“Bed Forty-Six, stretch out your arm. Forty-six?”
The nurse had to call several times before Meng Zhiru finally responded, “…What?”
“Please stretch out your arm.”
Meng Zhiru didn’t suspect anything. It wasn’t until a sharp pain struck that he gasped, “…What are you doing?”
The nurse held his arm in place. “Drawing blood. Don’t move. It’ll be over soon.”
Meng Zhiru frowned.
Once it was done, the nurse removed the needle and tubing, then informed him, “The results will be out tomorrow.”
The man froze. “What results?”
The nurse was tidying up her things and was about to leave, but hearing his question, she replied, “A blood test, of course.”
It took Meng Zhiru a few seconds to register it. “Why a blood test?! I don’t do drugs! Go tell the police I won’t— I’m not hallucinating, I’m not crazy, everything I said is true!”
The nurse quickly secured the blood sample and hurried out of the room.
Who knew if this guy would go nuts? Junkies were unpredictable.
“Give me back my blood! I’m not doing this! You’re violating patient consent and drawing blood by force—I… I’ll sue this hospital—!”
Meng Zhiru roared, his emotions spinning out of control.
But the nurse had long vanished.
He turned at once to grab his phone and called the company’s legal counsel, but it rang endlessly without anyone picking up.
Bang—
The phone smashed.
Meng Zhiru sat on the hospital bed, panting heavily, his chest rising and falling with rage.
But when the anger burned out, all that remained was a hollow, confused emptiness.
The police had barely left and immediately ordered a blood test—that meant they no longer believed him.
Why was this happening?
His wounds were real. The kidnapping was real. Why were they doubting him?!
——
Meanwhile, Lou Mingxin, after spending a passionate night with a younger man and enjoying a pleasant breakfast, finally left the hotel.
Just as she got into the car, her phone rang—it was a landline number she didn’t recognize.
Her expression sharpened instantly. She thought it was the kidnappers calling to arrange the ransom.
She braced herself. “Hello?”
“President Lou, it’s Little Chen. I’m at the business bureau with the lawyer, and we’ve already completed the transfer of all President Meng’s assets to your name, just as you instructed. The process was legal and takes effect immediately.”
Lou Mingxin’s eyes gleamed. “And the overseas assets…?”
“Also transferred to your name.”
“Good work. Very efficient.”
“But when will President Meng be back? The company needs him to stay on top of things, otherwise we can’t keep it running—”
A flash crossed her eyes. The skin around her freshly lifted eyes was taut, without a wrinkle. “I’ll handle the rest. You all just stay put and wait.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After ending the call, Lou Mingxin immediately contacted her private lawyer and had them tally and verify all assets now under her name.
Soon, it was confirmed: just half an hour ago, she had suddenly acquired ownership of three overseas companies and a large portfolio of real estate.
It seemed everything was truly taken care of.
She finally relaxed and began planning how to dismantle those three companies of Meng Zhiru’s—grind them into dust and scatter them as fertilizer to help Lou Corporation grow its international arm.
That way, she’d also have something to show the board.
Then, who would dare say she wasn’t as capable as Lou Mingyue?
As for all those newly acquired movable assets, real estate, and liquid cash—they were, naturally, hers.
Back in the day, Meng Zhiru was a nobody who married into her family. If it weren’t for her, would he have what he had now?
At the end of the day, everything he had came from her.
Taking it back didn’t seem wrong at all.
Lou Mingxin smiled with satisfaction. Now she was just waiting for the kidnappers to call again. She’d refuse to pay, and Meng Zhiru would be silenced for good.
——
But as the sun climbed higher and reached midday, her phone remained silent.
Had the kidnappers realized something?
No… impossible…
Every step had been played out silently in her mind. She hadn’t spoken of it to anyone. There was no way they could know!
Lou Mingxin forced herself to stay calm.
There was still time. No need to panic. Just wait a little longer…
——
At that same moment, inside the VIP hospital ward.
Little Chen pushed open the door. Seeing Meng Zhiru safe and sound, he nearly burst into tears. “President Meng! Thank goodness you’re alright!”
Meng Zhiru’s face was grim, his tone cold. “Did she buy it?”
“Yes! President Lou had her lawyer check her assets right away. Now those chronically loss-making overseas companies are all under her name, along with dozens of bad debts and hollow assets that don’t match their stated value…”
“Good!” Meng Zhiru gave a cold smirk. “Go handle my discharge. I haven’t been home in two days—it’s time to go keep my wife company.”
Little Chen shivered at his tone.
——
As dusk fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, Lou Mingxin still hadn’t received the expected ransom call.
What was going on?
From full patience to utter agitation, her nerves had stretched to their limit.
One last push, and they would snap.
During that time, she had tried calling back the number from yesterday, but was met only with a cold automated voice: “The number you have dialed is not in service.”
A sense of dread began to fester in her chest—until—
A voice she knew all too well came from the other end of the line: “Honey, it’s almost dark out. Why aren’t you home yet?”
Lou Mingxin’s eyelid twitched. “You…”
“Should I come pick you up? Just send me the address. I’ll be there in no time.”
