He Zhongwu's expression was off. Something was definitely wrong!
She took out her phone, her lips pressed into a thin line. All the devices on An'an could send location data. If she just looked...
As she looked, Huo Rou's premonition intensified.
An'an's location was fixed on a street tens of kilometers away. Combining An'an's personality and He Zhongwu's expression, something must have happened.
On a clear, sunny day, the wind whistled against her face, making He Zhongwu feel even colder. Huo Rou's voice from behind, chilling to the bone, asked, "You're going to look for An'an, aren't you?"
"What happened to An'an?"
As if a voice from hell, He Zhongwu's heart skipped a beat.
Was this really Huo Rou?
He had never seen Huo Rou like this before.
The Huo Rou he had been interacting with recently was gentle, coaxing An'an with a smile, talking to Qin Ningyi with a twinkle in her eyes, and tactfully taking An'an out when they were discussing matters. She also spoke and acted decisively, earning Qin Ningshui's frequent nods.
She was just right in front of everyone, making them comfortable.
But now, this aggressive demeanor, this surge of aura – was this still the Huo Rou he knew?
Seeing him stunned, Huo Rou curved her lips, her eyes filled with even more ferocity. "Do you know where An'an is, that you're going out to search aimlessly?"
Although He Zhongwu didn't know where he had slipped up to let Huo Rou know about An'an, he truly didn't want Huo Rou to get involved.
Her strength was so small. Even if her marksmanship was accurate, what good would it do? A quick car ride out and back, and Huo Rou would probably be sick to her stomach. She'd just be a hindrance!
"Yes, An'an is missing." He Zhongwu turned his head and said, "We've already formulated a search route. We will definitely find An'an back as soon as possible. You just stay in the laboratory and wait for our good news."
"I'm going too." Huo Rou's eyes darkened with determination once An'an was confirmed missing.
She had the location tracker, and she was familiar with An'an's belongings. If An'an left a clue, she would be the first to discover it...
Of course, the most important thing was that she only trusted herself.
He Zhongwu had a "I knew it" expression on his face.
His guess was correct. When women heard that their children were in trouble, they would cast everything aside and want to get involved, regardless of their capabilities.
But the other party might have been targeting Huo Rou.
If she went along, wouldn't that play right into their hands?
"Xiao Rou," He Zhongwu tried to keep his voice as calm and gentle as possible. "You should stay in the laboratory and wait for us. We are familiar with Yizhou, and we'll find them quickly."
"The laboratory needs you. Leave An'an to us."
He spoke with firm conviction, aiming to reassure Huo Rou.
Huo Rou, however, glanced at him. "Do you know An'an's location?"
"I..." He Zhongwu hesitated. He didn't, but with the surveillance cameras along the way, if he just checked them one by one, he was sure he could find some trace!
Seeing his hesitation, Huo Rou stated decisively, "I do."
"Ah?"
Huo Rou had been staring at An'an's location on the screen. It hadn't changed. "I have the location tracker. An'an's current location hasn't changed. The other party is either waiting for us to show up, or they are already in the process of composing a message."
"Give me the location, and we'll go rescue them." He Zhongwu reached out to take the phone from Huo Rou's hand.
It would be even better if the mission could be completed directly.
The other party's objective was likely Huo Rou. If Huo Rou wasn't there, they could proceed according to normal procedures without her impulsively acting, which would put them in an even more passive position.
Huo Rou pulled her hand back. "I'm going too."
She remained insistent.
It wasn't that she was overthinking. If the waters in Yizhou could be stirred up like this, the other party must not be simple. The assassins who attacked Cheng Guozhong were a testament to that. If she didn't appear, why would the other party so easily reveal An'an?
"The other party's objective is me, right?" Huo Rou stared directly into He Zhongwu's eyes, her pressure immense. Even though He Zhongwu was many years older than her, he still averted his gaze under the pressure of her stare.
He hadn't expected Huo Rou's gaze to be so sharp. What surprised him even more was the speed with which she retracted her hand earlier.
Such reflexes were rare.
"We're worried that the other party's objective is you, which is why we're telling you to stay in the laboratory! If you go, you'll only be a burden. Don't you want to rescue An'an sooner?" The young captain of Unit 112, full of youthful vigor, voiced He Zhongwu's unspoken concerns without reservation. "The deputy commander is doing this for your own good!"
"Quickly give us the location. The sooner we go, the less danger An'an will be in." The captain then moved to grab her.
If Huo Rou was there, and the other party asked her to come over, wouldn't she have to go?
If she was captured, what would happen to the laboratory? What about Yizhou?
This situation absolutely could not happen. If Huo Rou fell into their hands, there would be no chance of her returning.
Huo Rou saw the contempt in his eyes, this familiar doubt and impatience.
Could people who couldn't keep their composure like this really bring her An'an back?
Heh!
So, if she didn't act, they would just treat her like a weakling.
Just as the captain reached out to take the phone, Huo Rou flashed away from his attack range. Her arm twisted, using the captain's forward momentum to swing him up and "place" him in front of her.
She easily pinned the captain's arms, looking down at him.
"Aren't you a burden?"