Chapter 79: Just Try Touching a Single Hair on His Head!

Wen Yanli was on the phone, gesturing for Liang Liang to put down her things and follow him. Liang Liang nodded promptly, placed her belongings on the floor just inside the door, closed it, and hurried after him.

Wen Yanli instructed Pei Qiuyang to immediately track the Phantom car’s route and real-time location. For Pei Qiuyang and his team, it wasn’t particularly difficult, but it would take time. And right now, time was the most critical factor. He even considered negotiating directly with Shen Yanye, but, in principle, he could not make decisions on Miel’s behalf. Besides, if Shen Yanye truly intended harm, would his compromise change anything? Instinctively, he felt something was off.

Seeing Wen Yanli finish his call, Liang Liang, unable to reach Ye Zhao’s phone, asked anxiously, “Has something happened?”

Wen Yanli stepped forward and pressed the elevator button. “Can you get hold of Ye Zhao?”

“No, his phone says he’s out of service.”

“Besides phone calls, how else do you usually keep in touch?” Wen Yanli’s face was taut, anxiety burning beneath his calm. But the more urgent the situation, the more composed he became. “Walkie-talkies, GPS tracking?”

Liang Liang shook her head. “Miss Song asked me to stay here and take care of you, so…”

She wasn’t on assignment and didn’t need to keep close contact, so naturally she didn’t use those things. “Mr. Wen, try calling Assistant Lin or Lin Shen. They’re sure to know where Miss Song has gone.”

“I’ve already tried. Neither is answering.”

The elevator arrived quickly. They stepped inside, one after the other. Wen Yanli knew self-reproach was useless now, but couldn't help himself. Shen Yanye was now nothing short of a mad dog—cornered, capable of anything lawless and reckless!

He’d been too careless, thinking that after the failed murder attempt and the stabbing of Qiao Yudong, even Shen Yanye would lie low for a few days. Who would have thought he couldn’t tolerate Miel to such an extent! It was his mistake—he shouldn’t have let her go out alone.

As the elevator descended, the oppressive air around Wen Yanli made Liang Liang uncomfortable. She was nervous too, but felt it wasn’t necessary to be so tense. “Mr. Wen, don’t worry too much. Ye Zhao and Zhang Ye are both with Miss Song!”

Among them, Ye Zhao’s skills alone were world-class—taking on ten opponents would be modest.

Wen Yanli gave no response, his expression icy, lips pressed in a grim line. His mind unconsciously replayed the entire conversation with Shen Yanye from start to finish.

Ten minutes earlier, Shen Yanye had phoned, proposing a deal: if Wen Yanli could charm Miel into spending two weeks with him, he’d receive a handsome reward—an amount no less than his fee for winning a major economic dispute. Wen Yanli refused outright and prepared to hang up.

Shen Yanye stopped him, said the price was negotiable, asked him to name his terms, then began sowing discord—not only mentioning Qiao Yudong’s selfless act to protect Miel, but questioning what right Wen Yanli had to compete for her. He provoked him further, saying Wen Yanli was only after Miel’s wealth. If he truly cared for her, how could he stand by while she faced dangers alone? In the end, he asserted that the Sihai Group would never let her sit securely in her position. If Wen Yanli genuinely wanted a relationship, even marriage, how could he bear to see her constantly exposed to threats?

Throughout, Shen Yanye was speaking to himself. Aside from his initial refusal, Wen Yanli remained silent.

He had nothing to explain to Shen Yanye regarding his relationship with Miel, nor did he care about being misunderstood.

When he tried to hang up again, Shen Yanye was finally provoked by his indifference, his tone changed. “Wen, don’t push your luck. You think I can’t make Song Miel disappear for a week or two?”

“Ever heard of ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’?”

At that, Wen Yanli broke his silence. “Let me remind you, Mr. Shen: you’re threatening a lawyer fully versed in every criminal statute of our country.”

“Spare me the legal nonsense. Even a cornered rabbit bites!” Shen Yanye laughed coldly. “I wanted a friendly solution, offering you a honeymoon at a high price, but you refused! You really think Song Miel is safe with more bodyguards? Yesterday Qiao Yudong took a knife for her—what about today?”

Wen Yanli was silent, but his mind was already with the woman who had left over an hour ago.

He soon warned in a low voice, “Mr. Shen, you repeatedly break the law. Do you truly believe you can act with impunity because someone else will take the fall?”

“Tonight, if Miel returns with a single hair out of place, I swear by my undefeated record as a litigator, I will ensure you end up somewhere you’ve never been before!”

As he spoke, his fist clenched unconsciously, knuckles twitching.

“Is that so? So now a lawyer versed in every criminal statute is threatening me?” Shen Yanye retorted mockingly. “Perhaps you should reconsider my original proposal?”

Then he hung up.

Wen Yanli immediately tried to contact Miel; her private phone was switched off, the other out of service. Assistant Lin and Lin Shen were unreachable.

He quickly changed and left, calling Pei Qiuyang as he walked. Opening the door, he met Liang Liang.

In the underground garage, Liang Liang brought the car around promptly. As soon as it stopped, Wen Yanli yanked the door open and got in.

Liang Liang asked, “Mr. Wen, where are we going?”

He gave her an address—first to Pei Qiuyang’s company.

...

Meanwhile, at the villa—

Tang Lishi lay collapsed on the floor, unable to rise for a long while; Song Miel watched her, unmoving.

After a moment, Song Miel glanced at Ye Zhao, who signaled the female bodyguard, Zhong Lan, to help Tang Lishi up.

Truly, ruin comes in an instant. Supported by Zhong Lan, Tang Lishi seemed utterly broken, her seemingly whole body unable to contain her fractured soul.

Song Miel felt neither sympathy nor scorn; to be precise, she felt nothing. She’d never had much empathy for others.

Soon, she lowered her gaze and strode toward the door.

But before she’d taken a few steps, Tang Lishi called out, “Wait.”

Her voice was hoarse, but it was clear she was regaining her composure.

Song Miel had no intention of responding, nor any pity, so she didn't pause. If Tang Lishi had anything to say, she would say it. If not, Song Miel wasn't interested, and it would save time.

Sure enough, Tang Lishi continued, “Aren’t you curious why I invited you here today?”

Song Miel kept walking.

Behind her, Tang Lishi propped herself up and stood, saying, “Do you really think you’ll walk out of here alive today?”

“Song Miel, you’re far too arrogant!”

“You showed up with only four people—daring to keep this appointment?”

Ye Zhao was the first to scan the surroundings alertly, but as he had assessed upon entry, there were no others hidden in the room.

Just then, Tang Lishi grabbed a bowl from the table and hurled it at the window; the glass shattered loudly.

Moments later, a group of dark figures surged in from the courtyard!

The dining room had glass walls on three sides, like a sunroom, so the scene outside was clearly visible.

Ye Zhao and the three other bodyguards reacted instantly, encircling Song Miel. “Miss Song, we need to leave!”

Song Miel didn’t even raise an eyebrow. Having come, she had contingencies prepared. “Miss Tang, I see you care nothing for your son’s opinion of you now, so perhaps you no longer care about him at all?”

She hadn’t met Shen Yanlie, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t arranged for someone to do so. At this moment, as long as Tang Lishi couldn’t reach her son, the threat would be effective.

Tang Lishi’s eyes twitched fiercely. “Do you think your words will frighten me?”

“Everyone has their destiny!” Tang Lishi straightened, chest out, as if that could suppress her earlier despair. “If Shen Yanlie can’t weather this storm, how much could he achieve in his life?”

Outside, people poured in through the glass doors, one after another, surrounding her. Tang Lishi’s confidence soared, her spirit returning. “Song Miel, is it your life you want, or will you cling to a position you know you can’t hold? Choose!”

It was an uneven standoff, many against few.

Seeing Tang Lishi recover her fierce bearing, Song Miel suddenly felt a hint of admiration. Indeed! If Tang Lishi had no ambition, why would she, in her prime at twenty, become the mistress of an old man over fifty?

In truth, she and Shen Yanye were always destined to compete, because the position he coveted, she wanted as well. Tang Lishi would never fail to fight for Shen Yanlie. Perhaps, from the beginning, this was their tacit agreement.

Yet neither had foreseen that five years ago, after Shen Yanrong’s kidnapping and untimely death, the old man would abruptly change the rules, barring them from the company’s decision-making and management. Even the shares they each held were strictly limited in usage.

Because of this, the “struggle” between Tang Lishi and Shen Yanye stretched out, prolonging their illicit alliance.

Facing imminent battle, Song Miel pondered how to break the alliance of interests between Tang Lishi and Shen Yanye. Tonight’s trap, and those gathered around Tang Lishi, were clearly not her doing alone.

Collecting her thoughts, Song Miel smiled. “Miss Tang, you risk so much for your lover—aren’t you afraid that, after it’s done, you’ll get nothing and be made the scapegoat?”

“Threats, sowing discord?” Tang Lishi snorted. “So, facing death, you can only rely on your tongue!”

“Wu, bring the documents!”

Wu quickly appeared at the staircase, briskly handing a share authorization document to Ye Zhao.

Song Miel took it and skimmed it swiftly. Before she could speak, Tang Lishi added, “Oh, and that lawyer you live with!”

“You seem to treasure him. If you’re not afraid to die, I don’t mind doing you a favor and letting him collect your body!”

At her words, Song Miel’s eyes turned icy, a cold gleam flashing beneath her lashes. “If you dare lay a finger on him, try it and see!”

...

Meanwhile, Pei Qiuyang’s team successfully hacked into SkyEye and traced Song Miel’s Phantom car. But after crossing into Da Jiangdong, the trail was lost.

It was nearly nine o’clock; Assistant Lin and Lin Shen were still unreachable, and Wen Yanli felt he couldn’t wait another minute.

Five minutes later, he finally called Shen Yanye. “I accept. Tell me where Song Miel is, I’ll go to her and take her away from Jinzhou.”

Shen Yanye gave a sinister laugh. “Words alone aren’t enough. How can I trust you, Mr. Wen?”

Wen Yanli asked directly, “What do you want?”

“Ah, I tried to hand you a fortune for a honeymoon and you refused. Now…”

“Spare me the nonsense!” He had no patience left. “Name your price, just tell me where Song Miel is!”

“You’d dare go if I told you?” Shen Yanye was surprised; for a mere lawyer to say ‘name your price’—he was impressed. The figure was random, as his real aim wasn’t money, just a whim. “Fifty million.”

“Agreed. I’ll send you a promissory note right away.”

Shen Yanye was stunned for a full minute—an unexpected windfall, fifty million dropped into his lap! Whether Wen Yanli survived the night was another matter, but who wouldn’t accept a free promissory note for fifty million? “Hand me the note, I’ll give you the address.”

After hanging up, Wen Yanli immediately found paper and pen.

He wrote the note, signed, and pressed his fingerprint—swift and decisive, without a moment’s hesitation.

Pei Qiuyang was worried, but not surprised, and wouldn’t stop him. In Wen Yanli’s place, he would have done the same.

Wen Yanli folded the note and handed it to Pei Qiuyang. “Send someone to Shen Yanye’s home, give it to his wife personally.”

“Liang Liang, to Da Jiangdong.” With that, he strode out.

Now, as soon as Shen Yanye sent the address, he could reach Miel at once.

...

Forty minutes later, Wen Yanli arrived at the intersection where SkyEye last tracked Song Miel’s Phantom car. Shen Yanye’s address arrived almost as soon as the car stopped.

He entered the address into the GPS and ordered Liang Liang, “Drive faster!”

Miel, I’m coming soon!

...

Meanwhile, after a fierce struggle, Ye Zhao, wounded, pressed forward toward Tang Lishi, suddenly grabbing her by the throat. “Call now!”

Tang Lishi gasped for air, her face flushing red as she beat at Ye Zhao’s arms. “The call…won’t go through, the signal here is cut off!”

“How do you contact the outside?” Ye Zhao squeezed harder.

He was driven by rage, bloodlust nearly impossible to restrain. He knew Song Miel was worried for Mr. Wen.

Amid the chaos, Song Miel stepped toward Tang Lishi, “You saw it yourself—those men don’t care about you. Shen Yanye doesn’t care if you live or die!”

“Maybe he wants us both dead here,” Song Miel said coldly. “Shen Yanlie just turned eighteen—if you die, how can he fight Shen Yanye?”

“Don’t you want your son to become chairman of Sihai Group?”

“Don’t you want to know what the old man arranged for Shen Yanlie in his other will?”

Seeing Tang Lishi nod desperately, Song Miel finally ordered Ye Zhao, “Let go of her.”

As soon as Ye Zhao released her, Tang Lishi collapsed, coughing violently.

Song Miel was impatient, squatting beside her. “Speak—what have you done to Mr. Wen?”

Tang Lishi was still coughing, but Song Miel’s eyes bored into her, wishing she could gouge a row of holes right through her!

Outnumbered, Ye Zhao and his team had fought to the brink for a narrow victory; the other three bodyguards lay wounded on the floor. Ye Zhao’s back was a bloody mess.

Song Miel herself was unscathed.

But now, she worried for her man’s safety.

She couldn’t imagine what that mad dog Shen Yanye would do to him.

If anything happened to him, what would she become?

The only direct way was to make Tang Lishi talk.

As soon as Tang Lishi explained, she’d leave at once.

Tang Lishi finally caught her breath, but instead of answering, she laughed. “Song Miel, you’re worried, aren’t you? Afraid?”

“Anxious, aren’t you?”

Smack—Song Miel slapped her hard. “Tang Lishi, say one more word and I’ll carve up your face with a knife!”

Just then, Zhong Lan shouted, “Fire!”

Ye Zhao saw it too!

Outside, flames were already raging, fierce and bright.

...

Through the car window, Wen Yanli saw the blaze from afar.