The Tiannai Villa owners’ group chat exploded over the video. Everyone was terrified.

“What’s going on? Bandits are coming straight into Tiannai Villa to snatch people now? Is no one doing anything?”

“Who’s going to do anything? The world’s gone to hell. Smashing, looting, robbery—it’s happening everywhere. Compared to the chaos outside, Tiannai Villa is practically paradise.”

“Are these thugs the rumored gang of death-row convicts? Why are they all in suits? They look almost respectable.”

“That’s exactly what seems wrong. I heard the escaped prisoners are all bald. Are they wearing wigs?”

“That girl who got dragged away… isn’t she the Su family’s young miss?”

“Yeah, that’s Su Rou!”

…

Tang Xiaoman finished watching the video. No mistake—the one forcibly abducted was Su Rou.

For a moment, she couldn’t figure out which group had taken her, but she guessed it probably had something to do with the yacht the Su family had lost.

Had the Su family mortgaged Su Rou to buy the yacht?

Whoever had taken Su Rou, they were practically her allies.

The enemy of my enemy was my friend.

This was good news. She was more than happy to watch the show from the sidelines.

Soon, another owner posted a new video in the group, and everyone rushed to open it.

In the footage, Gu Heng led several bodyguards, trying to stop the suited thugs who had taken Su Rou. But his attitude and tone were surprisingly polite—even somewhat humble.

“Brothers, sorry to trouble you all for making the trip personally. But Su Rou isn’t the one who owes the debt. Debts have their rightful owner. Please let her go.”

Unfortunately, the suited thugs gave Gu Heng no face at all.

“Save those pretty words. They’re worthless to us! Master Wan said if the remaining compensation isn’t paid within three days, not only will this woman be sold off, but the Gu and Su families will both be cleaned out!”

With that, the thugs dragged Su Rou away and shoved her into a small helicopter.

“Brother Ah Heng, save me!” Su Rou cried pitifully, fragile as a flower battered by rain.

But in the end, Gu Heng didn’t have the courage to risk his life.

Because he had faintly seen the barrel of a Gatling gun protruding from the helicopter window.

If he truly turned against them, Master Wan’s men might start slaughtering people on the spot.

Just like that, Su Rou was taken away by a gang of thugs under cover of night.

After watching the second video, the owners’ group erupted again. Messages piled up instantly.

“Who is Master Wan? How can he be this arrogant, barging into someone’s home and taking a woman?”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Master Wan is not someone you want to mess with.”

“I heard his power has grown huge now. Even the authorities are wary of him and turn a blind eye. Forget kidnapping—no one would dare interfere even if he killed someone.”

“My God…”

Then came more questions.

“How did Young Master Gu get involved in this?”

“Wasn’t he engaged to the missing young miss the Su family found? Why does it look like he has something going on with Su Rou?”

“How much does the Su family owe Master Wan that they’re using their daughter to repay the debt?”

…

Tang Xiaoman closed the group chat and yawned.

She still had plenty of serious work to do.

That was enough gossip for now.

—

For the Su family, the sky had collapsed.

With her son missing and her daughter taken, Liu Yaqin was devastated. She collapsed to the floor, clinging to Su Cheng’s legs and sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’m begging you, husband. Save our daughter! Su Ke can’t be found—I can’t lose Rou’er too. If I do, I won’t be able to live!”

Su Cheng’s face was livid, but from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of someone entering the living room. He immediately insisted, “I’ve already taken out every supply I can spare. If it’s still not enough, what can I do? Unless they just take my old life instead!”

Gu Heng walked in, clearly unconvinced. “The Su family’s assets can’t be that little.”

“That’s all there is!” Su Cheng refused to budge. “I’ve taken out everything I should. Su Rou is my biological daughter. How could I hide anything from her? Of course I’ll do everything I can to save her…”

He quickly shut his mouth.

Because, in name, Su Rou was his stepdaughter.

When Tang Xiaoman’s mother died, Su Rou had already been seven years old.

If he admitted Su Rou was his biological daughter, wouldn’t that be admitting he had cheated during marriage?

Gu Heng had no interest in his sordid private affairs. He only cared about one crucial point.

“If the compensation isn’t paid, Master Wan really will sell Su Rou to settle the debt.”

Liu Yaqin, collapsed on the floor, cried even louder.

Su Cheng spread his hands helplessly. “Then let them sell me instead. Unfortunately, I’m an old man and not worth anything. Master Wan wouldn’t want me.”

Gu Heng: “…”

Heh.

So this was their way of forcing him to pay.

—

Tang Xiaoman made a special trip into her space to inspect the yacht.

The more she looked at it, the more satisfied she became.

With future floods worsening—and even earthquakes and tsunamis occurring frequently—having a maritime vehicle was critically important.

This yacht was priceless.

After leaving the space, she applied an expensive luxury face mask, turned on her six-figure high-end sound system, and played *A Comme Amour*.

The beautiful melody filled her bedroom as she enjoyed the rare leisure of relaxing with a face mask.

Suddenly, barking sounded outside, followed by faint shouting and commotion.

Her phone vibrated.

She reached over and saw it was Lu Jingming calling.

“Gu Heng is outside making a fuss and demanding to see you. I haven’t shown myself. Number 01 took people to deal with him, but he refuses to leave no matter what. He says he has to see you.”

Tang Xiaoman didn’t know what madness had seized Gu Heng this time, but she vaguely guessed it had something to do with Su Rou’s abduction.

As for how exactly, she couldn’t be bothered to care.

“Let Fubao out. Let’s see if he still dares to linger.”

“Understood.”

Lu Jingming went to carry out her order.

Tang Xiaoman was about to put down her phone when a WeChat notification sounded.

It was from Yu Jingyuan.

“Delivery tomorrow morning around nine.”

Tang Xiaoman was very satisfied with his speed and efficiency. She sent him an “OK” gesture.

—

After breakfast the next day, Number 05 and Number 09 went to assist the security patrol according to the property management rotation. Fubao followed along as usual.

“Fubao is energetic. Every time it sees the team go out, it barks anxiously, so we let it go with them,” Lu Jingming reported to Tang Xiaoman. “Thanks to it, the team can always discover hidden crocodiles in time.”

Tang Xiaoman nodded. “Dogs need to move around. Ideally, it should be walked every day. I’ve been too busy to spend time with it, so it’s good for the team to take it out for exercise.”

Lu Jingming, as the household manager, always arranged things properly. Even when she left, there was nothing to worry about.

Zhou Yichen took the team into the courtyard for training, while Tang Xiaoman pulled out her phone and browsed the group chat.

Early in the morning, the owners’ group was already lively, still discussing Su Rou being kidnapped by Master Wan the night before.

“Has the Su family’s young miss been found yet?”

“I heard the Su family owes Master Wan money. If they can’t repay it, she’ll be used to settle the debt.”

“My goodness. In broad daylight, under heaven itself—is there no law anymore?”

“Law? Look at the world now. The authorities can barely take care of themselves. How could they deal with these little matters?”

“Master Wan may be overbearing, but as long as you don’t provoke him or owe him money, he isn’t that terrifying. What’s really terrifying is that gang of death-row convicts burning, killing, and looting their way through the city. I heard they’ve already started targeting wealthy districts!”

“Ah! They won’t break into Tiannai Villa, will they?”

“Sigh. Hard to say.”

Everyone felt anxious, as if disaster could strike at any moment.

Just then, the video doorbell rang at the villa’s iron gate.

Yu Jingyuan stood outside with seven or eight men, each holding clubs or kitchen knives, looking fierce and ready for a fight.

Behind them was a four-wheeled diesel tricycle cart loaded with the supplies Tang Xiaoman had requested.