The night had fallen heavy and quiet around the mansion, but Zi Yan's heart pounded loudly in her chest. She could feel the tension hanging in the air like an invisible storm, ready to strike at any moment. Lu Yichen had been quick to act when he received the message about the Guo family's movements. They had no time to waste. If they stayed in one place too long, they would be easy targets.
As they ran through the mansion's dark halls, Zi Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. The Guo family wasn't known for their patience, and from the way the messages had come so quickly, she knew they wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it took to capture her.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with worry. She had to trust Lu Yichen now. She had no other choice.
"To a safe house," he replied quickly, his grip on her hand tightening as they hurried through the corridors. "It's the only place we'll be safe for now."
Zi Yan nodded, but she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to her. The safe house was their last line of defense, but it wasn't foolproof. There were too many ways the Guo family could find them if they weren't careful.
They reached a small, hidden exit at the back of the mansion. As they slipped out into the dark alley behind the building, Zi Yan felt a chill run down her spine. The world outside felt far too quiet, as if everything was waiting for something to happen.
Lu Yichen led the way, his steps quick and precise. They didn't have much time. The Guo family could already be closing in.
"Stay close," he said, his voice low and serious. "We need to move fast. No matter what happens, don't stop running."
Zi Yan kept pace with him, her eyes scanning the street for any signs of danger. She knew the Guo family would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. And right now, that meant her.
The night was cold, and the only sound was the rush of their footsteps against the pavement. They passed dark alleys, deserted streets, and empty buildings, but Zi Yan's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't focus on the surroundings. All she could think about was what was coming.
The Guo family had made their first move. Now it was her turn to fight back.
After what seemed like an eternity of running, they finally reached the safe house. It was a small, nondescript building on the outskirts of the city, hidden away from prying eyes. The door was locked, but Lu Yichen had the key.
He unlocked it with a swift motion and pushed the door open. "Go inside," he instructed.
Zi Yan stepped inside, her heart still racing. The inside of the house was quiet, almost eerily so. It was simple but well-equipped, with everything they might need to hide out for a while. There was no time for luxury. They needed to lay low.
Lu Yichen closed the door behind them and bolted it shut, ensuring they were secure. He turned to Zi Yan, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.
"You're safe here for now," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We'll figure out our next move in the morning."
Zi Yan nodded, but the weight of everything was starting to catch up with her. She was used to living in the spotlight, but this was different. This wasn't just about her career or her image. This was about survival. And that made it all the more real.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. "What's the next step?"
Lu Yichen walked over to a small table in the corner of the room and began to unpack a bag. "We need to find out more about what the Guo family is planning. They're after you, but they're also after something bigger. Your father's secrets, probably."
Zi Yan's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Lu Yichen turned to face her. "We know they've been trying to get to your father for years. And now that they've found out you're his daughter, they'll use you to get to him. The problem is, no one knows exactly where he is. If we're going to stop them, we need to figure out where he's hiding."
Zi Yan's mind raced. Her father had disappeared without a trace when she was a child. She had always believed it was because of some accident or tragedy, but now she knew the truth. He had been running from the Guo family all this time. And now they were after her, not just for who she was, but for what her father had done.
"Do you think he's still alive?" she asked, her voice trembling despite herself.
Lu Yichen's expression softened. "I don't know. But I do know that he's strong. He's been hiding for a long time, and he's been able to keep the Guo family from finding him. But the longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes."
Zi Yan swallowed hard. "What if they come after me again? What if they use me to force him out?"
"They will," Lu Yichen said firmly. "But we'll be ready for them. We won't let them use you like that."
Zi Yan looked at him, grateful for his confidence. She wanted to believe him, but the uncertainty still gnawed at her. The Guo family had always been powerful, and now that they knew her connection to her father, they would stop at nothing to force her to give them what they wanted.
She sat down at the small table across from Lu Yichen, her mind racing. There had to be a way to fight back. She couldn't just hide forever. She had to take control of her own fate.
"I need to find my father," she said quietly. "I need to know where he is. I can't let them use me to get to him."
Lu Yichen looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. "We will find him. And when we do, we'll make sure the Guo family can't hurt him—or you—any longer."
The following morning, Zi Yan and Lu Yichen sat down to make a plan. They knew the Guo family was still searching for her, and every minute they wasted gave the enemy more time to close in. The safe house had served its purpose for now, but they couldn't stay hidden forever.
"Here's what we're going to do," Lu Yichen said, his tone serious. "We need to make sure the Guo family can't trace us. We'll keep a low profile for now, but we'll also start digging into their operations. I have some people who can help us track down their movements. It's risky, but it's the only way to get the upper hand."
Zi Yan nodded. "And what about my father? What if he's in danger?"
"We'll find him," Lu Yichen reassured her. "But we can't do it alone. We'll need help."
They spent the rest of the day preparing for their next move. Zi Yan didn't know who to trust anymore. The people she had once considered allies might be working for the enemy. Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge. But she had no choice. She had to be strong—for herself and for her father.
As the sun began to set, Zi Yan and Lu Yichen received a message that would change everything.
The Guo family had found their location.