The moment they stepped out of the inn, they sensed trouble. Hu Yaohui and his group had followed them. The man who fought with Xie Sui whistled, like a cat toying with a mouse.
Xie Sui's face darkened. He walked straight up to Hu Yaohui. "Brother, what's the meaning of this? Are you determined to clash with us to the end?"
Hu Yaohui chuckled, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "Don't overthink it. We guys are scared of rats too."
Xie Sui shook off his hand. "Do I look like an idiot to you? What do you want? Just lay it out."
Hu Yaohui's smile faded. "Let's find a place to settle down first. Let's go."
Xie Sui felt a chill at his waist. It was a dagger, forcing him to go with them.
Xie Sui cursed his bad luck but conceded. "I'll do as you say, but you have to let my sister go."
"No. We promise we won't touch your sister, as long as you behave."
Lin Wanwan was terribly worried. How could they encounter such a situation?
Xie Sui clenched his fists, then sneered. "Fine. If you keep your word and don't touch my sister, otherwise I, Zhao Youliang, swear you'll have a miserable death."
Hu Yaohui admired his backbone. "Not a coward. I like that, Brother Zhao. Rest assured, your sister is our sister. We won't harm our sister."
The man who fought Xie Sui burst into laughter. "That's right! Our sister is so lovely. I, for one, wouldn't dare touch her."
"Don't mess around. We have important matters to attend to. If you dare touch her, I'll break three of your legs."
Hu Yaohui commanded respect. The man shrugged, not daring to be too presumptuous.
The group moved to a different inn, closer to the city center. Just one street away was the city's steel mill, a key enterprise in the city, famous nationwide. It produced a million tons of steel annually and had a history of several hundred years, existing even before liberation. Its continued existence through various storms was a testament to its deep roots.
Xie Sui and Lin Wanwan shared a room. However, Hu Yaohui's men were stationed on both sides. If Xie Sui hadn't insisted, they would have wanted the couple to share a room.
After locking the door, Lin Wanwan's face was as pale as paper. "Xie Sui, what do we do? What do they want?"
Xie Sui felt a pang of heartache. He wanted to provide Lin Wanwan with a good life, to shield her and their child from hardship. He didn't want to be the richest man in the world with inexhaustible wealth; he only wanted a wife, children, and a warm hearth.
Yet now, he had caused her such fear and distress. Xie Sui wished he could finish Hu Yaohui off right then.
"Don't worry. I'll figure something out. Sleep soundly."
Lin Wanwan: "How can I sleep?"
"Even if you can't, you must try to sleep and conserve your energy."
The room had a double bed, with one bed for each person. Each bed was 1.2 meters wide, barely enough for one person. Yet, Xie Sui squeezed onto the same bed with Lin Wanwan, propping a stool against the door to prevent anyone from entering.
An hour passed, and the city grew quiet. In the deepest part of the night, when Lin Wanwan, exhausted, was on the verge of sleep, Xie Sui pinched her. She instantly woke up. "What is it?"
"Wanwan, listen to me. You need to escape through the window now. Don't worry about me. Go home at dawn and find Officer Huang directly. Tell him to rescue me."
"No! I can't leave you alone. They won't let you go."
Lin Wanwan wasn't relieved; she was even more worried. Their family had just started to have a better life, with a glimmer of hope. How could they encounter something like this?
If only they hadn't come to the city. The money they had earned was more than enough. She was content and only wanted a good life with Xie Sui.
Lin Wanwan embraced him. "Xie Sui, do you know you're so annoying? Do you even have me in your heart?"
"What are you saying? I'd give you my heart if I could. How could I not have you? Wanwan, I love you. I'll only love you in this lifetime."
Xie Sui said with deep emotion. He had uttered these words to countless women in his previous life, but they were all empty flirtations, none sincere. Only now, his words were true and genuine.
Lin Wanwan's tears flowed ceaselessly. "Then why, when I hinted at it so many times, would you refuse to sleep with me?"
Xie Sui's mind buzzed. The surprise came too fast. He thought he had misheard. "Wife, when did you hint at it? Never mind, next time, let's be more direct, okay?
Be good. Going home will be helping me. For you and the children, I will protect myself. Tell Officer Huang that man's name is Hu Yaohui. He'll know what to do."
Lin Wanwan was not a timid person. She immediately wiped away her tears. "Okay, I will definitely find him to rescue you. Should I leave now?"
"No. They haven't fallen asleep yet. Wait until three or four o'clock. I'll wake you up. Get some sleep and take all our money."
Lin Wanwan couldn't sleep, but with Xie Sui's calmness and coaxing, she unknowingly drifted off.
She dared not sleep too deeply. Xie Sui gently nudged her, and Lin Wanwan immediately asked with anticipation, "Is it time?"
"Mmm. Don't speak. Don't turn on the light."
Xie Sui hadn't been idle during this time. He had made a rope from bedsheets. Listening for any movement outside, he opened the window. Fortunately, it was the second floor. The window bars at this time were sturdy, thick iron rods, and he could climb down using the rope.
Lin Wanwan hugged him gently. "My son and I will wait for you to come back. If you don't come back, I'll remarry immediately, and your son will take someone else's surname."
Xie Sui's tears welled up. This woman was truly too good. Even after his past cruelty and hurt, she still forgave him and wanted to build a good life with him.
"That won't happen. I'll raise my own son. I won't let anyone else benefit. Hurry and go."
Lin Wanwan, accustomed to farm work, was agile and slender. She descended smoothly.
By now, the sky was beginning to lighten. Lin Wanwan looked up at him one last time. Xie Sui waved. Lin Wanwan hardened her heart and turned to run. Sudanan Novel Network
Not long after she ran out, a man pursued her. Xie Sui was prepared. He threw a thermos, and with a bang, it startled the man.
"Damn it, you little brat, just you wait!"
Xie Sui hadn't fled with Lin Wanwan because he was worried these men would be guarding the entrance, and they wouldn't get far.
Besides, he had come to the city to find some business opportunities, not to provoke anyone. Being bullied like this, Xie Sui's temper flared. He couldn't stand it.
Alone, he had plenty of ways to deal with these people properly.
The door was kicked open, and Hu Yaohui entered with a grim expression. Xie Sui greeted him cheerfully, "Good morning, gentlemen!"
"You're looking for death!"
Xie Sui grabbed a chair leg and roared, "Come on! If you have the guts, kill me. I came to the city with my sister to have fun, and you arrest me for no reason!
I'll tell you this: as long as my sister is safe, I don't care about my own life. If one of you dies, it'll be a replacement for me. If two die, it'll still be worth it."
The chair leg had sharp splinters. It could indeed injure someone. The group hadn't expected Xie Sui to be even more ruthless. His not-so-imposing physique contained an aura of a fight to the death. In this line of work, the most feared people were those who had nothing to lose.