"Don't... don't kill me, that necklace is mine..." Lin Xingwan managed to say.
She felt the grip on her neck instantly loosen. Even though the man in front of her wore a mask, Lin Xingwan could see his eyes light up.
"Cough... cough cough..." Lin Xingwan coughed violently.
"If you lie to me, I'll break your limbs and then preserve you in formalin," the man's mechanical voice was devoid of warmth, yet filled with a heavy threat.
"Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you, but you have to promise me one thing: let those two women go."
After adjusting her breathing, Lin Xingwan met the man's gaze.
From the man's skin and the white hairs at his temples, she could deduce that he was over forty years old. Moreover, the people in the room were not of simple status, and this man held the highest position among them.
"Haha, what makes you think I'll believe anything you say?"
The man's tone was filled with disdain, treating Lin Xingwan's words as an excuse to stall for time.
Lin Xingwan remained unfazed and continued, "The owner of this necklace also has an imperial green pendant carved with a butterfly; and a very large diamond ring..."
Although her mother had once possessed countless peerless treasures, these jewels appeared so rare and immense that they seemed unreal. This was why Lin Hanhai and others had never considered her mother's jewelry to be genuine.
Firstly, her mother had brought them back from Anlong Village; secondly, Lin Hanhai and the others had little knowledge of such top-tier jewelry.
Lin Xingwan could sense that the man's initial playful demeanor was slowly turning serious.
"Release these two women," the man commanded.
Yuan Qisheng, upon hearing this, panicked instantly. "Master, these two women cannot be released. If they are let go, they will reveal what happened tonight, my identity will be exposed, and it will be much harder for us to capture people in the future."
Yuan Qisheng was extremely anxious. Anyone captured here either lived without dignity or died here.
Even if they died, they would die without their bodies intact.
"I said release them, are you deaf, you scoundrel?"
The man roared at Yuan Qisheng, who, terrified, quickly took Yun Qingqing and Xue Manting away.
"I have let them go now. Good girl, tell me, how did you get that necklace? And where did you see the jewelry you mentioned?"
The man deliberately softened his voice, but to Lin Xingwan, he appeared like a pervert.
"They just left. How do I know if they are safe? I need to confirm their safety before I answer your questions."
Lin Xingwan's words angered the man.
He felt played, yet a face so radiant that it eclipsed everything else flashed in his mind.
At that time, she was wearing the jewelry this woman spoke of. While the jewels were dazzling, they still paled in comparison to her beauty.
"Alright, we'll wait until they both arrive safely," the man said, sitting down on the sofa and pouring himself some tea.
He even poured a cup for Lin Xingwan and gestured for her to sit. "Sit down, have some tea, and let's chat."
If she ignored what had just happened, Lin Xingwan would have thought the man was an elder or someone she knew.
But now, Lin Xingwan felt as though she was dealing with a tiger.
She sat opposite the man but did not drink the tea.
The man took a sip and asked, "Were you scared by what just happened?"
"It's alright. I've been through too much. What just happened didn't scare me much," Lin Xingwan replied cautiously, her gaze falling on a faint mark on the ring finger of the man's right hand.
Lin Xingwan guessed that this man habitually wore a ring.
"I heard you are Dongfang Junze's woman? You're quite brave, little girl. Who else would you provoke but someone from the Dongfang family? Do you know that place devours people without spitting out bones?"
The man put down his teacup. His casual tone silenced everyone present.
"Whether it's easy or difficult to provoke is my business. However, you don't seem like someone who would warn me. I wonder why you're saying this?" Lin Xingwan didn't believe that a man who wanted her dead would suddenly care about her.
As expected, the man's next words sent a chill through Lin Xingwan.
"Don't be so defensive. After all, once your friends are safe, you will die too. You seem so naive, I just want to tell you a few things. You've met Zhou Jinbai's uncle, haven't you? That man is no easy character. He has a smiling face, but who knows how many capable individuals have perished under his hand over the years. It's a pity, really. He was originally the eldest son of the Dongfang family, the future Dongfang Junze, but due to infertility, he couldn't become Dongfang Junze and had to settle for Dongfang Zechuan. Back then, Zhou Bingwen and Zhou Nianqing, the brothers, even fought over Meng Chuzheng, turning against each other. Who would have thought that in the end, Meng Chuzheng would marry Jia Huaixu? Truly, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Jia Huaixu is the one standing at the peak of life, not only snatching his good brother's business but also his wife."
Lin Xingwan didn't know what to say, but she had never known what this man was saying.
Zhou Bingwen had also told her about Zhou Nianqing's past, but mostly about how outstanding and glorious Zhou Nianqing once was, even giving Lin Xingwan the impression that Zhou Nianqing was already perfect.
But now, hearing this, she felt they were just ordinary people.
"Zhou Bingwen likes Meng Chuzheng? Are you kidding me? They act like enemies whenever they meet." Lin Xingwan couldn't believe it. Last time, Meng Chuzheng almost killed Zhou Bingwen.
"Zhou Bingwen has a habit of keeping a diary. What I'm telling you is useless. If you have a chance, you can look at Zhou Bingwen's diary. It's under the third floor tile in his room. That tile can be lifted."
The man didn't elaborate on Zhou Bingwen's matters and instead spoke again. "Zhou Jinbai has a fiancée named Cen Zhiyuan. You should know this woman, right?"
"Zhou Jinbai told me about her." Lin Xingwan recalled a woman with ambition written all over her face. It seemed like such an outstanding woman was worthy of being with Zhou Jinbai.
Lin Xingwan used to envy Cen Zhiyuan, but now she suddenly felt at peace. If she and Zhou Jinbai were separated, then Cen Zhiyuan standing by Zhou Jinbai's side would be quite good.
At least with such a partner, she would worry less about Zhou Jinbai.
"I've met her a few times. She's young, but her heart is darker than her father's. She's a ruthless character. A little white rabbit like you in front of Cen Zhiyuan is just asking for death." As soon as the man finished speaking, Yuan Qisheng reappeared.
"Master, the two women have been dropped off at a safe location by helicopter," Yuan Qisheng reported. Just then, Lin Xingwan's phone rang.
It was Xue Manting calling.
Yuan Qisheng answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"Xingwan, we're in Rongcheng now. We're safe, how are you?"
As soon as Xue Manting finished speaking, Yuan Qisheng hung up the phone.
"Now, it's your turn to tell me the story of that necklace?"
The masked man fixed his cold gaze on Lin Xingwan.
Lin Xingwan couldn't be sure if the man had truly sent Xue Manting and the others away, but she was certain that the man's patience was wearing thin, and she had no more time to stall.
"Is that necklace very important to you?" Lin Xingwan asked back.
"Very important. It concerns my life. So, do you think it's important to me?" After speaking, the man picked up the knife Lin Xingwan had just held and began to lightly sharpen the blade.
The cold light reflected in Lin Xingwan's eyes, filling her with terror.
Meanwhile, Xue Manting and Yun Qingqing, who had left, were experiencing a different scene.
They hadn't actually been sent to a safe location but were captured and thrown into a room.
As soon as Xue Manting returned the phone to a man, she was subjected to beatings.
Yun Qingqing was no better off, as this place was for entering, not for leaving.
"Master ordered that neither of these two should be left alive," a subordinate entered the room and instructed others.
"Yes—"
Then someone produced a gun and aimed it at Yun Qingqing and Xue Manting.
Yun Qingqing was completely distraught. She never imagined that simply working as a waitress would cost her life.
Xue Manting was also terrified, her body turning cold.
The man holding the gun slowly pulled the trigger, waiting to fire.
Just then, a commotion erupted from the corridor outside.
Yun Qingqing's look of despair faltered as she saw a pair of shiny black leather shoes appear at the doorway. She bit her lip tightly and made a bold decision at that moment.