Finally, it was over. She stood up and shook hands with Long Tao, finalizing the details for their next discussion. Long Tao also promised to inform her of the location for the next operation in a timely manner.
After Long Tao left, the people he brought with him orderly evacuated. The entire shooting range reopened, with doors and windows wide open.
Yan Xia left shortly after. She walked quickly, not even sparing a glance at Lu Qianzhou as she left. All she wanted was to get in the car immediately and escape this suffocating place.
However, before she could leave the lounge, someone firmly grabbed her arm, as if having been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Lu Qianzhou pulled her back the moment she stepped out of the room. He pinned her against the door panel, and with a loud thud, the door closed, blocking all outside views.
His burning gaze locked onto her. His breathing was a bit heavy, as if he had a thousand words to say, but when he looked at her, he couldn't utter a single one. The blood on her face was so eye - catching.
Even though he knew it wasn't her blood, he still couldn't control his worry. He was more concerned about her situation than anyone else.
"Cheng Yan Xia." He rarely called her in such a serious and hesitant tone. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Yan Xia looked up. Her heart felt a faint discomfort as if overloaded. After a moment, she said, "Thank you, President Lu, for saving my life today."
Lu Qianzhou asked, "Since you admit that I saved your life, then one life for another. Shouldn't you let go of all your past obsessions? Let go of everything from this moment on. Don't pursue it anymore, and don't see Long Tao again."
Yan Xia didn't answer. Stubbornly, she reached out to push him.
But his chest was so hot, and the strength in his hands was so great. No matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't get him off.
"Is this how you thank me?"
Yan Xia was stunned.
He forcefully turned her averted face back, forcing her to look into his eyes. The obvious hurt in his eyes was hard to bear. "Do you hate me so much that you can't wait to send me to hell, even using such means?"
The bloodstains on her face were still wet. He reached out and gently wiped them away bit by bit.
"I was framed, just like you were framed for hurting Jiang Yue this time. I don't know if these two things are related or if they were done by the same person, but I'm trying to find the connection. Just wait for me a while longer. I'll prove my innocence to you."
His eyes were so bright, and his words were so humble. His humility made her waver uncontrollably.
Her emotions were so complex. At the moment when he took action for her, no words could express the shock in her heart. She wanted to say that she didn't blame him anymore, that she forgave him, but she couldn't just let her sister's death go like this.
Her throat was dry, and she couldn't say a word.
"If by that time, I still can't prove my innocence." He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'll accept whatever you say. I'll grant whatever you want."
He quickly turned his face and kissed her lips.
Yan Xia's scalding tears suddenly fell. Afraid that he would see her wavering and emotions, she suddenly pushed him away, opened the door, and strode out.
The police had arranged a car in advance to pick her up. When she walked out of the shooting room, she saw Jiang Nian at the door.
Jiang Nian was waving at her, jumping up like a lively little rabbit to catch her attention.
Yan Xia waved back, indicating that she had seen her. Then, wearing a baseball cap, she crossed the road low - key and got in the car to leave.
Jiang Nian was very friendly with her. "The boss sent me to pick you up. Long Tao left a long time ago. Why did you just come out now?"
Yan Xia said, "I got splashed with blood. I had to deal with it."
Jiang Nian nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
As if remembering something, Yan Xia asked again, "What about the traitor? Have you found him? Is he still alive?"
Jiang Nian answered truthfully, "I don't know. I heard that they intercepted the body, but his life or death is unknown. He was stabbed once in each side of his chest. He already had injuries on his body and lost so much blood. Even if he's saved, he'll probably be disabled."
Yan Xia's heart skipped a beat.
She remembered the moment when the blood splashed on her face and the moment when Lu Qianzhou took action for her.
These two scenes overlapped in her mind, and her hands couldn't stop shaking.
She came here full of confidence but had indeed underestimated the bloody scene today.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Yan Xia took it out. It was a call from Shangguan Yao.
"Are you okay?" Shangguan Yao asked.
"I'm not going to die for now. I was careless." Her brows were tightly furrowed as she asked again, "How's that guy?"
"He's still in the emergency room. No matter what the result is, I'll tell you." Shangguan Yao's words were brief and to the point.
"If Lu Qianzhou hadn't come today, have you thought about your choice today? Yan Xia, you were too impulsive. At that time, there was still room to negotiate with him, but you chose to take action."
Yan Xia was already in a very unstable state of mind. Hearing this, she wasn't willing to give in either.
"I didn't have a better choice at that time. You guys didn't teach me what to do either. Since you did nothing, don't talk to me about my shortcomings afterward."
After saying that, she hung up the phone, took off the earpiece, and casually stuffed it into her bag.
Jiang Nian carefully observed her expression. She was dispatched to rescue Yan Xia during the just - completed emergency operation. By the time Lu Qianzhou arrived, she was already on the way. Maybe Shangguan Yao was worried, so he didn't let her go back but asked her to wait here.
"You had a fight with my boss, right? He's just worried about your situation. After all, people in the hands of such people usually don't end up well. You don't know that since he knew you were going to meet Long Tao today, he's been very uneasy. In fact, he's more nervous about your safety than anyone else."
Yan Xia smiled bitterly. "Yaoyao, how long have you known him?"
Jiang Nian thought for a while and said, "I've been following him since I graduated, for more than two years."
In her heart, the boss was the most capable and reliable person. He always took good care of her and everyone around him. Although she had heard some rumors about Shangguan Yao's past, the Shangguan Yao she knew was completely different from the rumors.
Yan Xia said, "He's changed a lot from the past."
Jiang Nian said seriously, "No matter what he was like in the past, I only know that he's very good now. I didn't like the past irresponsible boss. Miss Cheng, do you have any misunderstandings about him?"
"You won't understand."
This one sentence was enough to explain her current state of mind.
The past Shangguan Yao, who would go through fire and water for his friends and act boldly without considering the consequences, was gone. Now, he was shrewd and decisive but gradually began to think about the consequences.