In the city center, Blue Bay Cafe. The environment is elegant and serene, with few people around. Soothing jazz music flows through the air.
Su Wanwan lowered the brim of her hat and walked into the coffee shop, her gaze quickly sweeping over it. The A3 booth is located in the innermost corner and is relatively inconspicuous. A woman in a beige windbreaker and wearing wide sunglasses was already sitting there, with a cup of coffee that had hardly been touched in front of her.
Seeing Su Wanwan approaching, the woman slowly took off her sunglasses.
A face that Su Wanwan had never expected, yet it seemed somewhat familiar to her - was it Aunt Zhou, the most gentle and harmless caregiver who had been by Lin Wanru's side for many years? !
Su Wanwan's steps froze in place in an instant, her pupils constricted abruptly, and her face was filled with disbelief!
"Zhou..." Aunt Zhou? How could it be you? "!" Her voice changed a little due to extreme shock. The person who passed her notes, sent her mysterious messages and reminded her to be careful of the people around her turned out to be this elder who had always shown her concern and guilt? !
Aunt Zhou's face was no longer as gentle and timid as before. Instead, there was a complex expression, tinged with sadness and determination. She motioned for Su Wanwan to sit down: "Wanwan, sit down." Time is running out."
Su Wanwan mechanically sat down opposite her, her mind in a complete mess: "Why?" Why did you choose this way? What do those words mean? Usb flash drive backup? "Be careful of the people around you?"
A series of questions blurted out, and her heart was pounding so fast that it was almost about to burst through her chest.
Aunt Zhou didn't answer directly. Instead, she took out a black, old-fashioned USB drive exactly the same as the one Su Wanwan had found earlier from the cloth bag she was carrying with her and pushed it in front of her.
This is the complete one. Aunt Zhou's voice was low, but it carried a strange power. "Back then, Jiang Yue prepared a total of three backups." One copy she kept for herself got into trouble. She trusted Qingya and left it to her in that way. And this third one... She entrusted it to me, who was then doing cleaning in the laboratory and also had doubts about the experiment, to keep."
Su Wanwan felt as if struck by lightning. Looking at the small USB drive on the table, she felt as if her breathing had stopped!
Jiang Yue actually handed one to Aunt Zhou! And Aunt Zhou, has she kept it a secret for so many years? !
"You..." You've always known? Why are you taking it out only now? "!" Su Wanwan's voice trembled, filled with the anger and confusion of being deceived.
Aunt Zhou's face showed a look of pain: "I dare not!" Wanwan! I'm just an insignificant nobody! Jiang Yue is dead, and so is Qingya! I'm scared! Holding this thing is like carrying a bomb that could blow me up at any moment! I can only pretend to know nothing and live cautiously...
Tears streamed down her face: "Until..." It was not until Mrs. Wanru found me and offered me generous treatment to work as a caregiver by her side. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but later I gradually realized... She might know something. She's observing and inquiring through me... Her relationship with your father-in-law is not as simple as it seems on the surface. There is also an inexplicable connection between her and that laboratory...
Su Wanwan's blood was almost frozen! Lin Wanru? ! Mother-in-law? ! Is she also related to the laboratory? !
So you suggested to me, "Be careful of the people around you..." Su Wanwan's voice was extremely harsh.
"I don't know whom to trust!" Aunt Zhou was a bit agitated. "Young Master Tingchen is really kind to you. I can tell!" But after all, he is from the Lu family! His mother... I can't see through it! I dare not gamble! This is the only way I can remind you! Wanwan, the contents in this USB drive are more complete than the previous one. There are... There is evidence pointing to higher-level and more specific individuals! It might even include..."
She hasn't finished speaking yet!
The door of the cafe was suddenly pushed open, and the wind chimes made a rapid and shrill sound!
Lu Tingchen's tall figure appeared at the door, his expression as cold as ice, exuding a terrifying low air around him! His gaze was like a sharp arrow, instantly locking onto the two people in the corner booth!
He strode over, and his bodyguards quickly and silently cleared the area and sealed off the entrances and exits.
Su Wanwan's heart instantly leapt into her throat! Here he comes! Sure enough, he still knew!
Aunt Zhou's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and her subordinates consciously tried to retrieve that USB drive.
But Lu Tingchen moved even faster! He held down the USB drive with one hand, his gaze sweeping over Aunt Zhou like a blade, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth: "Ms. Zhou, you've crossed the line." "
Aunt Zhou was so frightened by the murderous intent in his eyes that her whole body trembled. Her lips quivered and she couldn't speak.
It was only then that Lu Tingchen's gaze turned to Su Wanwan. His eyes were so complicated that they broke her heart - there was anger, disappointment, aftertaste, and a deep heartache that couldn't be dissolved.
"You don't trust me like this?" " He looked at her, his voice suppressing a huge emotional fluctuation. "Would you rather believe a note of unknown origin, come to see someone you have no idea about at all, and listen to her sow discord than ask me directly?"
Su Wanwan was left speechless by his questioning, with tears welling up in her eyes: "I..." I just want to know the truth...
"I told you!" I'll tell you the truth!" Lu Tingchen let out a low growl and suddenly picked up the USB drive, "But definitely not in such a way that puts yourself in danger!" Do you know what you would face if it weren't me who came today? "!"
His anger was not because she was seeking the truth, but because she was taking risks regardless of her own safety!
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
Outside the cafe window, a blinding reflection flashed by in an instant!
Lu Tingchen's pupils suddenly contracted! That's the reflection from the sniper lens!
"Be careful!" Almost instinctively, he lunged at Su Wanwan, holding her tightly in his arms with his own body and fell to the ground!
"Bang!"
Almost at the same moment! The glass window of the cafe shattered with a thud! A bullet whistled past Lu Tingchen's back and shot into the back of the sofa where they had just been, making a dull sound!
"Snipers!!" The bodyguard's fierce shout and the sound of gunshots rang out simultaneously! The cafe was instantly in chaos!
Aunt Zhou let out a scream of terror and collapsed to the ground.
Lu Tingchen held Su Wanwan in his arms and quickly rolled behind the solid bar counter, firmly protecting her with his own body. With sharp eyes, he scanned the window and quickly gave instructions to the headset: "Three o 'clock direction!" High-rise office buildings! "Arrest!" "
Su Wanwan in her arms was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale and her whole body trembled. The immense fear and aftertaste made her cling tightly to Lu Tingchen's clothes.
The gunshots soon stopped. The report came through the headset: "The target hit the arm. It has been controlled!" "Safety on site!" "
The danger has been lifted.
Lu Tingchen, however, did not immediately let go of Su Wanwan. He still held her tightly, feeling her body trembling, and his own heart was beating wildly, almost... He almost lost her!
He lowered his head, looking at the person in his arms who was still in a state of shock. All his anger eventually turned into a deep sense of powerlessness and lingering fear.
Do you understand now? His voice was hoarse, with a hint of imperceptible tremor. "This is the price of the truth." It's stained with blood and can be fatal."
Su Wanwan was in his arms, tears streaming down her face. She understood, she understood everything. Aunt Zhou might have no ill intentions, but she and the evidence in her hands are themselves the biggest targets! The other party has been staring! Her arbitrary actions not only put herself in danger but also almost implicated Lu Tingchen!
"Sorry..." "Sorry..." " She broke down in tears, filled with remorse and fear.
Lu Tingchen sighed. In the end, his concern outweighed everything else. He gently patted her back and comforted her.
He helped her stand up, his gaze coldly sweeping over Aunt Zhou, who was lying limp on the ground with a pale face.
"Take her away and properly arrange for questioning." " He commanded, his tone unquestionable. Aunt Zhou can no longer stay outside, whether it's to protect her or to get more information.
The bodyguard stepped forward and helped Aunt Zhou, who could hardly walk, up.
Lu Tingchen held Su Wanwan tightly, picked up the extremely fatal USB drive that had fallen to the ground, and strode out of the messy coffee shop.
Getting into the car, Su Wanwan was still in a state of shock. She snuggled up in Lu Tingchen's arms, not daring to let go.
Lu Tingchen looked at the USB drive in his hand, his eyes dim and unclear.
He knew that the storm was far from over. This tiny USB flash drive is like Pandora's magic box. Every time it is opened, a new disaster is released.
And this time, it almost cost him an unbearable price.
He lowered his head, kissed the top of Su Wanwan's hair, his voice tired but firm:
"Go home." Leave the rest to me."
Some boundaries must be drawn clearly. Some protections must be absolute.
(To be continued...)"