Chapter 459: 458 Saving People

Luo Haofeng wore an unhidden worry on his face. As this conversation continued, his gaze subtly changed. He uttered in a dulcet tone, “Yes, at that time, she probably tried to escape while her guard was asleep. But she was unfamiliar with her surroundings and her leg was injured, so before she could get more than a few words out, she was caught.”

He heard the person on the phone mention that Bai Xiaoxiao had tried to escape.

Likely, her guards fell asleep in the middle of the night, and she attempted to sneak away. Thinking of this, a somber hue took over Luo Haofeng’s eyes.

His heart felt like it was being strangled by an invisible hand, making it difficult for him to breathe. How terrified Bai Xiaoxiao, who was still nursing an injured leg, must have been.

What shook him the most was that she tried to contact him right away, sought his help, showing her belief in him. However, he didn’t even know where she was now.

A deep sense of guilt and self-reproach quietly took over him. His handsome brows furrowed tighter.

Observing his worry, Gu Kai gently tried to calm him: “Don’t worry, Ah Feng, they won’t hurt Bai Xiaoxiao. Xiao Wenqing specifically requested Wen Ran, so there’s no point in hurting Xiaoxiao.”

Despite Gu Kai’s consolation, Luo Haofeng didn’t feel any better, “If it weren’t for what happened just now, I would also believe that Xiao Wenqing wouldn’t harm Xiaoxiao before seeing Wen Ran. But she tried to escape just now, inevitably angering Xiao Wenqing’s people. If they hurt her…”

His sentence was left unfinished.

The persistent ringing of Gu Kai’s phone cut through the silence of the early morning. Luo Haofeng’s eyes lit up, and he looked at the phone.

“Hello?”

Gu Kai put it on speaker.

A man’s voice came from the other end, “We have found Zhang Ergou’s information. Although he is from out of town, his entire family, including his wife and kid, live in G City… We’re preparing to rush to his house right now, to make his wife contact him.”

“We’ll join you.”

Gu Kai glanced at Luo Haofeng, who had sprung from the couch, his voice remained low and calm.

“Alright, hurry over. We’re about to leave too.”

After Lu Zhiyan said this, he hung up.

“Ah Feng, since Zhang Ergou has a wife and child, there might be a chance.”

A glimpse of hope flickered in Gu Kai’s eyes. He wished to have Bai Xiaoxiao rescued safely and capture Xiao Wenqing before Wen Ran’s return.

The shadow inside Luo Haofeng’s eyes faded away rapidly like dissipating clouds, revealing a faint smile on his handsome face: “Hope Ranran and Mo Xiuchen would see Xiaoxiao safe and sound upon their return.”

They all hoped not to have to exchange Wen Ran to save Bai Xiaoxiao.

Especially knowing what could happen to Wen Ran if she fell into Xiao Wenqing’s hands, they couldn’t possibly allow this exchange. The assurance Luo Haofeng gave on the phone was merely to prevent Xiaoxiao from getting hurt.

By the time Luo Haofeng and Gu Kai arrived at Zhang Ergou’s house, Bai Xiaoxiao was tied back to a chair by Zhang Ergou and his accomplice.

Fortunately, they just tied her up in anger and didn’t hurt her.

However, this time they tied her up even more tightly than before, and they no longer dared to sleep at the same time, one of them would always keep watch.

Bai Xiaoxiao struggled a bit at first but soon became quiet.

Knowing well that struggling and cursing were all in vain, she would not be foolish enough to waste her energy and provoke them, which could only end up badly for herself.

All she could do now was to save her energy and find another chance to escape.

Wen Ran was still on the plane, and wouldn’t arrive in G City until around four or five in the afternoon the following day. During this time, she hoped to find an opportunity to escape.

“I suggest you to just rest for a bit. We aren’t going to give you another chance to escape.”

Zhang Ergou sat on a chair nearby, looking at Bai Xiaoxiao with an angry face. If it weren’t for her making a fuss earlier, he wouldn’t have to keep watching her.

“I know I can’t get away. You can rest assured and sleep.”

There was a cloth stuffed in Bai Xiaoxiao’s mouth. But Zhang Ergou understood what she meant by her gaze.

Looking at Bai Xiaoxiao’s discomfort and his sleeping accomplice, Zhang Ergou struggled to fight sleep. After a while, he said, “As long as you promise not to scream, I’ll remove the gag.”

Bai Xiaoxiao frowned slightly and nodded lightly. Her mouth was painfully numb from being gagged for so long. Of course, she was willing to have the gag removed.

Zhang Ergou removed the gag after seeing her nod. Bai Xiaoxiao pursed her lips in discomfort before speaking in a stern tone, “How much did Xiao Wenqing pay you? I’ll pay you double if you let me go.”

Bai Xiaoxiao thought they were hired by Xiao Wenqing.

Zhang Ergou’s face changed slightly, “It’s not about the money.”

“If it’s not about the money, then what? Don’t tell me you kidnapped me for something other than money. You want to use me to exchange for Wen Ran, isn’t that for money too? You’re still young. Following a vile woman like Xiao Wenqing, who’s a wanted criminal, won’t lead to anything good. Why not take some money and leave far away?”

Bai Xiaoxiao knew that she didn’t have the ability to run away again. If she could persuade Zhang Ergou to let her go while the other man was asleep, it would be the best outcome.

No matter the result, she had to try.

Who could resist money? Especially people like them who committed dishonest deeds all day, their motivation was to make money without having to work for it, right?

Zhang Ergou looked at Bai Xiaoxiao without replying. From his silence, it was hard to tell whether he was wavering or disdainful of her proposal.

Regardless of his response, Bai Xiaoxiao continued, “Since you kidnapped me, you must know that my family is not short of money. At least, compared with the wanted criminal Xiao Wenqing, I can give you much more. Most importantly, there’s no good ending for you if you follow Xiao Wenqing. Even if you use me to get Wen Ran, Mo Xiuchen will never let you go.”

Zhang Ergou sneered, “Mo Xiuchen? As long as we get Wen Ran, he’ll have to comply.”

“How naive of you. Do you think Xiao Wenqing can deal with Mo Xiuchen? She had so many opportunities to harm him before he came of age, but she failed each time. This shows that Mo Xiuchen now is not someone Xiao Wenqing can harm. If I were you, I would have a clear understanding of the situation and choose the side that is truly beneficial to me.”

“We’re not following Xiao Wenqing, but Boss Wu’s orders.”

Zhang Ergou, for some unknown reason, told Bai Xiaoxiao the truth. Perhaps he thought there’d be no harm in telling her.

It made the long night more bearable to have a heart-to-heart talk with a pretty woman.

“Wu Tianyi? He and Xiao Wenqing are the same, both wanted criminals. Are you willing to become a wanted criminal like him? Even if you don’t have a wife or children, you must have parents. Even if you don’t care for them, you should care for yourself. As long as you let me go, I promise to help you leave G City safely. Wu Tianyi and Xiao Wenqing are both on the run. They definitely can’t find you.”