Qiao Chuchu focused all her attention on the church, spotting a familiar figure.
Xia Xuechun, dressed in a snow-white gown, leaped into Long Yunxiao's arms.
A sun hat obscured her face.
Qiao Chuchu smirked and handed the binoculars to Huai Ling: "Take a look."
Huai Ling glanced at her, his gaze tender, but instead of taking the binoculars, he clasped her hand, acting as a makeshift stand as he peered into the distance.
Lou Tingsi narrowed his eyes at the sight and positioned himself beside Qiao Chuchu, leaning down to her eye level. "You saw her?"
Qiao Chuchu nodded, pointing ahead. "She's inside the church. Let's split into three teams and catch them both."
She readjusted the binoculars toward the church. "There seem to be a lot of bodyguards around them. Have your men clear them out—quietly, so we don’t alert them."
Lou Tingsi leaned in, his cheek brushing against hers as if sharing the binoculars. "Alright, let me see too."
Weisheng Huailing shot him a resentful glare from the side.
Lou Tingsi pretended not to notice, guiding Qiao Chuchu’s hand holding the binoculars as he scanned the area. "There are indeed many bodyguards."
"So what?" Weisheng Lin shoved Huailing aside and stood beside Qiao Chuchu, smirking. "We have plenty of our own."
Hearing this, Qiao Chuchu relaxed and looked at the three of them.
[I trust them to help me catch Xia Xuechun. Their skills are undeniable.]
The three men brightened with varying degrees of pride, lifting their chins.
After all, they were the ones Qiao Chuchu had specifically chosen to bring ahead.
She believed they had the most experience in this.
Ying Chen could have joined too, but he was still recovering from injuries and couldn’t move around.
The others were tied up with work and would arrive half a day later, already en route.
Shen Zhuoyan had wanted to come but was assigned by Qiao Chuchu to stay with her family.
This was the perfect opportunity for just the three of them!
No meddling brother, no Shen Zhuoyan in the way!
Only them!
Their gazes grew increasingly possessive as they stared at Qiao Chuchu.
Lou Tingsi brimmed with confidence. "I’ll have my men capture them."
He signaled to Song Yu.
Song Yu stepped forward. "Boss, I’m ready."
Weisheng Lin scoffed. "My men aren’t slouches either."
He snapped his fingers.
Several foreigners approached. "Boss."
Huailing smiled slyly, like a fox already certain of victory. "Have you two forgotten who I am? I can handle this alone. Unlike you, who travel with an entourage like crabs with too many legs."
Qiao Chuchu frowned. "Why the infighting? We’re all going—just with different roles."
Weisheng Lin slid an arm around her waist, his voice dropping to a low, suggestive murmur. "Miss Qiao, if one of us catches them first… will there be a reward?"
She swatted his hand away. "What do you want?"
His hand stung from the slap, but the tingling pain only deepened his amusement. He leaned closer, whispering, "A day alone with me."
"That’s it?" Qiao Chuchu glanced back at the church, unimpressed. "I thought you’d ask for something worthwhile, like money."
Weisheng Lin studied her long lashes. "I don’t need money. I want to spend time with you somewhere beautiful."
"Fine." She nodded. "Deal."
His face lit up, and he rolled up his sleeves with a wicked grin. "Then wait here while Uncle catches them for you—maybe even turns them into soup!"
He strode off with his men.
Huailing sensed something amiss. "Sister, what did my brother say to you?"
Qiao Chuchu gestured. "He said if he catches that cheating pair, he gets a day out with me."
Huailing’s eyes widened. He glared at Weisheng Lin’s retreating figure before urgently tapping Qiao Chuchu’s shoulder. "Then if I catch them, I should get a reward too, right?!"
She sighed. "What do you want?"
Huailing beamed. "A vacation on our family’s private island!"
She nodded impatiently. "Fine, fine, whatever."
His grin turned devious as he sprinted off.
Lou Tingsi watched their energetic departure before leisurely remarking, "Miss Qiao, whatever they negotiated, I want the same."
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
He pinched her cheek, smiling as he turned away. "Song Yu, let’s go."
She watched them split into three teams, waiting for the right moment to move.
Mother Liu approached, simmering with restless fury. "Did you find Xia Xuechun? When do we confront them? I can’t wait to avenge my daughter."
Qiao Chuchu side-eyed her. "Will you really take revenge? Or will you forgive Long Yunxiao the moment he begs, saying his child needs a father?"
Mother Liu didn’t hesitate. "How could I?! He pushed my daughter off a building alone and flaunted his mistress here! He must pay—I won’t let him leave alive!"
Yet her eyes flickered nervously, as if checking whether Qiao Chuchu believed her.
Qiao Chuchu smirked coldly.
Liar.
If not for her foresight revealing this woman’s greed, she might have fallen for the act.
She turned away indifferently. "You’ll only watch. I’ll handle Long Yunxiao. Tell me how you want him dealt with."
Mother Liu paled. "I can do it myself! I just want him to return to my daughter and make things right. You deal with the mistress!"
Qiao Chuchu peered through the binoculars. "So when a cheating man and his mistress are involved, only the mistress deserves punishment? The man bears no blame?"
Mother Liu shrugged. "That’s how it’s always done. Life must go on."
Qiao Chuchu lowered the binoculars, staring at her. "You think a man who crippled your daughter is worth keeping?"
Mother Liu grimaced. "What choice is there? Who’d marry her now? Besides, a guilty man is the best—he’ll treat her well out of remorse."
"If he felt remorse, he wouldn’t have pushed her."
Qiao Chuchu’s voice turned icy. "And this isn’t what you promised earlier. You said you wanted him dead. Now you’re after money? You lied from the start."
Mother Liu’s face twisted in panic. "I’m not lying! I just have my own goals! Would you have brought me otherwise?!"
A gun suddenly pressed against her chest.
Mother Liu froze, staring in horror at the weapon before meeting Qiao Chuchu’s cold gaze.
Qiao Chuchu's deep eyes were clouded with darkness, like the ominous calm before a storm.
She pressed the weapon firmly against her chest, her voice eerily steady: "That despicable pair killed my brother. They will pay for what they did. You deceived me, and I could have pretended it never happened—so long as you kept lying to me, just as you promised in the beginning. But if you betray me now, you’ll join them hand in hand on their final journey."
Her gaze sharpened like a venomous blade: "I won’t tolerate traitors around me. Not when they threaten every step of my plan. Do you understand?"
