Where’s that so-called couple’s telepathy when you need it?

Huzi appeared worried. "What if she's not who she says she is?"

"I really am!" the woman emphasized again.

Old Hei gritted his teeth and made a firm decision. "It's only half a million. We can't take the risk. It's better to let her go."

Huzi seemed to agree, nodding. "We're not short of money anyway. Let her go then—just half a million."

Tang Mianmian could never have imagined being released so easily!

However, the two kidnappers had no conscience at all—they left her in the middle of nowhere! How was she supposed to get back?

Now, she was thirsty, tired, hungry, and cold, with no sense of direction, and the sky was getting darker. She stood dazed on a muddy road, unsure of which way to go.

Even without knowing the right direction, she had to keep moving. Waiting here would be worse than walking aimlessly.

As night descended, the unfamiliar countryside grew silent, shrouded in thin fog. Her clothes offered little protection against the cold.

Exhausted, hungry, and trembling, Tang Mianmian's body was starting to fail her.

"How much farther is this damned road?"

She had been walking for over an hour but hadn't seen a single soul.

She had no idea how much longer she could hold on.

But what other choice did she have?

Tang Mianmian exhaled, ignoring her rumbling stomach, and dragged her weary feet forward.

In the car earlier, she hadn't been able to keep track of direction, so she didn't even know if this road was the right one.

To make matters worse, she had no sense of direction at all and felt especially helpless now.

If not for sheer willpower, she would have collapsed long ago.

Long Yejue… Long Yejue…

She repeated his name in her mind.

Can you hear me calling you? Aren't they always saying that couples share a telepathic bond?

Why don't you sense anything…?

"She's already been dumped," Mo Chengyu said, holding up a tracking device he had found in the bushes. He glanced at Long Yejue, whose face was filled with fury.

"Damn it!" Long Yejue cursed, kicking a tree in frustration. Hands on his hips, his eyes burned with anger. "How did they find the tracker? And even if they did, why didn't they discover it until now?"

"That's the mystery," Mo Chengyu agreed, carefully examining the device. "Why did they notice it halfway through? Could it be that Tang Mianmian gave it away herself?"

"She's not that stupid," Long Yejue said, his thin lips curving into a cold sneer. His gaze grew sharper.

Mo Chengyu was speechless.

Does anyone talk about their wife like this?

"Achoo!" Somewhere on a lonely path, Tang Mianmian sneezed violently. She rubbed her nose and shivered. "Great, now I've caught a cold."

"If it wasn't her, then there's a mole," Mo Chengyu speculated, his tone grim.

Long Yejue's eyes narrowed, reflecting the faint light of the night. He seemed lost in thought.

"This search is getting us nowhere. The other cars following them reported no sightings of her vehicle. But one car did lose track of it," Mo Chengyu reported.

"Which car?" Long Yejue grabbed the tablet from Mo Chengyu and studied the data carefully.

One vehicle, which had originally been heading toward the southern district, suddenly changed course and headed west—right near their current location.

"To the western district, now!" Long Yejue commanded decisively.

Mo Chengyu nodded. "It has to be this way."

The group got into their cars—four in total—and sped onto the overpass toward the western district.

Su Wanru, having finished some bread and milk, was lightly dozing in her seat. When Long Yejue entered, she leaned toward him and asked groggily, "Brother Long, have you found Mianmian yet?"

He responded with a faint "Hmm," not offering any more information.

Su Wanru's face filled with guilt. "It's all my fault. If she hadn't tried to save me, Mianmian wouldn't have been kidnapped. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."

Long Yejue said nothing, his face cold and distant.

Mo Chengyu glanced back at Su Wanru, who was tearfully blaming herself.

This woman is strange, he thought. Earlier, she insisted on leaving. Now she's acting all remorseful and stayed. But throughout the journey, she hasn't shown much real concern for the situation. It's only when she's in front of Long Yejue that she puts on this display of worry and guilt.

Maybe I just don't understand women.

Mo Chengyu kept his thoughts to himself.

Long Yejue, however, was completely focused on finding Tang Mianmian. He paid no attention to Su Wanru, dismissing her entirely.

His indifference stung Su Wanru. This man was always so cold toward her, no matter the situation.

If she hadn't witnessed his tenderness toward Tang Mianmian, she might have believed that Long Yejue was just a naturally aloof person.

Even now, with Tang Mianmian missing, he hadn't eaten or rested. He was determined to find her.

Jealousy slowly crept into Su Wanru's heart, entwining with her feelings and suffocating her.

The western district of Jiang City was the most remote area. After leaving the overpass, only a short stretch of asphalt remained.

The rest was an uneven dirt road, undeveloped and sparsely populated—a perfect hideout for kidnappers.

But the farther they drove, the heavier Long Yejue's heart became.

His mind raced with worries—what if the kidnappers had harmed her? What if they'd abused her?

Just imagining those scenarios made him want to tear the kidnappers apart.

This feeling was painfully familiar, taking him back eight years ago…

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

Su Wanru screamed as Long Yejue suddenly punched the car window in frustration.

Mo Chengyu glanced back, seeing Long Yejue's fist against the reinforced glass. He knew the man was haunted by memories of the past and couldn't help but tease him, "Relax, it's bulletproof glass—punch away."

Long Yejue pressed his lips tightly together, his eyes like a bottomless black abyss.

Su Wanru snapped out of her fright and anxiously cradled his hand. "Your hand is bleeding, Brother Long. Let me dress the wound, okay?"

Long Yejue coldly pulled his hand back, wiping it casually on his jacket. His gaze was as icy as a thousand-year glacier, piercing and merciless.

Unwilling to give up, Su Wanru reached for his hand again, but before she could say anything, Long Yejue shoved her aside with force. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

"I just wanted to bandage your wound," she said, deeply hurt.

But her concern failed to elicit any sympathy from him. Instead, he barked at the driver, "Stop the car!"

"Huh?" The driver was taken aback.

Mo Chengyu nodded to the driver, signaling him to pull over.

The car came to a stop by the roadside. Long Yejue got out, turning to Mo Chengyu. "Give me a car. I'll search on my own."

"This…" Mo Chengyu was visibly surprised.

Su Wanru, alarmed, immediately said, "Brother Long, let me come with you!"

"I don't need you," he replied coldly.

He wanted a car not just for convenience but also to avoid the nuisance of having her around.

Su Wanru panicked and stumbled out of the car. "You can't go alone! Let me come with you. I can help."

"I said no!" Long Yejue's tone carried an unmistakable undercurrent of anger.

Still, Su Wanru persisted. "Brother Long, please let me come with you. I'm worried about you being alone out here… Ah!"

Suddenly, she clutched her head and screamed.

Mo Chengyu hurried forward, trying to mediate. "Jue, don't act rashly."

Long Yejue pointed a gun at Su Wanru, his voice chilling and unrelenting, each word like a death sentence. "Stop clinging to me! Or I won't hold back."

Terrified, Su Wanru fell silent. She knew Long Yejue was a man of his word, and if she truly provoked him, she might very well be shot.

With the pest dealt with, Long Yejue jumped into a Range Rover and sped off down the bumpy mountain road, leaving the group far behind.

Su Wanru squatted on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Mo Chengyu merely shook his head. "Get back in the car."

"Why… Why did we come to the western district?" Su Wanru finally voiced her question, one she hadn't dared to ask Long Yejue earlier.

"Because the kidnappers changed course, so we had to as well," Mo Chengyu replied flatly.

"Changed course?" Su Wanru was stunned.

Mo Chengyu didn't elaborate. He got into the car and gestured for her to follow. "Come on. It's late. The sooner we find her, the better."

Su Wanru's eyes darkened as she climbed back into the car, a restless unease taking root in her chest.

Long Yejue's car had left Mo Chengyu and the others far behind. He drove while scanning his surroundings, his anxiety mounting with every passing second.

The road grew darker and darker, and his heart grew heavier.

Tang Mianmian, Tang Mianmian…

He repeated her name over and over in his mind, wishing she would appear in front of him in the next moment.

But reality rarely aligns with wishes. After driving for what felt like an eternity, he still hadn't seen a trace of her.

Because he was driving so fast, the car jolted violently as it crossed a ravine, causing his forehead to slam against the steering wheel.

The sharp pain brought him back to his senses.

This aimless search was getting him nowhere. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself and set off again, this time more composed. His dark eyes meticulously scanned the area, searching for any clue.

Eventually, he spotted faint lights in the distance, standing out against the night. He pressed down harder on the accelerator, heading straight for the lights.

The source of the light was a shabby one-story house. Several vans were parked outside, matching the vehicles Mo Chengyu's team had been tracking earlier.

Switching off his headlights, Long Yejue got out of the car and approached the house silently.

Inside, there was the sound of rowdy voices—men playing drinking games, their crude laughter and vulgar language piercing through the still night.

But amid the noise, Long Yejue caught key words: splitting the money, leaving, and how this job had been worth it.

This must be the group that kidnapped Tang Mianmian!

He pulled out his gun, flipped the safety off, and cautiously made his way to a rear window.

Inside, Old Hei was handing out stacks of cash to the others, grinning from ear to ear. "This haul was like money falling into our laps. Brothers, with this, we can live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Find yourselves some wives and settle down!"

"Hey, Old Hei," a yellow-haired man joked, "didn't you say there was a girl too? How about I make her my wife and save myself the trouble of finding one?"

Old Hei threw a wad of cash at him. "That kind of woman would never be loyal to you, you idiot!"