BL Ch20

After a long fifteen-hour flight, the Gulfstream 650 landed and came to a stop at Douglas International Airport.

The flight attendant lowered the stairs. “I hope you all had a pleasant journey.”

Du Lingya was anything but pleasant. With a long face, she disembarked. “Duqiu, I don’t want to go back.”

“Be good.” Yu Duqiu kissed her cheek. “Something so dangerous just happened, I can’t let you take any more risks with me. I’ve already contacted your brother. You’ll stay at my house, and Old Zhou and Uncle Hong will take care of you. Captain Ji will also send police officers to protect you. I’ll be back in three days, very soon.”

This was the first time Yu Duqiu had kissed her, and Du Lingya’s cheeks flushed red. A faint hope arose in her heart. After thinking for a moment, she decided to retreat in order to advance. “Alright, since you insist, I’ll obediently wait for you and be your supportive partner. Honestly, when you told me Chef Dong poisoned the food, I was really scared. Why would he do that…?”

Yu Duqiu’s gaze swept over her fluorescent red earrings, and he smiled faintly. “Everyone has moments of weakness.”

Three cars had arrived to pick them up outside the airport. Among them, a shiny black Maybach S600 stood out. The group got into the cars, accompanied by four local bodyguards. Zhou Yi stayed with Du Lingya in the airport’s VIP lounge to rest until the plane refueled for the return flight, unable to accompany them any further.

Zhao Feihua and Lou Baoguo argued over who would sit in the front seat of Yu Duqiu’s car, but Yu Duqiu pointed his finger. “Captain Ji, get in.”

Ji Lin, somewhat flattered, left Lu Qing behind and slipped into the spacious front seat. “Wow, traveling with you is really luxurious. First a private jet, now a luxury car. Aren’t you afraid of being robbed, flaunting your wealth like this?”

Yu Duqiu pressed a button on the central armrest, and the leather seat slowly unfolded into massage mode. “You need the capability to do that, right, Old Liu?”

The driver, Old Liu, nodded. “This is a custom-made bulletproof car, equipped with a security system comparable to a bank’s. It can withstand regular 9mm bullets and even 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds. The car also has a blood bank matching the Young Master’s blood type, fire extinguishers, and long-distance communication equipment. Unless Batman shows up in his Batmobile, we should be quite safe on city streets.”

“Old Liu, you’re always so humorous. I wish I could bring you back to China.” Yu Duqiu relaxed into the seat’s comforting vibrations. “My business is concentrated in San Francisco and Silicon Valley in the west, too far from the east coast to deploy personnel easily. This car and Old Liu are on loan from my mom. She has investments in racing, real estate, and dining in Charlotte. The hotel we’re staying at is also one of her properties.”

Ji Lin suddenly understood. “No wonder. You’re going to Durham to see that expert, but staying in Charlotte.”

Yu Duqiu replied, “It’s not far, just a two-hour drive. Today, let’s rest well. Tonight, I’ll take you for a spin. There’s an old sports car in the hotel garage my mom gave me as a birthday present years ago.”

No man could resist such an invitation. Even Ji Lin, who was usually all business, perked up at the mention of a sports car. “Alright, sure…”

Yu Duqiu placed his hand on Bai Zhao’s tense thigh and coaxed, “Charlotte is a racing city. If you want to try out the NASCAR track, I can arrange that. By the way, Charlotte is also known as the ‘Queen City,’ your home turf. Don’t be upset, give me a smile.”

Ji Lin sneered at his own mistaken assumptions, feeling a pang of jealousy. “He’s probably not upset, just too weak to speak after eating that salad you made. Surviving that and getting off the plane is a miracle.”

Yu Duqiu frowned in confusion, his hand moving to Bai Zhao’s abdomen. “It can’t be that bad. Even though I’ve never seen a pig run, I’ve eaten pork. The dish might not have looked great, but the taste should’ve been alright. Otherwise, why would Bai Zhao finish it?”

“Because he’s crazy.” Ji Lin recalled the gooey, foul-smelling concoction he saw on the plane an hour ago and felt his stomach churn. “And you’re even crazier. You two are a perfect match.”

Yu Duqiu’s hand slipped under Bai Zhao’s shirt, feeling the firm muscles, pretending to be concerned. “Are you really feeling unwell? Let me rub your stomach. When I was sick as a child, my mom would comfort me like this.”

Bai Zhao grabbed his intrusive hand, pulling it away forcefully. “Your stomach’s on your chest?”

Yu Duqiu ignored the question. “I don’t feel anything wrong. Could it be motion sickness? Why do you look so pale?”

Bai Zhao took a deep breath, looking out the window. “I don’t understand why you kissed her.”

Driver Old Liu perked up his ears, ready for some melodrama. Ji Lin rolled his eyes, wishing he could plug his ears.

Yu Duqiu was slightly surprised. “Jealous again?”

Bai Zhao didn’t respond, continuing on his own. “You don’t love her, yet you got engaged to her; you say you’ll annul the engagement, but you still bring her along; you suspect she wants to harm you, yet you send her back. Your tolerance for her is too high. I can’t figure out what you’re trying to do.”

Yu Duqiu let out a long nasal sound. “You might not believe it, but I’m someone who prefers to show mercy when possible.”

Ji Lin scoffed, “Yeah, right. I don’t believe it.”

Yu Duqiu shrugged. “It’s the truth. But I don’t show mercy to everyone. I always leave some consideration for those who’ve genuinely cared for me. With my family background and status, it’s no exaggeration to say 99% of people approach me with ulterior motives. Lingya is part of the 1%. Though she’s obsessive, her feelings for me are genuine and untainted by my flaws. I believe she didn’t intend to harm me; it was just a moment of weakness. However, the engagement will be annulled regardless. This involves our families, so I need to investigate before deciding how to proceed. The kiss earlier was a farewell and compensation. She’s loved me for so many years, but in the end, I can only disappoint her.”

“Then you shouldn’t have kissed her.” Bai Zhao’s jawline tensed into a hard line. “Stray dogs aren’t pitiful. What’s pitiful is when someone pretends to care, touches them once, makes them think they’re loved, but then leaves and never returns. You always give false affection and then leave cruelly, causing even greater harm.”

Ji Lin nodded. “Bai Zhao’s got you figured out.”

Yu Duqiu smirked. “What does he know? He’s only known me for half a month. He just likes to argue with me, pick on me, and get jealous all the time.”

Bai Zhao glanced at him, then closed his eyes, completely giving up on communicating with him. “Forget it.”

The Maybach smoothly entered the uptown area. There weren’t many cars on the road, but the greenery was well-maintained. Through the gaps in the lush trees, they could see the windows of a hotel reflecting the brilliant mid-June sunlight.

“We’re almost there, Young Master,” the driver, Old Liu, said.

Yu Duqiu got up from the massage chair and adjusted the seat back to its original position. “Good, finally a place to sleep soundly.”

Ji Lin, out of professional habit, observed the surroundings upon arriving in a new area but saw hardly any people. “Is this the city center? There are so few people.”

Old Liu responded, “Charlotte’s city center only has a population of tens of thousands, less than your Xinjing District. Most people live in the suburbs. There are only a few high-rise buildings downtown, and apart from rush hour, you rarely see people on the streets.”

Ji Lin commented, “I still prefer home. It’s inconvenient to call a cab or order takeout here.”

As they spoke, the car turned and entered the underground garage of the resort hotel. The light dimmed for a while as they drove in, but it gradually brightened, revealing numerous luxury cars parked in the spaces.

Ji Lin marveled, “I’ve only seen these cars online.”

At that moment, a black car approached from the front, turned, and seemed to be trying to back into a parking space.

“Wow, even a Range Rover Sentinel. Which official is in there?” Ji Lin’s eyes casually swept over the rearview mirror and suddenly froze. “There’s another one behind us.”

Both people in the backseat turned pale.

Lou Baoguo’s voice came through the intercom, clearly having noticed as well. “Young Master, there are two unmarked bulletproof cars front and back. It looks like an ambush.”

Ji Lin turned to ask Yu Duqiu how their itinerary had been leaked but was first chilled by his icy gaze.

Yu Duqiu stared at Old Liu’s eyes in the rearview mirror, expressionless. “Did you leak it, Old Liu?”

Old Liu frantically raised his trembling hands, shaking his head vigorously, as if the enemies in those cars were less terrifying than the person inside his own. “Absolutely not! Feel free to investigate! If it’s me, I’ll kill myself! No need for you to lift a finger!”

Ji Lin couldn’t help but wonder again if Yu Duqiu had actually committed murder. Why else would his employees be so afraid of him?

Yu Duqiu scrutinized him for two seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Good. If it wasn’t you. Now tell me, can our car break through?”

Old Liu sighed with relief, wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, and shook his head. “I know that model. It’s fitted with nearly a ton of armored bulletproof equipment. The chassis and brakes are reinforced, and if the owner has done additional modifications, it would be even heavier and sturdier. Our advantage is speed, but we’re too close now to accelerate. Crashing into them would cause more damage to us.”

Yu Duqiu thought for a moment. “If they’re bold enough to hijack the car, they’re likely armed. Even the thickest bulletproof glass can’t withstand continuous shooting. We can’t sit here waiting.”

Ji Lin agreed. “I’ll cover you as you rush out. Got a gun?”

“Yes.” Yu Duqiu pressed another button on the central armrest, flipping open a compartment to reveal two handguns. He handed them to the two men. “Effective range 60 meters, 16 bullets each. Use them sparingly.”

Ji Lin inspected the gun. “Whoa, a Walther P99. You’ve got style. Feels like we’re filming a Bond movie.”

Old Liu also pulled a handgun from under his seat and tucked it into his suit jacket pocket.

Ji Lin suddenly realized something was off. “Why don’t you have a gun?”

Yu Duqiu spread his hands, his fingers long and clean. “I don’t want to dirty my hands, plus I have so many people protecting me.”

“What if things go wrong? You should be prepared.”

“I’d just use you guys as human shields or take your guns.” Yu Duqiu smiled. “Don’t worry, Captain Ji, I’m destined to be the main character. I won’t die in a place like this. Worry about yourself first.”

“…” Ji Lin was speechless, focusing on observing the vehicle ahead.

Their Maybach was in the center, flanked by escort cars, making it relatively safe. But the passage was lined with parked cars, leaving no room to maneuver. They could only move forward or backward, but both directions were blocked.

The convoy was forced to stop in the middle.

Ji Lin slowed his breathing, deeply inhaling as he chambered a round and tightened his grip on the gun.

The warning lights on the grilles of the two Range Rovers emitted a faint blue glow, like the gaze of demons.

The communication device was still on, and Lou Baoguo’s voice came through. “Young Master, don’t move yet. Wait until they get out. If they have guns, I’ll cover Feihua and Officer Lu as they run toward ten o’clock. I’ve checked the parking lot map, and there’s an emergency exit 50 meters that way. Captain Ji and the boss will cover you toward four o’clock. There’s an elevator 30 meters that way.”

“Okay, be careful.” Yu Duqiu paused and added, “If they’re unarmed or don’t fire, let’s avoid using guns. Handle it quietly to avoid attracting the police. I don’t want to make headlines just after getting off the plane. It would solidify the curse rumors, making the Themis project harder to push forward.”

Ji Lin admired him. “You can think of all this at a time like this. You’re really something.”

Yu Duqiu shrugged. “Just a businessman’s nature.”

“Attention everyone! They’re getting out!” Lou Baoguo suddenly shouted, energizing everyone in the three cars.

“They’re armed! Be careful!”

Four or five masked gunmen emerged from both the front and rear Range Rovers.

Yu Duqiu still found the humor to smile. “Batman really showed up. Old Liu, you’re such a jinx.”

Old Liu replied woefully, “I won’t speak out of turn again.”

“Wait until they get closer, then use the car to hit them! I’ll count down!” Lou Baoguo took charge decisively. “Three… two… one! Go!”

The escort cars in front and behind the Maybach suddenly surged forward and backward, respectively, their tires screeching sharply!

The masked men approaching the cars were caught off guard, quickly retreating from the suddenly aggressive vehicles. In that split second of confusion, Lou Baoguo roared, “Now! Charge!”

The doors of three cars swung open in unison, and a group of people, all dressed in identical black suits, poured out. The scene quickly descended into chaos, with it being impossible to distinguish one person from another.

Ji Lin and Yu Duqiu exited the car on the same side and immediately began running full speed towards the four o’clock direction, shielding each other. Suddenly, someone caught up with them, grabbed Yu Duqiu by the shoulder, and pulled him forward, increasing their speed.

Ji Lin was slightly surprised but had no time to dwell on it and quickly followed suit.

At this moment, one of the masked men with sharp eyes finally identified the key figure and shouted to his companions in Chinese, “Grab the one with white hair!”

Yu Duqiu heard this and complained, “White hair? That makes me sound old…”

Bai Zhao pushed down his head, casually ruffled his hair, and quickened his pace as they weaved through the cars. “Not old, looks good.”

Yu Duqiu glanced at him in disbelief, just about to say something when a sharp pain shot through his ear, as if something sharp had grazed it. Immediately, a loud bang was heard.

A black hole appeared on the hood of a BMW less than two meters ahead of them.

Someone was shooting!

“Over here!” Bai Zhao pulled Yu Duqiu behind the car. Ji Lin also quickly took cover, gripping his gun tightly, and cautiously peeked out to survey the situation behind them.

Because of the gunshot, the parking lot suddenly fell silent. The atmosphere tightened rapidly, so tense it could be felt in the air, making it hard to breathe.

The next second, another gunshot rang out from an unknown group, and the parking lot erupted into a cacophony of gunfire, echoing around like an unexpected and chaotic fireworks display among the crowd.

“The direction of the bullets is off.” Ji Lin quickly looked back again and confirmed, “The ones who shot at you weren’t the masked men but another group hiding in the northwest corner. I saw the reflection from the sniper scope. Now it’s a three-way fight. Your bodyguards have the upper hand for now. Let’s escape in the confusion—”

“Bang!”

A bullet hit the concrete near Ji Lin’s foot, causing debris to fly and leaving a shallow pit.

Ji Lin hurriedly pulled his leg back. “It’s those snipers again! Bai Zhao, I’ll draw them away. You take this nonconformist and run! The elevator is just ahead!”

Yu Duqiu protested, “Who are you calling non—”

Bai Zhao tightened his hold on him, shielding him with half his body, and without a word, rushed forward.

“??” Ji Lin cursed, “Do any of you understand human language?!”

Yu Duqiu also cursed, “Why don’t you follow orders!”

A string of bullets chased after their heels, and with only two meters left to the elevator, Bai Zhao suddenly grunted, his pace faltering. “I’m fine, it hit the bulletproof vest,” he said.

Even with a bulletproof vest, getting shot by a sniper would still leave bruises, if not broken bones.

Yu Duqiu immediately flipped his wrist, took Bai Zhao’s gun, and fired three shots in quick succession towards the source of the bullets, then turned back and pulled him into the elevator. “Stick to the wall!”

Bai Zhao complied, pressing against the elevator wall, enduring the pain in his back. As the elevator doors slowly closed, his gaze fell on Yu Duqiu’s disheveled hair and bleeding ear.

Yu Duqiu’s lips were slightly pale, and his fingers trembled imperceptibly. He suddenly felt warmth on his ear and turned his head warily.

Bai Zhao had pushed his messy hair behind his ear and wiped the blood from his scratch with a warm thumb. “Did it hit?”

“Not sure. I’ve practiced with air guns, never used a real one. I was just trying to slow them down.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have let you shoot.”

“Glad you realize. It was because of your unilateral actions.” With the elevator doors finally closed and their lives temporarily out of danger, Yu Duqiu breathed a sigh of relief and pressed the button for the first floor. He then examined Bai Zhao’s back, finding a bullet hole in his suit. “This suit was custom-made for you. Don’t you cherish it?”

Bai Zhao took a deep breath to calm the pain. “We had to run. Those ambushers are after you, not Ji Lin. Him drawing them away wouldn’t help; escaping quickly was the right call.”

“How can you be sure they won’t kill Ji Lin? He’s alone back there. If he dies, how will I explain to Director Peng?”

“When Ji Lin was behind us, blocking you, no one shot at him. They only fired when he caught up and exposed you. If we escape, they’ll chase us and won’t bother with Ji Lin.”

Yu Duqiu’s gaze turned cold. “Why didn’t you shoot earlier? I heard you have excellent marksmanship.”

Bai Zhao glanced at his clenched fist and smirked. “Didn’t you say you were afraid of guns?”

Yu Duqiu was puzzled. “When did I say that?”

At this moment, the elevator dinged, indicating they had reached the first floor.

Bai Zhao tried pressing other floor buttons, but they were unresponsive. “Above the first floor requires a key card. No time to get one from the front desk. They’ll catch up soon. We have to run outside. But it’s sparse out there, and it might be hard to find a car. They have vehicles; we can’t get far.”

Yu Duqiu thought for a moment. “I saw a mall across the street. We can shake them off there and find a chance to return to the parking lot to get a car.”

“Aren’t the cars blocked?”

“Remember, I told you I have a sports car in the garage, right where they ambushed us.”

“Okay.” Bai Zhao quickly holstered his gun, placed his suit jacket over it, and covered it just right. “Since they ambushed us in the parking lot, I bet they won’t shoot in crowded areas. We should be able to lose them. But your hair is too conspicuous. Follow me.”

Yu Duqiu joked, “If we don’t lose them, you’re responsible for taking the bullets.”

“Alright.” Bai Zhao, without hesitation, grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the elevator. “If I accidentally die, you have to always remember me.”

Yu Duqiu’s cold hand was suddenly enveloped in a reassuring warmth, and before he knew it, he was being pulled out of the hotel doors.