Susu did not agree with him, saying, "I will not relay these words for you. You must get out alive and tell her yourself."
Huangfu Shaohua coughed again, as if spitting something onto the ground, and continued, "I did not dislike her. After learning the truth, I felt even more heartbroken for her. It was my family background and status that harmed her."
"You are mistaken. What has led you to this point is not your family background or status, but your own lack of steadfastness," Susu said regretfully about them. "If your heart were firm enough, these would be non-issues. Both in the past and in modern times, kings have abdicated their thrones for love. Even if they might have had regrets or found it difficult to adapt later, at least they were resolute in their choices."
"You are right," Huangfu Shaohua said, recalling the happy times with Daisy. It was then that he understood what was truly important, and that missing it would lead to lifelong regret.
Susu added, "If you think I'm right, you must tell Daisy these words yourself. Perhaps you can still salvage your relationship."
"Okay," Huangfu Shaohua's tone finally lost its dejection.
...
Qin Tianyi and a team of police officers arrived at the residential complex identified by the location. They found it to be a very new development.
He chatted with the security guards there and learned that it was fully completed six months ago, with deliveries of apartments beginning gradually.
Most owners were still busy with renovations, so their complex frequently saw renovation crews coming and going, as well as trucks carrying mud and sand.
Therefore, it would not be easy to pinpoint which building and which floor Sheng Haoguang and his group were hiding in within this complex.
Qin Tianyi told the security guards that he was there to view apartments and asked if there were any vacant units, meaning unsold ones.
The security guard suggested he inquire at the sales office.
He offered the guard a pack of cigarettes and said with a smile, "Those people at the sales office talk too much. I'd rather look around myself before deciding whether to buy a property here."
The security guard accepted the cigarettes with a smile and replied, "Then feel free to look around. To be honest, the landscaping in our complex is quite good."
Tianyi nodded noncommittally and walked along the road into the complex.
Meanwhile, the team of police officers, after being assigned by their leader, began to investigate each door and building, going door-to-door. When they encountered residents, they inquired about the apartment layouts.
He analyzed that if Sheng Haoguang and his group were hiding here, holding two hostages, only the large units on the top floors would be suitable.
Qin Tianyi looked up at the rooftops of each building. Something shiny flashed in his eyes. Was there a gleaming nail on the exterior wall of a top floor?
He had a hunch that the top floor of that particular building might be problematic. He informed the leading police officer of this situation and sent a message saying he would go to check it out himself.
The leading police officer agreed and said he would join him later.
Qin Tianyi took the elevator to the top floor of the building and found two units, neither of which had been renovated.
One unit's door was sealed shut, while the other still had its original wooden door.
However, this wooden door was locked. He pressed his ear against it to listen. Just as he was about to look through the gap in the door to see if he could spot anything, someone suddenly patted his shoulder and whispered, "Did you find anything?"
Tianyi turned to look and shook his head, saying, "No, I didn't find anything. It seems neither of these units has anyone in them yet."
The leading police officer was unwilling to let any clue go unexamined and said, "Let's first check if these two units have been sold and who bought them."
"Alright," Tianyi still felt something was suspicious about the place, but he couldn't quite articulate it, just a vague intuition.
However, he couldn't just pry open the door based on intuition alone; it would alert them.
They had no choice but to quietly leave the top floor again.
After Sheng Haoguang took Sheng Zhuzhu to find a place for treatment, his subordinates gathered in a room to relax, drinking and playing cards. None of them suspected that someone had been on the top floor, or even had been checking outside their doors.
One burly man grumbled, "Can this Sheng Haoguang really get the 200 million ransom? We've been hiding in this godforsaken place all day, and we haven't had any good fun since coming to Lan Cheng."
"The boss sent us with him and told us to listen to him. The boss must have his reasons. Why are you talking so much nonsense?" another person reminded him.
"Yes, yes," the burly man replied, "we all follow the boss's instructions. By the way, the extra woman they captured has a good appearance and figure. Why don't we bring her over and have some fun while Sheng Haoguang is away?"
Another said, "Sheng Haoguang said that woman is a wealthy man's wife, and she can also fetch a lot of money. He told us not to touch her yet."
"We were sent by the boss to help him. Are you still listening to everything he says? Look at his daughter, she's a lunatic, so he can't be much better."
Another said cautiously, "Let's wait until the money arrives. If we mess up the boss's plan, we'll all be in trouble."
The other two had also had similar thoughts, but after hearing this, they all restrained themselves.
Someone picked up a wine bottle and changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about women, it's making me unbearable. Let's drink."
"Drink," someone echoed, "By the way, whose turn is it to deal?"
"Just be patient a little longer. We'll have both women and money. When has the boss ever mistreated us?"
This group of people no longer entertained ideas about Susu and became engrossed in their card game.
...
Tianyi accompanied the leading police officer to check with property management and the sales department. The top-floor units in that building had already been sold.
Both units were purchased by the same person, a local resident of Lan Cheng, who was not very old, a man in his early thirties.
The police immediately looked up the man's information. His name was Tang Liang. He had no legitimate profession, and his family background was average. Logically, he shouldn't have been able to afford two large top-floor units.
Looking at this information, Tianyi knew his intuition was correct and said, "Officer, it seems their hideout is indeed the top floor of that building."
The leading officer said, "But these two units have been combined. We don't know the structure after the renovation. If we have to force the door open, how will we rescue the hostages? Also, we don't know how many of them there are or if they have weapons."
"Let's have property management or security find a reason to contact the owner and go in to check the situation inside," Tianyi suggested.
The leading officer hesitated, "That would be too dangerous..."
"I'll impersonate property management and let me go in to scout," Tianyi said anxiously.
"Let our people pose as property management," the leading officer felt this was the only way.
Tianyi insisted, "Let me go. I want to know if my wife is inside and how she is."
The leading officer was somewhat hesitant. Tianyi added, "I used to be the bodyguard of a transnational criminal organization leader. My skills are no worse than yours. Let me go."
"Regardless of whether you find your wife inside or not, do not reveal your identity. Prioritize coming out safely," the leading officer cautioned.
"Don't worry, I understand," Tianyi replied.