Dangerous Liaisons - Chapter 15

Chu Yu instinctively shrank back, her eyes darting nervously behind her. The man calmly attached a silencer to his gun, tucked it into his jacket, and stepped out of the car with an air of nonchalance, heading straight for the taxi. Chu Yu’s nerves tightened like a coiled spring. She slowly shifted to the other side of the taxi, her hand fumbling for the door handle. She pulled the lock and pushed with all her might, but the door wouldn’t budge.

“Miss, don’t push. The left rear door is broken; it won’t open.”

Hearing the commotion, the taxi driver turned around, oblivious to the danger. Chu Yu gripped the seat cover beneath her, swallowing hard. The last time, on the boat, Gina’s bullet had narrowly missed her heart. She might not be so lucky this time. The lingering terror of being shot surged through her. She stared out the window, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She was completely exposed, with no way out, no idea what to do.

The man drew closer, his right hand slowly emerging from his jacket. Chu Yu could almost see the outline of the gun beneath his coat. But just as he reached the rear tire of the taxi, a black car parked behind them suddenly swung its door open, slamming into the man’s leg. A hand reached out, grabbed him by the neck, and yanked him into the car. The door slammed shut. It all happened in a matter of seconds.

Chu Yu stared in shock. The black car had tinted windows, and the glare of the sun made it impossible to see inside. The car shook violently for a moment, then fell still. There was something eerily familiar about the speed and ruthlessness of the attack.

If she hadn’t accidentally caught a glimpse of this in the rearview mirror, she wouldn’t have known how close danger had come. She had thought that by leaving Lu Zimo, all the dangers associated with him would disappear. But now, barely back in Hangzhou, she found herself in this situation.

The traffic began to inch forward. The taxi crawled ahead, and another car cut in between them and the black car. Chu Yu glanced around and made a quick decision. She paid the driver, grabbed her bag, and slipped out of the taxi, weaving through the traffic like a fish until she reached the sidewalk.

The streets were crowded, but the sidewalks were relatively clear. Chu Yu hurried to a crosswalk, where a TV crew was filming a street segment, causing even more congestion. She pulled her sun hat low and kept moving. She couldn’t go home—she couldn’t lead danger to her family. She ducked into a nearby shop, found a payphone, and called home, telling them she still had some paperwork to finish and couldn’t return yet. Her family was frantic, demanding to know where she was, but Chu Yu hung up, her heart heavy.

She crossed the street, realizing that staying in Hangzhou would only put her loved ones at risk. For a moment, she regretted returning to China. Maybe it would have been better to stay in Thailand. At least there, any danger would have been hers alone to face.

With that thought, she turned back, weaving through the bustling crowd. It was the weekend, and the streets were alive with activity. She glanced over her shoulder repeatedly, unsure if she had shaken off whoever was following her. Who were they? And why were they after her?

As she reached the end of the street, the traffic thinned out. She flagged down another taxi and headed back to the airport, buying a ticket for the next flight to Bangkok. She had obtained Thai citizenship during her time working in Chiang Rai. Going back now, finding a new job—it wouldn’t be hard. But until things settled, the idea of living peacefully at home seemed like a distant dream.

After getting her ticket, Chu Yu turned to leave. She didn’t have much luggage—just a large shoulder bag with some essentials and her important documents. But as she turned, a man approached her with a smile. “Miss Deng.”

He spoke in Thai. Chu Yu recognized him. He had been with the SWAT team that had pursued Lu Zimo at the airport hotel. His name was… Officer Wen, wasn’t it? Chu Yu calmly folded her ticket and slipped it into her wallet, looking at him coolly. “I’m sorry, I don’t know you.”

“Miss Deng, it’s a bit abrupt to approach you like this. I’m a Thai police officer. We’ve met before, at the airport hotel.” Officer Wen smiled, glancing at the ticket in her hand. “You just returned to China, and now you’re rushing back to Thailand?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Chu Yu closed her wallet. “Since when do Thai police monitor people’s travel plans?”

Officer Wen shrugged. “You have two hours before your flight. Would you mind joining me for a coffee?”

Did she have a choice? Chu Yu forced a smile and followed him to a café on the second floor of the terminal. The place was quiet, with soft music playing in the background. They sat at a table, and the waiter brought coffee before discreetly leaving them alone. Officer Wen leaned forward, his gaze steady. “You’ve been in Thailand for ten years, right? You even obtained citizenship. Why did you suddenly quit your job at Chiang Rai Municipal Hospital and return to China?”

He knew a lot about her. Chu Yu sipped her coffee. It was clear he was trying to use her to get to Lu Zimo. He must have dug up everything about her.

“There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Falling leaves return to their roots.’ You might not understand,” Chu Yu replied calmly.

Officer Wen nodded, his expression serious. “Miss Deng, you were kidnapped at the hotel, then disappeared for a while. Our Chinese colleagues received a report from your cousin saying you were taken by some Thai men. I’m curious how you managed to escape and return safely. I’m also curious why so many people are after you. And why there are multiple factions fighting over you. Would you care to explain?”

“I can only tell you that I’m a law-abiding citizen,” Chu Yu said coldly. He had saved her life several times, and she had saved his. He had used her ruthlessly, and now they were even. No matter what, she wasn’t going to betray Lu Zimo.

“Miss Deng, you’re closely connected to Mr. Lu,” Officer Wen said, leaning back. “Given his background, do you really think you’re clean?”

“I know him. That’s all,” Chu Yu said, frowning slightly.

Officer Wen shook his head with a smile. “You’re not being honest. I approached you today to propose a deal, based on mutual honesty. My offer is this: I’ll assign a team to ensure the safety of you and your family until I catch the person I’m after.”

Chu Yu looked down, silent. Officer Wen paused, studying her reaction. “From what I understand, your relationship with Mr. Lu isn’t as simple as you claim. Otherwise, Bayu wouldn’t be following you, protecting you. When that assassin showed up earlier, before we could act, Bayu had already taken care of him. I have to admit, he’s one of Mr. Lu’s best men—efficient and leaves no trace. I understand it’s difficult for you to admit your relationship with Mr. Lu. But I need a clear answer from you: will you cooperate or not?”

“I think you’ve got the wrong person. I have no connection to Lu Zimo,” Chu Yu said firmly, standing up. “Thank you for the coffee.”

“Miss Deng.”

Officer Wen remained seated. “Bayu exposed himself earlier and has been driven off by my men. But the assassin following you is still out there. If you refuse my offer and leave the airport now, you’ll be completely exposed. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Chu Yu hesitated. She knew he was telling the truth, even if it was a veiled threat. She turned halfway, looking at him. “I’ll say it one last time: I have nothing to say about Lu Zimo.”

As she walked away, she heard Officer Wen’s low chuckle behind her. “Stubborn woman.”

Chu Yu went through security early and waited at her gate. She glanced back and saw Officer Wen still sitting in the café. He noticed her and gave her a small wave.

She couldn’t figure out what this cop was after.
She sat down near her gate, pulling out a magazine from her bag. She flipped through it impatiently, then tossed it back. The announcement system chimed, and a soft female voice informed passengers that her flight was delayed by an hour due to weather conditions.

The news only added to her unease. Chu Yu stood up, scanning the area. No one seemed suspicious. Before meeting Lu Zimo, she had never been this paranoid. But now, her life had been turned upside down. The peace she once knew was shattered, and she wasn’t sure if it would ever return.

The weaknesses he showed were the ones he wanted others to see. But those who saw them weren’t just Renault—there were others, watching him closely. She didn’t know how many shadowy forces were at play. Maybe it would have been better if she had died in the mountains, back when Second Brother had tried to assault her.

Chu Yu headed to the restroom, her frustration mounting. The airport restrooms were separated by gender, each at opposite ends of the terminal. The entrance was an open hallway leading to a large mirror and sinks, with the actual restrooms around the corner.

As she walked in, she caught a glimpse of a tall man entering behind her. He had curly blond hair, large sunglasses covering most of his face, and wore a dark suit. Chu Yu turned around. “Excuse me, sir, this is the women’s restroom.”

The man stepped closer, towering over her. There was something familiar about him. Chu Yu took a step back, but he spoke, his voice cold and low: “I know.”

Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner, out of sight. He pushed her into a maintenance closet and locked the door. Anger, fear, and a dozen other emotions surged through her. She swung her fist at him, hitting him hard in the dark. How dare he? How dare he disrupt her life like this, reappearing just as she was starting to forget him?

Lu Zimo grunted, taking the hit without flinching. He caught her wrist before she could strike again, pulling her into his chest. “Enough.”

Enough? Did he think she was just going to roll over and take this? Chu Yu struggled, but he held her firmly, pinning her against the wall. His body pressed against hers, his thigh sliding between her legs to keep her from kicking him. His breath was hot against her ear as he growled, “I said enough!”

Chu Yu froze. His grip on her wrists tightened, holding them above her head, while his other arm wrapped around her waist. The familiarity of his touch, the danger in his presence, sent a shiver through her. The memories of their past encounters flooded back, and she was acutely aware of how close he was, how his body heat enveloped her.