Wang Fenglan watched Zhou Huai'an leave without so much as a glance in her direction. She knew he was serious this time.

She wanted to make a scene but had lost the nerve.

When Zhou Changyuan returned, she peered behind him. "He's gone? Didn't he leave anything?"

Zhou Changyuan sighed. "Mom, what else do you want from him? Over all these years, he's given more than enough. In his words, he's repaid any debt of birth and upbringing."

Wang Fenglan snorted. "That was nothing. The debt of being born can never be repaid."

Zhou Changyuan frowned. "Mom, you almost got him killed back then. And is he even really your son?"

Wang Fenglan exploded, glaring at him. "Shut up! What nonsense are you talking? If I didn't give birth to him, did he jump out of a rock?"

"What, now that he doesn't want to support us, you're saying he's not mine?"

Zhou Changyuan fell silent, sitting with his head down.

Wang Fenglan sat as well, starting to curse Zhou Huai'an for being heartless, an ingrate, then moved on to Lin Xiaoxiao—calling her a home-wrecking seductress who'd brought nothing but trouble since she arrived.

Up ahead, Lü Zhigang slowed the car as someone waved them down. "What's going on?"

Zhou Huai'an studied the figure. "Don't stop. Either plow through or reverse."

Lü Zhigang eased off the accelerator. "You sure?"

Lin Xiaoxiao, curious, leaned between the front seats. "What's wrong? If someone's waving, they probably need help. It's broad daylight—it's not like we're being robbed."

But she wondered—could it really be a highway robbery?

Zhou Huai'an pointed calmly toward the irrigation ditch nearby. "The weeds are moving against the wind. Someone's hiding in there."

Whoever it was wasn't professionally trained; they'd given themselves away easily.

Lü Zhigang stopped the car. Lin Xiaoxiao stared but saw nothing unusual. "You can tell all that?

Are your eyes radar or something?"

Lü Zhigang chuckled. "His eyes are better than radar."

The person waving, seeing the car stop some twenty-odd meters away, gestured more frantically. When the car still didn't move, he started pushing his broken-down bicycle toward them.

Lü Zhigang smirked. "Quite fearless, blocking random cars out here."

Zhou Huai'an watched closely, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee. When the man was about ten meters away, he said, "Reverse. He's carrying something."

Lü Zhigang shifted into reverse, slammed the accelerator, and the car shot backward.

Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed the back of Zhou Huai'an's seat to keep from being thrown.

Impressive driving!

After reversing a hundred meters, Lü Zhigang stopped again. He and Zhou Huai'an resumed chatting as if nothing had happened."Since when are road bandits so desperate?"

Highway robbery wasn't uncommon, especially in remote areas—most targeted freight trucks or lone travelers, usually just for money.It was rare to encounter someone willing to die—or kill—with explosives.

Zhou Huai'an scanned the area. "Did you bring anything?"

"No. You said not to carry weapons. I turned in my gun before coming out—didn't even bring a pocketknife."

Zhou Huai'an seemed to be calculating. After a moment, he said, "He won't give up that easily."

Lü Zhigang shook his head. "Well, they picked the wrong people to mess with."

Lin Xiaoxiao was still confused, but then she saw the man run back, pull someone out of the ditch—a woman, bound and gagged.

Lü Zhigang cursed. "You were right again. What's he trying to do? Does he have a death wish?"

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes were sharp—and she recognized the green scarf around the woman's neck.

"Isn't that Luo Caixia?"

Lü Zhigang paused. "Who did you say?"

Lin Xiaoxiao shot him a look. "Luo Caixia. Rumor has it she's Zhou Huai'an's ex."

Lü Zhigang didn't know how to respond. He could smell the jealousy—one wrong word, and Lin Xiaoxiao might take it out on Zhou Huai'an later.

Zhou Huai'an ignored them, his eyes fixed on the kidnapper and Luo Caixia. "Drive forward."

Lü Zhigang shifted gears and crept ahead.

They stopped about twenty meters from the kidnapper. It was clearly Luo Caixia.

Lü Zhigang, who didn't know the full story between Luo Caixia and Zhou Huai'an, could only think: This is trouble. His wife is in the car, and his ex is out there.

The kidnapper began shouting, "Get out! Now!"

Lü Zhigang glanced at Zhou Huai'an. "Should I go?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "Wait."

As no one emerged, the kidnapper grabbed Luo Caixia's hair, tore off the gag, and gripped her jaw. "I'll count to ten. If you don't get out, I'll cut her face."

Terrified, Luo Caixia stared at the car, struggling and whimpering.

Zhou Huai'an didn't move. Lin Xiaoxiao had to admire his calm under pressure.

Lü Zhigang grew restless. "They're definitely here for us. How do we save her?"

Zhou Huai'an was silent for a beat. "Can you get past him on the left?"

"Yes."

"When he reaches seven, accelerate hard and pass him on the left. I'll get the girl."

Lü Zhigang nodded. "Got it. Be careful."

As the count reached six, Lin Xiaoxiao's heart raced. She didn't know how Zhou Huai'an would manage it—at full speed, they'd reach the kidnapper in seconds. How could he save anyone that fast?

Before she could overthink it, the engine roared, and the car shot forward.

In one fluid motion, Zhou Huai'an leaned halfway out the window and, as they passed the kidnapper, grabbed Luo Caixia by the arms and pulled her into the car.

The kidnapper stood stunned as the car sped away.

Lin Xiaoxiao clung to the seat, watching Zhou Huai'an hanging out the window, Luo Caixia seemingly in his arms. Beyond shock, she felt a sour pang in her chest.

Zhou Huai'an was tainted. He'd held another woman!

Lü Zhigang didn't slow until they were a mile away. He got out to help Zhou Huai'an pull Luo Caixia fully inside.

Noticing a group of people with shovels and clubs approaching in the distance, he quickly shoved Luo Caixia into the backseat, got in, and drove off.

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Luo Caixia—pale as paper, collapsed beside her—and fought the urge to kick her out.