Time waits for no one. Even if she held a knife to Han Jianyue's throat, she had to drag him along.
"My suggestion, let's call the police first," Shang Rongrong said.
Upon hearing this, Han Jianyue immediately tried to dissuade them. "Call the police? What police! If you call the police, you can find whoever you want. Don't expect me to help you find anyone! Let me tell you, to enter that place, you need both iris recognition and a fingerprint password, one cannot be missing. Without me, no one is getting in!"
Everyone knew what he was thinking. Lin Zhuonan said calmly, "Currently, we just can't contact these people. We don't have enough evidence to prove they are in danger. Moreover, those going are either film emperors or television emperors, and it involves the Xiao and Han families. Coupled with the influence of 'Courage' itself, before the facts are clear, the outcome might develop in strange directions."
Han Jianyue clapped his hands vigorously. "Yes, yes, he's right!"
Shang Rongrong nodded. "Then let's find them ourselves first."
Turning around, Xia Weiliang had already disappeared.
Not long after, she ran back, carrying, tucking, hanging, shouldering, and strapping… anything that could be used for self-defense, she had brought it all.
"Here, this is for you."
She handed a whip to Shang Rongrong. "I've seen you use a whip in movies, it's obvious you've practiced."
Shang Rongrong calmly took it and cracked it a couple of times on the spot.
It was all done with skillful force; at a glance, it was clear she had indeed practiced.
She was serious about her acting, handling action scenes mostly herself, rarely using a stunt double. After filming several movies, she had received many certificates. For instance, her proficiency with the nine-section whip had reached a level where she could compete nationally.
"No, she can't go," Lin Zhuonan immediately pulled Shang Rongrong behind him, showing great protectiveness.
Shang Rongrong did not appreciate it. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled him aside. "We need to call a few more people."
"Alright."
"Hahaha…" Han Jianyue couldn't stop laughing at Lin Zhuonan's exasperated look.
Lin Zhuonan turned back, his gloomy eyes fixed on him.
Han Jianyue: "Ha… uh."
Because they were rushing to rescue people, most of the remaining participants in the program were young girls. If there was real danger, Xia Weiliang wouldn't bear to let them risk themselves.
She glanced at Han Jianyue and suddenly smiled faintly.
"What do you want?"
"Did you bring bodyguards?"
"..."
The mountain road was not easy to navigate. Shen Xiashu led the way, followed by a team of black-clothed bodyguards, and then Xia Weiliang and the others.
Han Jianyue complained all the way and was also beaten all the way.
Because they were in a hurry to find people, they moved quite fast. By the time dusk approached, they arrived at the Tongzhou Factory.
Xia Weiliang stood with her hands on her hips in front of the building. From the outside, it was truly unremarkable! Just a factory, old beyond belief.
So, this was the research institute?
Looking at the dilapidated gate on both sides, she walked over, observed the fallen chains, and then silently turned to look at Han Jianyue.
"Iris recognition? Fingerprint password?" She lowered her gaze and smiled. "If you don't use your eyeballs on me today, I'll gouge them out and use them as bouncy balls."
Han Jianyue averted his gaze, pretending not to hear.
She took a deep breath. "Fine, Dad will make a note of this."
With time pressing, there would be plenty of opportunities to educate her son later.
In the face of major issues, Xia Weiliang was very clear-headed.
"Huh, does the door being open mean they've already gone in?" Shen Xiashu had been here before and was about to push open the two large iron gates.
Xia Weiliang yanked him back. "You really are a tiger! You dare to barge in without figuring anything out? Don't you ever wonder why so many people in the village are sick?"
Shen Xiashu was startled by her words. "Niangniang… uh, no, Sister Weiliang, here, here really is… there's that… floating, floating~"
"Floating what!" Xia Weiliang leaned closer and whispered something. Shen Xiashu's eyes widened instantly. "Really, really, really…"
Xia Weiliang nodded. "Really." After speaking, she helped him close his jaw.
Turning back, she asked Han Jianyue, "What about the things you were asked to prepare?"
He pointed behind him impatiently. "They're all there."
The bodyguards carried over a case. Upon opening it, it was filled entirely with medical anti-radiation suits.
"Heh heh," Xia Weiliang shook her head and chuckled, looking at Han Jianyue. "I find that your little brain… is quite something! No, I should praise your meticulousness in cherishing your own life!"
She only asked him to bring bodyguards, and he sneakily brought this entire case of items!
"Come on, put them on."
The radiation suits were prepared by Han Jianyue in advance according to the number of people, so the quantity was limited. Only some could enter, while others had to stay to guard the door.
Han Jianyue was the first to rush over, picking a set for himself and fully suiting up.
Xia Weiliang squinted at him, finding him increasingly suspicious.
"Sister Rongrong, do you think villains in movies always leave themselves a way out?"
Shang Rongrong nodded. "Usually more than one."
"Then it's strange. Coming to such a dangerous place, and only preparing one set of clothes for oneself? What if it gets torn, ripped, or lost?"
Han Jianyue's expression turned a little unsightly. He silently looked back at Xia Weiliang.
What was this woman made of?!
Shang Rongrong also immediately reacted. "Then he definitely has more than this one set of clothes, or perhaps it's not clothes, but some other contingency."
Lin Zhuonan understood and smiled as he came over to put his arm around Han Jianyue's shoulder. "Come, let's have a chat over here."
"Ah! I'm not going! There's nothing to talk about!"
Finally, Han Jianyue had no choice and took out a piece of grey crystal from the suit.
"This is the latest technology germanium crystal, non-toxic, and it can prevent radiation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Weiliang snatched it. "Confiscated."
"No! I only have this one piece, this is the only one! Please give it back!"
As a filmmaker, meticulous observation was indispensable. Shang Rongrong, with the spirit of character research, stared at him for a good while.
"He must have more on him."
Xia Weiliang: "!"
She loved hearing this!
Han Jianyue's face turned green. "No! I don't! Absolutely not!"
Shang Rongrong glanced at him. "It should be in the left inner pocket."
Without a second word, Xia Weiliang was about to pat him down. Lin Zhuonan saw that this would not do!
With his brother absent, the task of protecting his brother's woman fell to him. "I'll do it!"
He rolled up his sleeves and got to work. Han Jianyue tried desperately to guard himself, but it was no use. In the end, they actually found it – such a precious and rare metal element, packed into a pocket the size of a palm!
"Ah! You… you're bullying me…" Han Jianyue was truly hurt.
He was still trying to play the good guy script!
He was more hated than the villain!
Xia Weiliang asked curiously, "Sister Rongrong, how did you know?"
Shang Rongrong: "The act was too much, the performance traces were too heavy. One could tell it was staged at a glance."
Xia Weiliang gave her a thumbs-up, indeed, it had to be her Sister Rongrong!