Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Inside the factory, Lou Tingsi was walking down the corridor, video-calling Lou Yuejue: "What's wrong, son?"
Zhu Changming walked up to him and stood by his side, not entering the frame, but keeping his eyes fixed on Lou Tingsi's face, carefully observing his micro-expressions.
Lou Yuejue's voice, unusually trembling with tears, came through: "Dad, I had a nightmare. I dreamed someone was trying to kill me with a huge lock. I'm scared."
Lou Tingsi's smile stiffened slightly, and he glanced at Zhu Changming out of the corner of his eye. "It's okay, nightmares aren't real. Ask Lucas to stay with you. Don't be afraid. I'll come home as soon as I finish this business deal."
Lou Yuejue sniffled and nodded. "Dad, please be careful. I'll wait for you to come home."
Lou Tingsi hung up the call, let out a barely audible sigh, put away his phone, and stepped inside.
Zhu Changming followed him like a shadow.
Suddenly, Lou Tingsi felt something cold press against the back of his head.
Zhu Changming's low voice echoed in his ear: "Put your hands up, brother."
Lou Tingsi froze for a moment, then calmly looked ahead.
A few people in the room visibly tensed, reaching for their guns to protect him, but others aimed their weapons at them, forcing them to stop. No one dared to make a move.
There were over twenty people in the room.
Only four of them were loyal to him.
Lou Tingsi smirked and slowly raised his hands.
Zhu Changming kicked him hard in the back of the knee!
Lou Tingsi fell to his knees, grunting in pain.
Zhu Changming pressed the gun against the back of Lou Tingsi's head, his expression dark and menacing. "I was planning to make your death quick and painless, but since you figured it out, I need to ask—how did you know there was a traitor among us?"
Lou Tingsi lowered his gaze, and an image of Qiao Chuchu flashed through his mind.
He curled his lips into a meaningful smile. "Maybe because I have a guardian angel."
"Stop playing games!" Zhu Changming kicked him again. "How the hell did you know?!"
Zhu Changming grew more agitated. "I hid it so well. I never gave any hints. My plan was to kill you, take your place, and pin your death on your enemies. You should've died without ever knowing there was a traitor."
A hint of bitterness flickered in Lou Tingsi's eyes, and he let out a self-deprecating laugh.
If it weren't for Qiao Chuchu foreseeing his future, he would have never suspected that the person closest to him would betray him.
Zhu Changming, seeing Lou Tingsi's silence, sneered. "Lou Tingsi, aren't you going to ask me why I betrayed you?"
Lou Tingsi remained on his knees, his face as calm as a statue. "No."
He wasn't sad or angry, just eerily composed. "Betrayal is instinct. Loyalty is a choice. Since you didn't choose me, I don't care why."
Lou Tingsi glanced subtly toward the building across from them, where his snipers and backup teams were already moving in.
He wasn't going to die today.
Meanwhile, Qiao Chuchu parked her car outside the factory.
Song ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Yu quickly got out of the car. "Stay here."
Qiao Chuchu frowned. "Why?"
Song Yu's expression was cold and stern. "The boss specifically told me to take care of you. I'm already grateful you came to help me, but now, let me and my men handle this."
Qiao Chuchu glanced at the two people flanking Song Yu. "But you only have two people with you."
"That's enough," Song Yu warned. "You can't go in. If anything happens to you, the boss will kill me."
Qiao Chuchu ignored her and darted into the factory!
Song Yu shouted, "Qiao Chuchu!"
Qiao Chuchu ran inside, then turned back and put a finger to her lips. "Shh! I'm the only one who can sneak in without getting hurt. You guys can't."
Song Yu was stunned. "What do you mean, only you can? Are you some kind of legendary ninja or something?!"
Qiao Chuchu grinned proudly. "Exactly. Follow me, and have your two men provide sniper support. I promise I'll get us in safely."
Song Yu scoffed. "You're kidding, right? If you can get us in that easily, I'll change my name to yours!"
Five minutes later.
Song Yu and Qiao Chuchu were crouched in a corner of the factory, with Zhu Changming's unconscious men lying at their feet.
Song Yu was completely dumbfounded.
She had followed Qiao Chuchu out of concern, ready to step in if things went south, but Qiao Chuchu moved like a ghost, navigating the factory as if she owned the place. They had effortlessly made their way to the room where Lou Tingsi was being held.
Song Yu's last shred of doubt died in that moment.
Qiao Chuchu might look soft and harmless, like a marshmallow, but that was just a facade.
Inside that marshmallow exterior was a core of shrapnel and C4 explosives!
Song Yu felt a chill run down her spine.
The real rookie here wasn't Qiao Chuchu.
It was her!
And she had the audacity to look down on her!
Song Yu closed her eyes in resignation and leaned closer to Qiao Chuchu. "From today on, I'll go by Qiao Yu. Just tell me what to do. I'm at your service."
Qiao Chuchu whispered, "Shh, not now."
She peeked inside the room through the broken door. Lou Tingsi was kneeling, facing the door, his head bowed, his expression unreadable.
Zhu Changming pressed the gun to Lou Tingsi's temple. "You know, my real surname is Long. I'm a son of the Dragon Family. It was your father who killed my parents and made me an orphan!"
Lou Tingsi calmly refuted, "My father didn't kill your parents. There were robbers that day. Your parents were killed by them. My father and I found you and took you in because we felt sorry for you."
"But it was your family's guns that killed them! You weapons dealers are all the same! You're all scum!" Zhu Changming shouted. "It's your fault my parents died! It's your fault!!!"
Qiao Chuchu's heart tightened.
[What the hell? This guy's logic is ridiculous! If his parents had been killed by a kitchen knife, would he blame the knife seller? Would he burn down every knife factory in the world?!]
Lou Tingsi: "?"
Did he just hear Qiao Chuchu's thoughts??
Before he could process it, Zhu Changming punched him hard. "If I hadn't reunited with my grandfather, I would've never known you were the son of a murderer! I trusted you like a brother! Do you know how much that hurts?!"
Qiao Chuchu's lips twitched in anger, and she clenched her fists.
[This bastard! Betrayal is one thing, but dressing it up like some righteous crusade? Disgusting!!]
[What right does he have to play the victim? Lou Tingsi's the one who should be upset!]
Lou Tingsi broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes darting toward the broken door.
He was sure now—Qiao Chuchu was here!
Zhu Changming, noticing Lou Tingsi's distraction, punched him again.
"Are you even listening to me?!"
Qiao Chuchu couldn't take it anymore. She turned to Song Yu. "I'm going in. When I grab Lou Tingsi, tell your men to shoot."
Song Yu: "Wait—"
But Qiao Chuchu was already on her feet, pushing the door open. "Stop hitting him!"
Lou Tingsi looked up, stunned, his breath catching in his throat.
Qiao Chuchu pinched her thigh hard, forcing tears to well up in her eyes as she stood in the doorway.
Lou Tingsi's calm facade shattered as he stared at her in disbelief. "What are you doing here?!"