Power and Wealth

Morning.

9 am.

The four of them sat in the presidential suite talking about the threats when the twin sisters’ phone beeped. It was not a phone call. One of the sisters took out her phone and turned off the beeping. It seemed to be an alarm or a notification.

Shen Xiaoyan turned. “Ms. Zhang.”

Zhong Longjuan nodded. “I know.”

Shen Xiaomei said. “But they say they will contact us before noon.”

Shen Xiaoyan thought for a while and said. “I think we should not leave too.”

Zhang Longjuan laughed. “We will continue to do what we are supposed to do. We don’t need to care about them.”

They discussed and decided to continue with their work.

Dong Xuebing knows they are going out because of their State Security mission, and he did not ask. He followed them out of the room.

Shen Xiaomei walked quickly to the elevator.

Shen Xiaoyan stayed close to Zhang Longjuan. They got into the elevator.

Dong Xuebing followed behind slowly. His leg is injured, and he can only move slowly.

One step…

Three steps…

Five steps…

The three women waited for Dong Xuebing in the elevator for a while. He smiled at them apologetically.

Zhang Longjuan does not mind waiting. “Let me help you.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “No need. I am not that weak.”

Zhang Longjuan nodded. “Ok. Watch your steps. Be careful not to trip.”

The elevator door closed. The younger twin, Shen Xiaomei, looked at Dong Xuebing. She was speechless. They told Zhang Longjuan that Dong Xuebing could not run. But it seems like he could not even walk properly. His leg injury is more serious than they expected. It was painful to watch him walk.

Bodyguard?

Which bodyguard is as pathetic as him?

Have you ever heard of anyone with broken bones all over his body protecting others? Who can he protect? Zhang Longjuan might be more useful than Xiao Dong. Even if she cannot fight, she can run. But Xiao Dong cannot even run and might hurt himself before he can do anything.

Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaomei were dumbfounded.

Ding…

The elevator reached the ground floor, and the door opened.

The lobby has more people compared to last night. Tourists and businessmen with luggage were checking into the hotel orderly.

The four of them walked out of the elevator.

Zhang Longjuan purposely walked slowly to accompany Dong Xuebing. Shen Xiaomei and her sister also slowed down for them. Suddenly, Shen Xiaoyan’s eyelid twitched, and she scanned the lobby. She gave her sister a look, and Shen Xiaomei walked out of the hotel to check their rented car. She ensured no tracking or listening devices before getting into the car.

The car is a Mercedes Benz S class.

It is black and very outstanding.

Shen Xiaomei sat in the driver's seat, and Shen Xiaoyan sat in the rear passenger seat with Zhang Longjuan. Dong Xuebing saw it and got into the front passenger seat.

Inside the car. Zhang Longjuan asked. “What is it?”

Shen Xiaomei replied. “Someone was watching us in the lobby.”

“Oh, many of them?” Zhang Longjuan asked.

“I noticed at least two of them.” Shen Xiaoyan replied. “Sis, start driving.”

Shen Xiaomei started driving. Two cars followed seconds after they left the carpark.

“Yes.” Shen Xiaoyan narrowed her eyes. “We are being followed.”

Zhang Longjuan said without turning to look. “Let’s settle our business first and ignore them.”

Shen Xiaoyan nodded. “We can only do that now. I will get out of the car when we are reaching. Ms. Zhang, you don’t need to go yourself. Just lead them away will do.”

“Ok. Be careful.”

“We are only confirming today. It is not dangerous.”

An hour later.

The Mercedes stopped opposite a commercial building, and Shen Xiaomei disappeared into the crowd after she got off. The car continued and led the two cars behind them away. They circled the area for an hour and picked up Shen Xiaoyan from another place. Dong Xuebing did not say or ask anything. The sisters’ attitude towards him changed slightly when they saw he did not interfere in their mission.

11 am.

The car was driving towards the hotel when the phone rang.

Zhang Longjuan looked at the number and answered.

“Is the money ready, Ms. Zhang?”

“What do you think?”

“Are you not going to give us the money?”

“Haha… you are right.”

“Fine. Don’t blame us for what is going to happen next. I believe you will give us the money obediently.” That man laughed and hung up.

Zhang Longjuan said. “They are coming.”

Shen Xiaomei looked around. “They are already here.”

Dong Xuebing noticed they were surrounded. When Zhang Longjuan answered the call, the car was stopped by the roadside. They were at a spacious place, and only a few cars were on the road. The car that had followed them from the hotel stopped behind them, and a truck was driving against the traffic flow towards them. Two young men with sunglasses were driving the truck.

The road is not big, and they could not avoid the truck.

Being sandwiched made the situation dire.

Shen Xiaomei immediately reversed the Mercedes and tried to escape the sandwich.

But the moment their car moved, the car behind moved forward to prevent the Mercedes from escaping.

Bam!

The Mercedes was banged from behind, and the lights were smashed.

The cars’ drivers behind smiled, and the truck stopped not far away.

The collision was not serious, and the Mercedes could still move. However, it was trapped between both vehicles. The truck had blocked the road in front, and a car was blocking behind.

Ring… ring… ring… Zhang Longjuan’s phone rang again.

Zhang Longjuan answered.

That man said. “Ms. Zhang, I am telling you again. Two million USD for your life.”

Zhang Longjuan did not give in. She laughed. “We shall see if you are capable of getting the money.”

“You all are trapped. I am impressed that you are unfazed by what happened. I will give you five minutes to consider. I cannot guarantee what the truck might do once the time is up. It will be too late then.”

“Ok. I am waiting.”

“Five minutes. There’s a limit to our patience.”

Zhang Longjuan hung up. “You all have heard him.”

Shen Xiaoyan frowned. “Try again, Sis.”

Shen Xiaomei nodded and stepped on the accelerator. She turned the Mercedes to try getting past the truck. But the truck moved to its side and blocked its way. She braked and reversed. She tried to escape through the back. But the car behind moved and blocked them.

Shen Xiaomei said. “We cannot escape.”

Shen Xiaoyan was helpless. “Five minutes is almost up.”

“Yes.”

“Prepare to fight. After we leave, you will bring Ms. Zhang and Xiao Dong to the main road. I will try to stop them and meet you all later.”

They were prepared to abandon the car to escape. The situation is not in their favor.

The Mercedes was sandwiched between two vehicles and might be crushed anytime. They also don’t know how many people they have in the car and truck. They cannot take the risk.

Zhang Longjuan looked at Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Dong?”

Dong Xuebing blinked and looked around. “Let me drive.”

Zhang Longjuan looked at Dong Xuebing and laughed. “Running away will make us look like losers. Do you have any solution?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Let me try. They are only a bunch of hooligans. Other than numbers, they are nothing.”

Shen Xiaoyan frowned. “What do you mean? You want to drive? The roads are blocked. How are we going to get past them?” She looked at the cast and bandages on Dong Xuebing’s arm. “How are you going to drive in that condition?”

Shen Xiaomei stared at Dong Xuebing. “Listen to my sister and stop causing trouble for us.”

But Zhang Longjuan said. “Move aside and let Xiao Dong drive, Xiaomei.”

“Ms. Zhang, this is not the time for this.”

“Listen to me. Let Xiao Dong try.”

The truck roared the engine and started moving. It reversed to about one hundred meters away before speeding toward the Mercedes. It was going to crash into the Mercedes head-on.

Shen Xiaomei’s face changed. “Get out of the car, quick!”

“Ms. Zhang, have you decided?” Shen Xiaoyan was anxious.

Dong Xuebing released his seatbelt and climbed into the driver’s seat. Shen Xiaomei was mad, but she saw Zhang Longjuan’s expression. She had no choice but to move to the passenger seat.

The truck was fast and felt like a mountain crashing on them.

The twins were nervous. Although they know the other party will not crash into them, no one knows what will happen.

Dong Xuebing thought nothing about the truck and was calm. He held the steering wheel with one hand and stepped on the accelerator.

The twins and Zhang Longjuan did not know how Dong Xuebing would get them out of this situation. To their horror, Dong Xuebing started speeding up.

Dong Xuebing had floored the accelerator.

Roar! The Mercedes sped towards the truck.