Meng Wanyue immediately set the documents on the desk and turned to follow behind Xu Mu.
Even she didn't notice the faint curve forming at the corner of her lips —
she liked going out with him.
Along the way, Xu Mu briefly explained what had happened.
By the time he finished, they were already in the underground parking garage.
Meng Wanyue took the driver's seat on her own initiative. She opened her phone and pulled up the satellite map, locating the old fertilizer factory in Wucheng.
From the map, it was clear the factory had long been abandoned.
Dozens of tall chimneys stood alone, rusted and crooked.
There were still many buildings inside, but the surrounding few kilometers were completely deserted.
"President Xu, if they lured you there, it's definitely not good," Meng Wanyue said after scanning the layout.
"People who choose that kind of place usually intend to kill."
"Relax," Xu Mu replied with a faint smile. "I know a little martial arts myself."
"Let's go."
"Alright."
Meng Wanyue nodded, then drove out of the parking lot.
She first stopped the car in an open lot beside her Wuling Hongguang van.
Opening the back door, she climbed inside — and after a short while came back out again,
now dressed in black sportswear instead of her office uniform,
and wearing running shoes.
She slung a backpack over her shoulder and tossed it into the backseat.
Inside her mind, her plan was already clear:
If those people only meant to rough Xu Mu up, she would subdue them and let Xu Mu decide their fate.
But if they dared to try to kill him…
then she would kill them all.
Wucheng was a county-level city under Jiang City's administration — about an hour away from downtown.
Xu Mu nearly dozed off along the way; he wasn't nervous at all.
If things went south, he could always retreat. At least he'd tried.
If it were Ye Tong who had been kidnapped, he definitely wouldn't be this calm.
"President Xu, three kilometers left to the old fertilizer factory."
Meng Wanyue pulled the car over on the roadside outside Wucheng.
According to the map, they just needed to continue three kilometers forward to reach it.
Xu Mu rolled down the window, feeling the light breeze.
"Wanyue, they said I have to go alone."
"No, President Xu. It's too dangerous for you to go by yourself — I'm going with you."
Her expression was serious.
"If you go with me, I'm afraid they'll kill the hostage out of panic," Xu Mu reasoned.
"So here's the plan — I'll go in through the front gate to draw their attention. You sneak in from the back and rescue her."
She hesitated but, seeing the determination in his eyes, finally nodded.
"Alright, but wait a moment."
She stepped out, opened her backpack, and pulled out a wristwatch.
"This has a tracking device. If you press and hold the side button, I can hear everything you say. It'll help me locate you."
She handed the watch to him.
Xu Mu nodded, took off his Rolex, and tossed it onto the passenger seat.
He then put on her watch.
"President Xu, I'll move first — head around to the back of the factory. Once I'm in position, I'll message you."
"Got it. Don't move until I give the word," he instructed.
"Understood."
She slung the backpack on and jumped down the roadside embankment, taking a shortcut toward the factory.
Xu Mu exhaled slowly, moved to the driver's seat, and sat still for a moment, eyes closed, calming his breath.
He wasn't as calm as he appeared — this could very well be life and death.
Whether he killed or got killed, the first time always made one nervous.
Seven or eight minutes later, his phone vibrated with a message.
Meng Wanyue had arrived at her position.
He replied with a short "Got it," then started the engine and drove toward the factory.
The highway here was empty — three kilometers took him less than two minutes.
As the factory loomed ahead, he turned into the rusted front gate.
The abandoned complex's entrance was corroded and half open.
Before stepping out, Xu Mu sent one more message to Meng Wanyue:
"I'm going in."
Then he got out and walked inside.
Activating his perception, he scanned a hundred-meter radius.
After a dozen meters, he detected someone — an older man in his fifties or sixties — hiding behind a building.
"I'm here! Where's Mu Qingying? Let her go!"
Xu Mu shouted loudly, pretending not to notice the presence.
Behind the scenes, Nine Fingers had already set up a pinhole camera at the entrance.
From his phone screen, he confirmed that Xu Mu had indeed come alone.
He grinned and put on a Ultraman mask, stepping out from behind cover with mock cheerfulness.
A live camera feed on his chest was transmitting the scene to Lin Yan, who was watching from another location.
At that same time, in another abandoned building —
Feng Yue and Mu Qingying were both tied up there.
Lin Yan sat before a laptop, watching the footage live.
"Heh… Xu Mu finally showed up."
He smirked.
Tied to a pillar, Mu Qingying's eyes brimmed with tears — she could see Xu Mu clearly on the screen.
Moments ago, she had been furious — blaming this man for her capture.
But now, watching him come alone to save her,
she couldn't help feeling a lump rise in her throat.
Feng Yue, on the other hand, felt a pang of jealousy.
"Why does he come to save her and not me? What's so great about Mu Qingying?
My peach-shaped butt's even better!"
"Heheheh… kid, you've got guts, coming all the way here."
Nine Fingers adjusted his Ultraman mask and walked toward Xu Mu.
"I don't care who you are — whatever they're paying you, I'll double it. Let Mu Qingying go, now."
Xu Mu's hands stayed in his pockets, his tone calm.
"As expected of the Xu Group's young master — filthy rich.
If she were here, I'd gladly hand her over."
Nine Fingers was now standing right in front of him.
"What did you say? She's not here?" Xu Mu frowned.
"This place is just your grave, kid. I was expecting a fight —
didn't think you'd be dumb enough to come alone."
Nine Fingers shook his head slowly.
"Your opponent isn't as stupid as you. You won't leave this place alive."
Xu Mu's face grew tense — this was clearly a trap meant to kill.
Lin Yan's intention was obvious now.
"How much did they pay you? I'll give you five times that!
Help me save Mu Qingying, and I'll grant you anything you want!"
While speaking, Xu Mu silently opened his storage space — inside was his Desert Eagle pistol.
The other man couldn't see it, but Xu Mu could draw it any time.
At that very moment, in the other building, Mu Qingying was already sobbing uncontrollably.
He'd just said Xu Mu wouldn't survive, yet Xu Mu was still trying to save her.
Xu Mu might be hateful — but his feelings for her were clearly genuine.
[Favorability +50]