At first, everyone was caught off guard and not used to following orders. Only a few people immediately covered their heads and squatted down.
Just then, a black shadow pounced on Ling Ruoke like lightning, and even faster than her, grabbed the things on the table and threw them towards the storeroom.
With a "bang," the thing exploded.
Immediately, everyone was stunned, screams erupted, and chaos ensued.
"Cough cough cough..." Ling Ruoke was pulled to her feet by Huo Qingfeng and hurriedly went to check on the others. "Is anyone hurt? Everyone is alright now, get up quickly and go outside."
Mei Yanting was completely stunned; she hadn't expected this at all. The person claimed to be Ximeng's friend, and she thought it really was a surprise gift.
Ling Ruoke didn't have time to deal with her for the moment. She pulled Huo Qingfeng outside and counted the number of people. Fortunately, everyone was there and no one was injured.
Fortunately, Huo Qingfeng reacted quickly and threw the bomb into the storage room. It was near a corner, and few people passed by there. And thankfully, there were no gas cylinders or anything like that outside the storage room; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
I called the police, and they arrived quickly.
Mei Yanting's face was ashen. Everyone was pointing and whispering about her, as if she were the one who planted the bomb. She tried several times to pull Ling Ruoke aside to explain, but Ling Ruoke was busy and didn't have time to pay attention to her. Mei Yanting was almost in tears.
Later, everyone was taken to the police station and given a statement. Of those, only Mei Yanting's statement contained important information.
It turned out that on the evening of the day the Emperor Hotel exploded, Mei Yanting had returned home from work and was cooking when someone knocked on the door. The man claimed to be Ling Ruoke's friend and showed her a photo of himself and Ling Ruoke. He said he had been abroad for many years and had only recently returned to China, fabricating many stories from back then. Finally, he said he wanted to give Ling Ruoke a surprise and asked Mei Yanting for help.
Mei Yanting saw that the man seemed sincere and thought it was a good thing, so she agreed. The man handed her the item and told her to give it to Ling Ruoke and then press the remote control to trigger his surprise. Before leaving, the man repeatedly reminded her to take good care of it.
Mei Yanting was initially quite curious and studied it for a long time, only to find that the packaging was intact. She knew that peeking would leave traces, so she didn't dare to look. Since Ling Ruoke didn't return to the company the next day, she hid the item under the bed without even telling Chen Shan.
"I really didn't know that thing was a bomb! If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have helped him, you all have to believe me!" Mei Yanting was on the verge of tears. Especially Huo Qingfeng's chilling gaze earlier, it made her tremble just thinking about it.
Huo Qingfeng already had a very bad impression of Mei Yanting, and now he wished he could exclude her from the family altogether. However, knowing that his wife was very soft-hearted and that she was Chen Shan's woman, he didn't say anything hurtful. But the bulging veins on his forehead showed his displeasure; he didn't even bother to look at her, as if she were something dirty.
After giving her statement, Mei Yanting grabbed Ling Ruoke and cried, insisting that she really didn't know there was a bomb inside. She was worried that Ling Ruoke would fire her, and even more worried that Huo Qingfeng would say something to Chen Shan that would be detrimental to their relationship.
Last night, Ling Ruoke talked to Mei Yanting a lot, and Mei Yanting did think about it seriously. However, a person's mindset is already formed, and it's not something that can be changed with just a few words. If it were so easy to change someone's thinking, those who do evil would have become great philanthropists long ago. Therefore, Mei Yanting still believes that she and Chen Shan can live a good life together, and they will be happy.
Ling Ruoke understood that Mei Yanting didn't have the guts to do it; she had indeed been deceived. However, she was still in a state of turmoil and didn't have time to properly comfort her. She simply patted her shoulder. "I know, you were just being used."
The office wasn't badly damaged and it didn't affect normal operations. To reassure everyone, Ling Ruoke stayed in the office and handled matters. The initial panic gradually subsided, and everyone resumed their normal work.
Only Mei Yanting kept her head down, almost touching her stomach. She felt like everyone was staring at her with sharp eyes. Feeling wronged, she secretly called Chen Shan to cry.
Actually, there was one thing she didn't tell the police. The man gave her 1000 yuan as a thank you for her help, which was equivalent to almost half a month's salary. This was part of the reason she agreed to help. After all, helping someone and getting paid at the same time is a good thing.
Huo Qingfeng and Ling Ruoke both understood that the man was likely Gu Zheng's subordinate. No one had expected Gu Zheng to have such a backup plan before leaving. Because they were worried that Gu Zheng had hired more than one person, they specifically asked the media to report this, hoping that anyone in a similar situation would report it to the police as soon as possible.
Although they were worried, they couldn't do anything else, so they had to leave it to the police.
While Ling Ruoke was dealing with her business, Huo Qingfeng went outside and dialed his mother's number. "Hello, Mom?"
"Son, what's wrong? You sound quite anxious. What happened?" No one knows a son better than his mother. As soon as she called out, Yang Ziyun sensed something was wrong.
Huo Qingfeng rubbed his temples and asked, "Mom, has the Gu family locked up Guzheng? Are you sure?"
"Of course. What, has she come out to cause trouble again?"
"No, it's nothing. Mom, I'll hang up now." After hanging up, Huo Qingfeng called Xuan Yuanqi again to confirm that the guzheng had been returned.
Huo Qingfeng ran downstairs and bought a pack of cigarettes. He sat in his car and smoked several, his brow furrowed the entire time. He knew this wasn't just a bomb issue; it was like a thorn in Ruoke's side.
Huo Qingfeng slammed his fist on the seat, veins bulging on his forehead. Damn that guzheng!
Ling Ruoke stayed in the office until after noon before leaving with Huo Qingfeng. Both of their good moods were somewhat affected.
"Are we still going to Cuiping Peak?" Huo Qingfeng asked, looking at her.
Ling Ruoke smiled. "Go ahead. Things turned out much better than that person wanted. We're lucky; we should set off firecrackers to celebrate." As long as no one was injured, it was a stroke of good fortune.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Huo Qingfeng smiled.
Ling Ruoke leaned over and gently tugged at his cheek. "That's more like it, don't keep that long face. I knew there would be these kinds of troubles the day I decided to be with you."
“Honey, why don’t you come with me to the military? That way, as long as there’s no mission, I can go home at night. Plus, the military region provides security. I’ve already talked to Fu Peigang about this, and he said he’ll discuss it with Tan Peishi too.” No matter how arrogant the enemy is, they can’t possibly invade the special forces’ territory.
Ling Ruoke thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded. This was good; they would see each other more often. She was safe at home, which meant he could feel more at ease while on missions and without worries.
"Honey, you really agreed?" Huo Qingfeng hadn't expected it to go so smoothly, after all, she was a woman with a career. "And Pei Huo Company, are you really willing to give it up?"
Ling Ruoke's smile widened. "For me, you and the family are the most important things." As for Pei Huo, she could leave him to Xia Mo's management. If necessary, she and Pei Shi would reappear; she believed Xia Mo was capable of that.
Huo Qingfeng parked the car on the side of the road, pulled her close, and kissed her passionately until she was breathless and dizzy. "Wife, you're so good!" She wasn't the kind of woman who put men first, but she placed him and their family in the most important position, which was what every man dreamed of.
Ling Ruoke chuckled, feeling her good mood instantly return. Everyone's life has its ups and downs, but as long as you enjoy being together after the storm, there's nothing to be afraid of.
The two bickered and whispered among themselves, and before long, the car arrived at the foot of Cuiping Peak. Because it was a weekday, there weren't many people climbing the mountain.
Huo Qingfeng pulled Ling Ruoke to buy tickets. The tickets were very cheap, only 25 yuan.
There are tourist buses that go up the mountain, costing 20 yuan. People these days don't like exercise; it's ridiculous that they have to take a bus to get some exercise. However, Ling Ruoke and Huo Qingfeng came specifically to climb the mountain, so they declined the offer.
The two entered hand in hand, deliberately choosing a less-traveled path. It was much narrower and steeper than the main path, perfect for climbing. Occasionally, they would encounter a young man or two playfully climbing upwards, much faster than the two of them.
The weather was quite hot, but because of the green mountains and clear waters, and the tall and lush trees, the cool breeze was very comfortable.
"Are there such beautiful mountains and rivers in the military base?" Ling Ruoke asked with a smile, linking her arm with his. Breathing in the fresh air and feeling the mountain breeze, they were in a very good mood.
Huo Qingfeng looked around with disdain. "This place is far inferior to our unit. Our unit has a 375-meter peak, and we run ten kilometers up the mountain every day to watch the sunrise. The view there is truly magnificent. I'll take you up the mountain sometime, and you'll see that I'm not lying."
Ling Ruoke chuckled when she heard him speak with the same pride he held for his own home. He genuinely loved the military, loved his uniform, and loved the mission it carried. Yet, this same man would become a foolish ruler who loved beauty more than his kingdom, and who would light the beacon fires to amuse his subjects, all for her sake.
"What are you laughing at?" Huo Qingfeng looked at her, puzzled.
Ling Ruoke shook her head and did not answer.
The two of them walked slowly uphill, and since they exercised regularly, they weren't tired.
When they reached the halfway point, Huo Qingfeng went to the restroom. The restroom was on a small side path to the left of the road, while another small side path to the right led to the pavilion, but that path led nowhere further.
Ling Ruoke walked to the pavilion and sat down to enjoy the breeze. Looking down from the pavilion, she saw lush greenery everywhere, and a gentle breeze caressed her face.
Voices came from the main path, and judging from the sound, they were coming down the mountain. A moment later, three people were seen descending. Their hair was messy and dyed, and they were clearly not good people. They were laughing and joking as they walked down. One of them happened to look towards the pavilion and tugged at the other two. So, the three of them went into the pavilion.
Ling Ruo wasn't stupid; she immediately knew what the three men were up to. She didn't bother with them, and after they came in and sat down, she stood up and walked outside. However, they clearly weren't going to let her leave so easily; the three men blocked her way from the front and both sides.
"Hey beautiful, all alone?" He had a sleazy, cocky manner, and even his tone was full of roguishness.
Ling Ruoke frowned. He was ugly, dressed shabbily, and even his breath smelled terrible. She raised her hand, covering her nose with her index finger. "If I don't want my husband to break your arms and legs, you'd better get out of my way."
If the colonel came out and saw them trying to take advantage of his wife, he'd probably break all three of them.
"Hey beautiful, it's not good to talk big. What's your husband's status? Is he a policeman or some other official? Or is he hiding somewhere right now, trembling and wetting his pants?"
These three men are thieves who frequently appear at Cuiping Peak, taking advantage of tourists to steal their belongings. Such people are known for their audacity; they harass any lone woman they see and have even raped several young girls before. Being raped is a shameful thing, and most people are reluctant to report it to the police. Moreover, even if they do report it, the police may not be able to catch the perpetrators, which emboldens these individuals.
Ling Ruoke didn't answer, only gave a cold laugh. Then, another chilling voice rang out.
"I can let you choose to keep one leg, left or right, it's your choice." Huo Qingfeng's expression was terrifying. To even think about touching his wife was tantamount to courting death!
The three men turned around at the sound and immediately wilted when they saw the tall, burly man with a sinister expression. They weren't pushovers; they could tell this man was formidable at a glance.
"Hehe, big brother, it's a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding. Big brother, we won't disturb your rest any longer, we'll be going now!" He chuckled awkwardly and tried to leave.
Before they'd taken two steps, Huo Qingfeng swept his long leg across their bodies and then kicked them, knocking all three to the ground. After a few cracking sounds, the three rolled around on the ground, screaming like pigs being slaughtered. He gathered their phones and stolen goods, hid them somewhere near the pavilion, and then tied them together with a very strong vine. He then found a random rock and stuffed it into their mouths to gag them.
Ling Ruoke watched with a smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction. You have to be ruthless when dealing with this kind of person.
After calling the police, Huo Qingfeng reached out his hand to her. "Wife, let's go."
Ling Ruoke placed her hand in his palm, not even glancing at the three thugs on the ground. She was kind, but she never showed mercy to those who committed such crimes. Giving them a lesson would prevent them from causing harm to others.
"Why don't you beat them up?" Huo Qingfeng asked, looking at her. He knew that his wife could easily take down these three thugs.
Ling Ruoke smiled sweetly, but with a hint of wickedness. "I'm afraid I'm not ruthless enough." If she were to actually do it, she'd probably just knock the person down, maybe kick them a couple of times at most.
Huo Qingfeng laughed heartily, in an excellent mood. He hoped that her personality would be assertive when necessary, but occasionally show dependence on him.
The two of them laughed and joked their way to the top of the mountain.
There aren't actually many great views from the mountaintop; it's just that the high altitude offers a wide view and a cool breeze. However, people generally crave a commanding view, ideally with a panoramic vista of the world below.
When they reached the summit, a large crowd had already gathered. Some were overlooking the entire city of Z, while most were resting, eating, and chatting. Children were also babbling and running around. It was quite a lively scene.
There were clearly not enough seats on the mountain, so many people spread newspapers on the ground and sat down. Some didn't care about the dirt at all and just sat anywhere.
There was a small shop nearby selling souvenirs, water, and snacks. Outside, there were food stalls selling things like hot dogs, offal with radish, and pickled radishes. Because it was the only shop there, business was booming, and the prices were shockingly high. A small hot dog that would cost only 1 yuan in the city cost 8 yuan here. But there was no other choice, so everyone had to put up with it. Some people, however, were clever; they brought their own snacks and ate to their hearts' content.
Huo Qingfeng and Ling Ruoke's trip was entirely impromptu, so they hadn't prepared anything, not even a bottle of water. Luckily, they were both in good physical condition, otherwise they really wouldn't have made it to the top of the mountain.
Huo Qingfeng looked around and found there was nowhere to sit. They hadn't brought any newspapers or anything to lay on the ground; they couldn't just sit down like that. Finally, they found a large rock in a corner. The rock protruded outwards, looked somewhat dangerous, and was difficult to climb, so no one dared to climb it.
"How about we sit there?"
"Hmm?" Ling Ruoke followed his hand and saw a large rock. "That's good."
"Then you wait for me there, I'll go buy something. What do you want to eat?"
Ling Ruoke glanced at the small shop and found that there wasn't much good food there. "I'll buy some pickled radish, a bowl of beef offal, and a bottle of water."
"Okay, then you wait for me."
Seeing him go to queue up to buy things, Ling Ruoke walked over to the large rock. Just as she was about to jump up, she suddenly noticed some people looking in her direction, including several young children. She suddenly froze. This place was dangerous; if someone led the way, others would follow suit, which could easily lead to an accident.
After thinking for a moment, Ling Ruoke went back and ran to the colonel's side.
"Why didn't you wait for me there?" Huo Qingfeng raised his hand to brush her wind-blown hair, asking in confusion.
Ling Ruoke glanced at the place and smiled. "That place is too dangerous. I'm afraid others might follow suit."
Huo Qingfeng understood what she meant, smiled, and said nothing.
The two bought some food and decided not to stay on the mountain, but to eat as they walked down. Like the ascent, there were main paths and smaller trails leading down the mountain. The smaller trails were steep, making it difficult to maintain balance, so almost no one used them.
Because they were carrying food, the two of them walked a short distance down the mountain and came to a fork in the road where there was a flat, large rock where they could sit down and finish their food.
Huo Qingfeng bought large portions of radish and offal, as well as pickled radishes. The two of them ate happily, taking turns eating, even though the taste wasn't great. A cool breeze was blowing, making them feel so comfortable they wanted to fall asleep.
Ling Ruoke had almost finished eating, so she closed her eyes as Huo Qingfeng had instructed. She wasn't sleepy yet; she was simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Huo Qingfeng finished his food in a few bites, then adjusted his position to make her more comfortable. He was usually too busy to spend time with her, and he felt quite sorry for her.
Both were lost in their own emotions, and neither spoke. From a distance, it would have looked as if they had fallen asleep leaning against each other.
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