Love Assault - Chapter 2

Lin Che chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. You’re certainly a man of principle. Looks like I’m going to die today, then?

There’s no choice. You’ve seen my face. If I let you go, who’s to say you won’t send someone after me for revenge? If you can afford fifty million, you can certainly hire assassins to hunt me down. I’d rather not risk taking your money only to die before I can spend it. The man wore an expression of deep regret as he touched his face. I should have covered my face. We could have both been happy. What a waste.

Alright, Lin Che said with a helpless smile. What a pity.

Yeah… The man took a deep breath. What a pity.

Lin Che glanced out the car window. They were now in a small grove of trees. In the winter chill, only a few withered leaves clung stubbornly to the branches, while gusts of wind whipped up swirling dust. She murmured to herself, If I die in a place like this, it would be rather bleak, don’t you think?

Not bleak at all. The river’s frozen over. I’ll chop a hole in the ice and toss you in. Who knows, you might even become the Dragon King’s daughter-in-law. The man grinned, raising his eyebrows with the flair of a storyteller. Don’t blame me, girl. Blame your parents for making you a rich kid. Your mother’s no pushover, you know.

Lin Che nodded. Yeah, my mom’s definitely a handful. But it’s fine. Rich kids like me are born to be kidnapped and assassinated. I’m used to it.

The man shook his head, looking confused, yet something still felt off. Lin Che was too calm, not at all like someone about to meet King Yama. She had been as nonchalant as if she were sightseeing the whole way here. He’d never seen anyone like her before. This made him stare at her for a long moment, but he still couldn’t pinpoint anything strange. Her phone, backpack, and suitcase had long been discarded. Apart from her sunglasses, she carried nothing else. Yet he couldn’t shake this inexplicable unease. As they neared their destination, he steadied himself, took a deep breath, and cleared his throat. Miss Lin, can I ask you something?

Lin Che seemed to be daydreaming. It took her a moment to register his words. Oh, sure. What is it?

Do you know you’re about to die?

Lin Che nodded. You told me that in your first sentence.

The man took a deep breath, crossed his legs, and stared at Lin Che thoughtfully for a long moment before finally speaking. Aren’t you afraid?

Lin Che smiled. If I said I was terrified, would you let me go?

No.

Then why should I be afraid? Lin Che raised an eyebrow and glanced out the window. Hey, do you have a cigarette?

The man chuckled and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Not the finest brand, Miss Lin. I hope you won’t be too disappointed.

Lin Che deftly pulled out a cigarette, put it between her lips, and tilted her chin. Could you light it for me?

The man flicked his lighter and held the flame to her cigarette. Lin Che leaned forward, cupping her hands around the lighter as if by habit, and mumbled a thank you before bringing the cigarette to her lips. Just as the man was about to say You’re welcome, he felt a sudden, forceful tug on his hand holding the lighter. Realizing something was wrong, he immediately shouted, Hold her down!

The two burly men flanking Lin Che instantly reached for her shoulders. Given their size and proximity, they assumed they could easily restrain her, never imagining she could escape.

Lin Che suddenly lunged forward, dropping to her knees in the car. The seats emptied as the two men grabbed at air. Just as they moved to seize her, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the man across from them. Lin Che had precisely stabbed the lit cigarette butt into his left eye. The man immediately released his grip, clutching his eye in agony as his other hand groped for the gun in his pocket.

Lin Che swiftly snatched the lighter from his hand. Her left hand shot out, seizing the man’s gun-grabbing right wrist. With a sharp tug, she pulled him from a kneeling position into a half-crouch. Bracing her feet, she leaned forward, swung her arm back, and spun around, effortlessly sliding into the seat beside the man. She easily evaded the two pairs of hands reaching for her from behind.

The man’s right wrist was now twisted behind his back by Lin Che. Though the car was spacious, the two hulking men across from them, now sandwiched around a one-eyed man, had to hunch over and lunge forward awkwardly to reach her. It was an uncomfortable and precarious position. As they yanked open their coats to draw their guns, Lin Che tossed the lighter onto the adjacent seat and swiftly reached into the man’s loose coat pocket. Without even drawing the gun, two shots rang out. Before the two brutes could clear their own weapons, bloody holes had appeared in their right wrists.

The two shots were fired with lightning speed and deadly accuracy. Only someone with professional training could have swiftly disengaged the gun’s safety with one hand and maintained such steady aim in this chaotic environment. The two men grimaced in pain, and as they reached with their left hands to clutch their right wrists, two more shots rang out, leaving matching holes in their left wrists. They slumped back in their seats, utterly incapacitated. Even if they had bombs strapped to their bodies, they wouldn’t have the strength to pull the detonators now.

The entire sequence unfolded in mere seconds. Before the three men could even process what was happening, they had been completely subdued. Lin Che pressed the barrel of her gun against the man’s temple, her expression as calm as if nothing had occurred. A man’s voice suddenly called from the front of the vehicle, demanding to know what was happening. Lin Che nudged the man’s head with the gun. Tell them it’s nothing, she ordered. Just firing a few shots to scare people. She glanced at the two ashen-faced men across from her. You two—if you utter a single word or make a move, I’ll kill him first, then you both. I’m not joking. Understand?

The two men nodded vigorously, their hands hanging limply, terrified the woman might fire again and send them to meet their maker. They clenched their teeth, enduring the pain without even daring to groan.

The man had never imagined such a seemingly frail woman could move with such relentless, clockwork precision. Now that his life was in her hands, regret gnawed at him. He should have just agreed to give her the money and let her go. Clearing his throat hastily, he called out, It’s nothing. This little b1tch tried to run, so we fired a few shots to scare her. Keep going, we can’t let this delay our brothers’ important business. The first part of his statement was what Lin Che had instructed him to say the second part he added himself. At first glance, the words sounded perfectly plausible. But Lin Che smiled, pressing the gun against the man’s head again. Brother, I’ve been giving you every chance to spare your life. Are you really trying to get me killed? As she spoke, she felt the car change direction and accelerate. She guessed the men in the front had understood the hidden meaning in the man’s words and were bringing reinforcements, forcing them to abandon their original plan and take her somewhere else.

Sister, let’s talk this out…

I was just trying to reason with you, but you’re too stubborn to listen. You had to go against me. Lin Che glanced at the front of the van, where a black curtain separated the driver’s compartment. She couldn’t tell if there was one person or two up there. Now that her cover was blown, every minute she stayed increased the danger. She reached for the door, waved her gun, and glanced back. She could already faintly hear the sirens of approaching police cars. Turning to the three groggy men, she said, Ah, they’re here sooner than I expected. I can’t even let you go now. Without further delay, she lightly tapped the man’s head with her gun and said apologetically, Don’t blame me for this. You just had the misfortune of crossing paths with me. If you’re going to kill someone, you should at least investigate their background first. No wonder you’ve been stuck making so little money. Brother, I can’t give you a perfect ten, but I can give you a nine.

The man froze, still processing her words, when Lin Che struck him hard on the back of the head. His vision went black, and he collapsed forward, landing on his knees right where she had been sitting. The two men on either side stared at Lin Che, holding their breath. In a flash, she leaped out of the van, rolled nimbly across the ground, and fired two shots at the rear tires of the speeding vehicle. At that moment, at least five police cars swarmed in from behind.

The car ahead was forced to stop after only a short distance. Lin Che turned to see fully armed police officers exiting their vehicles. She playfully raised her hand and waved. Hi! What a coincidence! The officers swarmed the car, leaving no room to maneuver, and completely ignored Lin Che standing nearby. Lin Che smirked as a young male officer approached her. Lin Che, right? Hand over the gun first. We need you to come back with us for questioning.

Lin Che sighed impatiently and followed the officer toward the police car.

Lin Zhili, wearing a wool coat, had just stepped out of another police car. With her eyebrows furrowed, she strode over to Lin Che in a few quick steps. Without a word, she pinched Lin Che’s cheek, making her flinch away in pain. Mom, Lin Che snapped, can’t you just stop causing trouble for me? Let your daughter live peacefully for a few years, huh?

Lin Zhili pursed her lips and shrugged. Your old lady reported Fang Youfu’s business fraud as a public service. I knew he’d pull something like this to embarrass me. As she spoke, she squeezed Lin Che’s right upper arm and winked. See? That tracking device I planted on you still works wonders, doesn’t it? They got here fast, right?

Lin Che rolled her eyes. Hurry up! If you’d been any later, I would have accidentally killed them.

Lin Zhili laughed heartily, wrapping her arm around Lin Che and affectionately guiding her to the police car. She settled Lin Che in the back seat, closed the door, and said, I trust my daughter to know when to hold back. All that military academy training, special ops training, and wilderness survival nonsense I sent you to study abroad for—wasn’t that brilliant of me?

Lin Che shook her head. Mom, when are you going to retire from this life? I’ve been kidnapped nine times since birth, and this time they went straight for the kill. You’re escalating things with each incident. Even an iron man wouldn’t be this lucky every time. Every stage of my life seems to require a baptism by the underworld. Are you sure I’m your biological daughter?

Absolutely, I guarantee it, Lin Zhili patted Lin Che’s hand. After you give your statement, come with me to see Uncle Guo. We owe him for getting here so quickly.

Lin Che rolled her eyes so hard they nearly turned white. Uncle Guo? Five years ago, it was Uncle Yu. Another change…

Oh, my dear daughter, power shifts quickly at the police station. If I don’t maintain good relationships, things become difficult to manage… Lin Zhili said earnestly, stroking Lin Che’s cheek. Hey, I’ve made your cheek red! Good girl, you’ve been so quiet since you got back. I need to hand Apex International over to you soon, so you must come with me.

Hand it over to me? Lin Che whipped her head around to stare at Lin Zhili. Mom, what are you planning?

Ah… Lin Zhili took a deep breath. Mom’s so tired. I need a long vacation—sun, beaches, delicious food, and handsome men…

Lin Che stared blankly out the car window at the blurring scenery. Mom, why do those people always target me but never you?

Oh… Lin Zhili shrugged. Because my bodyguards are top-notch. She bit her lip, as if pondering seriously for a moment, then added, Maybe it’s because I’m too rich. Who would pay the ransom if they kidnapped me?

Lin Che ……