139 Ambush
After dinner, Si Qingchen accompanied his parents in the tea room, sipping tea together.
Though he was ostensibly there to keep them company, most of the time he was simply watching the two of them shower each other with affection in ever-changing ways.
They stuffed handfuls of "dog food" into his mouth—affectionate displays he found hard to swallow but was forced to endure.
As his mind wandered, he suddenly thought of that little one who always appeared cold and unyielding to the outside world but had gradually revealed a soft, tender, and sweet side to him...
Si Qingchen’s eyes softened, and his mood brightened considerably.
At that moment, his mother glanced back and saw her nearly thirty-year-old son wearing an unmistakable expression of "springtime" on his face. She knew immediately that he must be thinking of the young lady from the Mu family.
“That little girl is quite the formidable character,” she thought.
Though often away from home, the couple was well-informed about the goings-on in the capital.
They also knew perfectly well that ever since the Mu heiress had “come home,” she had stirred up countless astonishing incidents.
Although troubles frequently arose, a closer look revealed that none were directly connected to her.
It was well known that in a city as complex and chaotic as the capital, returning alone to a prestigious family was no simple matter of buying a ticket.
Without some hidden skills, one would likely be picked apart to the bone by others.
Just as Si’s mother was preparing to seize the rare chance to admonish her “slow-witted” son, Si Bei suddenly rushed in, his usual calm replaced by urgency.
Everyone frowned, sensing something amiss.
Sure enough, the next moment, Si Bei hesitated before saying to Si Qingchen, “Boss, Miss Mu... something’s happened!”
Si Qingchen froze, speechless.
---
On the other side, following a violent crash, thick smoke billowed from the front of a black car.
Nearby, a slender steel rod was hastily retrieved by someone.
Both tree trunks on either side bore deep, indented scars.
After a moment, seeing no movement inside the vehicle, several men hiding behind the trees cautiously peeked out.
“Go check it out. Leave no survivors.”
“Let’s move.”
They exchanged a few hurried words before cautiously approaching the car.
The black vehicle was now nearly unrecognizable.
The force of impact had completely destroyed all four tires; none were left in sight.
The men shuffled forward hesitantly, their guilty demeanor unmistakable.
Soon, one of them mustering his courage pried open the twisted, mangled car door with great effort—and suddenly, a slender leg shot out...
It landed solidly on his knee.
A sharp crack rang out.
“Ah—!”
The man screamed in agony as his body was violently flung backward.
He crashed against the opposite wall with a thud before sliding slowly down to the ground.
---
Soon, only faint tremors remained; like a tattered rag, he quickly lost consciousness.
The others stood frozen in shock, then within seconds, scattered chaotically, clutching their heads as they fled.
“Where are you running?”
Mu Qingcheng had already sprung from the car.
Fortunately, her ample experience had prepared her well. The moment she spotted the steel rod, she instinctively took defensive action.
As a result, she only suffered minor scrapes and no serious injuries.
Yet the frantic, inexperienced flight of those men puzzled her.
The steel rod’s placement clearly spoke of a seasoned hand, but the men’s panicked state suggested otherwise.
At most, they were petty thieves.
This contrast made it effortless for her to subdue them one by one.
In moments, they were all pressed against the wall.
“Get down on your knees. If anyone tries to move, I’ll break your legs.”
...
Suddenly—
Just as Mu Qingcheng turned to check on the man whose knee she had shattered, a silver dart suddenly shot out from a dark corner...