Cheng Yunsu's face was ashen. She asked again, "Grandpa Bai, can you really rescue him?"
Grandpa Bai was the middle-aged woman's father.
He was the Patriarch of the Bai Family, one of the four great families of Yangzhou City. The middle-aged woman was named Bai Xin, who was, of course, Cheng Yunsu's stepmother.
Bai Xin turned and took Cheng Yunsu's hand again.
"Don't worry. Once my father has your bracelet as collateral, he will start making his move."
"I'll coordinate with him from the inside to get your fiancé out of the dungeon. Then, my father will find your grandfather, and together they'll figure out how to handle Wu Xin. With pressure from two Patriarchs, Wu Xin will have to show them some face."
As Bai Xin spoke, the expression on Cheng Yunsu's face, hidden beneath her cloak, twisted in anguish.
She squeezed her eyes shut, finally handing the bracelet to Bai Xin. "Then... I'll be troubling you, Aunt Xin."
When you ask for a favor, you naturally have to offer something in return.
Outside the window, heat flared in Lu Chao's eyes...
'That's the one thing Xiao Su'er's mother left her, and she's actually giving it up to save me.'
Inside the room, a flash of triumph flickered in Bai Xin's eyes as she took the bracelet.
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all." Her voice was filled with undisguised excitement.
But her tone quickly turned gentle again. "Once everything is settled, I'll get the bracelet back from my father for you."
Hearing this, Cheng Yunsu said, "Thank you, Aunt Xin."
Bai Xin, however, couldn't wait to turn around. She finally let a brazen smile spread across her face.
"We're family; there's no need for such formalities. Hardship reveals true character. I watched you grow up, how could I not feel for you?"
"It's a shame you're still unwilling to call me 'Mother'."
Cheng Yunsu opened her mouth, but the word "Mother" just wouldn't come out.
Bai Xin quickened her pace...
'She was just saying it for effect. There was a great sense of accomplishment in twisting the family's former jewel around her finger, making her so grateful she could weep. It wasn't like she actually wanted to be called 'Mother'.'
Just like that, Bai Xin opened the door to Cheng Yunsu's room, ready to leave...
The next moment... AHH!
She slammed into something as if it were a solid wall, stumbling back several steps before falling to the ground. When Bai Xin looked up, she saw a tall, cold figure standing outside the door. Bai Xin immediately yelled, "What the hell are you? How dare you run into me?"
Inside the room, Cheng Yunsu stared, stunned, but could only make out a dark silhouette outside the door.
This silhouette, of course, was Lu Chao!
With a cold expression, he strode in from the doorway. He looked down at Bai Xin, then shot his hand out and forcefully snatched the bracelet—Cheng Yunsu's bracelet—from her grasp.
The bracelet was hot to the touch. Lu Chao saw two lifelike Fire Sparrows carved on it and could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.
On the floor, Bai Xin shrieked again, "You bastard! How dare you snatch my bracelet?"
Lu Chao looked down and said coldly, "This is Xiao Su'er's. When did it become your bracelet?"
The moment she heard his voice, Cheng Yunsu realized that the newcomer was none other than Lu Chao, who had been thrown into the dungeon two days ago.
She quickly ran over. "Lu Chao, you... how did you get out?"
Stepping over Bai Xin, Lu Chao steadied Cheng Yunsu. "I told you I'd be back for you soon."
As he spoke, Lu Chao took Cheng Yunsu's hand and, without another word, put the bracelet back on her wrist.
At the same time, Bai Xin had gotten back to her feet.
She shrieked, "So it's you, you country brute! Give me back the bracelet, now!"
Having gained and then lost the bracelet, Bai Xin's good mood had completely vanished, her voice now filled with malice.
Lu Chao turned back to face Bai Xin. "I got out by myself. I don't need you to find someone to save me," he said coolly. "Get out!"
Bai Xin was furious. She looked at Lu Chao, then at the bewildered Cheng Yunsu...
The next moment, her face darkened as she snapped, "Yunsu, is this the man you wanted to save? I'm your stepmother, and his future mother-in-law! Look at the way he's speaking to me! And to think I was just about to save him."
Finally, Cheng Yunsu snapped out of her daze.
Worried that Bai Xin would get angry and call people to capture Lu Chao, she quickly said, "Lu Chao, she's my..."
Before she could finish... WHOOSH!
Lu Chao suddenly blurred into motion, rushing straight for Bai Xin. And then... SMACK!
A slap landed heavily across Bai Xin's face.
Bai Xin cried out in pain as she was sent flying into the main door.
Lu Chao reached out, hauled her up from the floor, and said in a glacial voice, "This is my attitude."
SMACK!
Another heavy slap sent Bai Xin stumbling to fall in front of Cheng Yunsu.
At once, Cheng Yunsu was dumbfounded. "Lu Chao, how could you..."
She didn't understand why Lu Chao was suddenly being so violent.
Gazing deeply at Cheng Yunsu, Lu Chao said, "Xiao Su'er, come with me."
With that, Lu Chao moved forward, wrapped his arm around Cheng Yunsu's slender waist, and whisked her out of the room amidst her gasp of surprise.
Not far away, Cheng Gai and Cheng Yunxiang were talking...
Cheng Gai, sitting in a chair, asked doubtfully, "Did that sound like a scream coming from Cheng Yunsu's room?"
Cheng Yunxiang shrugged...
"That bitch probably didn't fall for it and refused to hand over the bracelet, so my mother must have gotten rough with her."
"My mother's martial arts aren't very strong, but slapping around a good-for-nothing like her is still a piece of cake."
He assumed the scream just now had come from Cheng Yunsu.
On a large tree not far from the two of them, Lu Chao landed silently with Cheng Yunsu in his arms. She had already covered her mouth in utter disbelief.