“No!”

Every single person including Mu Yu was stupefied. She had been grabbing Rong Jian’s arm and was about to speak, but she quickly yelled, “Don’t hurt the kid!”

Fortunately, Dong Wanqing managed to stop her blade right in front of the child’s chest before giving Mu Yu a sly grin. “Well, the kid’s life is in your hands now.”

“Don’t be reckless! Don’t hurt the innocent kid!” Rong Jian yelled as he dragged Mu Yu behind him. He didn’t dare to raise his voice at Dong Wanqing, so he merely advised her, “I know for a fact that you’re a kind lady, Dong Wanqing, and a kind lady shouldn’t be doing any of this!”

“Me, kind?” She coldly scoffed. “Why didn’t any of you think of that when you decided to pin your accusations on me?”

Liu Xiaofan immediately interfered discontentedly and said, “We didn’t pin anything on you, okay? We have evidence! Everything is as real as—”

“Xiaofan!” Rong Jian interrupted him and turned to Dong Wanqing before saying softly, “It’s not official yet, is it? Don’t worry about it. Once you let them off, I assure you that I’ll reinvestigate everything and prove you—”

“That’s a load of bullsh*t!” Dong Wanqing furiously cut in and yelled, “Do you guys still think that I don’t know anything about your plans of digging my grave and pushing me in? Like hell I’d believe any of your words! Scoundrels, every single one of you! Enough crap! Bring Mu Yu over right now, or this little boy’s life is over!”

As she spoke, the tip of the blade drew half an inch closer to the kid who was tied to a chair.

At this moment, the kid’s face turned as pale as snow while his head powerlessly tilted to the side, not making a sound or a twitch. Evidently, he had already passed out.

“Don’t hurt him!” Agitated by Dong Wanqing’s gesture, Mu Yu shoved Rong Jian away and took a step forward.

“Yu!” Rong Jian anxiously grabbed her.

Although he sincerely wanted to rescue the innocent child, he couldn’t let Mu Yu, whose body had yet to fully recover, take the risk. If anything happened to her, an unpredictable nightmare would definitely befall him and the entire police force. Even though he wanted to come up with an impeccable strategy, he could only find himself helpless on the spot.

“Let me talk to her, Chief.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, Rong Jian, I won’t hurt her.” Dong Wanqing seemed to have read Rong Jian’s mind, for she assured him with an inexplicable expression and said, “I just want to talk.”

While he was perturbed, his squadmates beside him were no less fretful, for they were aware of the chaotic aftermath if they allowed any harm to the hostage or Mu Yu. Likewise, Liu Xiaofan was just as fretful as well.

“I’ll go speak to her and see what her intentions are,” Mu Yu whispered to Rong Jian while hiding from Dong Wanqing’s line of sight.

However, the man was distressed as he responded in a suppressed tone, “Don’t believe her, Yu—she has a blade in her hand. There’s no way she wouldn’t hurt you!”

“Even if I could bear not saving Yin Anran, there’s no way I’d stand idly and watch her murder the poor kid.” She felt devastated when the sight of the old woman flashed across her eyes.

“I can’t just let you walk into danger, though! Let’s buy some time; I’ll see if I can—”

“Aren’t you too much of a coward to be in the police force, Mu Yu? Where’s your sense of contribution? You’re marring your coworkers and leader’s honor, woman!” Dong Wanqing screamed the insults when she saw the two chatting.

Liu Xiaofan rebuked, “What sense of contribution? You’re asking her to sacrifice herself, you spiteful b*tch!”

“Shut your mouth! A police degenerate like you has no right to talk sh*t about me!” She vexedly responded to him.

“What the f*ck? Me? A degenerate? Who are you to say that, you f—”

Right when he got infuriated and was about to reprimand the woman, he was hastily stopped by Fan Lifeng’s gaze, reminding him to stay calm so he wouldn’t provoke her into doing anything rash. Upon realizing that, Liu Xiaofan disappointedly kept quiet.

After ignoring him, Dong Wanqing grew impatient and started to get worked up, throwing rebukes all over the place while swinging her blade in front of Yin Anran and the little boy, effectively putting the masses on edge.

Since they were afraid that she’d accidentally hurt the child, Mu Yu immediately told Rong Jian, “Let’s first get the child away from her and improvise afterward.” She pushed him away, but when she only took a couple of steps forward, someone grabbed her arms all of a sudden.

“Listen to me, Chief Rong, if I don’t go—Huan? Why are you here?”

“Go back!” Without saying much, Qin Jinhuan shoved her back to the corridor.

“Listen to me, Huan—”

“Qin Jinhuan! Are you giving up on Yin Anran’s life?” As Dong Wanqing spoke, she swiftly removed the tape that was covering the other woman’s mouth.

Due to her vigorous pull, the dried wound on Yin Anran’s face tore. Blood started flowing out of it, and it was a sight that made the audience shiver.

However, Yin Anran disregarded the pain and anxiously shrieked at Qin Jinhuan with a hoarse voice, “Save me, Jinhuan. Save me!”

“Look, your dearest Jinhuan doesn’t want to save you! He doesn’t give a sh*t about your life!”

As Dong Wanqing spoke, she forcibly pulled Yin Anran’s hair as the latter painfully let out a thundering scream. The child, who had been unconscious, was awakened by her shout and accordingly wailed out of fear when he saw Yin Anran’s bloody face.

On the rooftop was a number of bamboo chairs that were for people to rest on, but they had been used to tie up Yin Anran and the little boy as hostages instead. Moreover, Yin Anran’s limbs were constricted by cable ties. Since they were seated facing each other, all the child could see was the woman’s bloodstained face.

With no time to care about the crying child, Yin Anran pitably pleaded, “Save me, Jinhuan! I don’t want to die yet! Please, save me!”

As she pointed her knife at the woman’s face, Dong Wanqing questioned Qin Jinhuan with a terrifying smirk, “Are you really not going to save her? You did promise her dumb sister that you’ll take care of her, didn’t you? Are you planning to go back on your words? That’s not like you at all, I’ve got to say.”

At that, Qin Jinhuan shot her a cold leer and interrogated, “What do you want to do?!”

“Nothing, really. I just want Mu Yu over to have a chat. Once you bring her over, I’ll immediately release Yin Anran.”

Qin Jinhuan immediately refused and said, “There’s no way I’m letting you harm her!”

“I didn’t mention anything about hurting her, did I? I merely want her over for a chat.” Then, Dong Wanqing turned to Mu Yu. “If you come here, I’ll let both of them go at once. Two for one. It’s a good deal, isn’t it?”

Mu Yu stared at Qin Jinhuan wordlessly.

He clutched her arm and yelled at Dong Wanqing once again, “You can make other demands. How about we clear your name and provide you with enough money to live the rest of your life?”

“Clear my name?” Dong Wanqing let out a piercing chortle. “I never did such a thing, but you guys decided to pin it on me for some reason. Do you think I’d naively believe that you’ll clear my name? Wouldn’t it be shameful if you guys really do that?”

Mu Yu instantly added, “If you are indeed innocent, I’ll make sure to prove you guiltless first. I’ll give everything I can—”

“Like hell I need that!” Dong Wanqing interjected. She then continued, “Well, there is something you can help me with.”

She deliberately paused after saying that, and Mu Yu immediately responded, “What is it?”

As she shifted her gaze over to Qin Jinhuan, she began to show an indescribable expression. “Let me have Huan and the young mistress title of the Qin Family!”

“Dream on!”

“Huan!” Mu Yu softly tugged at Qin Jinhuan, signaling him not to say such words. After all, they wanted to avoid upsetting Dong Wanqing.

Unfortunately, his apathy had already tilted the woman, and she instantly went hysterical. “I must have been blind to have fallen for a man like you! I was in so deep that I constantly overlooked your disdain and insults. Despite everything, I’ve always unconditionally tried to please you. I must’ve been f*cking demented to have done so! And you, Yin Anran, you must be the same as me! We’re both sick as f*ck! Save your optimism, woman—he’s not going to save you! Give up on that hope of yours! Anyway, since you’re nothing but a burden living in this world, why don’t I send you to your sister?”

“No!” Yin Anran gazed at the blade Dong Wanqing was pointing at her chest, feeling utterly horrified. “For the sake of our friendship, please let me go! I’ve got no hand in this matter, please!”

When she finished, she turned to Qin Jinhuan and sorrowfully begged, “Please save me, Jinhuan! I really don’t want to die!”

“You’re not giving up, are you?” Dong Wanqing maniacally laughed as she moved the knife to Yin Anran’s face. “I’ll make you, then.”

As soon as she spoke, she swung the blade on the latter’s face heavily.

“Ah!” Yin Anran’s howl pierced through the clouds. On the other hand, the child who had cried his lungs out saw the fresh blood and fainted again.

The crowd flinched subconsciously. Mu Yu reacted as well, and she pressed her face in shock as if she was the one who had been cut.

“See? Dear Jinhuan’s not affected at all! He doesn’t care about you! Well, if you don’t believe me, I’ll do it again!” As she finished her sentence, Dong Wanqing gave another cut to Yin Anran’s face.

Thereupon, another blaring shriek trembled the hearts of the surrounding people.

Qin Jinhuan shouted sternly, “You’re insane, Dong Wanqing!”

“Indeed! I’m crazy and insane! I’m mad! Hahaha…” As she revealed an intimidating smile, Dong Wanqing directed her knife at the chest of the unconscious child. “How else could I have the balls to kill? I’ll slaughter each one of you! All of you heathens! Useless sons of b*tches!”

Watching as she was about to stab the blade into the child’s heart, Mu Yu forcefully shook off Qin Jinhuan’s hand and charged toward Dong Wanqing as she yelled, “Don’t hurt him!”

“Mu Yu!”

“Yu!”

“Doctor Mu!”

“Young mistress!”

Once turmoil ensued in the crowd, the police started following after her.

“Don’t come over! Sheathe your guns!” Dong Wanqing frantically screamed as she hastily held the knife to the child’s neck. “One move and I’ll slit his throat!”

At once, the horde halted their steps. As the plan to take down Dong Wanqing amidst the commotion had failed, Mu Yu, who was standing at the frontmost position, put her hands up to show that she was no threat, warily convincing Dong Wanqing to let go of the faultless child.

With an icy scowl, Dong Wanqing stated, “As I said, I’ll let both of them go as long as you come over. You’ve always loved to flaunt your kindness in front of everyone, haven’t you? Now, this is one perfect opportunity to exhibit your benignity!”

After getting no response from Mu Yu, she lost her patience and raised her voice. “This is your last chance, Mu Yu! Are you accepting my offer or not? I’ll count to three. If you remain silent, I’ll show you a live slaughter fest! One… Two… Three—”

“I accept it!”

“Yu!” Qin Jinhuan reached his arm out and was about to pull her, but she stepped aside and avoided his grasp. With that, Mu Yu swiftly rushed to Dong Wanqing’s side.