"Tsk tsk, this guy is really something, throwing out over five million just like that!" Lin Maoshi said from the top of the stairs. "You don't need to worry. Once I have the money, I'll let you go. After all, you're a regular of mine. Fifty thousand a month, not a penny less. If it's short, you know what'll happen!"

"Lin Maoshi, you bastard!" Lin Xiaoya shouted angrily.

"Hmph!" Lin Maoshi snorted coldly. "You really do care about Chen Zheng, don't you? I merely said offhandedly that I had kidnapped him, and you came running. If I hadn't lost so much on a bet, I wouldn't have bothered with this. Luckily for me, Chen Zheng has deep pockets and forked over five million just like that."

Downstairs, Chen Zheng's expression soured upon hearing this.

It was clear that during his absence these past few days, Lin Maoshi had already found the new address where Lin Xiaoya and her mother had moved. He had been threatening Lin Xiaoya monthly to extort more and more money from them!

This time, he'd gambled and ended up five million in debt. Certain that Lin Xiaoya didn't have that much money, he resorted to kidnapping her to threaten Chen Zheng.

"Not a bad move!" Chen Zheng commented.

"Lin Maoshi, you're not even human! How could you be the one to bring me into this world?" Lin Xiaoya questioned furiously.

"None of your damn business. I gave you life, so that life belongs to me. You've made so much money, you should be taking good care of me. And don't forget to save up for your brother's house," Lin Maoshi retorted.

"What brother?!" Lin Xiaoya gritted her teeth. "From now on, I'm not giving you a single cent. I put up with you before because you're my biological father, but this time is different. I'm calling the police immediately to have you thrown in jail."

"Pfft!" Unfazed, Lin Maoshi took out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello? Has he arrived? Once he gets here with the money, beat him up. If he tries anything, use Lin Xiaoya to threaten him."

"Lin Maoshi, if you dare lay a finger on Chen Zheng, we—" Lin Xiaoya's words were cut off as a hand clamped over her mouth.

At the same time, a voice came through Lin Maoshi's phone. "He hasn't arrived yet!"

"Alright, I'll call him now!" As he spoke, Lin Maoshi reinstalled his voice changer and swapped out the SIM card before dialing Chen Zheng's number.

The phone rang, but surprisingly, no one on Chen Zheng's end answered.

Seeing the call go unanswered, Lin Xiaoya felt a brief moment of relief, but her heart quickly grew heavy again.

I don't want him to come, I don't want him to get hurt… But at the same time, I hope he does come. I hope he comes to my rescue. At least then I'll know he still cares about me.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Just then, a ringtone echoed from the first floor, startling everyone. A series of rapid footsteps followed, approaching from the staircase.

Lin Maoshi frowned as the door was pushed open from the outside. Chen Zheng stood there, casually shaking his own ringing phone as he smiled at Lin Maoshi.

The moment Chen Zheng appeared, Lin Maoshi felt every hair on his body stand on end.

"Why are you here?!" Scared out of his wits, Lin Maoshi snatched a dagger from the floor and brandished it wildly in Lin Xiaoya's direction. "Don't move!"

Seeing this, and then looking at the gagged Lin Xiaoya, Chen Zheng's heart ached.

"No matter what, she's your own daughter. You shouldn't be threatening her with a knife," Chen Zheng said calmly.

"Cut the crap!" Lin Maoshi snarled, the memory of their last confrontation flashing in his mind as he glared at Chen Zheng. "Where's the money?"

Chen Zheng sighed and then offered Lin Xiaoya a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here."

He then scanned the inside of the room, a faint smile still on his face.

Lin Xiaoya gazed at Chen Zheng. Even though she was surrounded by enemies, his presence alone was a source of profound comfort.

Lin Maoshi, watching them, seethed with anger. "Chen Zheng, stop your blathering! Where is the money? Do you want me to beat you to a pulp?"

Chen Zheng looked at Lin Maoshi and sighed. "I let you go before because you're Lin Xiaoya's father. But this time, you've gone too far. That being the case, I have no reason to let you continue living. Lin Xiaoya, I'm going to take him somewhere. Whether you want him killed or maimed is up to you, but you need to stay out of it from now on!"

"As if I'd interfere! That scum…" Lin Xiaoya said, her voice filled with rage. "Chen Zheng, you have no idea. He's been pestering my mother and me constantly."

"Shut up!" Lin Maoshi pressed the dagger to Lin Xiaoya's throat and glared at Chen Zheng. "I'll count to three. If you don't hand over the money, I'll kill her!"

"Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, yet you would actually harm your daughter. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined scum like you existed in this world," Chen Zheng said slowly. As he finished speaking, he took a step into the room.

"Don't move! Don't come any closer!" Lin Maoshi screamed. "Grab him! Force the cash out of him!"

The words had barely left his mouth when his vision blurred. Inexplicably, Chen Zheng was standing right in front of him.

Chen Zheng seized his dagger-wielding hand, and an excruciating pain shot up his arm.

"Aaargh!"

A shrill scream erupted from Lin Maoshi's throat.

"Who did you cross? Out of everyone, why did it have to be me?" Chen Zheng said with a faint smile, his grip tightening. "You've picked on the wrong person."

"You… Who are you? What is this?" Lin Maoshi felt as if his hand was about to be crushed.

The other thugs looked on, completely dumbfounded. Chen Zheng had moved past them in a dazzling flash, too fast for their eyes to follow.

BANG!

The dagger clattered to the floor, startling the men who had been about to make a move. Now, none of them dared to even twitch.

With a sharp tug, Chen Zheng ripped the ropes off Lin Xiaoya.

This was the kind of thing they had only ever seen in movies, but it was happening right before their eyes.

"You're coming with me," Chen Zheng said, grabbing Lin Maoshi's arm with one hand and taking Lin Xiaoya's with the other.

The moment she was free, Lin Xiaoya instinctively threw her arms around Chen Zheng, hugging him tightly.

Feeling the soft, ample curve press against his chest, Chen Zheng smiled gently. "It's alright. From now on, this guy won't bother you anymore. I'll make sure he stays put."

Lin Xiaoya instinctively assumed Chen Zheng would send him to prison and nodded. "Thank you, Chen Zheng. Thank you so much."

Chen Zheng patted her head. "Let's go."

The other men started to relax, thinking Chen Zheng was about to leave. But just then, they heard the sound of engines outside. One black sedan after another pulled up, and a group of men dressed in black emerged from the vehicles.

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