The air in the sanatorium room seemed to have frozen. Lin Wanru was placed under a disguised house arrest. Looking into her son's cold and resolute eyes, her lips quivered. Eventually, she lowered her head in dejection, no longer struggling but shedding silent tears, her entire being enveloped in a sense of resigned despair.
Lu Tingchen no longer looked at her. He turned around and walked outside the room, giving a series of instructions in a low voice to the trusted bodyguard captain who was guarding outside. Strengthen surveillance, block all external communications, and even strictly inspect and monitor the entry and exit of medical staff. He was determined to turn this place into a truly airtight fortress, and under no circumstances could his mother become a discarded piece or a exploited chip on the opponent's chessboard at this critical moment.
After arranging everything, he pulled Su Wanwan and walked quickly towards the monitoring center of the sanatorium.
What did you just want to say? He looked at Su Wanwan, referring to her abnormal reaction when she saw the message earlier.
Su Wanwan took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart, which was pounding wildly due to that photo and the tense situation before her: "I was thinking that since the other party asked Mom to go somewhere to exchange evidence, this indicates..." They got anxious. They must also be afraid that the evidence will really fall into our hands. This might... Is it our chance?"
Lu Tingchen paused in his steps and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Go on." "
Can we... "Go with the flow?" " Su Wanwan's thoughts became clearer and clearer, and her speaking speed quickened. "Mom can't go now, but we can send someone to pretend to be Mom and go to that agreed place." On the one hand, you can try to get in touch with the other person and see if you can catch the tail of "Sir". On the other hand, perhaps we can take the opportunity to obtain or confirm exactly what that piece of evidence is!"
This proposal is bold and risky, but it is not without feasibility. The other party clearly had not seen Lin Wanru's recent appearance. Life in the sanatorium had made her much thinner and more haggard. With a female bodyguard of similar figure posing, there was a high chance that she could get away with it in the dim environment.
Lu Tingchen looked at Su Wanwan, a trace of surprise and admiration flashing in his eyes. His young wife, under immense pressure and continuous shocks, not only did not get crushed, but became increasingly acute and even began to demonstrate a calm and composed strategic planning ability in the face of danger.
The risk is very high. He said in a deep voice, but his mind was rapidly assessing the feasibility of the plan. "The other side is very likely on guard as well, and might even have set an ambush."
"But this is currently the fastest and most direct opportunity to reach the core, isn't it?" " Su Wanwan met his gaze, her eyes firm. "We can't just passively wait for them to make a move any longer." Since they have shown their weakness, we must catch them!"
Lu Tingchen stared at her for a few seconds and finally nodded vigorously: "OK!" Just do as you say!"
The plan was formulated promptly. Qin Hao immediately picked a female team member whose figure was similar to Lin Wanru's and who was proficient in adaptability and combat. She changed into Lin Wanru's clothes, made a brief disguise, and asked her to watch Lin Wanru's recent videos repeatedly to imitate her expressions and manners.
Meanwhile, the technical team made every effort to search for clues from the tape recorder that had been put away in Lin Wanru's room - the erased tape couldn't be recovered, but what about the machine itself? Are there any fingerprints, trace residues or other overlooked details?
However, the other party was extremely cautious. The tape recorder has been inspected countless times and is as clean as brand new, with no valuable clues at all. The agreed place and time seemed to be something that could only be pried out from Lin Wanru's mouth.
Lu Tingchen returned to his mother's room again.
This time, he didn't take any further detours and directly placed the restored blurry photo on the coffee table in front of her.
Lin Wanru's gaze touched the photo and suddenly withdrew as if she had been scalded. Her body trembled violently, her face turned deathly grey, and the last trace of color faded away.
It seems that you recognize this photo. Lu Tingchen's voice was as cold as ice. "Sir Used this and Jiang Yue's recording to threaten you, right?" He accused you of using disgraceful means to marry into the Lu family back then and accused me of... It might not be of the Lu family's bloodline, right?"
Lin Wanru suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with extreme terror and pain. Tears gushed out, but she bit her lip tightly and refused to speak.
"Mom!" " Lu Tingchen bent down, propping his hands on the coffee table, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring at her. "At this point, do you still want to protect that scoundrel who hides in the dark and manipulates everything?" He's going to drag all of us into hell! Do you think that if you go for an "exchange", he will really let you and the Lu family off the hook? He'll only get what he wants and then make us die even worse!"
His voice carried a heart-wrenching power: "Tell me the location!" Time! Let's deal with him! This is the only way to put an end to all this! Do you really want to watch the Lu family's century-old foundation be destroyed in an instant? I really want to look at me... Will Wanwan and Chenchen not have a good end? "!"
The last sentence, like a heavy hammer, smashed Lin Wanru's last psychological defense line with great force.
She broke down, slumped onto the sofa, and let out a wailing of utter despair. Finally, she spat out the address and a time intermittently - midnight tonight, at the abandoned Third pier in the western suburbs, Warehouse 12.
Upon receiving the information, Lu Tingchen didn't pause for a moment and immediately turned around to make arrangements.
The female team members disguised as Lin Wanru and the elite action squad set off secretly and headed to the wharf warehouse in advance to set up control. Countless pairs of eyes, through hidden cameras and sniper lenses, firmly locked onto that agreed-upon location.
Lu Tingchen was stationed at the monitoring center of the sanatorium, directing the overall situation through the real-time transmitted images. Su Wanwan insisted on staying by his side. Her palms were all covered with cold sweat. She stared intently at the screen, her heart beating rapidly.
Time passed minute by minute. The abandoned pier was silent, with only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Exactly twelve o 'clock midnight.
A black car drove silently into the dock and stopped at the entrance of Warehouse No. 12. A man in a windbreaker and a hat got off the vehicle. After looking around warily, he walked into the warehouse.
The target appears. "One person." The report from the front team member came through the headset.
Lu Tingchen perked up and said, "Act as planned."
The female team member, disguised as Lin Wanru, with a shawl over her shoulders and a hunched back, imitated Lin Wanru's weak appearance. With the "support" of two "bodyguards" (who were also disguised by the team members), she walked towards the warehouse entrance.
The warehouse was dimly lit. The man in the windbreaker was standing in the middle. When he saw "Lin Wanru" come in, he didn't seem to be suspicious. He just lowered his voice and asked, "Have you brought anything?"
"Lin Wanru" trembled in her voice (imitated perfectly) : "I..." I want to see the evidence first..."
The man in the windbreaker gave a cold laugh, took out a thick file folder from his bosom and shook it: "Everything you want is here." What do I want?"
"Lin Wanru" motioned for the "bodyguard" beside her to take out a small box made by imitation, similar to a cassette tape.
Just as the two sides were about to exchange!
"Action!" " Lu Tingchen gave the order!
The action team members lurking around instantly broke through the Windows and doors and burst in! The red light from the infrared aiming point instantly locked onto the man in the windbreaker!
"Don't move!"
The man in the windbreaker was shocked and reacted extremely quickly. He suddenly tucked the file bag into his arms and at the same time pulled out a pistol, attempting to counterattack!
"Bang!"
A precise gunshot! The sniper lying in wait at the commanding height directly hit the wrist of the man in the windbreaker who was holding a gun! The pistol clanged to the ground!
The team members rushed forward and quickly subdued him!
"Target control!" "
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan heaved a sigh of relief at the same time!
Success!
However, just as the team members found the file bag from the man in the windbreaker's arms and were about to check it -
"Boom!!"
A violent explosion suddenly occurred inside the file bag! The flames instantly engulfed several approaching team members and the man in the windbreaker! The huge shock wave completely shattered the Windows of the warehouse!
The surveillance screen was instantly covered by the flames of the explosion and snowflakes!
"No!!" Lu Tingchen suddenly stood up from the chair, his eyes wide with rage!
Su Wanwan also covered her mouth in terror, her face turning deathly pale!
Trap! This is simply a death trap of mutual destruction! The other party had no intention of making a deal at all. They just wanted to eliminate the contacts in this way!
"Quick!" Save! Contact an ambulance!" Lu Tingchen roared into the microphone, his voice trembling with shock and anger!
The scene was in chaos, with flames blazing and casualties unknown.
Lu Tingchen punched the console hard, his face turning ashen. He still underestimated the other person's cruelty!
Just then, a team member in charge of technical monitoring suddenly shouted, "Mr. Lu!" Something's up! We captured an extremely weak but special-frequency signal source that flashed away in an instant from about 500 meters southeast of the warehouse right after the explosion! Like... The signal of some kind of underwater thruster or diving equipment!
Underwater? Does the other party have a backup plan? Is the real trading or observation point in the water?
Lu Tingchen immediately looked at the surveillance split-screen of the dock water area. The sea surface was pitch black under the night sky, as if there was nothing.
But that fleeting signal could never be groundless!
"Deploy the underwater drone!" Search that area immediately! Quick!" He gave the order immediately.
A few minutes later, the underwater drone sent back images - in the murky seawater, a discarded metal box with excellent waterproof performance was found lying quietly on the seabed, with a clear P.P on the box. Foundation logo!
Real "evidence"? ! Did the other party hide it in the water? Was that explosion merely for attracting attention and destroying traces?
"Salvage it!" Check carefully for any explosives!" Lu Tingchen's heart tightened again.
The metal box was carefully fished ashore. After being remotely inspected by bomb disposal experts and confirmed to be safe, it was presented to Lu Tingchen.
The box was unlocked. When it was opened, there was no bomb inside, only a few things:
A stack of yellowed photos, far clearer than the previously restored one, and with a more ambiguous Angle, are clearly intimate group photos of Lu Hanhai and Li Qingya in different private occasions!
An ancient draft of a paternity test report shows that Lu Hanhai has a 99.99% biological father-son relationship with a sample with a certain number. Below the draft, there is Yang Zhenhua's signature and the note "To be further verified".
There was also a small, well-preserved micro tape, with a brand-new player placed beside it.
Lu Tingchen picked up the mini tape, his fingers trembling slightly. He glanced at Su Wanwan, and both of their eyes were filled with a heavy premonition.
He pressed the play button.
After the rustling sound, an electronic synthetic sound system that had been processed and could not distinguish between male and female emerged, cold and eerie.
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan, congratulations! You've got your "admission tickets".
Do you still like these appetizers? Do you want to know more details about your background and the wonderful past of your parents?
"Tomorrow evening, at the abandoned opera house in the south of the city, a private box on the top floor." "
Only the two of you are allowed to come. No latecomers will be waited for.
Remember, this is your last chance, and the only chance to see the true face of "Sir". Don't let me down.
The tape ended playing and the synthesized sound disappeared.
The room was deathly silent.
"Sir" finally extended the invitation in person! In such an arrogant and teasing way!
And they directly named and asked the two of them to go alone!
This is undoubtedly a more obvious and dangerous trap!
Lu Tingchen's face was terrifyingly gloomy, and a storm was raging in his eyes.
Su Wanwan's heart sank to the bottom, but as she looked at the glaring photos and reports on the table, and then at the tense profile of the man beside her, a sense of courage to go all out welled up inside her.
She reached out her hand and held Lu Tingchen's cold hand tightly.
"Let's go." Her voice was not loud, but extremely firm. "It's time to make a break with this' Sir '."
Avoidance and fear cannot solve problems. Only by facing it head-on can all this come to an end.
Lu Tingchen held her tightly with his back hand, his fingers interlocked.
"Ok." " A bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes. "Then let's go and meet him."
The final showdown has begun.
(To be continued...)"