After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 46.1

Snow fell thick and fast, hammering down in the night. A car sped through the darkness.

Ross glanced at the sky, cursed under her breath, then barked, “Is the phone turned off?”

“Off.” Molly handed her a new phone. “Looks like they really care about this woman. Even the consulate sent people to search the mountain.”

“Damn it, news travels fast.” Ross shot a glance at the backseat. The vehicle skidded, coming to a halt by the roadside. “But hey, if it wasn’t life on the knife’s edge, there wouldn’t be this much money in it.”

“The road might already be blocked,” Molly said gravely.

Ross yanked the wheel and drove into the back of a base, cigarette clenched between her teeth. “Get her out. Switch cars.”

Though they had avoided surveillance along the way, Ross wasn’t about to risk it by just swapping plates.

By the time Molly carried their captive out, Ross had already rolled up in a camo-painted SUV. She lowered the window. “Toss her in the back. You sit there too. Don’t let the spotlights catch you.”

Once everyone was inside, Ross pulled on a baseball cap, tied a scarf over her face, and dialed on the new phone.

“The roads are blocked. I knew it. They’ve even got choppers combing the mountain… Heh. As if the consulate flunkies are any real help. Local cops are still leaning toward our side.”

After a pause, she switched the phone to the other hand. Smoke curled in rings and died against the glass. “I understand, sir. With such a big operation, your cut is guaranteed. Just let us through the checkpoints. What? The far-left route?

Got it. Don’t worry, the base has been informed.”

“Who exactly are you people?” a weak voice rose from the backseat.

Ross rolled the window up, annoyed. “Why the hell is she awake? Didn’t the drug work? Give her another shot!”

“Wait.” Chi Yang fought the dizziness, biting her tongue until she tasted blood, forcing herself awake. “You’ve tied me up like this. I’ve got no strength left. No need for another dose.”

“I’ve been allergic to drugs since childhood. The one who hired you probably doesn’t want me dead that fast, do they?”

“Miss Chi, don’t try to play games with us.” Ross sneered but signaled Molly with her eyes. She understood and didn’t drug her again, just pulled the ropes tighter.

Slumped against the leather seat, weak and hazy, Chi Yang could only let her restrain her further.

The SUV barreled down the road at speed. No sharp tools in the cabin, no phone on her—escape was impossible.

Bracing one hand against the seat, her voice came faint: “At least let me sit up. My arm’s gone numb.”

Ross cursed from the driver’s seat. “What kind of pampered princess are you? We’re kidnappers, not your damn servants. Say another word and I’ll kill you!”

“Bang!”

The rear thudded violently. Ross glanced back to see Chi Yang struggling upright, only to be flung against the car door by a sharp turn, then bounce back to the seat.

“Watch her!” Ross yanked a weapon from her belt and tossed it back.

Chi Yang turned—and found herself staring down the barrel of a gun in Molly’s hands. “Don’t move, Miss Chi.”

Still coughing from the blow, Chi Yang leaned against the front seat, chuckling faintly. “I’m tied up and powerless. No need to be so dramatic.”

Through the window, her eyes caught a checkpoint ahead, cordoned off, uniformed officers stopping cars.

“The road’s sealed. You won’t make it through. Why don’t we cooperate?” Chi Yang looked straight at Ross.

In the dim light, she spotted scars on her arm, carved into a totem.

She’d seen the same blade-carved mark once—on An and Shi Nian.

Her eyes darkened. Negotiating, she said, “You’re mercenaries. You must know who I am. I can pay you more than your employer.”

Ross’s gaze flicked to her in the mirror. “Shut her up.”

One hand still gripping the gun, Molly ripped a strip of tape from her kit and slapped it over Chi Yang’s mouth.

Chi Yang frowned at the sting.

The checkpoint drew closer. Ross steered toward the far-left lane. Clearly, it had all been arranged beforehand.

But just as they neared, Chi Yang slammed herself against the side of the cabin. The SUV lurched violently. Molly lunged, locking her in a chokehold across her lap. Struggling, Chi Yang still managed to raise her head—eyes bloodshot, muffled cries tearing through the tape—pleading toward the officers outside.

The officer glanced her way, then indifferently checked the documents, handed them back to Ross, and waved her through.

From nearby, another officer jogged over. “What happened? That car just jolted.”

“Nothing. Just slipped. All clear.” The inspector waved it off. “Anything on your side?”

“I think the bastard slipped out of the city earlier. We’re freezing out here for nothing—”

Ross rolled the window up, shutting them out. She drove on for half an hour before stopping beneath a cluster of trees.

She stepped out, retrieved a suitcase, opened it, and pulled out a sniper rifle. Returning, she pressed Chi Yang’s head down with one hand, the icy muzzle hard against her skull.

Her body jolted uncontrollably.

“Guess you are afraid of dying.” Ross screwed on a silencer, pressed it back against her. “Think I won’t kill you?”

“Rip the tape off!”

Rip—

Chi Yang gasped for air, then rasped, “What about Miss Pei, the one with me? What did you do to her?”

“Killed her.” Ross chuckled. “Right under this muzzle, in the hotel’s back alley. Maybe the snow’s already buried her.”

She knew she was baiting her, but fury still surged, blood pounding ice-cold through her veins.

She shoved her head forward, eyes sharp as blades, voice like frost: “Then kill me too. Let’s see how long you last.”

For a heartbeat, Ross faltered under her gaze, wrist trembling involuntarily.

Recovering, she lowered the gun, expression turning savage. “Try another stunt like that, and your death won’t be quick. You know what I’ll do to you before then?”

The SUV started up again, swallowed by the night.

The sky loomed like black iron. Helicopters swept overhead for nearly an hour, finding nothing.

Snow thickened, visibility dropping. Tracks around the hotel vanished under the drifts.

Chang Meng radioed every checkpoint, but none reported spotting Ross’s vehicle.

Pei Jiuyao had already been brought back to the embassy. Surveillance clearly showed Chi Yang walking out on her own, entering the hot spring. No cameras were set around the pools for privacy. She never came back out.

Another screen displayed mercenary intel—Ross’s photograph, alongside her code number, unit, and record.

“They must have switched cars,” Pei Jiuyao said, stepping toward Chang Meng. “Can you swear none of your people are moles?”

Chang Meng’s face darkened. “My men are loyal.”

“And the ones manning the roadblocks? How many of them are local police?” Pei Jiuyao snapped, voice breaking into a furious shout that made the entire room turn.

Chang Meng stepped forward, meeting her glare. “Miss Pei, we’ve been doing everything we can. But you—losing your temper here will only slow down the rescue.”

“It’s already been over an hour. Either they have a base in the city, or they’ve long since slipped out,” Pei Jiuyao said, trying to keep her fury in check and forcing her voice into something calm. “Ross is a mercenary. The local police know where the mercenary bases are—why aren’t we searching them?”

“The ties between mercenaries and the government are far too tangled. You think they’d just hand over base information to us?” Chang Meng leaned lazily against the desk, her displeasure at Pei Jiuyao’s tone written all over her face.

“They’ll help with the search, but Ross may not necessarily bring people back to base.”

“If you know they’re connected to the government, you should’ve had your people lock down the roads, not let the local police interfere. At the very least, you could’ve kept them trapped inside the city!”

A vein throbbed at Pei Jiuyao’s temple, standing out an ugly, purplish red.

“And now you’re sweeping the mountains with helicopters, burning manpower and resources. Ross can just switch vehicles and drive straight out of the city—what’s the point of any of this?”

“And what’s the point of you yelling at us right now?” Chang Meng shot her a look. “You’re lashing out because you lost your girlfriend through your own carelessness and can’t deal with the guilt, isn’t that it?”

“Chang Meng, Madam Ambassador, a citizen of our country has been kidnapped abroad. Isn’t that your responsibility?”

Pei Jiuyao grabbed her by the collar, looming over her. “Instead of negotiating with the local government, you’re here nitpicking about private grievances? What is this, if not you brushing off your duties and letting her slip through your fingers?”

“Can you calm down? Since this is a kidnapping, the kidnappers will eventually contact us. We just need to wait—”

“If it was your family who’d been taken, could you wait so calmly?!” Pei Jiuyao shoved her away, snatched up her car keys, and strode out.

“Where are you going?” Chang Meng frowned.

Pei Jiuyao looked back, her hands clenched. “To find her.”

“You don’t even know where she is.”

“Then I’ll watch the checkpoints. That’s still better than sitting here doing nothing.”

Ring—

A shrill ringtone cut through their standoff.

Pei Jiuyao froze mid-step.

Chang Meng pressed speakerphone.

“Chang Meng.” A mature, steady voice came through. Immediately, Chang Meng straightened, her casual slouch gone as she barked out, “Here!”

Her earlier indolence vanished entirely.

Pei Jiuyao clenched her jaw and stood to the side.

“Has Miss Chi been found?”

“Still searching,” Chang Meng replied.

“Chang Meng, the higher-ups are taking this kidnapping very seriously—”

“Please rest assured, I will do everything—”

“Everything? Sitting at the embassy waiting for a call?” Pei Jiuyao cut her off.

Color drained from Chang Meng’s face.

Then a familiar female voice sounded from the other end: “Let me speak to her.”

There was a shuffle, then—“Pei Jiuyao?”

“Chi Qing… jie?”

“It’s me,” Chi Qing’s voice was cool, controlled. “My people are already en route to Mermaid Island. They should arrive by dawn. Until then, if the kidnappers make contact, you must ensure… the hostage’s safety. Whatever they demand, give it.”

“Pei Jiuyao, I placed a tracker in Chi Yang’s bag. Keep it on you. If you locate the kidnappers’ whereabouts, my team will rendezvous with you immediately.”

Her voice was steady, but carried undeniable weight.

“Do you understand?”

Pei Jiuyao’s fingers dug into the table edge. “Understood.”

Beep— The line went dead.

She cast a long, cold look at Chang Meng, then turned and left.

Once in the car, Pei Jiuyao dug through Chi Yang’s bag. She searched for a long time but found no tracker—only an extra phone tucked into a side pocket, likely Chi Yang’s spare.

But Chi Qing’s words—Do you understand?—kept echoing in her mind. Something wasn’t right.

She turned the phone over, pressed the power button.

No battery.

She pulled a charging cable from the bag, plugged it into the car. A moment later, as it powered on, an unfamiliar number flashed across the screen.

“Chi Qing-jie?”

“You’re alone, right?”

“Yes. I’m in the car.” Pei Jiuyao pulled over to a deserted spot and locked the doors.

“I installed a tracker in Chi Yang’s phone…”

“Where is she?!”

“Don’t rush me. Listen.” Chi Qing took a long breath. “I’ll send the location to your phone. Don’t breathe a word of this to the embassy—I suspect there’s a mole among them, feeding information to the mercenaries.”

“But I can’t do this alone…” Pei Jiuyao wanted nothing more than to storm in after Chi Yang, but she knew she couldn’t possibly extract her on her own.

“You just need to buy me some time,” Chi Qing said gravely. “You know Chi Yang’s temper. I’m worried she’ll provoke the kidnappers into doing something irreversible.”

Then, more gently: “Don’t worry. She should be fine. I think… I know who’s behind this.”