Chapter 126: Sincerity

"You still dare to bargain with me? What qualifications do you think you have?"

The irritable woman's voice suddenly spiked in pitch, making Si Nan’s scalp tingle. After a brief pause to steady himself, he said calmly, "In business, there is always give and take. My 'sincerity' is right here in the car. Or is it that you never intended to let her go in the first place?"

"Is that why they say in the business world that President Si is always ruthless and possesses extraordinary courage? Even knowing this might be a one-way trip, you still came here alone. Or perhaps... that woman really is the apple of your eye, leading you to fly thousands of miles from Shanghai just to play the role of a desperate suitor snatching someone away? But as far as I know, that woman has a boyfriend, doesn't she? Even knowing she has no room for you in her heart, you still risk your life to save her. Tsk, tsk... I wonder if this is just another one of President Si's business strategies? Or would 'playing the victim' be a more fitting term? Heh-heh-heh-heh..."

Listening to the hideous, mocking laughter on the other end, Si Nan recoiled in disgust. Once the laughter died down, he said coldly, "Enough with the nonsense. I know you’re in that building. Come out and face me right now. Also, I want to see Lin Xiaowen unharmed."

*Thud.*

"Ugh... mmph..."

No sooner had Si Nan finished speaking than two dull thuds of a fist striking a body echoed through the phone, followed by the faint, stifled moan of a woman unable to cry out.

Si Nan’s breath hitched. He held his breath, straining to catch every tiny sound from the other end.

"How was that? Didn't you want to hear her voice? Did you hear it? Was it pleasant? Do you want me to make her scream a few more times for you? Cackle..."

"You wouldn't dare!" A cold glint flashed in Si Nan’s eyes. He gritted his teeth as he spat out the words, to which the person replied:

"Then let’s test it and see if I dare or not!"

"Don't... stop!"

Si Nan hurried to concede. He swallowed hard, his voice strained as he continued, "I’m coming in now. Don't you dare touch her again, do you hear me?"

Si Nan's fierce roar actually had some effect; the other party paused for a moment before hanging up the phone.

Deep, angry undercurrents churned in Si Nan’s dark, pool-like eyes. He unbuckled his seatbelt, tossed his phone onto the seat, pushed the door open, jumped out of the car, and popped the trunk.

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled open a black bag, grabbed a thick stack of tightly bound red banknotes, and finally slammed the trunk shut with a heavy *clang*.

Meanwhile, hidden in the distance, Su Nian had already parked her car at the base of a hillside. She made her way through the dark, inching toward Si Nan’s vehicle—the only source of light in the gloom.

At that moment, the sound of Si Nan slamming the trunk shut not only sent small animals in the woods scurrying in all directions but also caused Su Nian to snap into a state of hyper-vigilance.

The darkness felt like a silent, bottomless pit. Underfoot, she stepped on more than just ankle-deep weeds; there were loose rocks and dry, brittle branches scattered about. The vegetation was dense and chaotic.

Si Nan moved quickly, though he surveyed the surrounding environment as he went. It certainly appeared to be a long-abandoned factory.

As the dilapidated structure with its broken doors and windows came into view, Si Nan slowed his pace. The row of pitch-black, lightless, old-fashioned factory buildings loomed in the darkness like something straight out of a horror movie—a place where a ghost could leap out at any second.