“Just where are you taking us?” Sang Qing-Xin grew nervous again as the car left the city and tears fell soundlessly from her eyes.

Sang Yue-Yue had fallen asleep; she was a three-year-old after all. She slept deeply and her mother’s tears fell on her face but she did not wake up.

“To a safe place,” said Xia Lei.

“No! You have no right to take us anywhere!” Sang Qing-Xin was losing it. “Let us out. I want to get out of the car!”

“Don’t you want to see Danny?” said Xia Lei.

“I don’t believe you. Where is he?”

“Hospital.”

“Then take us to the hospital! This is the suburbs - don’t lie to me!” Sang Qing-Xin shouted at Xia Lei.

Xia Lei wrinkled his brows. “I’ll be frank. Your husband is actually… an agent. I am his colleague. He’s been hurt and those people earlier want to get you and your daughter so that they can use you two against him. You have to come with me; it’s the only way you’ll be safe, and Danny too.”

“He’s… an agent?” Sang Qing-Xin looked at Xia Lei suspiciously. She could not tell if this young man was telling the truth.

“Ask him in person when you see him. You have to trust me. I won’t hurt you or your daughter.” Xia Lei did not want to say more. He had spoken too many lies about Danny and it disgusted him.

Sang Qing-Xin calmed down at last, and sat thinking quietly to herself.

Xia Lei drove into Bailu Village and through it to the military factory grounds.

The workers from the construction company were still working overtime, building the foundation of the factory. The construction site gate-guard greeted Xia Lei.

Sang Qing-Xin relaxed more after seeing more people. Xia Lei would not have brought her to a place with so many people if he’d wanted to kidnap herself and Sang Yue-Yue, and he was not likely to harm them in front of so many people either.

Xia Lei drove the car through the construction area and to a wooden hut. There was a villa under construction next to the wooden hut and workers were working overtime there too. Sang Qing-Xin was relieved by the sight.

Xia Lei released the locks and said, “Get out of the car. You two will stay here for the next two days.”

Sang Qing-Xin alighted and followed Xia Lei to the wooden hut. “What place is this?” she asked cautiously.

“This is a military factory. It’s not complete yet,” said Xia Lei.

Sang Qing-Xin’s worries were laid to rest when she heard that. “When can I see Danny?”

Xia Lei thought for a bit, and said, “Tomorrow. I’ll arrange for you to meet him tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I did not behave well earlier - please forgive me.” Sang Qing-Xin apologised to Xia Lei.

Xia Lei gave a small laugh. “It’s nothing, just what I should do. I’ll take you to your room to rest. It’s late and you must be tired carrying your child.”

“Can you tell me your name, Mister?”

“Nn, my name’s Xia Lei.” Xia Lei did not hide it.

Sang Qing-Xin bowed to Xia Lei. “Thank you, Mr Xia.”

Such a kind and humble woman! She was full of longing to see Danny and was proud of his identity as an agent, but she did not know what she was going to be confronted with.

Xia Lei felt ashamed at having made use of such a kind woman and adorable child, even though what he did was for justice.

But it couldn’t be helped. Oftentimes there was no choice and one had to do things against one’s own conscience.

After arranging the living quarters of the mother-and-daughter, Xia Lei returned to the wooden hut which Annina was temporarily housed in. The two rooms were separated by a wall of iron and foam; this made it easy for Xia Lei to check on the two of them.

Annina was sound asleep and she did not sense that someone had entered her room. One leg stuck out from under the covers and the hut was filled with her mesmerising scent. She used perfume often and her scent would always awake desire in Xia Lei.

The soft, white leg and enticing smell were all very tempting but Xia Lei was not in the mood for that. He was still thinking about the poor mother-and-daughter, Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue.

Xia Lei went to the bed and pulled the blanket over to cover Annina’s leg.

Annina awoke all of a sudden and looked at Xia Lei blearily. “Where’ve you been? I couldn’t get through to your phone; I was so worried.”

“It’s nothing. Sleep,” said Xia Lei.

Annina burrowed into Xia Lei’s embrace. “I can’t sleep. I see that guy missing half his head when I close my eyes.”

Xia Lei put his arms around her and said comfortingly, “Things like this won’t happen again. Sleep.”

“Aren’t you sleeping?” said Annina in a soft voice.

“I’ll give Long Bing a call before I sleep.” Xia Lei took out his mobile phone and switched it on, then dialled Long Bing’s number.

He had switched it off when he’d entered the Gu clan’s Baisui Garden property. He had to switch it off when doing things like that because he would be exposed if someone called him or sent him a message during that time.

Annina did not sit still. She reached out and undid Xia Lei’s belt. Xia Lei wanted to smack her hand away but Long Bing’s voice came from the phone just then and he retracted his hand.

“What’s the situation?” asked Long Bing.

“Danny does have a woman, and a daughter. His woman’s name is Sang Qing-Xin, the director of Angel Orphanage. His daughter’s Sang Yue-Yue. She’s three this year,” said Xia Lei.

“Well done. I didn’t consider this possibility. You did, and you found them.” Long Bing was delighted. “Where are they?”

“I brought them to the military factory site.”

“Watch them. I’m going to the military hospital now to take Danny away. I’ll contact you right away when I’ve made the arrangements,” said Long Bing.

“Okay.. Nngh.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Long Bing in concern.

“Nothing. Nn. I’m h, hanging up.” Xia Lei hung up without waiting for Long Bing to speak.

His desires went up, then down. When all was calm again, Xia Lei’s left eye twitched and the room opposite entered his field of vision.

Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue were asleep. Their breaths were even and there was even a small snore. Sang Qing-Xin had been tired out by the fright she’d received.

‘It’s good that they’re asleep. Wooden huts don’t have very good soundproofing, so if Sang Qing-Xin heard me and Annina over here… Damn, that’ll be so embarrassing’ thought Xia Lei.

Annina was asleep too. She was like a sweet little lamb which had fallen asleep after a big meal.

Xia Lei lay down for a few minutes before getting out of bed, putting his clothes on and going to the bathroom. There was no way to install a toilet or a sink in a wooden hut like this and the closest toilet was thirty metres away. He did not want to go out naked.

After coming out of the toilet, some cars suddenly appeared at the gates of the construction site. One Bugatti, and a few tough-looking Toyotas. Two more vehicles followed - green pick-up trucks with no license plates. Xia Lei took a closer look and was surprised. Those two green pick-up trucks carried the National Guard - at least 50 of them!

Xia Lei knew it was Gu Ke-Wu before the vehicles came to a stop, and he knew what Gu Ke-Wu was here for. He turned and ran towards the wooden hut.

All the vehicles stopped at the gates of the construction site.

The door to the Bugatti Veyron opened and Gu Ke-Wu stepped out from the driver’s seat. “It’s this place. Alight!” he shouted.

The gate-guard didn’t dare to go up to talk to ask what he was doing there at the sight of the convoy. He hid in the guard room and didn’t dare to let out so much as a fart.

Two of Gu Ke-Wu’s bodyguards kicked the door to the guard room open and dragged the gate-guard out.

“Where does Xia Lei live? Tell me!” Gu Ke-Wu’s face was a mask of anger.

“Wh, Who are you? What do you want?” The gate-guard mustered up courage to ask.

Gu Ke-Wu slapped him across the face. “Where is Xia Lei? Talk!”

The guard held his face and pointed at the wooden hut behind the construction site.

Gu Ke-Wu waved, and the men he brought swarmed towards the wooden hut.

At the hut, Xia Lei kicked down the door and rushed into the room that Sang Qing-Xin and Sang Yue-Yue were in.

Sang Qing-Xin was startled awake by the noise and she looked at Xia Lei in terror. “Wh, What are you doing?”

Xia Lei said nothing. He chopped at Sang Qing-Xin’s carotid artery and she fell bonelessly to the bed with a grunt.

Xia Lei slung her over his shoulder and carried the still-sleeping Sang Yue-Yue in his arms. He turned and started walking out of the hut.

Annina had been awakened by the noise too. She came out of the hut at the same time that Xia Lei was stepping out from next door with Sang Qing-Xin over his shoulder. “What happened?” she asked in surprise.

“Come with me, quick!” said Xia Lei urgently.

Annina stared blankly. “I’ll get my clothes and shoes.”

“No time. Hurry!” Xia Lei started running towards the forest behind the hut.

Annina spotted the huge group of people on the construction site heading towards them just then, and she realised the danger. She stepped into a pair of slippers and ran for the forest behind the hut.