You Mingxu’s mind was in chaos. Luo Yu’s words left her confused, with an unsettling feeling rising within. Xing Yanjun also froze, turning to look at her—both were speechless.

Luo Yu adjusted his sunglasses and said, “With two bargaining chips in hand—the treasured son and the only daughter born by his most beloved woman—both your fathers will have to call me father this time.”

Xing Yanjun stared at You Mingxu in disbelief. Though Luo Yu’s words were earth-shattering, various thoughts flooded his mind: no wonder he felt an inexplicable closeness when he first met You Mingxu; no wonder Luo Yu could bring her around despite his father’s usual taboos, yet his father never stopped it; no wonder… her features resembled both his father and himself—the phoenix eyes, the high bridge of the nose. Even her demeanor was more like his father than his own—cold, proud, inscrutable.

While Xing Yanjun remained stunned silent, You Mingxu’s expression turned ugly. She kicked Luo Yu’s seat again, shouting, “Bullshit!”

Luo Yu replied casually, “I’ve already had your DNA tested. You are, without a doubt, his biological daughter. Next time I’ll show you the proof, so you can give up any doubts.”

You Mingxu’s eyes reddened. All these years, she’d never deeply considered her father’s identity, dismissing any thoughts of him with cold indifference. In her heart, she believed he must have been heartless. Otherwise, her mother wouldn’t have refused to mention him. She had treated him as dead. Even if he were alive, she would never acknowledge him.

But if Luo Yu spoke the truth if her father was Xing Jifu—the head of a criminal empire! Her mother was a police officer and a good one who died in the line of duty. How could she have been with such a man?

No, she didn’t believe it.

She couldn’t have such a father. If Xing Jifu were truly her birth father, how could she be a police officer? She would be finished!

Her thoughts churned as her face turned pale, but after a moment, she grew calm. She told Luo Yu, “I won’t believe anything you say. I have no father. Even if I die here today, I’ll never acknowledge him. And he won’t acknowledge me either—don’t waste your effort.”

Luo Yu smiled slightly and said, “You don’t understand him.”

“He will acknowledge you…” Xing Yanjun suddenly spoke in a trembling voice, “He’s always wanted to, but he couldn’t get past his barriers…”

You Mingxu gave him a cold look and said, “I have no connection to you people, never had, never will. Young Master, you’d better worry about your situation. This man has betrayed you and will probably use you as leverage to negotiate benefits with Yunnan. You’d better hope you don’t fall into their hands.”

Xing Yanjun’s heart chilled as he asked quietly, “Then what should we do?”

You Mingxu, who had never really disliked this young master, said flatly, “Wait and watch.”

Luo Yu smiled and said, “The princess is already concerned for her brother. I’m truly touched.”

You Mingxu said, “Shut up. Luo Yu, do you have the heart to throw me out as a bargaining chip? I don’t believe it.”

Luo Yu glanced at her. Even in this situation, after hearing such explosive news about her heritage, she showed no panic. Her expression remained provocative and flirtatious, still trying to disturb his heart with her half-true, half-false manner.

Luo Yu said, “No, I don’t want to. So be good and don’t make things difficult for me.”

You Mingxu and Xing Yanjun both fell silent.

At that moment, the car entered the deep forest and came to a clearing where several vehicles and about twenty people were waiting.

You Mingxu’s heart jumped as she saw these men with dark skin, cold faces, and sturdy builds—dangerous characters.

She glanced at her nail polish, wondering where Jing Ping and the others were hiding. Jing Ping was skilled at this—looking up at the surrounding endless forest, she couldn’t spot any trace of their ambush.

And Yin Feng.

Yesterday she’d only seen Chen Feng and Tu Ya, not the others. Even if Luo Yu had plotted against him, he probably couldn’t succeed. Where was Yin Feng now?

She steadied herself, pushing all thoughts of Xing Jifu aside.

She was a police officer.

Her mother was a police officer.

Regardless of whether Xing Jifu was her father, she believed her mother had stayed true to her beliefs, living without regret or fear.

Her task now was to be flexible and support her fellow officers in catching these two drug gangs. Nothing else mattered—not whose daughter she was, not even life or death. Only her duty as a police officer was important.

Luo Yu raised his hand, and the convoy stopped.

The Yunnan group remained expressionless.

Luo Yu looked back and said, “Prince and Princess, stay put—it’s not time for your appearance yet.” He got out, leaving the armed driver to watch them.

Huang Long and Guo Feirong also left with their men. For this trip, they were all Luo Yu’s deputies.

Luo Yu, immaculately dressed like a cultured villain, smiled as he walked forward, saying, “Are you Brother Hui? I’m Luo Yu—finally, we meet.”

Hui smiled back, saying, “Director Luo is quite talented. Shall we sit and talk?”

There was a flat boulder in the forest where the Yunnan group had already placed several wooden stakes as makeshift stools. Both parties sat down.

Though the driver up front held his gun, he kept turning to watch the situation outside. You Mingxu lowered her head and pulled out her hairpin. Xing Yanjun noticed her movement but stayed quiet.

Over there, after some pleasant conversation, Hui raised his hand, and several subordinates brought cases forward. Huang Long also signaled his men to bring the money—over a dozen cases laid out neatly on the grass, opened to reveal bundles of hundred-yuan notes. Both sides began their inspection.

Though Hui, Luo Yu, Huang Long, and Guo Feirong were smiling, their expressions remained vigilant.

If this batch of drugs got out, the entire Central China drug market would receive an injection of stimulant, spreading who knows how far, harming countless people.

Both sides finished their inspection, ready for the simultaneous exchange of money and goods.

You Mingxu looked up at the deep, silent forest surrounding them. Occasionally birds flew up from the trees, and the wind rustled, but there was no other sound.

She knew—this was the moment.

“Bang—” The first shot broke through the air. Hui looked down in disbelief at the bloody hole in his abdomen. Both groups of drug dealers reacted instantly, diving and drawing weapons. From the surrounding forest, countless police officers emerged.