Yu Qi took a long, refreshing bath following the gardening lesson she had received from Grandpa Tang. Once she was finished, she began preparing to head back to the restaurant.
"Can't you just come and live here with me? We have plenty of empty rooms, by the way." Grandpa Tang suggested, his voice hopeful as he watched Yu Qi gathering her things.
"Okay, I will speak to the Boss about this." Yu Qi promised.
"Yes! My granddaughter is finally going to live with me! Don't you worry, your grandfather will personally decorate a beautiful princess room just for you. Song Nan!" Grandpa Tang shouted, practically running out of the room to find Song Nan to share the news.
"Grandfather..." Yu Qi started, but she did not manage to stop him in time. She let out a soft sigh. 'Sigh, I'm really going to end up with a princess room. I just hope Uncle Nan will have enough sense to help me stop him before it goes too far.'
She left the Godly Herbs shop and began the walk home. It was her day off because her boss, Madam Sheng, had gone to visit her late husband's grave. However, as she walked into the normally peaceful restaurant, she was immediately rooted to the spot, shocked by the sight before her.
The chairs and tables were in a miserable condition, overturned and broken. Shards from a shattered vase were scattered across the ground like jagged glass teeth. She rushed over to the cash register, only to find it smashed open. Her first assumption was that this was a simple robbery until she spotted a handwritten note left specifically for her.
'My dear Yu Qi, please come to the abandoned house near the mountain tonight. Come alone and bring 1 million in cash. Do not report this to the police if you want to see your boss alive.'
'Bo Ya...' Yu Qi called out mentally.
'Yes, master?'
'Is it possible for me to bring out some weapons from my space now?'
'Of course, Master.'
Yu Qi quickly accessed her space and retrieved a few strategic weapons. She then set off in the direction the kidnappers had specified. Soon, the abandoned house mentioned in the note came into sight. A dim light flickered from within the structure. She needed to know what she was walking into. If possible, she wanted a clear view of the interior before making her move.
'Bo Ya, if I want to see inside the house right now, is that possible?' Yu Qi asked.
'Yes, it is. Wait just a minute, I will ask Mary to assist with the scan,' Bo Ya replied.
'Oh, okay.' Yu Qi replied back.
After a few tense minutes, Bo Ya's voice echoed in her mind again.
'Master, I am projecting the image directly into your mind now.'
Suddenly, a clear view of the house's interior appeared in her consciousness. There were seven men in total. Madam Sheng was being held captive in a side room, watched over by a single guard; she appeared to be unconscious. One of the men was idly handling a Colt M1911A1. Judging by the way he held the firearm, he was likely the boss. Yu Qi assessed the situation coolly. She could fight this, and she could win.
Without wasting another second, she approached the house and walked straight through the front door. She moved with a calm, steady gait, showing no signs of nervousness or fear. The men inside snapped to attention, instantly alert. They were wary because they recognised her. This was the same girl who had effortlessly dislocated their brother's shoulder earlier that morning. They knew they were not dealing with a typical schoolgirl.
"Welcome." The man holding the Colt spoke up. "Hi, my dear. Thank you for coming and for being smart enough to follow my orders not to involve the police."
"What is it that you want?" Yu Qi asked with cold voice.
"I heard a rumour that you sold a piece of ginseng worth 5 million. You were incredibly lucky to find such a treasure. So, I suggest you share some of that fortune with us. However, I notice that you have not brought any money with you." The man said, an evil smile stretching across his face.
"Are you stupid or what? The banks are already closed for the evening." Yu Qi retorted sharply.
The men in the room were flabbergasted. No one had ever dared to speak to their boss with such blatant disrespect. They assumed this girl must have a death wish. The subordinates silently prayed for her, waiting for the inevitable explosion of violence from their leader. But then, something incredibly weird happened. Their terrifying boss began to laugh.
"It has been a long time since I've had a reason to laugh like that. Girl, you are truly interesting. Tell me, what's your name?" The man asked.
"Don't you already know it?" YuQi replied.
He was asking for information he clearly already possessed. If he did not know her name, how could he have written it so clearly on the ransom note?
The man burst into laughter once more. Yu Qi felt her patience wearing thin. She was getting deeply annoyed by his antics.
"Where is my boss? I want to see her immediately." Yu Qi demanded, her gaze hard and uncompromising.
This chapter is edited by Tzin99... Thank you for your help...