Volume One, Chapter 37: Thoughts

Jiang Wan stood frozen in place, not daring to move. Her hand clutching the door handle curled up with tension, and her breath stopped altogether. Her mind raced, weighing the best possible solution for the moment.

Fortunately, before she could react, Wang Dexing’s voice rang out, “Bring back some pastries when you return, you know which ones, right?” His tone remained unchanged, showing no sign that he had discovered her true identity.

Jiang Wan was about to reply when one of the girls accompanying her stepped forward, “Boss, she’s new and doesn’t know. I’ll go.” With that, she got up and walked toward Jiang Wan. The two of them left the private room together. It was a close call, but nothing happened.

Jiang Wan let out a silent sigh of relief, but she didn’t dare relax. She hurried back to the lounge, didn’t bother changing clothes, grabbed her belongings, and headed out. Time was of the essence—she had to leave before anyone discovered her.

Jiang Wan sped down the corridor, threw on her own coat, and tore off the wig from her head. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down as the recorder she had hidden in her hair bundle fell out as well. She carefully tucked it into her bag.

Head down, Jiang Wan walked quickly, preparing to slip away along her planned escape route. But as she turned the next corner—

Thud—

Jiang Wan collided with a man.

“Sorry,” she apologized instinctively, not even raising her head as she tried to move past him.

But the man wouldn’t let her go. “What’s this? So rude!” Wang Dexing grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him.

Recognizing his voice, Jiang Wan’s face turned pale, her heart pounding wildly. Wang Dexing, drunk and aggressive, eyed her with suspicion, feeling she looked increasingly familiar.

“Jiang... Jiang Wan?” He sobered up instantly, tightened his grip on her arm, and pulled her back. He seized her chin and lifted her face to confirm.

When her heavily made-up face came into view, Wang Dexing recalled seeing her just moments ago in the private room.

“You... Aren’t you the girl from earlier? You...” He stared, confused, trying to reconcile the two faces.

Forced to meet his gaze, Jiang Wan saw the clarity and certainty in his eyes—she knew she’d been recognized.

She could no longer afford hesitation. She swung her bag, smashing it hard against Wang Dexing’s head. Taking advantage of his pain, she wrenched free and bolted.

“Someone! Catch that woman!” Wang Dexing bellowed furiously behind her.

Jiang Wan heard nothing else—only the rush of wind in her ears and her own ragged breathing.

Thrown off course by Wang Dexing’s sudden appearance, Jiang Wan lost her bearings. She collided with a waiter delivering drinks. Wearing high heels, she stumbled and fell, the cart’s contents spilling over her. The clatter echoed loudly in the quiet corridor.

The waiter reached to help her up, but two fierce-looking men appeared at the end of the hallway.

“There she is!” one shouted.

“Grab her! Don’t let her escape!” They ordered the waiter.

But Jiang Wan, seizing the moment, sprang to her feet and ran. The situation was dire—if caught, it would be over for her.

Her heart drummed like a war drum, but she forced herself to remain calm and recall the path she had scoped out earlier. Thankfully, her memory and sense of direction held up.

Spotting the exclusive elevator ahead, Jiang Wan knew she had a chance. She dashed in, frantically pressing the buttons. As the doors closed, the two men lunged for her but vanished from sight.

Only now did Jiang Wan allow herself to breathe, her chest heaving. She gripped the elevator handrail, supporting her trembling legs so she wouldn’t collapse. Just a little further—if she could leave Jinmao Tower, she would win.

The exclusive elevator led directly to the first basement, a private passage for the club. Though the two men had failed to catch her, they would surely send others to intercept.

Watching the numbers on the screen drop lower, Jiang Wan quickly retrieved vital items from her bag, stashed them in her bra, and kicked off her high heels, preparing for anything.

When the doors opened—

As expected, two more men were rushing toward her. Jiang Wan didn’t have time to choose a direction, so she dashed out and turned right.

The garage was packed with cars. Jiang Wan crouched low, hiding behind one of them.

The pursuers moved past her line of sight. She hadn’t been discovered, but the men soon slowed, speaking into their walkie-talkies.

“She’s in the parking lot. Block the exits, we’re still searching.”

Despair welled up in Jiang Wan. The cars ahead seemed like towering mountains, obstacles she couldn’t bypass. If she abandoned her hiding spot and ran, she’d be doomed.

Thinking of her recent hardships—every path blocked, hope dashed again and again—Jiang Wan bit her lip. She refused to surrender.

Just then, headlights swept across the ground before her as a silver Rolls-Royce slowly backed into a nearby parking space.

Jiang Wan’s attention was caught, and when she saw the license plate, she was shocked—it was Lu Wenzhou’s car!

After the car parked and the engine was about to cut off, Jiang Wan could wait no longer. She darted across the aisle and flung open the rear door of the Rolls-Royce.

Thud—

A muffled sound, and suddenly the world seemed quiet.

Jiang Wan, scrambling into the car, ended up kneeling on the floor mat in her haste. She hadn’t expected anyone to be seated in the back.

Long, straight legs spread naturally, tailored trousers and gleaming handmade shoes marking the man’s noble status.

Jiang Wan looked up uncertainly, meeting a pair of deep, shadowed black eyes.

Lu Wenzhou sat like a king, steady and composed. The dim light cast shadows across his face, accentuating his sharp features and cold expression. His gaze was inscrutable, surveying her from above.

At this moment, Jiang Wan was like a commoner brought before a monarch, kneeling at his feet, awaiting judgment.

Before either could react, the men outside returned, eyes fixed on the newly parked Rolls-Royce with its Beijing plates.

Catching sight of them in her peripheral vision, Jiang Wan instinctively curled up, crawling beneath Lu Wenzhou’s legs.

“Don’t betray me,” she whispered, voice barely audible, as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “Please…”

Her trembling voice matched her shaking body, her plea tinged with brokenness. Her current predicament was breaking her spirit.

The man she used as cover stiffened, his hand tightening on his knee, veins standing out in the dim light.

At the same time, two men approached the driver’s door of the Rolls-Royce.

The driver glanced at Lu Wenzhou through the rearview mirror, awaiting instructions. When Lu Wenzhou closed his eyes briefly, the driver lowered the window.

“What’s the matter?”

“Hello, we’re searching for a female employee who escaped from the club. Have you seen anyone?”

“No,” the driver replied, beginning to raise the window.

Suddenly, one of the men outside reached out to stop him, glancing toward the rear door. The hem of a woman’s coat was caught in the door, a corner visible.

“Sir, this is a serious matter—it concerns one of the top figures in Rongcheng. I advise you to think carefully.”

His tone turned harsh. “If you won’t cooperate, we’ll have to search the car by force.”