"Sister-in-law!" Long Tianjiao's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Summon some spirits to haunt that wretched girl—give her the fright of her life!"
Long Yubei's brow arched in displeasure. "Is your sister-in-law your servant, to be ordered about at will?"
"I'm simply too furious to bear it."
"Then bear it in silence," he replied coolly. "Since you've survived the beating, I shall rest easy. Recover here—we're leaving."
With that, the couple departed, leaving the Long family speechless in their wake.
Outside the ward, Gu Lili's spirits lifted. "Were you defending me just now?"
"Unless you suppose I'd defend a stray pup instead?"
"Who are you calling a—" Her protest dissolved into playful blows against his arm.
Amusement glimmered in his dark eyes as they made their way to the parking lot.
No sooner had they entered the car than her phone rang again—another local unknown number, likely the same blocked caller from before.
She answered tersely, "Speak."
"Our master demands your presence."
The same ominous refrain.
"Cease this charade. Name yourself."
"All will be revealed when you come. Unless you'd prefer our master to seek you out instead?"
"Let him come, then. I await him at my leisure."
"You overestimate your worth," the voice sneered before she terminated the call. "Anonymous threats and vague commands—what arrogance," she muttered.
"Stay indoors these coming days."
"Agreed. There's little reason to venture out anyway," she conceded.
Their evening passed quietly until midnight, when her phone shattered the silence—her father's name flashing across the screen. What urgent matter would prompt such an untimely call?
"What is it?"
Her spine straightened instantly. "You're certain?"
A terse acknowledgment later, she dialed Gu Xichen—only to meet with dead air.
"What troubles you?" Long Yubei stirred beside her.
"Xichen's been taken. They'll only release him if I go alone." Her eyes burned with fury. "This is their design—those very callers, luring me out."
"I'll accompany you."
"Useless. Their terms were explicit—I come alone." His grip tightened around her wrist. "This is a trap. You shan't go."
"And leave Xichen to his fate?"
"His survival concerns you little." He drew her back against him. "Let it be."
"He's my master's only son." She exhaled sharply. "Moreover, they seized him solely to reach me. Honor demands I answer for this."
"Should their gambit fail, they'll release him unharmed."
"And if they slit his throat instead?" She wrenched free. "I must go."
Despite his protests, she dressed hastily, bound her hair, and fled into the night.
The unfamiliar number taunted her as she sped from Qinyuan: "Ten minutes to Magic Teahouse by the waterfront, or your master's heir becomes a corpse."
The line went dead as her accelerator met the floor.