The ultimate invitation from "Sir" was like a cold declaration of war, hovering above the manor, suffocating everyone. The opera house was abandoned and only two people were allowed to visit - this was almost a dead end that lured everyone into a trap.
In Lu Tingchen's study, the atmosphere was as solemn as iron.
"Can't go!" Qin Hao was the first to object, his expression more stern than ever before. "This is too obvious!" That place must be a lair of dragons and tigers! The other side must have set up a tight net, just waiting for you to fall into it!"
Other core security members also echoed in agreement. It was their dereliction of duty to let the boss and his wife take such a risk themselves.
Lu Tingchen stood by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, his back tall and straight yet exuding a cold and murderous intent. He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he just watched the setting sun gradually sink outside the window, and the rosy glow dyed the sky a blood-red color.
Su Wanwan sat quietly on the sofa, holding the cup of water that had long gone cold in her hand, but her gaze was unusually resolute as she looked at his back. She knew he was weighing his pros and cons and struggling.
After a long while, Lu Tingchen slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and finally landed on Su Wanwan's face.
"We must go." " His voice was calm but carried an unquestionable power. "This is the only chance to get close to 'Sir' and put an end to everything." Having escaped this time, he will only continue to pester him in an even more insidious and unpredictable way. Chenchen can't live in such a shadow all the time.
He walked up to Su Wanwan, squatted down and held her slightly cool hand, asking, "Are you afraid?"
Su Wanwan met his deep gaze, took a deep breath and shook her head: "With you, I'm not afraid." "
Her trust and courage, like a warm current, flowed into Lu Tingchen's cold and resolute heart. He shook her hand tightly, stood up, and his gaze became as sharp as an eagle again.
"But don't go unprepared." " He looked at Qin Hao and said, "I need to see the most detailed information about the topographic map, structural diagram, all possible entrances and exits, ventilation ducts, and electrical system of the theater within half an hour."
The other party will block the signal and interfere with the communication. Do we need to rely on electronic devices for communication?"
Prepare two sets of the highest grade of close-body soft armor. They should be light and not affect movement, but the key parts must be able to withstand close-range knife stings and ordinary pistol bullets.
Outside the theater, at least three sniper teams should be deployed to control all the commanding heights and evacuation routes. "Without my signal, you mustn't fire or approach."
Prepare emergency plans if... "If we don't come out within an hour or if there's an explosion or other extreme situation in the theater, we'll immediately activate the strong attack plan at all costs!" "
He issued one instruction after another clearly and calmly, breaking down what seemed like a desperate operation into executable tactical steps. He wasn't going to die; he was going hunting. But this time, the prey was extremely cunning and dangerous, and he and his lover were playing the roles of both bait and hunter at the same time.
Seeing that his persuasion was in vain, Qin Hao could only grit his teeth and accept the order: "Yes!" I'll do it right away!" He must take security to the extreme and ensure that everything is foolproof.
For the rest of the time, the manor was like a highly efficient war machine, silently but tensely preparing.
Su Wanwan changed into a specially made stab-proof suit and wore an unremarkable black sportswear over it. Lu Tingchen did the same. He personally inspected the hidden, non-electronic distress devices and several small but lethal self-defense weapons on the two people.
He took out a pair of platinum rings with an ancient and simple design, and there was an extremely fine bump on the inside of the rings.
"This is a pressure sensor," he explained, putting it on Su Wanwan's finger. "Press hard for three seconds, and the corresponding ring on my side will heat up and vibrate." This is the last resort, indicating extreme danger and requiring immediate and forceful intervention.
Su Wanwan stroked the slightly cool ring, nodded, and tightly put it on her ring finger, placing it side by side with the other two wedding rings.
The night had completely fallen and the street lamps were just coming on, but it was destined to be a sleepless night.
At 9:50 p.m., a black car that looked very ordinary drove out of the manor, merged into the traffic, and headed towards the abandoned opera house in the south of the city.
In the car, Lu Tingchen drove himself while Su Wanwan sat in the passenger seat. Neither of them spoke. Inside the car, only the low hum of the air conditioner and the clear breathing of each other could be heard. A tense atmosphere pervaded, but a strange sense of calm, fighting side by side, also flowed between them.
The car stopped one block away from the opera house. The two got out of the car and walked towards the abandoned building that looked like the bones of a huge monster in the night.
The area around the opera house is overgrown with wild grass and in a dilapidated state. The huge Roman Columns were incomplete, and the stained glass was shattered to pieces. Only the wind whistled through the empty doors and Windows, making a strange whining sound.
Following the instructions on the "invitation", they entered from a fire escape on the side. The iron gate was ajar, and inside was a pitch-dark corridor filled with all kinds of junk.
Lu Tingchen turned on the powerful flashlight, holding the light in one hand and tightly grasping Su Wanwan's hand with the other, protecting her behind him and advancing step by step warily. His senses were elevated to the extreme, not missing the slightest sound or change in light.
At the end of the corridor is the door leading to the audience seats and the stage area. Through the crack of the door, a faint flickering light emerged, as if a candle was burning inside.
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan exchanged glances and nodded.
He suddenly pushed open that heavy door!
"Creak!" The shrill sound of friction echoed in the empty theatre.
The scene before their eyes made their pupils slightly confluence.
The huge auditorium was empty and covered with a thick layer of dust. However, the original stage area was cleared out to create a vacant lot. Several ancient kerosene lamps were placed around, and the dim, flickering light cast a hazy glow over the center.
In the center of the stage, there was a magnificent European-style sofa that looked out of place in the surrounding environment.
A figure dressed in a well-tailored suit, with his back to them, was sitting leisurely on the sofa, seemingly admiring the remaining, blurry murals above the stage.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, that figure slowly, slowly turned around.
The light of the kerosene lamp illuminated his face.
A well-preserved face, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking gentle and refined, yet it instantly struck Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan as if struck by lightning, with their blood almost frozen all over
It turned out to be Shen Zhe's father, who had long been declared dead from serious injuries and even held a funeral, and the former head of the Shen Group, Shen Huaiming? !
Isn't he already dead? !
"Good evening, Tingchen, Wanwan." Shen Huaming pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose bridge, a gentle yet terrifying smile on his face. "Or perhaps I should call you..." Nephew? After all, in a certain sense, your father and I can be regarded as "brothers".
His tone was relaxed, as if he were talking about the weather, but he threw out a bomb that could blow up everyone's perception!
Nephew? ! Brother? !
Lu Tingchen's mind was racing, shattering all the clues into pieces - the possible old romance between his father and Li Qingya, Shen Huaming's "resurrection", his understanding of the Lu family, the draft of the paternity test, and his words at this moment...
A more terrifying and absurd truth, like a jigsaw puzzle, was frantically pieced together in his mind!
Could it be... Could it be that Shen Huaiming is the "master" who has been lurking behind the scenes and controlling everything all along? And he targeted the Lu family because...
Shen Huaming seemed to enjoy their shocked expressions. He slowly stood up, strolled to the edge of the stage, and looked down at them from above, his smile turning cold and vicious.
"Surprised?" My dear "nephew". What do you think your father is? A thief! A despicable person who snatched away his brother's lover, then relied on the power of the Yue family to suppress his brother, and ultimately took everything away!
He pointed sharply at Lu Tingchen, his voice shrill with excitement:
And you! Lu Tingchen! The blood flowing in your veins is not from the Lu family at all! You are my son and Qingya's! It was that old scoundrel Lu Hanhai who, in order to cover up the scandal and to save face for the Lu family, forcibly registered you under the name of his good-for-nothing son!"
Boom!!
This sentence, like an ultimate judgment, struck hard at the two people in the audience!
Su Wanwan suddenly covered her mouth and looked at Lu Tingchen beside her in disbelief.
Lu Tingchen felt as if he had been struck hard, his face turning deathly pale in an instant. His body swayed almost imperceptibly, but his strong willpower enabled him to stand steadily. His eyes were like poisoned ice blades, staring fixedly at Shen Huiming on the stage.
"Crazy man." He squeezed two words out of his teeth.
"Crazy?" Shen Huaiming burst into crazy laughter. "Right!" I'm crazy! I'm driven crazy by your Lu family! If it weren't for Lu Hanhai's coercion and inducement back then, how could Qingya have left me? How could she marry that good-for-nothing Su Mingfeng? How could one die of depression then? "!"
His eyes were filled with distorted love and hatred: "I've been lying low for so many years and set up such a big trap, just to get back everything that should belong to me!" We must bring disgrace and ruin to the Lu family! We want you to return to your roots! "Let my son inherit everything from the Shen and Lu families!" "
He spread his arms wide, looking crazy: "And now, the time has come!" Tingchen, come back to Dad! When father and son join hands, the whole world is ours!
The ultimate truth, in the cruelest and craziest way, has torn apart all the disguises.
In the abandoned opera house, Shen Huaiming's wild laughter and declaration echoed.
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan stood in the audience, as if they were at the center of a huge vortex of fate.
In the shadows, no one knew how many gun muzzles were pointed at them.
(To be continued...)"