"Tomorrow, take me to find Chen Nian."
Though Zhao Yixue's expression remained impassive, the sudden drop in temperature around them had already sent Qiu Ya shivering uncontrollably.
What was going on?
Did Chen Nian having a girlfriend have anything to do with her?
Why was she reacting like this...
"Alright, alright. Tomorrow I'll take you to Linhai City University. We should find him there!"
"Good. See you tomorrow."
Zhao Yixue gave a slight nod.
Only then did the completely frozen coffee finally thaw.
She stood up. Beneath her black baseball cap, a pair of slender eyes gleamed like a solitary cat in the night.
"Don't tell anyone about what I asked today."
"O-okay!"
After exchanging contact information, the two parted ways.
Only after Zhao Yixue had completely disappeared from sight did Qiuya snap back to reality.
"Oh my god... I have Luoxue's contact info! This is absolutely surreal."
"Better hurry home before trouble finds me again!"
On her way back, Qiu Ya spotted a fiery red Audi parked in front of the shop near her residence.
Several men with grim expressions were already banging on the door.
It was late—the shop had long since closed!
Just as she was puzzling over it, Old Cao opened the door.
"What brings you gentlemen here so late?" Old Cao asked politely.
"Don't you know why we're here?"
"Of course we're here to have you craft gear for us. Hurry up and get to work!"
The men spoke with an overbearing tone, using commands that left no room for refusal.
Old Cao hurriedly apologized with a forced smile, "Sorry, folks, we're closed for the night. Besides, I have a queue of customers waiting. Why don't you join the line?"
Crash!
The vase by the shop entrance shattered instantly.
Qiuya watched the scene from afar, furious. She'd worked so hard to grow those flowers!
"Old Cao, don't be so ungrateful."
"Ha! Make us wait in line? Do you know who we are?"
The man in the red shirt sneered. "We're from the newly formed guild 'Fire Lynx'. Every member is a powerhouse above level 50, with a registered capital of ten billion. We came here personally to call you out—that's giving you face."
"Guys, it's not that I'm refusing you. But forging equipment this late at night would disturb the neighbors!"
"Fine, take him away!"
"Working at our company won't disturb anyone. From now on, you'll prioritize our orders."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than several men stepped forward, grabbed Old Cao, and dragged him toward the car.
Soon, the headlights of the Audi vanished into the darkness.
....
"This is outrageous... absolutely outrageous!"
Qiuya witnessed the entire scene. Keeping her cool, she didn't rush out but immediately called the enforcement team.
"Understood. We'll verify and handle this immediately."
That was the response from the enforcement bureau.
Helpless, Qiuya could only wait. But by the next morning, there was still no update.
She sat motionless at the shop entrance, her whole body drained of life.
Until a customer arrived.
Chen Nian had come.
He had an appointment for equipment crafting this morning and arrived early.
Little did he expect to encounter a familiar face here.
"Is this Old Cao's shop? I'm here to have him craft some gear."
"You... You're Chen Nian?!"
Qiu Ya covered her mouth in shock upon seeing him.
She had promised Luo Xue yesterday she'd find him, never expecting him to show up here himself.
"Yes... This is my father's shop, but he was taken away—no, kidnapped!" Qiu Ya declared angrily.
After hearing the details, Chen Nian nodded.
"Don't worry. I have contacts at the Enforcement Bureau. I'll look into it for you."
Chen Nian dialed Li Yunwei's number.
"Sorry, Chen Nian. I heard about this already this morning."
"But with the Blood Moon Calamity approaching, every high-tier combatant is precious. The Enforcement Bureau can't intervene over something this minor."
In other words, it's impossible.
They didn't kill or burn anything—just forging gear. That reason alone wasn't enough for the Enforcement Bureau to get involved.
"Got it. What's the background of the group behind this?" Chen Nian asked.
"A newly established company—or rather, the extraordinary beings' guild 'Fire Lynx.' They only accept high-level players above level 50."
"Rumor has it the boss has teamed up with a bunch of capitalists for joint investment. These Linhai City tycoons have extensive networks; even the Enforcement Bureau finds it hard to interfere."
"Chen Nian, you'd better..."
Li Yunwei was about to warn Chen Nian not to get involved.
But then he thought, maybe this kid actually had the clout to meddle.
"Captain Li, I'd better what?"
"You'd better know that this new company at 335 Yunxi Road isn't someone to mess with."
"Got it."
Chen Nian hung up with a smile.
Under normal circumstances, Chen Nian might have ignored such trouble.
But today? Old Cao was crafting him epic gear. Who dared cut in line?
No matter what you're doing, line-cutters are disgusting!
Besides, he'd once been registered with the enforcement squad—half an official, at least.
"Hey, driver! Stop!"
Chen Nian hailed a taxi by the roadside and hurried inside.
Qiu Ya tried to call after him but was too late.
"Damn it, now Chen Nian's gone too!"
"Dad got arrested, and I failed to keep my promise to someone. Ugh!"...
Not long after Chen Nian left,
a black minivan pulled over to the roadside. A girl in a black T-shirt and denim shorts stepped out.
Seeing Qiuya's dejected expression, she didn't bother asking questions.
"Get in. Take me to Linhai City University."
Her mind was consumed by silence; nothing else mattered.
"Actually... I saw Chen Nian earlier, but I didn't manage to stop him. I'm so sorry!" Qiuya apologized with a pained expression.
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know..."
"Do you have his contact info?"
"No."
"Why was he here?"
"To have my dad craft gear, but my dad was kidnapped."
"Where did they take him?"
"I don't know... Can't get through on the phone, and the Bureau hasn't responded either."
"Your father's name?"
"Qiu Cao. Everyone calls him Old Cao."
Zhao Yixue made a call with a blank expression: "Within five minutes, I want to know who kidnapped him."
With that simple statement, she hung up.
Because of her words, the Zhao family's terrifying network of connections and intelligence apparatus sprang into full action.
In less than five minutes, a location report was sent to Zhao Yixue's phone.
"We found him."
"Really... really?"
Qiu Ya was stunned.
Who would have thought that what the law enforcement bureau couldn't accomplish, Luo Xue managed with just one phone call? She found her father!
Her identity and status were truly terrifying...
"Get in the car."
Zhao Yixue opened the door expressionlessly.
Her actions were never associated with "dithering."
She always used the most direct, most effective means!
On the other side.
Chen Nian arrived at the destination alone.