"What? How could this happen?" Xia Qingtian's eyes widened. "Where's the GPS? The automatic alarm system? Why are you only telling me now? What happened?"
It wasn't morning anymore.
"This morning, right after Li Xiaoxiao was kidnapped, I received a prompt from the alarm system. I immediately dispatched personnel for rescue and managed to retrieve her on Yokohama Avenue."
Mr. Gu's brows furrowed. His gaze was fixed on the screen, intently observing the traffic cameras displaying various roads. "After we got her back, I arranged for three escort routes to take her to the lab for safety. However, we were ambushed halfway. The car Li Xiaoxiao was in was hit in a chain collision, and then all contact was lost."
"After we rescued her, they must have realized there was a tracking device. They arranged for signal jamming. I'm currently sifting through all the road surveillance footage, and we've narrowed it down to two primary routes."
Previously, the perpetrators had operated through covert kidnappings. This time, they had orchestrated such a large-scale operation to snatch her.
This was something he hadn't anticipated.
However, this also further proved that his collaboration with Dr. Li and his wife had put significant pressure on that group.
"I understand," Xia Qingtian said immediately. "I'll figure something out on this end in City L."
"There are two people in City L. It would be much smoother with their help," Mr. Gu replied.
"Who?" Xia Qingtian asked urgently.
"Young Master Lei San."
…
Young Master Lei San.
Xia Qingtian remembered that every encounter with Young Master Lei San had not been pleasant.
However, she truly had no contacts in City L that she could rely on. If she wanted to intercept the person in City L, she could only count on Young Master Lei San's assistance.
Following the location provided by Mr. Gu, Xia Qingtian headed straight for the estate that the Lei family owned in City L.
It was evident that Mr. Gu had already informed Young Master Lei San, as Xia Qingtian proceeded unimpeded from the main gate to the main hall.
"Miss Xia, I have three minutes before my next guest arrives. State your business clearly and then leave." Young Master Lei San looked up at Xia Qingtian, his expression showing little patience.
"I have no connections in City L, and I need to ask for Young Master Lei's help," Xia Qingtian stated directly. "Mr. Gu should have already contacted you."
"He did, otherwise you wouldn't be standing here." Young Master Lei San disliked having his plans disrupted, especially with unscheduled visits like this.
If it weren't for giving Gu Yaoyang some face, he wouldn't even meet this Xia Qingtian.
"I hope to borrow some people from Young Master Lei," Xia Qingtian said, knowing time was limited and not wanting to beat around the bush with Young Master Lei San. "My friend has been kidnapped and will be passing through City L. I hope to rescue her here."
"Miss Xia, what do you think the Lei family does? The Lei family is in legitimate business. We don't deal with those circuitous methods. It would be more effective to seek help from the police for this kind of request." Young Master Lei San glanced at his watch. "Your time is up. See yourself out."
Seeing that Young Master Lei San was unwilling to help, Xia Qingtian furrowed her brows and said, "I won't let Young Master Lei work for free. I'm willing to provide appropriate compensation."
"The Lei family doesn't lack Miss Xia's compensation. Show her out." Young Master Lei San waved his hand. He hadn't come to City L to help with kidnapping and rescue operations, and furthermore, he hadn't brought enough manpower.
He didn't want to get involved in this mess, nor did he have any obligation to.
He just wanted to finish his work quickly, clean up after his foolish elder brother, and return to the capital.
As Xia Qingtian was about to say more, someone came to escort her out.
This involved Li Xiaoxiao's safety, and Xia Qingtian could not give up just like that.
At this moment, a seductive woman wearing sunglasses was ushered in, a tote bag slung over her arm.
Her long, chestnut-colored curly hair cascaded over her shoulders, her figure was voluptuous, and her clothes were revealing. As soon as she removed her sunglasses, a face with obvious signs of cosmetic surgery was revealed.
"Young Master Lei San is busy?" the woman chuckled, glancing disdainfully at Xia Qingtian. "As expected of siblings, Young Master Lei San's philandering is no less than the eldest young master's."
"Where is what I asked for?" Young Master Lei San's impatience intensified.
One by one, they were all liabilities to the Lei family.
"Don't worry, it's here." The woman patted her bag. "Young Master Lei San, where is what I need?"
Young Master Lei San glanced sideways at Xia Qingtian. Seeing that she showed no sign of leaving, and considering Gu Yaoyang behind her, Young Master Lei San frowned and signaled to a subordinate on the other side.
The subordinate understood Young Master Lei San's intention and immediately stepped forward, placing a black leather suitcase on the table. He opened it, revealing stacks of US dollars.
Upon seeing the money, the woman's eyes lit up, and her smile became much brighter. However, because her face had undergone frequent procedures, this radiant smile appeared slightly stiff and unnatural. "The Lei family is indeed prompt."
The woman reached out and ran her fingertips over the stacks of bills, flipping through them to check if they were just blank paper meant to deceive. Satisfied, she closed and locked the suitcase, hefting it to gauge its weight.
"The item," Young Master Lei San said with extreme impatience.
He truly couldn't understand how his elder brother could be so infatuated to this extent, indiscriminate about who he slept with!
The sight of this woman made him feel disgusted, yet his elder brother could sleep with her and even got caught in her trap, forcing him to come and resolve the matter.
It was so infuriating it gave him a stomachache.
"Okay, here it is for Young Master Lei San." The woman took a small step back with the suitcase in hand. Then, she shook her tote bag, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes, and was about to throw the tote bag at Young Master Lei San.
Just as Young Master Lei San reached out to catch it, Xia Qingtian rushed forward from the side and tightly gripped the woman's hand, preventing her from throwing the bag.
The woman seemed to have not anticipated this sudden turn of events and froze for a moment, her eyes fixed glaringly on Xia Qingtian.
"There's a bomb in her bag!" Xia Qingtian broke out in a cold sweat.
Just moments ago, seeing that Young Master Lei San was engaged in a transaction with this woman, she had intended to use her x-ray vision to see what the woman had to trade with Young Master Lei San, so she could learn for herself. What if Young Master Lei San was swayed and agreed?
After all, the Xia family had many antique collections.
However, the moment she activated her x-ray vision, Xia Qingtian's legs went weak with shock. The woman's bag contained nothing but a bomb with a blinking red light.
The bomb's fuse was connected to the woman's ring along the inner lining of the bag. As soon as she threw the bag, pulled the fuse, everyone would die!
Hearing Xia Qingtian's words, the woman's face instantly changed. She shoved Xia Qingtian away fiercely and immediately tried to throw the bag at Young Master Lei San.
In a flash, a gunshot rang out, and a bloody hole pierced directly through the woman's heart.
Her eyes widened abruptly, and the woman toppled backward. Her hand, which was holding the bag, was about to release it when the pushed-away Xia Qingtian lunged forward again. She tightly covered the woman's hand with her own, while with her other hand, she supported the bag, falling rather awkwardly.
Young Master Lei San immediately had his men check. The results proved that Xia Qingtian had not lied; the woman's bag indeed contained a bomb. Once the bag was released, the bomb would detonate.
Given the explosive power of this bomb, Young Master Lei San would have surely died.
Realizing this, Young Master Lei San felt a surge of panic, his hand hanging by his side trembling slightly—someone wanted him dead!
After the bomb was successfully disarmed, Young Master Lei San looked at Xia Qingtian, his eyes narrowing slightly.
How did she know there was a bomb in the woman's bag?