Xia Xiaolan’s head was throbbing from the impact.

Pan Bohua kicked open the deformed car door, while A-Hua rushed over with his men. Except for A-Hua, everyone from the first car was brought by Master Qiu. As they ran toward the vehicle, Master Qiu hit his head on the airbag, and his men pulled him out.

Pan Bohua opened the back door. “Xiaolan, are you hurt?”

Though her entire body ached from the collision, Xia Xiaolan could move freely. “Third Brother, I’m fine. Let’s check on those two.”

Du Zhaohui’s face was covered in blood. Master Qiu was also injured.

A-Hua was calling out to Young Master, but Du Zhaohui kicked at him, though in his dazed state, he missed.

“Go catch one of them alive. I want to know which bastard is behind this…” Du Zhaohui said darkly.

Xia Xiaolan was furious too. “What, so you can tie them to rocks and dump them in the sea? Stop bragging and get your wounds checked first.” The blood had covered half his face.

Pan Bohua focused only on protecting Xia Xiaolan, watching the crowd cautiously. While Du Zhaohui and Master Qiu had others looking after them, Pan Bohua wasn’t eager to help – they still didn’t know who the target was.

If it was Du Zhaohui, then Xia Xiaolan and Master Qiu were just unfortunate bystanders. If it was Master Qiu, then Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaohui were the unlucky ones. Either way, Xia Xiaolan was caught in the middle. She did business seeking harmony and profit; she hadn’t offended anyone to this extent.

“Third Brother, someone wants to keep us here.”

Were they preventing her from crossing the border?

Xia Xiaolan was suspicious, with Zhang Jiadong being her first suspect.

Shortly after, the drivers from both cars were caught. One was shot twice by Pan Bohua, while the other car had been rammed and flipped by A-Hua, leaving its driver unconscious.

The crowd on the street screamed. Soon police arrived, and the scene looked like something from a crime movie – car chases and gunfire!

First, they rushed Du Zhaohui to the hospital. He had a large gash on his head, and though his face was covered in blood, fortunately, the bone wasn’t damaged. After getting over ten stitches – and cursing the whole way – Du Zhaohui proved he still had some resilience. Xia Xiaolan had worried he might pass out from blood loss.

After cleaning the blood from his face, Du Zhaohui was wheeled out with his head wrapped in bandages like a rice dumpling. A-Hua stayed by his side the whole time. Du Zhaohui felt embarrassed sitting in the wheelchair and tried to stand several times.

“Just stay seated, there’s no shame in being injured.”

But that wasn’t right – a man should never admit weakness. Du Zhaohui noticed Xia Xiaolan had been lucky to escape injury. He thought that if someone had to get hurt, better him than her.

“I thought you’d head back to Pengcheng first.”

Xia Xiaolan frowned. “I want to go back, but I’m worried someone doesn’t want us to leave. Do you think they were targeting you?”

Master Qiu hadn’t even come to the hospital, his men had taken him straight away.

Du Zhaohui wasn’t sure either, thinking about all the people he’d killed.

“Maybe I’ve been too high-profile lately?”

But that didn’t seem right – he’d stayed in Pengcheng, rarely returning to Hong Kong, so he shouldn’t have been in anyone’s way.

Xia Xiaolan was puzzled too. “If they weren’t trying to kill you, then they were after Master Qiu… Could Zhang Jiadong already know?”

Du Zhaohui grew more depressed.

“Since you’re not returning to Pengcheng, you’ll need a place to stay in Hong Kong.”

Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment. “Well, I guess I’ll have to stay at Councilor Zhang’s hotel.”

Damn, what kind of choice was that!

Du Zhaohui wanted to object but couldn’t find the words.

Pan Bohua was angry too. He had been certain Zhang Jiadong wouldn’t harm Xia Xiaolan, but this “accident” immediately proved him wrong, making the situation more complicated.

“I’ll make a call.”

Pan Bohua stepped out.

Du Zhaohui wheeled himself closer. “Why don’t I have my people escort you back to Pengcheng now? You have a capable person with you, and with my men added, you’ll cross the border safely. This is someone else’s business – why get involved?”

Du Zhaohui urged Xia Xiaolan not to be stubborn.

But Xia Xiaolan was already furious. “I tried to stay out of it, but they won’t let me leave. Think about it – Master Qiu hasn’t contacted anyone, not even his mother. How is Zhang Jiadong so mysteriously well-informed in Hong Kong? If this accident wasn’t meant for you, it probably wasn’t for Master Qiu either, since Zhang Jiadong shouldn’t know his identity yet. There’s only one possibility – they’re preventing me from returning to Pengcheng… What does he want by keeping me here?”

“Who cares what he wants? That bastard dared to have someone crash into me – I won’t let him leave Hong Kong alive!”

Du Zhaohui gritted his teeth.

The crash had destroyed his last car and left him with over ten stitches.

Most importantly, it made him lose face in front of Xia Xiaolan. He had been proud that Master Qiu had come to him instead of Zhou Cheng, seeing it as proof of his capabilities. Thank god he hadn’t said that out loud – his face would hurt even more!

This was a hospital, and here was Du Zhaohui, wrapped up like a dumpling, talking about killing people. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t even be bothered to discourage him.

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway as a large group approached.

In the center was the chairman of Cheng Rong Group, Du Zhaohui’s father Du Chengrong. Xia Xiaolan had only seen his photos in newspapers; this was her first time seeing him in person.

“Dad!”

Du Zhaohui winked at Xia Xiaolan, signaling her to step back, which she did.

The son knew his father well – with Xia Xiaolan being so beautiful, Du Zhaohui worried the old man might take an interest in her… But Xia Xiaolan was different from Xia Ziyu; if she wouldn’t accept someone as handsome as himself, she certainly wouldn’t want the old man.

But even the thought of his father having such intentions made Du Zhaohui sick.

He was overthinking it though.

Men of a certain age have limited energy, and Du Chengrong was already occupied with Xia Ziyu’s demands. He had no energy for other romantic pursuits.

The beautiful face flashed by, and Du Chengrong barely noticed. He had rushed over after hearing Du Zhaohui had been in a car accident and was brought to the hospital covered in blood.

“Dad, Dad, you’re here just in time! Someone’s trying to kill me – someone wants to end your family line!”

“…”

If Du Zhaohui’s head hadn’t been wrapped in bandages, Du Chengrong would have slapped him.

What nonsense was this? Even if Du Zhaohui died, the family line wouldn’t end – he had plenty of other children. Du Chengrong suppressed his urge to strike:

“Did the crash addled your brain? What happened? Why aren’t you staying in Pengcheng instead of coming back to Hong Kong to cause trouble?”

The stitches on Du Zhaohui’s head nearly burst from anger:

“Did you come to mock me? Or am I already banished, not even allowed in Hong Kong anymore? Coming back means causing trouble? Fine, I’ll stay in the mainland and never return to Hong Kong, so I won’t offend your eyes!”

Du Chengrong’s brow furrowed, and his tone softened. “Alright, the doctor says you’ll be fine. Don’t stay at a hotel – come home with me.”

Du Chengrong wasn’t completely unconcerned about his eldest son. Du Zhaohui was showing promise now, revealing his business acumen. If such a son were killed, Du Chengrong would genuinely grieve – this was Hong Kong after all, weren’t those people being too brazen?