Xiao Yuanmu left alone. Song Xuanhe and Louis stayed at Louis’ house to wait for news, but they hadn’t waited long before Yang Jie also arrived.

The three grown men looked at each other with dignified expressions on their faces. None of them had any intention of speaking and simply looked around. Some were thoughtful, while some were watching the slow passage of time.

Song Xuanhe was talking to the system in his mind: [ Xiao Yuanmu will be safe, right? ]

[ This plot has moved up ahead of time. I’m not sure if he’s safe, but I can be certain that his life won’t be in danger. ] The system said, [ After all, he’s the protagonist. ]

[ Of course I know that. ] Song Xuanhe said, [ I just want to ask if he’ll get hurt. ]

[ You should know this. ] The system said, [ Of course, if you don’t know, then my data can tell you that if the number of people on Xiao Yuanmu’s side is equal to the number of people on Xiao Baicong’s side, then he’ll likely be able to retreat safely. If Xiao Yuanmu has less people than Xiao Baicong, but they are better equipped, then he’ll also be able to retreat safely, however… ]

Song Xuanhe interrupted the system: [ This time, he’s going in to save Xiao Baicong. At least, that’s what it is on the surface. If Xiao Baicong wants to maintain this lie, then it won’t be about the number of weapons, like you mentioned. ]

{ However, you’ve just raised another possibility. ] The system said, [ Xiao Baicong wanting to kill everyone to keep them quiet. ]

Aware of Song Xuanhe’s emotional changes, the system quickly continued: [ But I’m sure that Xiao Baicong has no way to kill Xiao Yuanmu. You know the reason. ]

[ Do you have any way to let me see Xiao Yuanmu’s current situation? ] Song Xuanhe asked.

The system’s answer was firm, [ No. ]

This answer was within expectations. Song Xuanhe drank a sip of hot tea and fell silent.

The clock pointed at 12 noon. It had been nearly three hours since Xiao Yuanmu left, while Song Xuanhe and the others remained almost motionless in the living room. No one mentioned anything about lunch.

It wasn’t until Louis looked at the time that his stomach rang out in a very punctual manner.

“My friends.” Louis clapped his hands, drawing Song Xuanhe and Yang Jie’s attention before continuing, “I think we should eat something. What do you guys want to eat? I’ll ask someone to send it over.”

Yang Jie frowned, “It’s best not to let outsiders in and out of here at this time.”

Louis was stunned for a moment, glanced at Song Xuanhe and nodded. Then, he grew distressed, “But we can’t cook. What will we eat?”

“I can cook noodles.” Yang Jie said, “It’s just that the taste can only reach the level of filling up the stomach.”

Louis was delighted, “It’s fine as long as there’s something to eat.”

Yang Jie nodded, then asked Song Xuanhe, “What kind of noodles do you want to eat? I heard you like tomato and egg noodles. How about I cook that?”

Song Xuanhe shook his head, “Let’s eat something else. Make something simple.”

Yang Jie’s mouth opened. He wanted to say that tomato and egg noodles were very simple, but when he saw Song Xuanhe’s distracted expression, the words that were hovering at the edge of his lips were swallowed back down again. He nodded, “In that case, we’ll have meat sauce noodles.”

Louis was delighted, “I really like meat sauce noodles!”

Yang Jie turned and went into the kitchen, while Louis went back to his original position and sat down again. Seeing that Song Xuanhe seemed to be thinking about something, he went back to sit beside him, “Don’t worry. In the time I’ve known Xiao, he’s done everything he said he would do. Since he said that he can come back safely, it means he will come back safely.”

Song Xuanhe shook his head, “Do you know that there’s a saying in China?”

“What saying?”

“A dog will leap over a wall in desperation.” Song Xuanhe said. “Right now, Xiao Baicong is very clear on how clumsy this kidnapping he’d orchestrated is. However, he won’t let such a clumsy act really appear in front of Xiao Lin. In order to cover up the fact that he made trouble over nothing, he can only pull Xiao Yuanmu into the water with him. Only when the kidnapping becomes real, and his only competitor disappears, will he be able to rest easy.”

Louis knew that Song Xuanhe was right. He’d been worried about this earlier, but at this time, he couldn’t give Song Xuanhe any extra pressure. He patted him on the shoulder and said, “Xiao must also be very clear about this. He’s definitely thought of countermeasures.”

Of course Xiao Yuanmu knew. Song Xuanhe also knew that Xiao Yuanmu would definitely have made all the preparations he could think of.

However, there were many things that were known but couldn’t be changed. He was so worried about Xiao Yuanmu that he’d wanted to rush out after Xiao Yuanmu the second he went out the door. He just wanted to personally ensure his safety, and personally be there by his side to deal with Xiao Baicong together.

However, he couldn’t.

This excessive concern was so serious that he was unable to think rationally. This also left Song Xuanhe extremely flustered.

There was a voice telling him from the bottom of his heart: Don’t struggle. You’re in love with Xiao Yuanmu. Stay here. You have nothing in that world, why do you have to insist on going back?

This voice had started appearing a long time ago, and now, it was getting louder and louder. It was so loud that it was practically disturbing his thoughts, making him unable to think rationally.

Louis looked at Song Xuanhe’s expression and could tell that he wouldn’t be able to comfort him. He could only silently pat him on the shoulder again, then keep him company as they waited.

Yang Jie came back out again with the noodles and looked puzzled for a moment when he saw the two of them sitting together side by side.

Louis got up, accepted a bowl of noodles, and handed it to Song Xuanhe. He smiled and said, “Maybe Xiao will be back by the time we finish eating.”

Song Xuanhe smiled and said thanks, then quietly sat to the side to finish the noodles.

By the time they finished their lunch and Yang Jie finished washing up the tableware, it was already 1PM. Xiao Yuanmu had been gone for nearly four hours.

Louis took out a deck of cards, using them to help pass this time that was difficult to endure. Song Xuanhe and Yang Jie didn’t refuse, because it was indeed easy to think about messy things when they sat there doing nothing. It was better to play cards and distract themselves instead.

Three hours passed by as they played. It was getting close to dinner time, but there was still no news from Xiao Yuanmu.

He said before he left that he would contact them as soon as he rescued Xiao Baicong and left that place.

Four hours was enough time to travel from Y City to Xiao Baicong’s location if he drove fast, and it would take five hours if he drove slowly. At this time, it had been seven hours since Xiao Yuanmu left. In other words, even if he’d been driving slowly, Xiao Yuanmu should have come into contact with the kidnappers two hours ago.

That two hours had passed without the problem being solved hinted that the situation may be moving towards the worst possible scenario.

At this time, no one was in the mood to play cards anymore. The living room fell quiet once again.

Ten minutes later, Yang Jie’s cell phone rang, and three pairs of eyes focused on the cell phone on the coffee table at the same time.

Yang Jie looked at the number and told the other two, “It’s Madame Xiao.”

Song Xuanhe and Louis both moved their gazes away simultaneously.

Louis laughed briefly, and his tone held sarcasm, “That Madame finally can’t hold her silence any longer.”

Yang Jie didn’t understand what he meant, and accepted Madame Xiao’s call from the living room.

“Hello, Madame Xiao, this is Yang Jie.”

“Have you heard any news from Yuanmu?” Madame Xiao asked, “Has he come back?”

“No, Madame Xiao.” Yang Jie said, “Brother Xiao has already been gone for seven and a half hours. At present, there’s been no news.”

“Seven and a half hours…” Madame Xiao repeated these words in a murmur, then said, “Remember to inform me as soon as possible when there’s any news from him.”

“Okay, I understand, Madame Xiao.” Yang Jie replied lightly, “Is there anything else?”

“No.” Madame Xiao didn’t hang up for a long time. After about half a minute, she spoke again, “Take good care of him when he comes back.”

Yang Jie’s eyebrows twisted together in a frown, but his voice remained even, “Okay, I understand.”

After he hung up the phone, Louis frowned, “When will Xiao come back?”

Song Xuanhe’s expression was taut, and his eyes kept drifting out towards the yard.

It was unknown how long it took, but a soft noise suddenly came from the yard, startling the three people waiting in the living room. Song Xuanhe reacted first, getting up and running to the door.

Louis and Yang Jie followed, looking very excited.

“I’m back.”

Xiao Yuanmu opened both arms and pulled Song Xuanhe into his arms almost as soon as Song Xuanhe got the door open. The light scent of blood from his body drifted into Song Xuanhe’s nose.

“Are you alright” Song Xuanhe pulled him inside and looked him up and dow. He only spoke after determining that there were no external injuries, “Whose blood is it on your body?”

“Xiao Baicong’s.” Xiao Yuanmu replied lightly, “He’s currently in my car.”

Louis stretched out his head and looked outside. He couldn’t see anything, and couldn’t help but say, “Xiao Baicong’s people let you bring him out?”

“His men are all dead.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s tone of voice was very indifferent when he said this. There were no fluctuations at all.

Yang Jie and Louis exchanged looks. Louis frowned, “Has everything been cleaned up?”

“There was an internal dispute amongst the kidnappers caused by the uneven distribution of bounty.” Xiao Yuanmu said, “It’s not within my scope of concern.”

Louis raised his eyebrows, then shot him a thumbs up, “Great.”

Yang Jie was the only one who was worried, “Brother Xiao, are you sure you haven’t let any fish escape from the net? Also, how are you going to deal with Xiao Baicong?”

“Call Madame Xiao.” Song Xuanhe said, “Didn’t she just say that we should call her when Xiao Yuanmu comes back?”

“Call an ambulance while you’re at it.” Louis laughed, “Xiao, are your brother’s injuries serious?”

“They’re not too serious.” Xiao Yuanmu took off his blood stained coat and said, “It’s just that both legs are now useless.”

Louis was stunned, then quipped, “Xiao, Hoffman was right. You should cooperate with him. When the two of you talk about this kind of creepy thing, you both look like you don’t care at all. It always gives me the feeling that you two must have something in common.”

The corner of Xiao Yuanmu’s lips ticked up briefly. He turned his head towards Song Xuanhe, putting his hands gently against both sides of his neck as he whispered, “I promised you that I would come back safely, so I will certainly achieve it.”

“You have a leg injury, too, right?” Song Xuanhe’s expression wasn’t very happy, “Let me see it.”

Xiao Yuanmu froze for a moment, while Louis and Yang Jie, who was in the midst of making a call, both looked over instantly.

In fact, Xiao Yuanmu had hidden it very well. No one had discovered any trace of his injury from his behavior, and Song Xuanhe hadn’t, either. However, he’d asked the system to scan Xiao Yuanmu’s body just in case, and only then did he discover that Xiao Yuanmu had lied.

“It’s really nothing.” The smile on Xiao Yuanmu’s face faded, and a trace of uneasiness appeared in the bottom of his eyes.

“Roll up your trouser legs.” Song Xuanhe looked at him coldly, “I don’t want to have to say it again a third time.”

Xiao Yuanmu dropped his gaze and had no choice but to roll up the hem of his trousers.

There was gauze wrapped around his lower leg, close to his ankle. It was a spot that could be covered by his pants, but blood was seeping through the thick gauze. There was no need to look further to know that the would definitely wasn’t shallow.

Xiao Yuanmu glanced at Song Xuanhe’s expression, and his slender eyelashes drooped down as he explained gently, “I’ve already bandaged it.”

Song Xuanhe looked at him lightly, then shifted his gaze to his lower leg, which had been bandaged very roughly. No emotion could be heard in his voice, “Did you do this yourself, or did you hurt it accidentally?”