Chapter 79: Sacrificing Lu Ye as a Warning

According to what Mu Xia said, ancient sailors once recorded in their logs that merchant fleets traveling along the Maritime Silk Road often encountered fierce winds and waves, inevitably leading to some cargo losses. Because of this, some unscrupulous merchants would use these circumstances as an excuse, and during each voyage, they would bury treasures on the deserted islands they passed. If the treasures were especially valuable—rare tributes from vassal states, for example—they would even draw nautical charts to record the locations, ensuring they could retrieve them later.

Seeing her analysis was logical and well-founded, Lu Ye believed most of it. The nautical chart left behind by Du Sheng was likely one of those treasure maps drawn by sailors on the Maritime Silk Road.

"Xia Xia, when do you plan to set out?"

Mu Xia replied, "In a while. First, I want to use modern technology to investigate the deserted island and make thorough preparations before we go."

That worked out perfectly. After all, Su Qianqian was busy lately, and the project in Licheng had just begun. Lu Ye nodded and said, "When the time comes, I'll go with you."

Mu Xia was momentarily surprised. "Ah? Special Envoy Lu, do you enjoy treasure hunting too?"

Lu Ye laughed. "Mostly it's because my wife wants to go. I'm just a little curious."

"Wow, Special Envoy Lu, you're so good to your wife!"

"Of course!"

Mu Xia didn’t refuse Lu Ye and Su Qianqian’s request to join. After all, treasure hunting was nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, Mu Xia was just a humble team member at Y6. The special envoy had spoken—how could she refuse?

As she left Mu Qing’s office and opened the door, she nearly bumped into Su Qianqian’s pink lips.

Lu Ye sighed, "Damn, were you eavesdropping the whole time?"

Su Qianqian grinned sheepishly, "Hehehe, I didn’t catch everything. Did she agree?"

Lu Ye nodded. "She agreed."

Su Qianqian cheered, "Yay! So when are we leaving?"

Lu Ye said, "In a few days. She still needs to study the place. And you have to handle the Licheng project, right?"

"Oh, that’s true."

Back home.

The second night sharing a bed arrived, and Su Qianqian’s face was still flushed. As soon as she slipped under the covers, Lu Ye’s mischievous hand reached toward her.

Smack!

Su Qianqian swatted away his restless paw and laughed, "What are you doing?"

Lu Ye adopted a serious tone, "You've been twisting your neck all day. It’s probably from sitting too long—your cervical spine is acting up. Let me give you a massage."

Su Qianqian paused, realizing he was right. Lately, she’d been working too hard—either sitting at her desk or driving everywhere, sometimes for over ten hours a day. It was no wonder her neck was sore.

"Alright, give me a massage then."

Su Qianqian sat cross-legged on the bed, back facing Lu Ye.

Lu Ye first rubbed his palms together to warm them, then gently placed them on her smooth, flawless neck and back, gradually increasing the pressure.

"Awoo, that feels amazing!"

As the soreness and tension in her neck muscles faded, waves of relief washed over her, and she couldn’t help but moan softly.

At that moment, Li Shuqí happened to pass by in the corridor. Hearing the sounds from Su Qianqian’s room, she couldn’t help but lean against the door and listen for a while.

Just then, Lu Ye switched techniques. He pressed his palms together, then brought six fingers close and rhythmically tapped on Su Qianqian’s shoulders.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Li Shuqí’s face lit up with glee. She darted back to her room, rousing the slumbering Su Shiming and said with a hearty laugh, "Old Su, I’m telling you, we’ll be holding our grandchild soon!"

Su Shiming shook himself awake, pulled Li Shuqí into bed, and laughed, "I don’t know when we’ll have a grandchild, but I do know Qianqian is about to have a little brother or sister!"

Li Shuqí struggled a bit, then gave in with a playful scold, "You rascal!"

And so, overnight, spring blossomed in the Su family’s courtyard, with flowers in full bloom.

Su Qianqian woke up early. After enjoying her husband’s neck massage the night before, she’d slept soundly and felt especially secure. Refreshed, she opened the window for some fresh air and was delighted to see that the flowers she’d planted last year had bloomed again, brightening her mood even more.

She glanced back and saw Lu Ye sprawled out on the bed, fast asleep. For some reason, she didn’t wake him today. Quietly, she dressed and left, driving her Koenigsegg to Licheng.

She had to visit the Licheng construction site every two or three days. After all, this was Yiren Group’s first flagship project outside of Mingzhu City, and she had to oversee the quality herself.

Lu Ye slept until noon. In fact, he’d been awake earlier than Su Qianqian but pretended to sleep. All morning, he’d been staring at his phone, waiting for a call.

"Captain, come down for lunch!"

Luo Ying knocked on the door, calling him to get up. She wondered, Is our captain the Su family’s live-in son-in-law or a prince consort? His married life is far too comfortable.

Lu Ye opened the door and said, "Sister Ying, let’s skip lunch for now. Come with me to Licheng."

Luo Ying was puzzled. "Why are we going to Licheng?"

At that moment, Lu Ye’s phone finally rang.

Caller ID: Old Woman

But when he answered, it wasn’t Su Qianqian’s voice, but a cold and sinister man.

"Lu Ye, your wife is with me."

Lu Ye feigned panic, his voice trembling, "Tan Dong, is that you?"

Tan Dong’s raspy, duck-like voice cackled coldly. "That’s right. I’m waiting for you at the construction site."

"I’ll be right there. If she loses a single hair, you’ll regret it."

He hung up, his expression still calm. Luo Ying, however, was tense. "Captain, is Qianqian in trouble?"

Lu Ye smiled calmly, "Everything is within my expectations."

Luo Ying quickly untied her apron and tossed it aside, her voice low, "Understood!"

Moments later, the Pagani roared out of the Su family compound, racing toward Licheng at 350 kilometers per hour…

In just half an hour, they arrived at Tan Dong’s construction site. Su Qianqian’s Koenigsegg was still parked outside, but the site was eerily quiet—not a single soul in sight.

Lu Ye told Luo Ying to stay in the car and strode into the site, shouting, "Tan Dong!"

"What are you yelling for?"

On the just-finished first floor, Tan Dong appeared at the edge with his hand tightly gripping Su Qianqian’s neck. With just a push, she would fall—though the height wasn’t much, below them was a bubbling vat of lime!

As Lu Ye stood helplessly below, Tan Dong’s lips twisted into a cruel, almost deranged sneer.

"Lu Ye, I admit you’re arrogant! But now that your wife is in my hands, do you still have your temper?"

Su Qianqian’s mouth was sealed with black tape, and she could only let out muffled cries. Though the rising heat from the lime vat scorched her feet, there was hardly any fear in her eyes…

At that moment, dozens of men in black, previously hidden around the site, emerged and surrounded Lu Ye.

The leader was a man in his early thirties or so.

Lu Ye narrowed his eyes, asking, "Are you Zheng Peng?"

The man clapped his hands, praising, "As expected from Y6, you recognized me at a glance."

Indeed, he was the one who’d brought Tan Dong into the Hongying Society at the hospital.

Zheng Peng, president of the Licheng branch of the Hongying Society.

Recently, Hongying Society had suffered a string of crushing blows. According to their intel, Y6 was behind it all, especially this dog Lu Ye, who’d been the most troublesome.

So Zheng Peng decided to make an example of him—teach him a lesson and boost morale. If he could turn the situation around for the Hongying Society, it would be a great achievement.

Using Tan Dong’s business dealings with Yiren Group as an opportunity, they’d abducted Su Qianqian as leverage—Zheng Peng’s idea.

No matter how capable Lu Ye was, he’d have to yield—unless he didn’t care about his wife’s life!

From above, Tan Dong shouted arrogantly, "Didn’t expect this, did you? I’ve joined the Hongying Society!"

"Lu Ye, get on your knees and beg for forgiveness, or I’ll throw your wife into the lime vat—let her die and rot before your eyes!"