Love Assault - Chapter 18

Team Leader Chen, didn’t you say you weren’t carrying a gun?

Chen Mo ignored her, the headlights of the pursuing car glaring behind them. The vehicle was closing in fast. She shoved Lin Che aside, barking, Cover yourself! and flung the door open, leaping out.

Lin Che, still seated, tossed his coat to Zhao Xiaomao. Cover yourself! He kicked open his door and jumped out, circling the hood to reach Chen Mo’s side. Two gunshots rang out. The tires of the pursuing car went flat, instantly losing traction. Yet, due to its breakneck speed, the vehicle skidded forward, carving a deep trench through the snow. The driver, caught off guard, slammed on the brakes, sending the car veering sideways. It slid across the snow, crashing into the guardrail beside the main road with a deafening roar, shattering the barrier and plunging down the embankment.

Chen Mo, gun raised, shifted forward, already at the car’s rear. She fired two more shots at the approaching motorcycles—this time targeting the riders themselves. Both motorcyclists tumbled off their bikes, while the riderless machines careened wildly toward the car’s rear.

Chen Mo was crouched low, and even at her fastest, she couldn’t outrun a motorcycle. She leaped backward, launching herself straight back, but mid-air, someone yanked her into Lin Che’s arms. Lin Che shielded her head as they tumbled two or three meters across the snowy ground. Before they could even stand, a loud crash echoed as the motorcycle slammed into the car’s rear.

Lin Che pulled Chen Mo to her feet and rushed to yank open the back door, but the impact had warped the metal, making it impossible to open. He pounded on the window, shouting, Zhao Xiaomao, crawl out through the front! Hurry!

Zhao Xiaomao emerged from the front, bl00d streaming from a gash on his head. Shaking violently, he had even wet himself. Chen Mo draped Lin Che’s coat, which Zhao Xiaomao had been holding, over his head and told Lin Che, Take him and run ahead. There’s a toll booth up ahead. She retrieved handcuffs from the storage compartment under the front seat and secured the two unconscious motorcyclists tightly. After instructing Zhao Xiaomao to hide beside the car, Lin Che approached Chen Mo and asked, What about you?

Chen Mo glanced at Lin Che. I’ll stay here and call 120. I’ll wait for the police to arrive. Only then did Lin Che notice that Chen Mo had shot both men in their right shoulders—non-lethal wounds. Their unconsciousness was likely due to the fall. He couldn’t help but sneer, You really are soft-hearted.

Chen Mo shot him a look. Enough talk. Get him out of here.

Lin Che chuckled, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. Team Leader Chen, you’re going to be disappointed. Getting out of here might not be so easy.

Chen Mo followed his gaze and saw three men climbing up the embankment from behind the guardrail, their guns already aimed at them. She raised her pistol and fired several shots at the men, one of whom collapsed to the ground. She swiftly pulled Lin Che behind the car for cover. Gunfire erupted, sparks flying from the car’s rear as bullets tore through the metal with a deafening screech.

Lin Che clenched his fist. Now this is more like it. Two against two, fair and square. He glanced at Chen Mo’s gun. Team Leader Chen, conserve your ammo. You’re running low.

Chen Mo tossed her gun aside, her expression icy. I’m already out.

Lin Che smirked. You weren’t prepared enough.

The sound of footsteps splashing through the water grew louder. Lin Che smiled. This is really troublesome. Let’s split up.

Chen Mo didn’t understand her words. In that moment of confusion, Lin Che suddenly picked up the gun from the ground, stood up, and waved it above her head, shouting, Hey, hey, brothers! Don’t shoot! I’m out of bullets! I surrender!

The two men who had been chasing them reached the rear of the car, pointing their guns at Lin Che from across the vehicle. They froze when they recognized her. Chen Mo frowned, unsure of Lin Che’s plan, but Lin Che threw the gun as far as she could in front of the men and said, Listen, Lu Yunsheng told you to take out Chen Mo, right? He didn’t say anything about killing me too, did he? If I die, your whole plan will fall apart, and your true colors will be exposed. Lu Yunsheng will be furious! As she spoke, her left hand remained raised, while her right hand, hidden behind her back, made a subtle gesture pointing toward the front of the car.

Chen Mo immediately understood. She quietly moved toward the front of the car. Lin Che, noticing Chen Mo’s shadow flickering near the front, chuckled. Alright, I won’t meddle in your feud with Chen Mo. I’m unarmed right now… He raised his right hand and waved it at the two men. I’m terrified of dying. As long as you spare me, you can kill anyone else you want. And… what are you risking your lives for anyway? Money, right? I may not have much else, but I’m loaded! If you spare me, I’ll double whatever Lu Yunsheng is paying you!

This trick again.

The two men, guns trained on Lin Che, laughed at his words. General Manager Lin, we’re sorry, but we’re not doing this for money.

Lin Che bit his lip, looking genuinely puzzled. Not for money? Then what? For s3x? He burst into laughter. Do you think I’m handsome enough? I’m willing to entertain you too!

General Manager Lin, you’re really going all out. Aren’t you into women?

Oh, I love women, Lin Che chuckled. But men work too! As long as you spare my life, none of that matters.

By this time, Chen Mo had reached the front of the car. The two men were so focused on Lin Che that they didn’t notice her. But she had no gun. To deal with them, she’d have to think of another way. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the last pair of handcuffs. Her left pocket held her phone. Gritting her teeth, she decided to take a chance. Using Lin Che’s distraction, she quietly slipped off her rain-soaked down jacket. The heavy, waterlogged garment felt like a lead weight. Lin Che’s incessant chatter filled the air. Suddenly, Chen Mo stood up and hurled the rolled-up jacket at the two men, then ducked back behind the car’s hood.

The men startled, seeing a white blur fly toward them through the heavy rain. Unable to make out what it was, they immediately turned their guns on the jacket and opened fire. In that instant, Lin Che leaped onto the car’s trunk and charged forward, landing a solid punch to one man’s eye. Caught completely off guard, the man holding the gun took the full force of the blow. A searing pain erupted in his left eye, and bl00d gushed from the wound.

When one eye suffers a severe blow, the other eye momentarily blurs due to the pain. Lin Che’s punch was precise and vicious, delivered from above. The man was instantly stunned, firing two wild shots from his gun. Lin Che closed the distance, pressing his body against the man’s. His left hand gripped the man’s gun-wielding right hand, while his right hand clamped down on the man’s left. With his right foot hooked behind the man’s leg, Lin Che shoved forward with brutal force, sending him crashing to the ground. The gun clattered away, but as the man fell, Lin Che’s fist slammed into his right eye, plunging him into instant darkness.

A nearby accomplice raised his gun at Lin Che, but Chen Mo darted from behind the car. Crouching low, she snatched the down jacket lying on the ground and threw it over the man’s head. In a swift motion, she unlocked the handcuffs and snapped them onto the man’s gun-wielding hand. With a sharp flick of her left arm, she hooked her elbow around his throat, choking him into submission.

Lin Che unleashed a flurry of punches on the downed man, his face quickly swelling into a bruised and bloody mess. He retrieved the fallen gun and pointed it at the head of the still-struggling accomplice. Whistling sharply, he growled, Buddy, drop the gun, or I’ll drop you.

The man, still wearing his down jacket, froze when he saw the dark muzzle of the gun pointed at him. His hand went slack, and he dropped his weapon. Chen Mo twisted his arm, snapped on handcuffs, and kicked him to the ground. Only then did she pick up the fallen gun. Glancing at the other man, she remarked, You really went too far.

Lin Che spat on the man’s face. Pah! He wanted me to sleep with him. Isn’t that asking for death?

Chen Mo dragged the handcuffed man over to the motorcyclist and pointed her gun at the dark road around them. The police will be here soon. Don’t try anything stupid. Just then, a gust of wind rushed past her ear as Lin Che shouted, Watch out! Before she could react, a dark figure lunged forward, followed by two gunshots.

Lin Che groaned, cursing under his breath. He aimed his gun at the man Chen Mo had shot earlier and fired repeatedly until the man lay motionless on the ground.

The entire exchange lasted less than a minute. It turned out Chen Mo’s initial shot hadn’t hit a vital spot. After a brief period of unconsciousness, the man had regained consciousness and tried to shoot Chen Mo while lying on the ground. Chen Mo, who was looking down and speaking to the handcuffed man, hadn’t noticed the threat. Lin Che, seeing the danger, had no choice but to throw himself in front of her.

Lin Che kicked the man’s gun far away, then crouched down and unleashed a brutal beating on the unconscious figure. After a long while, she stood up, swayed slightly, and exhaled sharply, muttering, Suicide mission. Bl00d dripped from the fingertips of her left hand.

Chen Mo, standing some distance away in the rain, couldn’t see clearly. She shouted, Are you okay?

Lin Che, her back to Chen Mo, raised her right hand and waved it vigorously, shouting back, I’m fine!

Another car approached and quickly drew near. Chen Mo’s expression tightened, but Lin Che turned to the approaching figure and roared, Jian Xiaobai, you son of a b1tch! If you’d been any later, I’d be dead!

The newcomer was the short-haired woman who had interrogated Lu Qingqing at Dingsheng earlier. She staggered over to Lin Che, surveyed the carnage on the ground, and said, For the last time, my name is Jian Dan, not Xiaobai.

Lin Che rolled her eyes and jerked her head toward the slope beside the guardrail. There’s probably a driver down there. Alive or dead, I don’t know. Send someone to check.

Jian Dan nodded. We’ve already dealt with the other suicidal idiots in the back. She raised an eyebrow, noticing Lin Che’s left shoulder soaked with bl00d, and glanced at the man on the ground. This kid’s work?

Lin Che nodded silently.

Jian Dan scoffed and drew her gun, aiming it at the man’s head. But Lin Che stopped her. Don’t kill him. Officer Chen is here. Let the police handle it.

Oh, you’re really something, Jian Dan said, holstering her gun. Everything’s taken care of. What now?

Sirens wailed in the distance. Lin Che glanced around and said, Give me your jacket. He slipped on Jian Dan’s jacket to cover the bloodstains on his side, then strode over to Chen Mo and handed her his gun. The situation’s resolved. I need to get back. Your people are here. I won’t bother you any longer.

Chen Mo eyed Lin Che’s left hand suspiciously. Are you injured?

Lin Che shook his head. No, just twisted it during the fight. He then asked awkwardly, Team Leader Chen… can I still text you?

Chen Mo paused, her face flickering in the approaching police lights, before giving a slight nod. Lin Che grinned, his smile blooming like a flower. It’s been a pleasure working with you. He turned sharply and ran to Jian Dan’s side, hopping into her car. They sped off, vanishing into the night.