On the day of graduation, I was dragged by my rich father to get the certificate

Gu Wan nodded and suddenly grabbed Si Yehan's arm. "Wait, how did so many people get in?"

Si Yehan raised his lips slightly and pointed at the ceiling. "The Nangong residence was built in 1927. Buildings back then had ventilation duct systems." A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Besides, what do you think I've been doing these days? I've already thoroughly studied every inch of the Nangong family."

A soft click came from the door, and Si Yehan immediately shielded Gu Wan behind him. The door lock was pried open, and a man in black flashed in. "Young Master Si, the surveillance has been jammed, but we must hurry. The body double won't hold out for much longer."

Si Yehan nodded and turned to Gu Wan: "Let's go."

Gu Wan was about to take a step when she suddenly remembered something: "Wait!" She grabbed Si Yehan and said, "Mother...she's been suspicious for a long time. She didn't even go to the charity dinner tonight! This is a trap!"

Si Yehan's eyes instantly grew sharp. Gu Wan's face paled. "She's waiting for you somewhere in the house right now!"

Suddenly, a rapid alarm blared from Si Yehan's communicator: "Young Master Si, Nangong Xuan's signal source has been detected. She's heading towards the main building!"

Si Yehan cursed and quickly adjusted his plan. "Change route. Go down the east stairs and head straight to the garage." He squeezed Gu Wan's hand tightly. "No matter what happens, stay with me."

As they stepped out of the door, the alarm in the entire building suddenly blared. In the distance, there were chaotic footsteps and shouts: "They are on the west side! Everyone follow me!"

Si Yehan dragged Gu Wan quickly down the corridor when two armed bodyguards suddenly rushed out from the corner. Si Yehan reacted quickly, firing two shots, each accurately hitting the wrist. The bodyguards screamed and dropped their weapons.

"Walk!"

As they rushed to the corner of the third floor, they heard Nian Nian crying downstairs. Gu Wan's heart suddenly tightened. "It's Nian Nian!" She broke free from Si Yehan's hand and rushed downstairs.

Si Yehan grabbed her and said, "Wait!" But it was too late. Gu Wan had already run down the stairs.

Facing the cold muzzle of Nangong Xuan's gun.

"I should have known," Nangong Xuan said, her red lips parted, "that the Si family's bastard would crawl out of its hole like a rat."

Si Yehan slowly walked down the stairs and stood in front of Gu Wan. "Madam Nangong, if you have any complaints, just come to me."

Nangong Xuan sneered, the gun still motionless: "Put down your weapon, or I will have someone kill that little bastard immediately."

Gu Wan trembled all over: "Mother! Nian Nian is your granddaughter!"

"Shut up!" Nangong Xuan shouted, "When you betrayed the Nangong family, you should have thought about this day!"

A hurried voice came from Si Yehan's communicator: "Master Si, we've found the young lady, but the situation is complicated..."

Nangong Xuan had obviously heard it, and she let out a confident smile, "Liang Heng has already led his men to capture your people. Si Yehan, do you think you're the only one with a backup plan?"

At that moment, the lights in the entire building suddenly went out. In the darkness, Si Yehan lunged at Nangong Xuan. Gunshots rang out, and Gu Wan screamed and groped for help.

"Gu Wan! Hurry!" Si Yehan shouted during the fight. "Go to the study on the second floor. The secret passage is behind the bookshelf!"

Gu Wan hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and turned to rush to the second floor. Behind him came Nangong Xuan's hysterical roar, "Nangong Wan, you are not allowed to leave!" Then another gunshot rang out.

Gu Wan's heart was bleeding, but she knew the most important thing now was to rescue Nian Nian. Only when Nian Nian was safe could Si Yehan be free from worries.

The study door was locked. Gu Wan took two steps back and kicked at the lock with all her might. Once, twice... the door finally opened.

She stumbled towards the bookshelf and moved it with force, revealing a dark passage behind it.

"Mom?" A timid voice came from the darkness.

Gu Wan's tears welled up in her eyes: "Niannian! My baby!" She rushed into the corridor and hugged her daughter tightly in her arms.

Deep in the passage, a man in black lay beside an unconscious nanny. "Miss Gu, we must leave immediately. Master Si has instructed that no matter what happens, we must first ensure the safety of you and the young lady."

Gu Wan shook her head: "No, I can't leave him!"

The man in black looked embarrassed: "This..."

"You take Nian Nian away first, I have to go back to find him!" Gu Wan said as he was about to leave.

"I'm sorry!" The man in black knocked Gu Wan unconscious. "I'm sorry, Miss Gu. Master Si has instructed us to get you out safely no matter what."

As they left through the secret passage, the entire Nangong mansion echoed with the sound of sirens and gunfire. Nian Nian looked at her unconscious mother, tears welling in her eyes: "Dad, where are you? Mom and I need you!"

At the end of the secret passage stood a black SUV. The rain intensified, with bean-sized raindrops pounding down one by one, causing pain. Gu Wan was also woken by the rain.

Just as she was clamoring to go back and save Si Yehan, she suddenly heard a deafening explosion in the distance—flames shot up into the sky from the main building of the Nangong mansion.

"No——!" Gu Wan screamed heartbreakingly and was about to rush back.

The man in black held her tightly: "Miss Gu! Master Si has instructed that no matter what happens, you cannot go back."

Gu Wan knelt in the rain, gazing at the distant fire, tears mingling with the rain. She couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to either Si Yehan or Nangong Xuan in the old house.

At this moment, a small voice whispered in her ear: "Dad will be fine. He promised to take us away and he will do it, right?"

"…Um!"

The rain poured down in torrents, shrouding the entire world in a hazy curtain of water. Si Yehan felt a sharp pain in his left arm. The bullet wound had been washed white by the rain, and blood mixed with the water dripped down continuously. He gritted his teeth and dragged his heavy steps, each step feeling like treading on the edge of a knife.

"dad!"

A childish voice pierced the sound of the rain. Si Yehan looked up and saw six-year-old Nian Nian standing on the road not far away, her small hand tightly clutching the hem of Gu Wan's clothes. Gu Wan's back was to him, her slender figure looking particularly frail in the rain.

"Nian Nian..." Si Yehan's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

Gu Wan turned abruptly, raindrops streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't tell if they were tears or rain. When she caught sight of Si Yehan, her forcedly calm eyes lit up.

"Ye Han!" She almost flew over and crashed into his arms.

Si Yehan held her tightly with his uninjured right arm, feeling her trembling body. Gu Wan buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

"You're okay... That's great..." Gu Wan's voice was choked with sobs, and her hands groped behind his back to make sure he was okay.

But this tenderness only lasted a moment. Gu Wan suddenly raised her head, and the rain dripped down her eyelashes: "Is my mother okay?"