Chapter 418: What Did You Just Say?

Wang Haoran noticed how Zuoqiu Chenyu’s eyes were fixed on his abs like she was hypnotized, her gaze locked and unblinking.

He couldn’t help but urge her again, “You done staring? Hurry up and answer. Do you want to die, or be my girlfriend?”

Time was ticking. He still had dinner plans to catch.

Zuoqiu Chenyu huffed. “We’re about to die anyway. What’s the point of your stupid question?”

“You said it yourself. Since we’re close to death, why not make a choice?” he replied nonchalantly.

“Fine, I’ll be your girlfriend!” she snapped without thinking.

If staying alive was on the table, who really wanted to die? And honestly, Wang Haoran was loaded, handsome, had an insane body, and those eight-pack abs weren’t just for show. It didn’t even feel like a bad deal anymore.

Besides, she was nearing twenty-five. The so-called prime of womanhood was slipping away. She could already feel it—sleepless nights, poor skin, messed-up hormones. She’d fantasized more than once about having someone by her side.

It’s just… ordinary guys never did it for her.

“Good,” Wang Haoran grinned. “Then you’re officially one of my girlfriends now.”

Zuoqiu Chenyu rolled her eyes. “You talk big, like you can actually get us out of here.” But halfway through her sentence, she trailed off—because right then, she saw him casually break free of the rope like it was made of paper.

Her eyes widened. “You got a plan? We fighting our way out?”

“I’m a good student with excellent grades. Why would I fight anyone?” Wang Haoran smirked as he pulled out a phone.

“You have a third phone?!” she gasped.

Wang Haoran didn’t answer. Wild Ox had indeed taken one, but he stole it back without anyone noticing.

He powered it on, dialed a number, and brought it to his ear. “Sister Officer, I’d like to report a kidnapping…”

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Mu Bai leaned against the headboard, asking, “You stashed the gear?”

The kind of “gear” he was talking about wasn’t legal by any means. If they got caught with it, they’d be in serious trouble.

“Don’t worry, Brother Mu. Everything’s sealed tight. Even if they flip the whole place upside down, they won’t find it,” Vulture said confidently. “And anyway, they can’t search us just because someone made a call. They’ll need a warrant. That rich second gen just made a random report—they can’t bring a search team off that.”

Mu Bai nodded slightly, finally easing a bit.

Time slipped by.

“Brother Mu! They’re here!” Crocodile burst into the room, breathless and clearly rattled.

“So what? Calm down. You panic like this and expect to follow me in the big leagues?” Mu Bai scolded.

“There are a lot of them outside. I counted at least twenty vehicles—maybe a hundred people total,” Crocodile stammered.

Mu Bai’s face changed. “You sure?”

“I didn’t go to college, but I can count,” Crocodile said bitterly.

Mu Bai took in a sharp breath. One phone call triggered this kind of response?

That was way too much heat.

“What do we do?” Vulture asked nervously.

Mu Bai forced himself to stay calm. He’d weathered a lot of storms. “Relax. I’m a businessman. You’re my bodyguards. We’re all perfectly legal. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Vulture and Crocodile managed to settle down a bit and hurried off to brief the others, making sure no one slipped up in their cover story.

—

Outside the mansion, Xu Zheng, Xu Muyan’s father, led the perimeter squad, sealing off every possible exit.

Inside, Ling Duanya and her unit moved in, fully armed.

Mu Bai and his crew played the innocent, weapons hidden, pretending to be law-abiding citizens.

Within minutes, they were all rounded up and brought to the main hall. Since Mu Bai was injured, he was placed on a stretcher.

“Sister Ling, everyone’s accounted for,” one officer reported.

“Search for the basement. There should be hostages inside,” Ling Duanya ordered.

Her colleague nodded and left with a few officers.

“I’m a good citizen. This is an illegal raid—you’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” Mu Bai said, trying to keep his composure.

“Oh? Good citizens kidnap people now?” Ling Duanya sneered.

“Kidnap? Don’t be ridiculous. Who did I kidnap? Show me the person.” Mu Bai shrugged like it was nothing.

Ling Duanya frowned. Moments later, the team returned.

“Well?” she asked, tension rising.

“We couldn’t find the basement,” they admitted.

Mu Bai smirked inwardly. The secret room was designed to be invisible—silent, secure, undetectable even with shouting from inside.

“Where are they?!” Ling Duanya snapped.

“Not only will I sue for trespassing, but I’ll add defamation too,” Mu Bai said smugly.

“You bastard!” Ling Duanya stormed up to the stretcher, grabbed his collar, and raised her fist.

“Sister Ling! Don’t!” Her colleague stopped her just in time.

Grinding her teeth, she pulled back and said, “Keep searching. Don’t stop.”

More officers fanned out. But the place was a maze, and even after a long search, they found nothing.

Ling Duanya’s anxiety mounted.

Inside the hidden room, Wang Haoran had been watching the situation with X-ray Vision, getting impatient.

He still had dinner plans to keep.

“What’s taking them so long? You think they can’t find the basement?” Zuoqiu Chenyu asked nervously.

When they were brought down, the route was winding and confusing. With no sign of rescue, her anxiety only grew.

Wang Haoran glanced at her, confirming her fear. At this rate, it was unlikely the team would find them in time.

Looks like I’ll have to handle it.

He walked to the thick steel door and stretched his legs.

“That thing’s pure steel—ten centimeters thick at least. Don’t tell me you think you can kick it open,” Zuoqiu Chenyu scoffed. If brute force worked, she’d have done it already.

Wang Haoran didn’t respond. He drew on his internal energy, focusing his power.

Bang!

Boom!

With one explosive strike, the iron door blasted off its hinges, crashing outside with a thunderous thud.

Even the floor trembled under the impact.

Zuoqiu Chenyu stared at him, stunned and speechless.

Wang Haoran turned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “What was it you just said?”