An unexpected incident occurred in Dongfang Lane.
The next few days in Pingshan Town were arduous for the inspection team. Cui Yu and Meng Yihe led their team to meet with potential partners from different backgrounds without stopping, repeatedly went deep into the mining area to verify data, and dealt with various local management departments.
Every day is filled with a deluge of information, promises that are both true and false, and games that require instantaneous judgment.
Meng Yihe's meticulousness and pickiness caused many local officials who tried to deceive her to suffer. Cui Yu's tact and insight, on the other hand, repeatedly defused the undercurrents beneath the surface of harmony.
I just finished a lengthy meeting with a mining company whose qualifications are questionable. They talked a lot but couldn't come up with any decent environmental and technical solutions.
With a sullen face, Meng Yihe was the first to walk out of the conference room. She went outside, took a deep breath of the dusty air, and tried to suppress the anger and frustration in her heart.
Cui Yu followed him out and saw that he looked displeased.
"It's not worth getting angry with this kind of person. It seems that this line of thought can be basically ruled out."
Meng Yihe said coldly, "It's a waste of time. Their mining records are full of loopholes, and their safety measures are practically non-existent."
"But it wasn't all for naught." Cui Yu seemed more relaxed. "At least it helped us eliminate a wrong option and gave us a clearer understanding of the complexity of this place."
Cui Yu glanced at the sky. "It's about time. Let's go back to the guesthouse."
The two walked forward side by side.
Just then, Cui Yu's phone rang. It was Zhao Lei calling, sounding anxious. It seemed that another important partner had suddenly proposed new terms that required his immediate attention.
Cui Yu stopped to answer the phone, his brows furrowing slightly. He gestured to Meng Yihe, signaling him to go first.
Meng Yihe did not immediately return with the convoy to the town's only guesthouse, but said to Cui Yu, "I'll walk back, it's not far."
Cui Yu glanced at him, noticing the weariness between his brows and a hint of barely perceptible restlessness, and nodded.
"Okay, don't go too far off the beaten path. We still need to check the data from these companies when we get back." He gestured for the security personnel to secretly follow and protect him.
Meng Yihe hummed in agreement, put her hands in her coat pockets, and walked alone into the somewhat deserted street on the edge of town.
The setting sun cast a long shadow of him.
The surrounding houses gradually thinned out, and in the distance were rolling hills and abandoned old factories. Meng Yihe needed this brief moment of solitude to clear her mind and process the overwhelming amount of information from the past few days.
However, he did not notice.
A pair of eyes, filled with resentment and bloodshot, had been hidden in the shadows, staring intently at him ever since they arrived in town.
The owner of those eyes was calculating and waiting.
Finally, the time has come when the target is alone and in a secluded environment.
Just as Meng Yihe passed through a dead end filled with scrap building materials and dim lighting.
A dark shadow suddenly pounced from behind!
A strong arm gripped his neck tightly. The other hand pressed a damp, pungent-smelling towel against his mouth and nose.
Meng Yihe's pupils suddenly contracted.
A strong feeling of suffocation and the pungent smell of chemicals hit him instantly. He struggled violently, striking backward with his elbows and trying to trip the other person, letting out a muffled groan.
But the attacker was clearly prepared, possessing immense strength and confidence in the effects of the anesthetic. After only a dozen seconds of violent struggle, Meng Yihe's body gradually went limp, and her consciousness was forcibly dragged into darkness. The last thing she saw was the fleeting glimpse of a dilapidated motorcycle taillight at the alley entrance.
His phone slipped from his limp hand, and the screen shattered in the dust.
The shadowy figure swiftly dragged the unconscious Meng Yihe to a dilapidated van parked in the shadows and shoved her inside.
The car started and quickly disappeared into the deepening twilight.
Only scattered traces of the fight remained at the entrance of the alley, along with a cell phone with a shattered screen that was no longer answered.
In the distance, the security personnel responsible for providing covert protection were a few minutes late because they had been called away to deal with a minor dispute involving the convoy. All they saw was that familiar cell phone on the ground.
The security personnel's faces turned deathly pale instantly.
Apart from the obvious signs of struggle on the ground and the shattered screen of the phone, there was no one there.
"President Meng?! Director Meng?!" he called out urgently. He hoped for a response, but the only reply was the sound of the wind rushing through the alley and his own rapidly pounding heart. Overwhelmed by immense fear and a sense of responsibility, he was instantly engulfed.
He forced himself to take a deep breath and immediately pressed the emergency communicator with trembling hands.
His voice became hoarse and distorted due to extreme tension and self-blame.
"Calling Director Cui! Calling all departments! Emergency! Director Meng has gone missing in Dongfeng Lane! Signs of a violent struggle and personal belongings have been found! Repeat, Director Meng appears to have met with misfortune and has gone missing in Dongfeng Lane!"
Report complete.
He didn't even have time to wait for a response; he immediately crouched down, being extremely careful not to disturb the scene, and quickly examined the ground with his gloved fingers, trying to discern the direction of the footprints and tire tracks.
At the same time, his eyes scanned every inch of the walls and corners of the alley, searching for any possible clues.
An unfamiliar fiber, a footprint, or even unusual soil.
His brain was working at lightning speed.
Recall if he saw any suspicious vehicles or people when he came over.
The immense pressure caused a fine layer of cold sweat to bead on his forehead.
Every judgment and every discovery could potentially affect Director Meng's safety.
...
The office of the mining company whose qualifications were questionable.
The smoke had not completely dissipated.
Cui Yu was exchanging pleasantries and maneuvering with the other party's representative, a middle-aged man with an oily face who was trying to cover up his unease with enthusiasm.
Zhao Lei and Lin Xueyue stood slightly behind him, organizing the documents from the recent meeting.
"President Cui, rest assured! As long as the project succeeds, everything is negotiable! All conditions are open to discussion!"
The person in charge on the other end of the line grabbed Cui Yu's hand and shook it vigorously, speaking in an exaggerated tone.
With a smile on his face, Cui Yu subtly withdrew his hand: "Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. We still need to take the specific terms and details back for careful study and evaluation. After all, with such a large investment, caution is always the best policy."
He saw that the team member responsible for Meng Yihe's personal security was about to follow, but was stopped by his team leader who quickly stepped forward and whispered something to him.
It seemed to be a problem with vehicle dispatching; the team leader was gesturing with his hand towards the direction of the mountain road.
Cui Yu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but with General Manager Zhang still rambling on, he couldn't leave for the time being. He figured there was only one main road back to the guesthouse, and the alley leading down wasn't long. The security team should catch up quickly, and nothing serious should happen.
He patiently dealt with Mr. Zhang for a few more minutes before finally managing to escape.
"Zhao Lei, regarding the issue of mining rights mortgage that he mentioned at the meeting, immediately check the relevant regulations and the usual handling methods for similar cases."
As Cui Yu walked quickly outside, he gave instructions to Zhao Lei in a calm and clear tone.
"Lin Xueyue, the meeting minutes highlight those few points he made in red but couldn't provide written proof of..."
Before he could finish speaking, a rapid hissing sound suddenly came from the miniature encrypted communication headset he was wearing.
Immediately following was a trembling voice that forcibly switched to all channels.
"Calling Director Cui! Calling all departments! Emergency! Director Meng has gone missing in Dongfeng Lane! Signs of a violent struggle and personal belongings have been found! Repeat, Director Meng appears to have met with misfortune and has gone missing in Dongfeng Lane!"
This sudden emergency call was like a cold, sharp knife, instantly piercing through all the noise of daily work.
Cui Yu's steps faltered. The composure and formulaic smile on her face froze instantly, peeling away to reveal a sudden blankness and disbelief beneath.
Zhao Lei and Lin Xueyue also heard the communication at the same time. The color drained from their faces instantly, and they looked at Cui Yu in astonishment.
All the sounds around me.
Mr. Zhang was still inside the door spouting polite words, while the sounds of cars and wind blew from the street...
It was instantly pulled away.
All that remained was the terrified voice repeating in his earpiece, and the sudden, out-of-control pounding of his own heart.
Director Meng has gone missing.
Signs of a fierce struggle.
Every word struck Cui Yu's nerves like a heavy hammer.
After a few seconds of deathly silence, Cui Yu's eyes suddenly became extremely terrifying, with an almost frightening coldness and sharpness instantly replacing all other emotions.
He slammed his hand on the headset, his voice low but carrying a chilling rage and an absolute command: "Send me the location! Seal off the scene! No one is allowed to approach! Mobilize everyone! Track all suspicious vehicles and personnel immediately! Now!"
Without any hesitation or unnecessary words.
When Cui Yu received the specific location, it was in Dongfeng Lane.
He didn't even have time to glance at Zhao Lei and Lin Xueyue again before he turned around abruptly and sprinted towards Dongfeng Lane at an astonishing speed.
That brief moment of distraction, those seemingly insignificant few minutes of downtime.
Such a catastrophic event has occurred!
Meng Yihe...
His usual composure was gone, and his chest ached from the intense running, but he didn't notice.
The security guard who first discovered the situation stood helplessly at the alley entrance, trying to stop anyone who might approach. Seeing Cui Yu appear was like seeing a pillar of support, yet he was too overwhelmed with guilt to look up.
"President Cui! I..."
Cui Yu raised his hand to stop him from speaking; his breathing had not yet fully calmed down.
Cui Yu swept his gaze across the entire scene swiftly and coldly.
The alley was empty, with obvious drag marks on the ground and a cell phone lying alone with a shattered screen.
Every detail confirms that worst-case scenario.
His heart sank, a surge of rage and panic nearly overwhelming his reason. But he clenched his teeth, his jawline taut.
Now is not the time to lose control.
Even a second of loss of control can lead to irreversible consequences.
“You,” his voice was low and hoarse, yet carried an undeniable command, his sharp gaze fixed on the security guard, “Stand here. Don’t allow anyone to enter, including our own people, until the professional investigators arrive. Block them with your bodies!”
"Yes, Mr. Cui!" The security personnel immediately straightened up and blocked the alley entrance.
Cui Yu then cautiously entered the scene. He stepped outside the previously identified marks with each step, his eyes scanning the ground and walls like radar.
"Zhao Lei!" Cui Yu pressed the earpiece.
"Director Cui! We are retrieving all possible surveillance footage from the surrounding area! The brothers have already begun searching in different zones!" Zhao Lei's voice was equally urgent, with a flurry of activity in the background.
“Not enough.” Cui Yu interrupted him, speaking quickly but clearly.
"First, immediately contact the head of the highest-ranking local security department, and in the name of Xinghuan Group and myself, request the highest priority assistance to block all roads leading out of the town and thoroughly inspect all vehicles!"
"Second, have our people take Director Meng's photo and ask all the shops and residents at both ends of this street if they heard or saw anything unusual ten minutes ago! No detail can be overlooked!"
"Third, notify our own security team to mobilize in full and conduct a radiating search of all abandoned houses, factories, and warehouses, centered on this location!"
His instructions came one after another, covering all aspects that could be acted upon immediately.
After giving the instructions, he squatted down.
He stared intently at the shattered phone on the ground from a distance, as if trying to glean information about the kidnapper from it. His fingers clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Just then, Lin Xueyue came running over, panting, holding a tablet computer: "President Cui, this is the information from that company at the meeting, along with the mineral vein data comparison chart they provided. Do you need it...?"
Her words came to an abrupt halt when she saw Cui Yu's frighteningly cold expression and the situation on the ground, and her face turned pale as well.
Cui Yu suddenly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the tablet in her hand.
A thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
He snatched the tablet, quickly pulled up a detailed map of Pingshan Town and its surrounding area, and tapped the screen with his finger, his voice tense: "Notify the search team! Focus on searching this area! And this place too!"
"All recently abandoned or semi-abandoned factories, mine facilities, and even remote farmhouses! Kidnappings require concealed locations; they can't go too far!"
His brain was working frantically, quickly combining the surrounding terrain and environment he had just surveyed with the conditions required for the kidnapping, and making the most likely judgment.
After doing all this, he stood still.
His gaze swept over the traces of struggle and the cold phone again, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze because of his low pressure.
No one dared to speak loudly.
The only sounds were the occasional reports coming from the communicator and the gradually rising sirens in the distance.
He appeared outwardly calm and in control. But only he knew that his heart was pounding wildly out of control, and a chilling fear was coiling around his nerves like a venomous snake.
Who has Meng Yihe fallen into? What do they want? How is he now? Countless terrifying questions swirled in his mind.
But he can't afford to act rashly.
He must be the calmest and most clear-headed person here.
He must find Meng Yihe.
...
Meng Yihe's consciousness struggled out of a heavy, suffocating darkness.
The senses were restored first.
He was enveloped in a cold, damp air, carrying a strong smell of mold, rust, and the pungent odor of some kind of chemical residue.
Then comes touch.
The rough ropes dug deep into the flesh of his wrists and ankles, bringing waves of numbness and pain. The hard, cold chair beneath him was painfully uncomfortable, and the back of his neck and jaw still felt sore from the brutal restraint.
He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and it took his vision a moment to adjust to the dim light.
This is an extremely dilapidated space, resembling a long-abandoned factory workshop or warehouse.
The tall roof was covered with cobwebs, and the windows high up were shattered and covered with thick grime. Only a few pale moonlight and faint lights from some distant source seeped in, outlining the general shape of the interior.
Directly in front of him, a few meters away, a man with his back to him was fiddling with something under a dim rechargeable LED work light, making metallic clanging sounds.
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