Ye Yan hastily retreated a few steps and used a nearby pillar to shield her form.
The security guard lay on the ground; the culprit was definitely nearby, and going over there at this moment was undoubtedly akin to delivering oneself to death.
Ye Yan took out her phone and dialed the emergency number, just as she pressed a digit, a large hand suddenly reached from behind and covered her mouth, dragging her behind the pillar.
As Ye Yan struggled, she inhaled the familiar scent of cedar. The man's chest was firm and strong, and the arms wrapped around her from behind seemed to possess a vibrant, reassuring strength.
It had to be said, his body always imparted a calming sense of security.
Sensing that Ye Yan had stopped moving, Fu Xingzhou finally let go of his hand.
"Why are you here?" Ye Yan asked in a lowered voice.
"The question goes both ways," Fu Xingzhou bent his head, and by the light of the parking lot, surveyed her, "Which wild man did you meet up with?"
Ye Yan didn't want to argue with him. She just picked up the phone, ready to call the police, when the black Audi suddenly started and accelerated toward the exit.
Through the front windshield, Ye Yan saw the driver wearing a hat and black-framed glasses.
This person looked familiar. In a flash of lightning, she thought of that fugitive on the co-investigation notice.
"Don't move rashly. Wait here for me." Fu Xingzhou picked up his keys, opened the door, and got into his car, then slammed the accelerator.
"Fu Xingzhou, wait..."
The two cars left the parking lot one after the other.
Ye Yan couldn't stop Fu Xingzhou and quickly ran to the security guard, checking his condition.
Fortunately, the guard was only knocked out and was not in serious danger.
The culprit had not had time to attack him, and her arrival had interrupted his actions.
The security guard was smart; after seeing the missing license plate, he had recalled a vehicle he'd seen while on patrol and had come to check when the attacker ambushed him.
Ye Yan urgently dialed the emergency number.
While waiting for the police, she noticed that behind the Audi lay several bags of trash.
The parking lot was cleaned daily, so these bags must have been discarded not long ago.
Through the bags, she could faintly see some snack bags and water bottles; it seemed the person had been squatting here for quite a while.
Ye Yan walked over, and beside the trash bags, there were a few pieces of torn paper that looked like destroyed photos.
She picked up a piece, and the person's face was intact; the camera focus was very good, the photo was clear enough.
When she fully saw the face, her complexion drastically changed and her hand trembled, the photo falling with the gesture.
Under the parking lot lights, the person in the photo bore a somewhat lazy handsomeness.
Ye Yan quickly dialed Fu Xingzhou's number.
Music kept playing, but no one answered.
Ye Yan grew increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth, repeatedly dialing his number.
She hadn't expected the man's target to be Fu Xingzhou, and Fu Xingzhou had, for some unknown reason, meddled by chasing after him.
The other party was a professional killer; Fu Xingzhou would definitely be at a disadvantage confronting him.
Why hadn't she stopped him?
Ye Yan then called Meng Tian, who was on duty at the station today.
"Tiantian, I just saw that fugitive. Can you help me track two cars for me? The license plate numbers are…"
After giving Meng Tian the details, Ye Yan also remembered Fu Xingzhou's good brother, Tang Jingyao. Perhaps at this time, he could help.
After making a round of calls, Ye Yan continued to dial Fu Xingzhou's number, and this time after a few rings, it went straight to an automated message.
When she tried again, the call could not go through.
Why would Fu Xingzhou turn off his phone?
Had he already met with misfortune?
~
Fu Xingzhou slammed on the brakes, his car was forcefully stopped by the one in front, he got out, and with a flick of his wrist, the door slammed shut.
The owner of the Audi also got out of his car and now stood under the cold, white moonlight, staring at him.
The man wasn't tall, but he was quick and agile like a panther; the eyes behind the black-framed glasses emitted a chilling murderous intent. He clearly looked like a desperado.
"Are you Fu Xingzhou?"
Fu Xingzhou leaned against the car, lit a cigarette in the dark, and lazily blew out a smoke ring, "From inland?"
The man in the black glasses squinted his eyes.
"You've come all this way across the ocean to kill me?" Fu Xingzhou carelessly flicked off the ash, "Seems my life is quite valuable."
The man in the black glasses drew two sharp blades from his person, flipping them expertly, "Taking money to eliminate troubles for others; if you have grievances or hatred, take it to the underworld."
Inside the car, the sudden stop had thrown Fu Xingzhou's cellphone out, after ringing for a few times, the battery drained, and it shut off.
Ye Yan hugged her phone without knowing how long she had sat there when the screen suddenly lit up, it was Meng Tian's call.
"Ah Yan, following the license plate number you provided, we've tracked down the location and discovered a body at the scene."
Ye Yan's throat tightened, and she swallowed spit before managing to speak, "Can the identity of the deceased be confirmed?"
Meng Tian stepped out of the car carrying an investigation kit, "We can't confirm it yet."
Ye Yan hurried upstairs to grab her car keys and drove toward Holy Mother Church.
Along the way, the dazzling neon lights decorated Ao City's night, painting a vivid and bustling scene.
Outside the window, advertisements for the Royal Sand Casino could be seen everywhere, shining bright against the city's night.
Ye Yan gripped her phone tightly, her mind a mess.
She had once dreamt of leaving Fu Xingzhou, but she had never imagined it would be like this.
After arriving at the scene, police tapes were pulled up, and the police were conducting an investigation.
It was late, the beach was deserted, and the few passersby walking about were stopped outside by police staff.
Two cars were parked within the police tape, a black Audi and Fu Xingzhou's Maybach, which he had just picked up not more than two weeks ago, his current obsession.
The driver's door was ajar, but there was no one inside.
Ye Yan's gaze fell on the obscured corpse, and her heart sank once more.
"Where is the ambulance? Has the ambulance arrived?" someone shouted loudly.
Immediately after, two people carrying a stretcher walked out. Even beyond the police tape, Ye Yan could clearly see that face — a face mangled beyond recognition but somehow familiar.
Ye Yan scanned the man on the stretcher, preliminarily judging that he had at least five dislocated fractures.
This man was not Fu Xingzhou, at least not in stature.
Yes, was it the fugitive?
If the fugitive was on the stretcher, then the body on the ground...
Both the clothes and build strikingly resembled Fu Xingzhou.
Ye Yan took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Officer," Ye Yan stopped a passing policeman, "Where is the person from the Maybach?"
The policeman frowned, "Don't be nosy, citizen. Move along now."
"I'm a family member," Ye Yan clarified.
The policeman looked her over and nodded towards her back, "Isn't that him over there?"
Ye Yan turned around and saw the man leaning against the police car. The light from the scene investigation lamps was bright, revealing his tall and upright figure for all to see.