Chapter 10: When the Overbearing CEO Story Suddenly Turns into a Crime Thriller

“Grandma Jiang, I just ate at the snack street, so I bought you some takoyaki.” The young landlord’s carefree voice came through, accompanied by a bright, exuberant smile.

Compared to the innocent vitality of this college student, Jiang Wan Ning felt old. Although she was only twenty-four, she had died so many times that her mindset resembled that of an elderly person in their twilight years.

“Thank you, Xiao Ye. I’m just freeloading, yet you’re so kind to me. I really feel a bit embarrassed.” She wanted to express her gratitude, but her hands couldn’t stop; the takoyaki disappeared into her mouth with a cheerful crunch.

“Grandma, no need to treat me. If it weren’t for you helping me last night, I wouldn’t have been able to get the kills. Three kills in one round—so cool! When shall we team up again?”

Since Jiang Wan Ning helped him win a game, the young landlord had taken to treating her like a pro gamer.

“Anytime. But I have something to do now. I want to visit Guangxiang Street; I heard they’re setting up a stage there today, and they’ve invited a famous Beijing opera troupe.”

Since others had risked their lives to save her, she couldn’t pretend nothing had happened.

Though she wanted to.

But her conscience wouldn’t let her.

That damned conscience.

She obviously knew this was likely a trap set by those male leads to lure her out.

“All right, I’ll accompany you.”

“That’s great! Xiao Ye, you’re such a kind person. I wonder which lucky girl will marry you someday.” Having the young landlord accompany her would allow them to disguise the outing—a grandson taking his grandma to see a show seemed quite natural.

The young landlord blushed deeply at the compliment. “Ah, stop joking about me.”

They chatted and laughed as they arrived at Guangxiang Road; the stage was already set up but the performance hadn’t started yet.

“There was a news report just now—apparently, a girl disappeared here a couple of days ago. Even the main road is dangerous?” Jiang Wan Ning remarked casually.

“I overheard that too. The government is cracking down hard, yet these traffickers are still so rampant. It’s despicable.”

“It might not be traffickers. That girl was a police officer—who would dare abduct a cop? That would be like mice eating cats.”

“Grandma, you seem really concerned about that girl?”

“Oh, there’s a bit of a family connection.”

“Really?” The young landlord exclaimed, “Then we can’t just ignore it. I’ll ask around more…”

“Hey, hey…” Jiang Wan Ning tried to stop him, but he was already jogging away.

That kid…

Running so fast—is he afraid she’ll dodge paying rent?

Such a scoundrel.

How could she suspect such an innocent college student?

Jiang Wan Ning quietly scolded herself.

She found a convenience store and sat outside drinking water, noticing that the seemingly peaceful street hid turbulent undercurrents.

For example, a motorcycle taxi driver nearby wore a tattered sunhat. Beneath the brim was a plain, honest face with a friendly smile, but his eyes occasionally flashed a subtle sharpness, constantly watching everyone’s movements.

Or the barbecue stall worker, who appeared to be wiping tables but in fact had customers so unaware they hadn’t even noticed him. Even the plump-looking owner walked with a firm stance—clearly a trained fighter.

Even the cleaning lady’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

Ambushes from all sides, danger everywhere.

For the sake of her kidney, these people had turned a domineering CEO story into a crime thriller.

At all costs, they had to harvest her kidney?

Was her kidney some kind of elixir that granted immortality when consumed?

It seemed that because the author had written a predetermined ending, her fate was destined to be kidney theft. To fulfill this plot, the characters schemed and plotted relentlessly, regardless of logic or reason.

Jiang Wan Ning only wanted to curse. How unlucky she was—who could she reason with?

Soon, the young landlord hurried back. “Grandma, I asked several people just now. No one saw how she disappeared—no clues at all.”

“Let’s go,” Jiang Wan Ning grabbed him and quickened her pace.

“Aren’t you going to watch the show?”

“No, let’s go.”

The young landlord looked puzzled—how did Grandma Jiang suddenly have so much strength? No signs of breathlessness, her legs moving much faster.

He turned and saw her profile. Despite the wrinkles, her side face was strikingly elegant—a high, straight nose with smooth, graceful lines like a delicate bridge; her jawline was firm and rounded, tracing a refined arc from the earlobe to the chin, as if drawn with the finest brushstroke.

Her eyes weren’t the usual cloudy eyes of the elderly, but pure and deep black, like the brightest star in the night sky.

Even her hand, which held his, felt as soft and delicate as that of a young girl—gentle as a spring breeze, smooth as silk slipping through his palm.

Somehow, his heart started pounding wildly like a rapid drumbeat, striking his chest again and again, stirring inexplicably within him.

How sinful!

God, what was he thinking?

To have such thoughts about an old lady—he was no better than a monster!

Sinful!

Form is no different from emptiness; emptiness no different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form...

The young landlord silently recited the Heart Sutra.

Suddenly, Jiang Wan Ning stopped. Looking up, a group of burly men blocked their path ahead.

Was this…

An attempted robbery?

Looking back, their retreat was also blocked.

Bystanders seeing this quickly dispersed.

“If you want money, I can give it. But don’t hurt anyone. The old lady is elderly—don’t scare her.” The young landlord stood in front of Jiang Wan Ning. Though not a millionaire, he had some money and knew when to pay to avoid trouble.

The leader of the men stepped forward.

“Why are you asking about Lin Xiaoting?”

The young landlord looked innocent. “Didn’t the news say she disappeared? Everyone’s talking about it. Why pick on me to ask?”

“No, you’re the only one asking all day today,” the leader said smugly.

Jiang Wan Ning understood immediately.

Everyone who had been discussing the matter was their accomplice, bait to lure her out. They figured that strangers wouldn’t care about a missing person, so anyone who came asking must be connected.

They used so many people to disguise themselves—from elders to shopkeepers—pretending to chat casually, all to lower her guard.

Such cunning scheming must be the work of Lu Jingchen, portrayed by the author as a master strategist. Dealing with him required utmost vigilance; one slip and you’d fall into his trap.

“What’s your relationship with her?” the leader’s eyes sharpened.

“She’s…” The young landlord suddenly realized something was off, glanced at Jiang Wan Ning, and stopped mid-sentence. “She borrowed money from me before, promised to repay this month, but by the end of the month hasn’t paid yet. So I came to collect the debt, but now she’s missing. That means I’ve lost that money, so I came to inquire.”

“She owes you money? That’s all?” The leader seemed convinced by the young landlord’s performance. After all, the target was a young girl.

These two—one a young man, the other an elderly woman—were completely unrelated.

“Just that. What else could it be? It’s not like I’m chasing her for anything else,” the young landlord said seriously, with a hint of frustration at unpaid debts.

“Then none of our business. We’ll leave now.”

They took a couple of steps, but the leader suddenly said ominously, “Why do you bring an old lady when you’re chasing a debt?”