Chapter 604: Beyond Friendship

Qin Bore heard her, her lovely eyes shifting slightly.

She curled her stunning red lips into a teasing smile and softly asked back, "Who am I?"

Qin Bore paused, her tone carrying a hint of ethereal allure, "I'm just a woman who drifts with the wind—don't get too curious about me, okay?"

Before her words faded, Qin Bore stepped forward in her high heels……

Her figure drew slightly closer to Su Zhiyuan, exuding a chilling yet alluring pressure.

Qin Bore raised her hand and gently grabbed Su Zhiyuan's collar.

She applied slight pressure with her fingertips, her lightly charming smile edged with cold: "Miss Su Zhiyuan, a word of warning—don't be too curious about me, and don't ask too many questions. Knowing certain things won't do you any good."

Su Zhiyuan was startled by this sudden move, hurriedly nodding: "I understand."

Qin Bore's fingertip remained pressed against her collar.

Qin Bore narrowed her lovely eyes slightly, her tone suddenly turning colder, the threat plain and ruthless:

"Besides, you mustn't say a word about me saving you today—not to anyone, especially Lin Yuan. You're not allowed to let him know."

Qin Bore's lovely eyes narrowed, she added word by word: "Otherwise, if I find out you've leaked a word, I'll kill you. My armed helicopter's firepower can cover the whole province—even show up at your doorstep~"

Those words…… completely terrified Su Zhiyuan.

Su Zhiyuan's delicate body trembled, she nodded frantically, unable to finish a sentence: "I…… I understand!"

Seeing her frightened state, Qin Bore couldn't help but smirk.

Qin Bore's jade hand lightly patted her fragrant shoulder: "Don't be scared, little sis—as long as you don't spill my secret, I won't bring myself to kill you. After all, you're so pretty."

As she spoke, Qin Bore's jade-hand fingernail lightly brushed Su Zhiyuan's lovely face.

Su Zhiyuan could only nod in panic.

This Qin Bore really feels terrifying to her.

After composing herself a little, Su Zhiyuan asked in a trembling voice: "Then…… if Lin Yuan asks how I escaped, what should I say?"

Qin Bore loosened the hand gripping her collar.

Qin Bore's tone regained some calm as she said softly: "Just say…… you escaped on your own. Make up any excuse you like—just don't drag me into it."

Su Zhiyuan hurriedly nodded, her voice still trembling: "I understand……"

Only then did Qin Bore satisfy herself with a nod: "Well then, Miss Su, goodbye."

Having said that, she turned and stepped onto the helicopter.

The cabin door slowly shut, the rotors whirring to life again……

The rumbling grew louder, the helicopter rose steadily, speeding off into the distance, soon becoming a tiny black dot on Hangcheng's skyline……

Su Zhiyuan stood alone on the apron, staring blankly at the direction the helicopter had flown……

Her heart was filled with shock and lingering fear.

This woman is both mysterious and terrifying—just who is she?

Lin Yuan, how could he possibly know someone so unfathomable?

Countless questions swirled in her mind.

Yet no one could give her an answer……

Su Zhiyuan could only clench her fists, burying today's secret deep in her heart.

Su Zhiyuan steadied herself, tidying her disheveled clothing.

She followed the rooftop passageway into the hospital……

She underwent the checkup Qin Bore had arranged, confirming she was fine……

Su Zhiyuan then hailed a taxi alone and returned to the Safe House……

……

At that moment, evening.

Inside the Safe House, the atmosphere was especially solemn.

Lin Yuan and Su Monong had been frantically searching for Su Zhiyuan's whereabouts all day.

But Su Zhiyuan's phone went unanswered.

The police checked all sorts of surveillance, yet found no trace of Su Zhiyuan……

Lin Yuan and Su Monong were anxious to the point of being unable to sit still.

Su Monong leaned against the wall, her face pale, repeatedly dialing Su Zhiyuan's phone.

The busy tone on the line made her heart tighten, her voice even carrying an imperceptible tremor.

The sky gradually darkened……

The evening's lingering light streamed through the window, casting the two figures into ever deeper gloom.

Just then, a soft "click!" sounded……

The Safe House's door was suddenly pushed open slowly, a faint sound…… instantly breaking the indoor stillness.

Lin Yuan reacted extremely fast, springing up almost the instant the door moved.

He flipped his fingertips, a few Silver Needles already concealed in his palm.

Lin Yuan's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, fixed firmly on the doorway……

His aura…… instantly became fully on guard;

Su Monong also immediately straightened her body, her heart leaping to her throat.

Both thought…… it might be Thunder Tiger Sect's bandits coming for revenge, or some other invader intruding.

But when they made out the figure standing at the door, the alertness on their faces froze instantly……

Lin Yuan and Su Monong's faces…… were replaced by utter shock and disbelief.

The person at the doorway had somewhat disheveled hair, her clothes dusted with a little dirt and faint bloodstains, her pretty face pale and exhausted……

This, this is exactly the Su Zhiyuan they've been searching for all day!

"Zhi Yuan?!" Su Monong reacted first.

Su Monong's voice choked with sobs, she took a few steps forward and grabbed Su Zhiyuan in a tight embrace, "You're finally back! Are you alright? Anywhere hurt?"

Su Zhiyuan's beautiful eyes reddened, she forced a weak smile, her voice a little hoarse: "Mom, I'm fine……"

Lin Yuan also stepped forward quickly, put away the Silver Needle in his palm, and sized up Su Zhiyuan……

The anxiety in Lin Yuan's eyes gradually faded, but was replaced by a hint of gravity and doubt.

Lin Yuan looked at the traces on Su Zhiyuan's body and asked in a low voice: "Zhi Yuan, how did you come back? Where did you go??"

Su Monong hastily released her, cupping her daughter's face with both hands.

Su Monong's trembling fingertips stroked her daughter's pale cheek.

She then carefully inspected her daughter's clothing.

Su Monong's eyes reddened, her voice choked as she pressed: "Zhi Yuan, where were you last night? Why did you disappear for so long? You've worried Mom and Lin Yuan to death!"

Lin Yuan's gaze remained fixed on Su Zhiyuan, his eyes full of gravity, he added: "What exactly happened? Did you encounter danger?"

Su Zhiyuan lowered her gaze, avoiding their probing looks.

In her heart…… she quickly settled on an explanation.

Su Zhiyuan kept the fact that Qin Bore had saved her tightly sealed, not daring to speak of it.

After fabricating her words, Su Zhiyuan then spoke……

"I… I last night, was kidnapped by the Thunder Tiger Sect people."

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere in the room instantly tensed.

Su Monong and Lin Yuan's faces both darkened.

Su Monong pulled her daughter back into her embrace, patting her back with lingering fear, her voice full of panic: "Thunder Tiger Sect! How could those villains have caught you? Did they do anything to you? Did they lay a hand on you?"

Su Monong gripped Su Zhiyuan's arm tightly, her fingertips trembling, afraid her daughter had suffered any injustice.

Su Zhiyuan's heart tightened, she quickly shook her head.

Su Zhiyuan's gaze instinctively flickered, then she forced herself to steady her mind.

Su Zhiyuan's voice, weak from the recent fright, said: "No, Mom, they didn't touch me."

Su Zhiyuan, following her fabricated story…… added.

She tried to make her tone sound genuine: "I took advantage of them eating and the guards being lax, secretly untied the ropes and escaped. At the time they were busy with other matters and didn't have time to chase me, so I took the secluded path straight to the Safe House."

As she spoke, Su Zhiyuan deliberately pulled her sleeves together to cover the faint binding marks on her wrists, her voice full of barely concealed panic.

"The Thunder Tiger Sect acts ruthlessly and has a foundation in ancient martial arts—how could they let you escape so easily?" Lin Yuan frowned tightly, his eyes full of doubt and inquiry.

Lin Yuan felt…… there was a loophole in Su Zhiyuan's words.

But seeing Su Zhiyuan pale and exhausted, eyes full of lingering fear.

Lin Yuan couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

At this moment Su Monong's heart was filled with pity, she didn't think much more.

She helped Su Zhiyuan sit on the sofa, comforting her softly: "It's fine as long as you're safe now. It's all Mom's fault for not protecting you; from now on I won't let you go out alone." Su Monong

While speaking, she busily poured warm water for Su Zhiyuan, her fingertips still slightly trembling.

Lin Yuan fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly recalled something and asked in a low voice: "Zhi Yuan, do you know where the Thunder Tiger Sect's secret base is? Since they dared to capture you, they surely have ill intentions; we must quickly take down their stronghold to prevent further harm."

Su Zhiyuan stared for a moment, then recalled the markers along the way when she was captured,

She quickly gave the address: "In the abandoned machinery factory on the outskirts of the city, there are many of them hidden inside."

Lin Yuan, upon hearing that, immediately pulled out his phone and called Mu Lingxue……

After the call connected, Lin Yuan immediately reported: "Lingxue, Su Zhiyuan is back. But she was indeed captured by the Thunder Tiger Sect people. She gave the Thunder Tiger Sect's hiding place…… You must immediately send police to the abandoned machinery factory on the outskirts; that is the Thunder Tiger Sect's secret stronghold, deploy and apprehend them quickly, be aware they have ancient martial arts masters, be sure to be careful."

On the other end of the line, Mu Lingxue was also startled upon hearing that!

Mu Lingxue immediately responded: "Received, I'll arrange for the police to make the arrest right away!!

Lin Yuan hung up the phone, turned his head to look at Su Zhiyuan, his eyes still carrying a faint, hardly noticeable suspicion.

About an hour later……

Mu Lingxue's phone call came back.

Mu Lingxue said with some gravity: "Lin Yuan, we've arrived at the abandoned machinery factory with personnel, but inside there's no one; it looks like the Thunder Tiger Sect people had already withdrawn in advance, probably sensing the movement."

Lin Yuan, upon hearing that, furrowed his brows tighter, a flash of suspicion crossing his eyes?

Could it be that after discovering Su Zhiyuan's escape, the Thunder Tiger Sect people feared their base would be exposed, so they withdrew in advance?

Lin Yuan and Mu Lingxue then exchanged some important case leads, then hung up the phone.

Mu Lingxue and the police continued to track the whereabouts of the Thunder Tiger Sect.

Lin Yuan informed Su Monong and her daughter of the situation; Su Monong couldn't help but sigh, her face full of worry: "What are we to do? If we don't catch the Thunder Tiger Sect people, how much longer must we stay in the Safe House?"

Su Zhiyuan sat to the side, listening to their conversation……

Su Zhiyuan instinctively wanted to ask Lin Yuan, "Who is Qin Bore?"……

But when the words reached her lips…… she hesitated again.

Qin Bore's harsh warning…… instantly echoed in Su Zhiyuan's ears.

Su Zhiyuan clenched her fingers tightly, forcing the question back down; a complex flicker passed through her eyes, she dared not think further.

The night was already deep.

Su Monong and her daughter hadn't eaten yet; now they were a little hungry.

Lin Yuan tied on an apron and walked into the kitchen, beginning to cook for the mother and daughter.

Lin Yuan moved his hands and feet nimbly, getting busy……

Not long after, a table of steaming home-cooked dishes was brought to the table;

They are what Su Zhiyuan and Su Monong love to eat.

Su Monong looked at the table full of dishes, her eyes filled with warmth.

Having a man in the house feels really nice.

She hurriedly pulled Su Zhiyuan to sit down: "Zhi Yuan, are you hungry? Let's eat first."

At the dining table, Su Zhiyuan poked at the rice in her bowl, her gaze flickering between Su Monong and Lin Yuan.

After a long silence, Su Zhiyuan could no longer hold back the doubt in her heart.

She put down her chopsticks and, with a hint of obstinacy, asked: "Mom, what exactly is your relationship with Lin Yuan?"

Su Monong's hand movement paused, and the smile on her face froze instantly.

Su Zhiyuan glanced at Lin Yuan instinctively, her tone a little unnatural: "Lin Yuan and I are just friends; he's always taken care of us mother and daughter, you know that."

Lin Yuan also put down his chopsticks, looking at Su Zhiyuan with a complex expression, without speaking.

This problem, in the end, just needs to be resolved.

Eh. Lin Yuan felt somewhat helpless.

After all, Su Zhiyuan's running away from home this time was also for this matter...

"Friends?" Su Zhiyuan's face full of disbelief.

She gritted her teeth and said: "You're definitely more than just friends! I saw you and Lin Yuan kissing in the office! Mom, stop making excuses!"

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere at the dining table instantly dropped to freezing point.