Assistant Xue immediately responded, then hurried out to arrange these matters.

Last night, after Lu Jingchen shot in Chu Munan, he instinctively took out the pistol he had brought with him and shot those two men dead.

Fortunately, those two men didn’t anticipate his presence, making it easy for him to take them down.

The surgery lasted over two hours, and then the lights of the operating room dimmed. The door opened, and the doctor came out.

Chu Munan immediately went up and asked, "How is he?"

The doctor removed his mask and said, "The surgery was very successful, but the patient is still in critical condition. The bullet was close to the heart, a little more to the side and he wouldn’t have survived. Now he’s in the intensive care unit."

Lu Jingchen felt relieved hearing the surgery went well, but his heart sank with the doctor’s following words.

Chu Munan was quickly pushed out, full of tubes, looking pale.

Lu Jingchen knew if it weren’t for Chu Munan, something might have happened to Song Qiao at that time.

Therefore, he was deeply grateful to Chu Munan, even though Song Qiao had vanished and been captured by the other party. At least it proved Song Qiao was still safe.

...

All day long, Assistant Xue had located the family of the captured person and was bringing them over, but there was still no news about Song Qiao.

Chu Munan remained in intensive care, still in critical condition.

Due to the incident involving Xu Qian and Song Qiao, Lu Jingchen didn’t go directly to the company but handled the matter at the villa.

While unconscious, Chu Munan had told him that the leader had given them information that a woman hired them to kill Song Qiao.

However, the exact identity of the person wanting Song Qiao dead was still unknown; the only certainty was that the person was a woman.

During Chu Munan’s surgery, Lu Jingchen had already looked into those women related to Song Qiao who held grudges or had conflicts with her. Gu Qing informed Lu Jingchen that there was indeed a woman in Paris who didn’t get along with Song Qiao, having mutual disdain.

But after investigating, Lu Jingchen found out that woman was a local in France Paris and unfamiliar with Z Country. She had been on business trips to Italy, unaware that Song Qiao had come to S City, making it impossible for her to be the culprit.

Aside from that, Song Qiao’s relationships in S City were generally good; she got along with people around her. As far as they knew, there was no other person having issues with Song Qiao.

The woman didn’t get along with Song Qiao purely because she was supposed to be Gu Xiyan’s agent, but had to give up for some reason, and eventually Song Qiao became Gu Xiyan’s agent and grew increasingly popular.

In terms of women, competitiveness and jealousy existed, and the tension between this woman and Song Qiao was just that.

Having ruled out the possibility that Song Qiao’s trouble was caused by past events over the last five years, it seemed it was happening in S City?

Thinking about it, three names popped into Lu Jingchen’s mind.

Murong Rui, Tan Shuya, and the recently ostracized Li Man.

He immediately took out his phone, dialed a number, and soon the call was connected—it was Xi Mohan’s call.

A deep voice came from the other side, "Hello, Jingchen? What’s up?"

Without any expression, Lu Jingchen said, "Mo Han, my mom and Qiaoqiao were kidnapped. I need to borrow some people from your organization."

Xi Mohan immediately stood up, asking, "What happened? How did your mom and wife get kidnapped?"

Lu Jingchen explained coolly, "Probably someone restless, trying to stir up trouble."

He had his suspicions about who did it but couldn’t be certain without evidence.

Now with a focus, things got a lot more manageable.

Xi Mohan didn’t hesitate or deliberate, directly agreeing, "Alright, let me know how many people you need, I’ll arrange it now."

Lu Jingchen responded with a hum, "Thank you. When my wife and mom are safely back, I’ll treat you to dinner."

Xi Mohan chuckled, "Oh please, everyone knows you’re favoring your partner over friends now. We’ll see if you have time for dinner with me once your wife is back."

Despite being typically succinct, Xi Mohan had plenty to talk about with Lu Jingchen, almost like speaking ten days’ worth with others, and enjoyed joking around.

Since they were close brothers, they got along better than most.

Lu Jingchen didn’t speak any further, for what he wanted to say wasn’t suitable.

He was implying that once Xi Mohan regained his memory and remembered Ning Wan, they’d share that friend-lover bias equally.

The feelings between Xi Mohan and Ning Wan had already woven a complex narrative.

For over a decade, Ning Wan had chased Xi Mohan, like a little tail. Even when Xi Mohan and Lu Jingchen went abroad for college studies, Ning Wan, while still in high school, flew abroad chasing after Xi Mohan.

That was when Lu Jingchen first witnessed a girl’s crazed devotion to a man.

He was newly dating Zuo Yuqing, but envied Xi Mohan.

Since Xi Mohan had Ning Wan, who loved him deeper than herself.

Yet Lu Jingchen found Ning Wan silly, too single-minded, never turning back even after hitting a wall.

The saying "thirty years around the east river, thirty years around the west river" seemed fitting; back then Ning Wan chased after Xi Mohan, while Xi Mohan wasn’t keen.

Now, it was Xi Mohan who wouldn’t let Ning Wan go.

After hanging up, Lu Jingchen organized people to care for and protect Chu Munan at the hospital, then left the hospital directly.

...

Inside Shallow Bay Villa, Tan Shuya’s mood improved significantly once hearing Song Qiao was finally captured, almost enough to start humming.

She instructed not to kill Song Qiao immediately.

Her intention was to torment Song Qiao slowly.

The aunt, unaware of Tan Shuya’s deeds, seeing Tan Shuya’s good mood, made two more dishes.