Chapter Sixty-Five: Caught Off Guard (Part One)

For the following twenty days, the factory saw neither the shadow of underworld threats nor the presence of meddlesome administrative inspectors. Business flourished, profits soared, and the anxious weight that had burdened Lu Jing’s heart day and night gradually eased. Ever cautious, Kang Ning had lived and slept in the factory throughout these twenty days, patrolling the grounds with meticulous care each night. Old Uncle Wang, who took the night shifts, was deeply moved by Kang Ning’s dedication. Time and again he tried to persuade the young man to rest, insisting he could handle things himself—after all, working all day and staying up all night was exhausting, and even the toughest man would collapse if it went on too long. Kang Ning always met the old man’s advice with a gentle smile, but he never changed his ways.

After hours, Lu Jing remained in her office, waiting for Kang Ning. She could not bear to watch the man she loved so dearly wear himself out night after night. When Kang Ning noticed her waiting, he paused, sent Yu Sheng—his frequent overtime companion—home, hung up his work jacket, and returned to her office.

Lu Jing hurried to him, slipped her arms around his waist, and gazed with aching tenderness at his weary face. “Look at you. You’d just started to gain a bit of weight, and now you’re thin again. No matter what, you’re coming home with me tonight for a good rest. I went home at noon to buy groceries and made a big bowl of your favorite fish soup.”

Kang Ning cupped her delicate face and kissed her soft lips; at such long-awaited affection, Lu Jing responded with fervor, and it was a long while before they could bear to part. As he gently smoothed her hair, Kang Ning whispered, “I can’t just leave Uncle Wang to watch over the factory alone. He’s retiring to the countryside the day after tomorrow, and with the Spring Festival break, I’ll be the only one here. We can cook together in the factory then.”

“No! Come home with me tonight. Uncle Wang just scolded me for not dragging you back myself—he said it’s almost criminal to let you keep at this. Besides, I told you, the day after we visited Zheng Yi’s place, she called to say she’d seen Ni San at the city’s Spring Banquet with Fang Xiong. Apparently, Fang Xiong spoke to him that night, and that’s why things have been peaceful. We really owe Fang Xiong for this! I don’t think there’ll be any more trouble, and I can’t stand seeing you so exhausted—just look at your sunken eyes.” With that, Lu Jing nestled into his arms and refused to move.

Kang Ning considered her words and relented. After all, he too needed rest after these relentless twenty days, and the gentle, captivating Lu Jing in his arms stirred long-suppressed desires.

“All right. Go home and get dinner ready. I need to finish up with the car—it’ll take over an hour. You drive ahead; I’ll catch a taxi. But on one condition: you’re not to force me to bed early like last time.”

He mischievously tilted her chin, gazing into her lovely eyes.

Flustered, Lu Jing pushed his hand away, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered sweetly, “Fine, tonight I’ll do as you say. But you’re not to misbehave at dinner—like last time, teasing me so much we barely finished the meal by midnight. If you try that again tonight, I’ll… I’ll strangle you!”

Kang Ning was utterly unafraid of her threats. His hand slid from her waist to caress her rounded hips, and he murmured seductively into her ear, “Darling, shall I go lock the door?”

“No!”

Gasping for breath, Lu Jing awoke with a start. She shoved Kang Ning away, grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the office. She knew if she lingered, a few more words from him and she’d have no will left to resist his shameless entreaties.

Kang Ning laughed heartily, closed the office door, and saw the bashful Lu Jing already pulling her car to the gate. As she drove away, Uncle Wang, standing by the entrance, nodded with a smile, deeply gratified. He’d overheard the playful exchange between the two, and seeing Lu Jing’s embarrassed yet joyful dash from the building, followed by Kang Ning’s laughter, he thought the young couple truly enviable.

It was also the first time he’d seen the usually stoic Kang Ning show such levity. Somewhat surprised, he watched Kang Ning head toward the workshop and couldn’t help but utter fondly, “That lad’s got some spirit—never would’ve guessed.”

Uncle Wang turned to re-enter the factory. Suddenly, a screech of brakes echoed from the main road. He spun around and was shocked to see, forty meters away, Lu Jing’s Passat forced to the curb by a license-plate-less taxi, its right-side wheels up on the sidewalk.

It happened in a flash. Two fierce-looking men leapt from the taxi, wrenched open Lu Jing’s door, and dragged her from the car by her hair.

Lu Jing screamed and fought desperately. Enraged, one man yanked her harder, while the other struck her twice across the face.

Blood filled her mouth as she cried out, her delicate hands slipping from the steering wheel. She tried to shield her face but was thrown bodily from the car to the pavement.

“You bastards!” Uncle Wang roared and charged across the road.

Kang Ning, hearing the commotion from the workshop, immediately dropped his tools and crawled out from under a car. As he reached the gate and saw the elderly Uncle Wang recklessly dashing through traffic, and Lu Jing being dragged toward the taxi far off in the distance, he instantly grasped the situation. Fury blazed in his eyes as he shouted and sprinted after them.

He overtook Uncle Wang, and when he was within twenty meters of the taxi, the assailants, not even bothering to close the door, slammed on the gas and sped off, quickly widening the gap.

Kang Ning’s eyes, wide and bloodshot with rage, chased the taxi for over thirty meters before he decisively turned back, leapt into the Passat, and started the engine.

With a scream of tires, the car lurched back onto the road, trailing smoke. He ignored the blaring horn and curses of a truck driver behind him, fixating on the direction the kidnappers had fled, and set off in hot pursuit.

The chase was a blur of speed; Kang Ning pushed his driving skills to their limit. In less than two minutes, he spotted the unmarked taxi veering toward the road to the southern outskirts.

A cold, grim smile curled his lips as he floored the accelerator, closing the distance. At a crossroads, the Passat executed a racecar-worthy drift, tires screeching as Kang Ning weaved like a fish through startled traffic at eighty kilometers per hour, leaving onlookers gaping in astonishment.

Within another twenty seconds, he caught up alongside the kidnappers’ taxi, observing closely. The sight of Kang Ning’s eyes, ablaze with fury, so unnerved the driver that his hands shook and the taxi swerved dangerously, the situation becoming ever more perilous.

As he drew level, Kang Ning’s mind raced—he knew the kidnappers wouldn’t surrender easily. He’d have to risk a collision to force them to stop, but how could he strike without harming Lu Jing, trapped between her captors in the back seat? The uncertainty tormented him.

Just then, the taxi veered right, attempting to dart into a narrow alley. Gritting his teeth, Kang Ning braked hard three meters ahead of the taxi, slewing his car sideways. The impact sent the taxi crashing onto the uneven sidewalk.

The taxi plowed through a tree, careened forward, and finally slammed into a thick brick pillar of a house before coming to a smoky halt.

Kang Ning’s Passat, engine roaring, slid another dozen meters before stopping, shrieking brakes freezing every bystander in terror.

Not sparing a glance around, Kang Ning kicked open his door and sprinted to the mangled taxi. He knocked one bloodied kidnapper flying, ignored the groans of the others, and pulled the unconscious Lu Jing from the back seat. After a quick check, he carried her to his car, gently laid her in the back, closed the door, climbed behind the wheel, and finally caught his breath, pulling out his phone to call the police.