldn't find it anywhere.
"Good! Since you know, why don't you take better care of yourself and avoid putting yourself in such dangerous situations?" Long Yang's face was dark as he roared in anger. "When I saw Lei Jie carrying the roast duck back, I thought something had happened to you! Do you understand?" His fierce expression suggested he wanted to shake her.
"I… I…" Sunny was momentarily stunned by his terrifying demeanor, completely shocked and unsure how to react.
Suddenly, Long Yang let out a low growl and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.
"Damn you!" he growled, his voice hoarse as he roughly sealed Sunny's red lips with his own.
This was the first time Long Yang completely lost control. He trembled uncontrollably, his body burning hot like hers, greedily kissing her, his tongue exploring the sweetness of her mouth.
Before the Shadow had brought her back, his heart had been in turmoil, his mind a blank slate. For the first time in his life, he was panicking, not knowing what to do. It was only now, feeling her soft, fragrant lips and holding her tightly in his arms, that he finally felt a sense of reality, his long-suspended heart finally finding relief.
Long Yang's heart continued to spasm as he deeply realized that Sunny would never leave his side again! He would never let her go.
Gazing lovingly at her beautiful, flushed face, Long Yang deepened the kiss, his breath growing heavier. The fire of desire ignited quickly as he passionately kissed her cheeks and throat, slowly moving down to her chest, his wet lips kissing and caressing her, conducting a ritual of love as if she were a cherished gem.
This overwhelming joy felt wonderful. Sunny wrapped her arms around his neck, melting under his eager yet gentle kisses. She gasped for air, clinging to him, returning his affection with all her passion. Closing her eyes, she nestled tightly in his loving embrace, feeling his breathing quicken in response to her kisses that nearly devoured her.
In the stillness of the night, with the dark sky overhead, the passionate couple transformed all their thoughts into a pair of wings of love, soaring high into the depths of the clouds…
"Ugh!" This was Sunny's one hundred and first sigh, a daily ritual since the incident with Jiang Kunhong two days prior.
She thought that after a good night's sleep, Long Yang would forget about settling accounts with her. Little did she know that the next day…
"What? You want me to stay up here on the top floor and not step outside at all?" Sunny exclaimed, wide-eyed in disbelief. "Damn it! Isn't this equivalent to house arrest?" She glared angrily at Long Yang, who was sitting at the bar, sipping vodka with an utterly serious expression.
What kind of inhumane rule was this? To put it nicely, it was house arrest, but to put it harshly, it was a deprivation of her freedom, even a roast duck was freer than she was.
"This is your punishment for being too curious yesterday," Long Yang said, shaking his drink, completely ignoring her furious gaze and speaking almost calmly.
With less than a week until Fang Yongsheng and Jiang Kunhong were set to smuggle drugs from Thailand, he didn't want Sunny to cause any trouble or find herself in a life-threatening situation because of her curiosity. Although they had taken extensive precautions and preparations, experiencing the panic and horror from last night was enough for him to endure in a lifetime.
"No, no, absolutely not!" Sunny shouted, her beautiful face tense with anger. "If I have to stay here all day doing nothing, I'll go insane! If that's the case, I might as well go back to twenty-three…" Realizing her slip of the tongue, her words abruptly stopped.
That was close! Sunny silently stuck out her tongue.
"Do you think you still have room to say no?" Long Yang said, the corner of his mouth twitching as he fixed a piercing gaze on her.
"The legs are on my body; what do you think?" Sunny scoffed, determined to fight him for her freedom.
"It seems I have no choice but to lock you in your room," Long Yang said darkly, his expression icy.
"You wouldn't dare!" Sunny jumped up from the sofa, shouting.
Long Yang's sharp eyes bore into her. "Want to try me?"
At his words, Sunny's anger flared, her eyes blazing with fire; but within two seconds, her expression changed, and she calmed down. Fine! If hard tactics wouldn't work, she'd change her approach and go soft instead.
Approaching him, she took the glass from his hand and set it aside, then nestled into his embrace.
"Long Yang, please don't be like this! You know I can't sit still. If you make me stay here doing nothing, I'll definitely go crazy. I'm sure you wouldn't want to see me like that, right?" Sunny said, cuddling against his chest, sounding pitiful.
Long Yang couldn't help but chuckle. He looked at the charming girl in his arms, surprised by how quickly she changed her tone from angry to sweet. It was no wonder people said women were fickle; it was a saying that held true.
"Hmm, of course, I wouldn't want that," Long Yang replied, amused, nodding in agreement.
Sunny's eyes brightened, her heart filled with one thought: this tactic was indeed effective.
However, just as she prepared to jump up and shout in delight—
"But for your safety, I can only keep you here for four days. Once the situation with Fang Yongsheng and Jiang Kunhong is over, I'll set you free," he said with a smile, finishing his sentence in one breath.
Sunny froze. "What did you say?" This couldn't be; she must have misheard him!
Long Yang shook his head and smiled. "I believe you heard me clearly, so there's no need for me to repeat it."
"Four days?" Did she really not mishear him?
"Yes, four days," Long Yang confirmed firmly, stating that for her safety, he would not change his mind, no matter what she said.
Sigh! At this point, looking at his stern expression, Sunny realized that no amount of persuasion would change her fate of being grounded! She thought helplessly. However, even enduring a single day was hard enough; how could she possibly last four days? Wouldn't that drive her crazy?
"Can't you make it one or two days shorter?" Sunny asked, adopting a negotiating tone.
"Unless you want to extend four days to a week, or even a month," he said nonchalantly.
Sanni quickly shook her head. "No, no, four days is fine; you absolutely must not change it." As the saying goes, under someone else's roof, one must bow their head. Being on his turf this time, she was resigned to it.
Suddenly, a slight tugging brought Sanni back from her meditation from yesterday morning. She raised an eyebrow and looked down.
"Oh, it's you, little guy!" Sanni, sitting on the sofa, bent down to pick up the little dog that was circling around her feet and cradled it in her arms. "Are you feeling bored and restless too?" she said, absentmindedly stroking its soft fur while her gaze remained fixed on the light blue sky outside the French balcony.
She had no idea what Long Yang and the large group of people downstairs were doing in the conference room so early in the morning. But if she guessed correctly, they were likely preparing to secretly assist the police tomorrow night in cracking the heroin smuggling case involving Fang Yongsheng and Jiang Kunhong, which they had been planning for a long time.
Honestly, she was curious to see Jiang Kunhong, the man she had seen in the old warehouse the other day, when he was arrested. However, just thinking about Long Yang's face—sometimes icy, sometimes explosive—made her passion cool down.
"Sigh!" Sanni sighed and turned her gaze back from the window. "It's really so boring!" She looked utterly dispirited and unenergetic.
At that moment, she suddenly felt a bit homesick. Hmm... she wondered how her parents in the twenty-third century were doing lately? And what about her older brother, Sanni Lei, who always doted on her—had he noticed she was missing yet?
Sigh! She really wanted to go back to the twenty-third century right away, but the energy required for a round trip with the time converter made her reconsider. The last time she came here, she had nearly used up half the energy. If she went back again this time, she would have to charge the time converter for two years before being able to make another time travel, and she didn't want to be apart from Long Yang for that long...
Sigh! It was such a dilemma! As Sanni sighed, her hand instinctively reached for the controller on her other wrist, only to be shocked to find it empty! Her face instantly turned pale.
How could this be? She stared at her empty wrist, her face growing pale. How could this happen? Without the controller, she would never be able to return to the twenty-third century.
The thought of never being able to see her parents and brother again left Sanni feeling completely at a loss. How could this happen? Tears streamed down her face as she recalled using the controller to contact the computer in the twenty-third century just the other morning. How could it be gone now? Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Biting her lip, she wondered if she had accidentally dropped it in some corner of her room. It must be that!
With that thought, Sanni jumped up from the sofa, not caring that the little dog yelped in fright, and dashed towards her room...