How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

The little snake led the way, and Qingru led the four of them along a path completely opposite to that of the people from the yarn factory.

Although the cave was pitch black, the small snake's eerie green eyes guided the four of them.

The voices of the people in the yarn factory faded into the distance, but the view of Qingru and the other three gradually brightened.

"We're out? We're out!" Qiu Shuang exclaimed, almost in disbelief. How could such a dangerous situation have passed in the blink of an eye?

They finally left the cave, leaving the cotton mill pursuers far behind.

Although it was late, the air outside was so fresh, the grass and flowers were fragrant, and the sunset painted the sky. The four girls were so excited by their long-awaited freedom that tears welled up in their eyes.

Qingru was also very happy, but she was not completely at ease. After a brief period of happiness, she looked around at the unfamiliar environment with worry, trying to figure out where she was.

As far as the eye could see, there was a towering mountain, and before me lay a dense forest, with few traces of human activity in the surrounding area. Perhaps this was Qingdai Mountain, but I hadn't yet seen any familiar scenery.

Qingru recalled her previous experience of being trapped in the cave and secretly rejoiced. If they hadn't encountered that little snake, they might have already been taken back to the yarn factory.

Speaking of the little snake, "Where is that little snake?"

After coming out, the little snake was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know, I just suddenly stopped seeing him," Xiao Fuzi said, puzzled.

Qingru frowned, feeling that something was off. "What a pity about that little snake..." If only she could take it with her, if only she could tame it, it could do so many things.

Looking once more at the cave where they had just hidden, Qingru was filled with emotion. Without lingering any longer, she called to them, "Let's go."

Not knowing what the outside world was like, it was inappropriate to take them to the Guo residence, so Qingru decided to take them back to her own home first.

No one has been to the Lü family home for a long time, so it's a good place for them to stay. Once things are settled, we'll figure out a way to send them back to their own homes.

No one in the yarn factory could have imagined that they would go to Sifang City.

Qingru told them what she was going to do, and none of them objected, since they had nowhere else to go.

The three girls had never seen the outside world before, and they were very excited when they heard that they were going to the city.

Using the water, the group tidied themselves up. Although they still looked haggard, they were clean and tidy, no longer the disheveled, grimy figures they had just escaped from the textile factory. Moreover, Qingru guided them in styling their hair in fashionable ways. After confirming that everything was in order, they headed hand in hand towards Sifang City.

When she entered the city, she had already told the guards at the city gate to inform Guo Zixing that she had returned.

The city gate guards were quite familiar with Qingru, and upon hearing that she had returned, they immediately rushed over.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qingru waiting for him at the intersection.

"Miss Lü, you're finally back. Chief Zhang instructed me to report to the police station if you returned on your own," the city gate guard said with concern.

Qingru asked in surprise, "How did Chief Zhang know I was coming back today?"

"Well, I'm not entirely sure either, but since Officer Zhang has given these instructions, I can't afford to be negligent," the city gate guard explained.

Qingru nodded to indicate that she understood, thanked the city gate guards, and then led her people toward the police station.

"Is this the market outside? It's so bustling! Much more lively than where we live!" Qiu Shuang exclaimed.

Guiying and Xiaofuzi were also very excited, though a little reserved.

Qingru chuckled softly: "You didn't have the chance to come out before, but you'll definitely be even happier when you have more opportunities in the future."

Officer Zhang, dressed in his uniform, sat with his legs crossed on his desk, listlessly flipping through documents.

"Who is it?" Hearing the knock on the door, Officer Zhang responded lazily, then looked up at the person who came in, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and put down the documents to greet Qingru.

Chief Zhang laughed and said, "Oh, you little rascal, I was so worried about you. You're finally back."

Walking up to Qingru, he looked Guiying and the other two up and down and asked, "Why didn't you send any messages these past two days? So you came back on your own. Why didn't you let us know in advance? What if something had happened to you?"

A hint of suspicion flashed in Qingru's eyes. "Didn't you send a message? I did! Meet me at four in the morning on the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, at the foot of Qingdai Mountain. How come you didn't know?"

Officer Zhang's eyes widened upon hearing this: "What did you say? Four o'clock in the morning on the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month?"

"Yes, see you at the foot of Qingdai Mountain," Qingru repeated.

"I didn't receive any message at all. Could it have only been given to Zhang Xun?" Chief Zhang was also puzzled.

Qingru was slightly taken aback. "How could that be?" She clearly delivered the message, and twice at that. There was no mistake. If they didn't receive the message, then who discussed it with her, and to whom was the message delivered?

Could it be that Zhang Yan lied to her? Qingru thought about it for a moment, but it was unlikely. Both of her brothers worked for Guo Zixing, so there was no reason for them to deceive her.

However, since he had only contacted Zhang Yan, and only she knew his whereabouts, if something went wrong, it could only mean that Zhang Yan was the one with the problem.

Sergeant Zhang also realized this and immediately looked at Qingru, his eyes widening as he asked, "Has something happened to my little sister?!"

"This... I don't know. I did what I agreed on at the time. I saw her at the yarn factory the day before I left, and then I don't know anything about her." Qingru frowned. So that's why she didn't get Guo Zixing's help.

I wonder what happened to Zhang Yan?

"Damn it!" Sergeant Zhang cursed, turned and rushed out of the house, saying as he ran, "Get the car ready, I'm going home!"

Seeing Officer Zhang's anxious look, Qingru quickly grabbed him, "I'll go with you!"

"Okay!" Officer Zhang agreed.

After entrusting Guiying and the other two to San'er's care, Qingru and Chief Zhang hurriedly got into the car and drove towards the Zhang family's house.

On the way, Chief Zhang's expression shifted between anger and worry. Qingru, unsure how to comfort him, was also unsure what had happened.

Upon arriving at the Zhang family's residence, Chief Zhang anxiously strode out of the car and grabbed the old man guarding the gate, asking him about Zhang Yan's whereabouts.

"Miss...Miss didn't come home last night!" The old man was startled and said, trembling.

"What?! Why didn't you say so sooner?" Chief Inspector Zhang was taken aback.

"It was Miss's order not to say."

Sergeant Zhang shoved the old man aside, his anger barely contained.

Qingru comforted her, "Perhaps... you went to one of your girlfriends' houses and were afraid you'd find out. It's normal for young people to be playful sometimes."

"Impossible. My younger sister has always been family-oriented and trustworthy. Since she agreed to be an inside agent, she wouldn't give up halfway." Officer Zhang denied Qingru's speculation.

Qingru followed Chief Zhang upstairs in a hurry and found Zhang Yan's room. The clothes on the bed were still neatly folded, indicating that the owner had not been with her the night before.

A strong sense of panic rose in Chief Zhang's heart. He hurriedly searched the study, but still found no trace of it.

"What should we do?" Qingru asked.

Chief Zhang fell silent. Zhang Yan was his most beloved little sister, and she absolutely could not be harmed.

But at this moment... Chief Zhang had some guesses in his mind.

"Let's go find Young Master Guo first," Chief Zhang said, already taking a step forward.

The two headed straight for the Marshal's Mansion.