That evening.
Chen Jinzhao embarked on his journey back to Ninghai.
It was the second day of the seven-day hunting period. Those people must be quite anxious not being able to find him, right? The moment Chen Jinzhao stepped into Ninghai territory, it signified the official start of the hunt.
However, the roles of hunter and prey had already been reversed.
Chen Jinzhao was the hunter!
There's a saying: the most cunning hunter often appears in the form of prey.
Upon returning to Ninghai, Shangguan Yu'an would share the burden of protecting Wen Fulai and Xu Nianqing, tasks not usually revealed to others.
Chen Jinzhao also specifically called Yu Lingxiao, saying with a light smile, "Yu Lingxiao, I'm back."
Chen Jinzhao wouldn't be polite to such an old scoundrel.
Yu Lingxiao detected the hint of mockery in Chen Jinzhao's tone and couldn't help but frown. "And then? What exactly are you trying to say?"
He could tell that Chen Jinzhao seemed to have found out about the bounty.
As expected.
Chen Jinzhao said casually, "When I was browsing the dark web, I accidentally caught sight of someone offering a bounty of one hundred million US dollars to hunt me down. I assume you understand what I mean by saying this?"
"Heh heh, you deserve it," Yu Lingxiao said with a dry laugh.
"But I didn't know about the bounty. I just hope that this hundred million US dollars drags you to hell."
Yu Lingxiao, always cautious, wouldn't admit to such things over the phone.
Chen Jinzhao didn't care. He knew Yu Lingxiao had done it, and that was enough. He said calmly, "This is your last chance. If you fail, you're finished."
*Snap!*
Before Yu Lingxiao could say anything, Chen Jinzhao hung up the phone.
Yu Lingxiao put down the phone with a grim expression, Chen Jinzhao's words echoing in his mind. He said coldly, "Arrogant! You really think I can't kill you. Since you know about the bounty, you should know that the one in charge of this operation is Shadow. But if you're in such a hurry to die, then I'll grant your wish. I'm eager to see the look of regret on your face."
He was completely unaware that he had already fallen into Chen Jinzhao's trap.
Chen Jinzhao was luring the snake out of its hole!
Yu Lingxiao, thinking he was playing along, had forgotten that strength was the sole determinant of the outcome.
Another day passed.
Ninghai remained calm and uneventful. Chen Jinzhao still hadn't received any assassins from Shadow.
That evening, Yu Mengzhi returned home from work. Yu Lingxiao immediately asked her to sit in the living room and chat with him. Yu Mengzhi's trust in Yu Lingxiao had completely collapsed, but she still feigned docility, making tea and pouring water for him.
"Mengzhi, there's something I must tell you," Yu Lingxiao said.
Yu Mengzhi's heart stirred. With a surprised expression, she asked, "Grandpa, what do you want to say? Why are you being so mysterious? Is it very important?"
Yu Lingxiao nodded.
Yu Mengzhi was still trying to guess what Yu Lingxiao was going to say next when he unexpectedly spoke first, "Someone wants to kill Chen Jinzhao. Those people will make their move tonight. Although I find Chen Jinzhao detestable, he doesn't deserve to die."
Yu Mengzhi's hand trembled.
These words left her mind in a whirl. The bounty was issued by Yu Lingxiao, and the assassins were also hired by Yu Lingxiao.
If he wanted to kill Chen Jinzhao, why not do it quietly instead of informing her?
At this moment, Yu Lingxiao also noticed something amiss. Yu Mengzhi wasn't surprised at all. He frowned, "Why aren't you the least bit nervous?"
Yu Mengzhi gasped, and a look of panic appeared on her face.
It was this panic that dispelled Yu Lingxiao's concerns. He subconsciously assumed Yu Mengzhi's panic stemmed from their relationship beyond friendship, never considering that it originated from Yu Mengzhi having secretly sneaked into Yu Lingxiao's study.
"I, I have no relationship with him anymore. Besides, if I contact Chen Jinzhao now, Qin Fengwu will misunderstand," Yu Mengzhi said.
Yu Lingxiao pondered for a moment and then said, "I understand what you're thinking, Grandpa. If you don't want to marry Qin Fengwu, then forget it. I don't want to force you."
"Chen Jinzhao is in danger now. You should notify him as soon as possible."
The reason was rather weak.
However, if Yu Mengzhi hadn't known in advance, she would have believed Yu Lingxiao's words implicitly.
Yu Mengzhi nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go notify him now."
She immediately got up and left the main hall. Yu Lingxiao stared at her retreating back, his eyes lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed, "Mengzhi, don't blame Grandpa for being ruthless. For the sake of the Yu family's overall situation, I have to sacrifice you."
At that time.
Yu Mengzhi drove away from home.
Before leaving, she had already guessed something, but she still resolutely followed Yu Lingxiao's arrangements.
"Grandpa, this is the last time I'll obey you," she murmured.
After her car entered the second ring road, Yu Mengzhi took out her phone to contact Chen Jinzhao. She relayed Yu Lingxiao's words to him. Chen Jinzhao said in a deep voice, "Where are you? I'll come find you now."
"Did you also guess something?" Yu Mengzhi asked back.
Chen Jinzhao heard the sadness in her voice and couldn't bring himself to tell her his own judgment. Yu Mengzhi said with a wry smile, "You know, I've been hesitating to take this step. Perhaps this is an opportunity."
*Screech—*
The piercing sound of tires frictioning against the asphalt road reached Chen Jinzhao's ears.
"Ms. Yu, what's wrong?"
Yu Mengzhi stopped the car. Ahead of her car, a minivan was parked. It was this minivan that had forced her to stop.
Hearing Chen Jinzhao's anxious voice, Yu Mengzhi said, "They've come for me."
The sound abruptly ceased.
The people from the minivan dragged her out of the car, stuffed her into the minivan, and sped away.
Chen Jinzhao tried to dial her number, but only heard a "phone turned off" message.
"Bastard!"
"I really overestimated you. You can even use your own granddaughter as bait. What a scumbag!" Chen Jinzhao roared, completely imagining how desperate Yu Mengzhi would be when she learned the truth.
That was her own grandfather, pushing her into a fiery pit!
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath and called Yu Lingxiao, launching into a tirade. "Where did you send Mengzhi with those people? Yu Lingxiao, you truly are an unforgivable old bastard. How could you do something so heinous?"
He had truly underestimated Yu Lingxiao.
Before today, Chen Jinzhao had guessed that Yu Lingxiao would target people close to him. That's why he had specifically asked Shangguan Yu'an to protect his mother in the county, and he himself had been constantly vigilant about Xu Nianqing's safety in Ninghai. Only Yu Mengzhi had been overlooked, because Chen Jinzhao believed that even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs. Who would have thought that Yu Lingxiao would harm his own granddaughter to achieve his goals?
Yu Lingxiao said faintly, "I'm just letting things return to their original track."
"If you hadn't suddenly appeared in Mengzhi's life, we would still be a harmonious family. So, you are the sinner who caused our Yu family to be torn apart. Your death would only benefit my Yu family, not harm it."
"Old scumbag!" Chen Jinzhao roared.
"If Mengzhi is harmed even slightly, I promise to send you to the eighteenth level of hell!!!"