Mr. Secretary waited for a while but didn't see an increase in speed; instead, the car was slowing down more and more. "Xiaoyan, why is the car slowing down?"

With a sense of frustration, Hua Yan replied, "We're out of fuel..."

"What? Looks like we're really in for it today."

"If we don't accelerate, we might be able to hold out for another half an hour. Let's hope someone comes to rescue us in that time." Hua Yan kept an eye on the two cars while talking to Mr. Secretary. She appeared calm but doubted Hu Li and his team could arrive within half an hour.

Mr. Secretary, having faced countless dangers since learning he was Gao Ruqing's illegitimate son, was calm in the face of this crisis. He reassured Hua Yan, "Don't worry, Xiaoyan. Even if my people don't make it in time, your man will."

Mr. Secretary's teasing lightened Hua Yan's mood, making her smile a bit. Both held their breaths, watching the fuel gauge and the two cars closely.

"Mouse, is this woman crazy? Why is her speed fluctuating?" In the car following Hua Yan, a scruffy man in his thirties named Huang Shulang was driving with one hand and holding his phone with the other.

"Are you getting distracted by spring fever? Keep your eyes on the road. Remember, we can do whatever we want with her once we catch her. Stay focused," Mouse replied with a lecherous laugh and a tone of authority.

The barren trees along the road swayed in the northern wind, casting flickering shadows under the car lights, adding to the bleakness of winter. As Hua Yan's car slowed down, it felt like their hearts were being pulled along, beating slower and slower.

Suddenly, the rear of Hua Yan's car was hit hard. The violent impact left Hua Yan and Mr. Secretary momentarily dazed. Their car had abruptly stopped, and Huang Shulang, unable to brake in time, crashed into them.

Before Huang Shulang could react, Mouse turned around to assess the situation and quickly called him. "What are you waiting for? Get out and bring them out."

Hua Yan didn't know if the people in the cars had guns, so she and Mr. Secretary didn't dare to escape. Several cars sped by without noticing them.

"Get out," Mouse ordered, one hand in his pocket as if holding something. He watched Hua Yan and Mr. Secretary warily, while Huang Shulang, holding a club, waited for them to exit the car.

Hua Yan and Mr. Secretary exchanged a glance and complied, standing obediently in front of the two men. Their hands were then tied behind their backs.

"Into the woods," Mouse pushed Hua Yan, causing her to stagger. She regained her balance and walked forward, with Mr. Secretary close behind, preventing Mouse and Huang Shulang from getting too close to her. Huang Shulang wanted to touch Hua Yan's fair skin but stopped after a stern look from Mouse.

Feeling reassured by Huang Shulang's restraint, Mr. Secretary regretted bringing Hua Yan here today. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be in danger.

As they stumbled through the forest, the sound of rustling leaves accompanied them. Mouse held a flashlight to light the way. Hua Yan discreetly grasped a special blade hidden in her sleeve. Seeing that Mouse and Huang Shulang weren't paying particular attention, she began to cut through the rope binding her hands.

Just as Hua Yan was about to cut through a rope, Mouse suddenly moved closer, pressing tightly against her. Her hand shook, and she paused, slipping the blade back into her sleeve when it was clear he wasn’t moving away.

Hua Yan used this moment to analyze the situation and plan her next move once her hands were free. Should she first take down Mouse, who had an unknown danger in his pocket, or the increasingly lecherous Huang Shulang?

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After a moment of thought, Hua Yan decided to first neutralize Mouse, who posed the greater unknown threat. Not long after, Huang Shulang said, “Hey Mouse, let’s take a break. This mountain path is killing me.”

Mouse wanted to argue, but seeing Huang Shulang panting and sweating under the flashlight, he relented. “Alright, let’s rest by that flat rock over there.”

Taking advantage of the break, Hua Yan quickly resumed cutting the rope with the blade. Huang Shulang shoved Mr. Secretary down by the rock, while Mouse pulled Hua Yan along.

In an instant, the rope binding Hua Yan fell to the ground. At the same moment, Hua Yan grabbed Mouse’s hand that was in his pocket with one hand, twisted his arm with the other, and drove her knee hard into his groin.

Mouse let out a muffled groan and dropped to his knees. Without wasting a second, Hua Yan struck the back of his neck with her palm, rendering him unconscious. She found a modified handgun in Mouse’s pocket and turned to face Huang Shulang.

Huang Shulang was holding Mr. Secretary by the neck, raising a club defensively with his other hand. “What did you do? Don’t come any closer...” Huang Shulang was terrified, shaken by Hua Yan’s swift takedown of Mouse.

Mouse had always been the brains behind their operations, planning all their past crimes. Huang Shulang, now without his leader, was filled with fear. As Mouse often said, his head was full of lust, but he had no courage.

“If you let my friend go, I’ll let you leave,” Hua Yan said, exchanging a glance with Mr. Secretary to convey a message.

“You... ah...” Huang Shulang suddenly screamed in pain and instinctively let go of Mr. Secretary, doubling over. Mr. Secretary, seizing the opportunity, rolled away despite the pain.

Hua Yan moved like a fish, leaping and pinning Huang Shulang to the ground with one knee. His screams echoed through the forest. Only then did Hua Yan relax. She knocked him unconscious and tied his hands with the rope that had bound her.

She then untied Mr. Secretary and bound Mouse’s hands, placing him next to Huang Shulang.

“Xiaoyan, I didn’t expect you to be so skilled,” Mr. Secretary said, massaging his sore neck with a smile.

Hua Yan smiled and called Hu Li. “Hu Li, we’re in the woods east of the car. Come quickly with your men.”

Hu Li, just arriving and seeing the three empty cars on the roadside, felt a chill of fear. He was about to order Hu Da and Hu Er to start searching when Hua Yan’s call came.

Hearing her voice and knowing she was safe made him feel alive again.

When Hu Li finally saw Hua Yan, he was speechless. Though she and Mr. Secretary were a bit disheveled, they were unharmed. Meanwhile, two men, faces dirty and bloodied, lay unconscious by a rock.

Hu Li draped his coat over Hua Yan’s shoulders and pointed at the two men. “Are these the ones?”

“Hmm.” Hua Yan warmed her hands in Hu Li's, curling up in his embrace to shield herself from the cold wind.

"What should we do with them?" Hu Er asked.

"Load them into the car and get them to talk about who sent them," Hu Li replied, looking at the two unconscious men with a venomous glare. Mr. Secretary shivered at the sight of Hu Li's ruthless expression, thinking that it was even more chilling than Gao Ruqing's. Hu Li’s decision indicated he wasn't going to involve the police but would handle it himself.

At that moment, footsteps echoed in the woods again. Hu Li and his men warily eyed the direction of the sound. Soon, a group of men in suits, clearly bodyguards, appeared. Among them, Hua Yan recognized two familiar faces.

In the dim light, both groups eyed each other cautiously. Mr. Secretary quickly spoke up to prevent a confrontation. "They’re my people, don't worry."

"Boss?" The bodyguards' tension eased, and they apologized to Hu Li's men before rushing over to check on Mr. Secretary.

"Boss, next time you go out, you must take us with you," one of the familiar bodyguards said to Hua Yan.

Mr. Secretary wasn’t upset. He smiled and said, "Yes, I will definitely bring you next time."

Another bodyguard sighed, draping a coat over Mr. Secretary to keep him warm. It seemed that even though Gao Ruqing had left, he had ensured his most trusted men stayed behind to protect his son. Such is a parent's heart!

The bodyguards then noticed Hua Yan in Hu Li's arms, their eyes lighting up with relief. They exchanged a few words. Hu Li, noticing Hua Yan shivering, said, "Let's leave here and talk back home."

A convoy of a dozen cars set off, including the ones driven by Hu Li's men carrying Mouse and Huang Shulang.

The next day, the news remained uneventful, with no mention of Hua Yan’s kidnapping. Hua Yan had no idea where Hu Li had taken Mouse and Huang Shulang.

Since that day, Hu Li had kept Hua Yan at home, bringing files to the villa daily to stay close to her. In Hua Yan’s eyes, it felt like Hu Li was monitoring her, afraid she might try to leave and end up in danger again.

"Hu Li, did you find out who sent those two men?"

Hu Li looked at her, hesitation flickering in his eyes. He set his files down and said, "We know a bit. They were targeting you. I suspect..."