Chapter 98: Return My Person to Me Bonus: Diamonds Reaching 3,700

Liang Yusheng, seeing that he was serious, quickly stepped forward to pull him away. After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, Liang Yukang also joined in, tugging and pleading, “What’s going on here? Why resort to violence all of a sudden? Is there no way to talk things through calmly? Let go quickly, loosen your grip! If this continues, someone might get seriously hurt!”

But Fu Juxing remained unmoved, his hand strangling her neck without the slightest slackening.

By now, Liang Xi had already lost clarity of mind, her eyes no longer rolling back but dulled in confusion. In a moment of urgency, Liang Yusheng intervened, pressing his fingers on a vital spot. Instantly, Fu’s hand went numb, and his grip loosened.

Liang Xi collapsed downward, and Liang Yusheng caught her. Then, turning swiftly, he slapped Fu Juxing across the face, exclaiming, “Have you lost your mind?”

Fu Juxing regained composure and was about to attack again, but Liang Yukang stepped in front of Liang Xi, blocking between them. “Axing, what’s going on that made you come to blows like this? Let’s talk—there must be some misunderstanding.”

Liang Xi gasped heavily, clutching her chest, still shaken. Liang Yusheng shielded her, trying to soothe her breath as she trembled faintly, clearly frightened.

He helped her to sit on a chair. “There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here to protect you. No one is allowed to harm you—not a single bit. You’re my daughter, the daughter of Liang Yusheng. Anyone who dares touch you is defying me!”

He glanced sideways at Fu Juxing.

Fu Juxing yanked Liang Yukang aside and immediately guarded again. “Calm down!” he warned.

Turning his gaze to Liang Xi, he demanded, “Who told you to touch Lin Wanbai?”

Liang Xi, gradually recovering, breathed heavily, tears welling in her eyes as she glared back, “Who touched Lin Wanbai? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“You don’t know?” Fu Juxing pulled out his phone and played a recording.

It was a call between Liang Xi and Liang Zhixia, in which Liang Xi explicitly said she helped save someone.

Liang Xi stared at a wine glass on the table and smiled bitterly. “You believe her? After all these years of following you, giving my all to help you, you didn’t even ask me—you just accused me outright. Liang Zhixia and Lin Wanbai are best friends, conspiring to drive a wedge between us so she could escape when we were at odds.”

“I never expected, truly never expected, that you’d trust Liang Zhixia over me! Fu Juxing, the way I treated you, the heavens bear witness! Every action I took was for your benefit, hoping for your success. But in your eyes, I’m just some reckless fool! I knew you wanted to take down the Lin family, that keeping Lin Wanbai close was part of the plan.”

“How could I be so stupid as to hold you back at a time like this? Fu Juxing, you break my heart!”

She finished in one breath, then collapsed onto the table, crying.

Liang Yukang asked, “Isn’t this a misunderstanding?”

Fu Juxing glanced at Liang Xi but said nothing and turned to leave.

Liang Yusheng grabbed him. “You’re leaving just like that? Shouldn’t you apologize? You hit someone without knowing the whole story, then walk away like nothing happened. Do you have any respect for your elders?”

Fu Juxing looked at him, a dark surge flickering in his eyes that made Liang Yusheng’s heart tremble. He loosened his grip slightly, only to pull tighter again. “What kind of attitude is this? Have you lost all regard for others?”

“If Lin Wanbai disappears, or anything happens to her, be prepared,” he said, staring at Liang Yusheng but speaking to Liang Xi.

Liang Yusheng snapped, “You!”

Fu Juxing said coldly, “No one—no one is allowed to touch my Xiao Bai.”

With that, he broke free from Liang Yusheng’s grasp and left the private room.

After he left, the group exchanged uneasy glances. Liang Xi remained slumped on the table, fists clenched tightly, biting her lip hard.

…

Fu Juxing went straight to the hotel where Li Ting was staying.

He was stopped at the door, not allowed in.

He waited nearly two hours before someone finally came out to invite him inside.

The room was dimly lit. Li Ting wore a bathrobe, his hair damp. Fu Juxing passed by him, went to the living room, bent down to retrieve a cigarette from a box, lit it, and took a deep drag. The white smoke drifted slowly.

Turning, he sat on the sofa, smiling. “So late at night, President Fu, coming personally—is it something important?”

Fu Juxing said, “Give me the person back.”

“What person?”

“Give me back my person.”

Li Ting raised an eyebrow, narrowed his eyes with a sly smile. “If you don’t say, how would I know who you want? But even if you say, it won’t help. There’s no one here belonging to you. Only mine.”

“What do you want, then?” Fu Juxing was done wasting time.

“Anything you want,” Li Ting said, crossing his legs and swaying slightly.

“Yes.”

“Even if it means eating shit?” Li Ting’s grin grew broader.

Fu Juxing said nothing but his expression hardened with unwavering resolve.

They stared at each other for a moment. Li Ting finished half his cigarette, flicked the ashes, and said, “I’m not unreasonable. I have some ties with your uncle; I didn’t want it to come to this. If we could just talk it out, it wouldn’t have escalated this far. But I hate it when young people show no respect for their elders. You do have some skill, but to me, you’re still just an immature brat.”

“You’re the first person who’s been so arrogant in front of me, asking me how much respect costs. Did you make Lin Yao look like that?” he asked, smiling.

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. I care a lot about that young lady. Seeing her like this breaks my heart. How it hurts, you probably can’t understand. So I want you to feel it deeply—the pain of having your loved one tormented.”

He bit the cigarette, clapped his hands, and then Lin Wanbai was brought out.

Her hands were cuffed behind her back, held by two men. They pushed her to Li Ting’s side and forced her to sit down.

Li Ting stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, one hand resting on Lin Wanbai’s shoulder. He tidied her hair, running his fingers through the strands with a click of his tongue. “This hair is as soft as silk—smells nice, too.”

He tightened his arm, pulling her close, their faces nearly touching. “This skin is smooth and tender. Such a beautiful wife—no wonder you hid her away, afraid others would want her. If it were me, I’d hide her too.”

Lin Wanbai turned her head, frowning deeply, struggling fiercely.

Fu Juxing clenched his fists, his gaze darkening as he stared at Li Ting’s hand, never looking away. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a fruit knife on the coffee table. Before Li Ting could move, Fu leapt up, grabbed the knife, and was suddenly in front of him, pressing the blade’s tip against his forehead.

His voice was cold and precise: “Let go.”

Li Ting, a man seasoned by many storms, had seen many scenes, but in those young eyes, he saw deadly intent. If he didn’t release, the knife would pierce right through his skull.

He was capable of that.

Li Ting’s throat moved slightly but he didn’t immediately let go.

His men rushed in, someone drawing a gun.

Fu Juxing showed no fear; the knife’s tip lowered to Li Ting’s skin, a sharp pain on his forehead.

They locked eyes, Fu repeated, “Let go.”

Li Ting said, “You think you’re faster than a bullet?”

“Try me,” Fu said fearlessly.

Seconds later, Li Ting released his hold, and Lin Wanbai immediately broke free from his embrace.

Fu Juxing noticed someone trying to move and commanded, “Let her go!”

Li Ting obeyed, “Let her go.”

The men parted to make a path. Lin Wanbai glanced at them, then at Fu Juxing, hesitating.

Fu gave her a sidelong look. “Go!”

After a few seconds' hesitation, she ran out.

Seizing the moment Fu’s attention shifted, Li Ting struggled, snatched the fruit knife back, and several men swarmed, quickly restraining him.

There were too many; Fu Juxing couldn’t resist.

Li Ting laughed, “This little lady’s quite clever.”

“What did you say?” Fu Juxing turned sharply.

He chuckled, “Got played by your own woman—didn’t expect that, huh?”

Li Ting crouched in front of him. “I mean, this plan was your pretty wife’s idea. She begged me to take you down, said you’re a maniac, vengeful to the core. If I let you go, you might kill me someday. Just look at the Fu and Lin families as examples. She made a good point. Better to prevent than regret—we had to deal with you before you could retaliate.”

“Besides, she’s generous. She offered me ten percent of Lin Corporation’s shares. If I want to expand inland, she’ll support me fully. With such sincerity, beauty, and a pliant body, how could I refuse? I thought you were tough, but you fell so easily. You’re just a dog under Liang Yusheng, yet you act so arrogantly without knowing your own worth. You need a harsh lesson in society. I’m going to teach you what kind of people you can mess with—and which ones you can’t.”

As he spoke, he struck Fu’s face several times hard.

Fu Juxing closed his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead, teeth clenched as he muttered, “Lin Wanbai.”

…

Lin Wanbai fled desperately. At the stairwell, Liang Zhixia met her with clothes to change into. They exited through a side door and immediately drove away.

Lin Wanbai sat in the car, one hand clutching her chest. Her heart raced wildly. Eyes closed, teeth clenched, she struggled to calm herself as her body trembled uncontrollably. Liang Zhixia glanced at her, handing her a bottle of water.

Her hands shook so badly she couldn’t open the cap.

Liang Zhixia said, “It’s over now. We’re safe. Fu Juxing’s been restrained!”

Lin Wanbai took a deep breath. “I don’t know if Li Ting will keep his word, but I have to find a protector as soon as possible.” She bit her lip, still trembling with fear. This was a risky step, with little chance of success, but she had to try.

The car stopped at a red light. She instinctively looked back, then sideways.

Liang Zhixia said, “Don’t worry. That Li guy is no fool. When I arrived at the hotel, his men had already captured Fu Juxing’s people. No one should be following us now. Xiao Bai, have you considered seeking out someone named Lu?”

“No.”

“I think it’s worth a try.”

“What for? We’re not on the same side.”

“Fu’s methods now aren’t much different from Lu’s.”

Lin Wanbai frowned. “Grandfather said never get involved with people like that.”

“But this is an emergency. Even if you escaped now, if Fu Juxing gets free, he’ll use your grandfather, your mother, even your child to threaten you. You’ll have no choice but to face him on his terms. Of course, it’s just a suggestion. Whether to find Lu or not is up to you.”

Liang Zhixia looked at her, thought a moment, then waved her hand. “Forget it. I’m just worried you’ll jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Things are bad enough as they are. I’m just throwing out ideas blindly.”

“Why did you suddenly think of Lu Peng?”

“I was on a talent show before and met a young artist under Lu Peng. He’s opened an entertainment company now, quite well-known. Can you believe it? From a small-time thug to a media mogul. But I suspect it’s all façade—he’s still working for some big shot.”

Lin Wanbai said nothing. The car drove on to the Xie family mansion. She stared at the dark, looming house. “Let’s find Old Zheng first.”

Liang Zhixia didn’t argue and turned the car around toward Old Zheng’s place.

Late at night, arriving unannounced was abrupt.

Old Zheng, wrapped in a robe, was surprised to see her, quickly opening the door. “Xiao Bai, why are you here so late? Fu Juxing said you’re weak and need to stay home to rest.”

“He lied to you,” Lin Wanbai said bluntly.

Old Zheng was taken aback but quickly ushered them inside, then went to the kitchen to pour water. “What’s the situation?”

Lin Wanbai summarized the events briefly. Old Zheng’s brow furrowed deeper as he pondered, then slapped his thigh. “What kind of mess is this! These people are wolves and tigers! I trusted Fu Juxing, thinking he was a good man.”

He cursed for a while. “So, what do you plan to do now?”

“I’ll go to the company tomorrow and secure my position. He’s not bold enough to take it openly.”

Old Zheng hesitated. “But your reputation now…”

Lin Wanbai said, “Uncle Zheng, may I borrow your computer?”

“Of course,” he said, standing up and leading her to the study.

Once inside, Lin Xi asked the two guards outside to wait. “I’ll be alone for a while.”

They nodded without pressing further.

She closed the door softly, locking it, then powered on the computer. An adapter was on the desk. Carefully, she unbuttoned her blouse and took a USB drive from inside her bra, plugging it in and waiting for the system to recognize it.

This USB drive had been secretly handed to her by a nurse when she was in the hospital, slipped into her palm during an IV.

Until now, she hadn’t had the chance to look at it. Now, she finally had the opportunity.

The removable drive popped up. She eagerly opened it. There was only one video file.

After hesitating repeatedly, she clicked to play.