Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Encountering an Ambush

Lu Zhaochuan lowered his gaze to glance at his own hand upon hearing this, but in the end, he said nothing more, tacitly consenting.

With a bright smile, Lin Yihuan immediately sent a photo in the chat with Lin Zhiyu.

By the time Lin Zhiyu arrived at the laboratory, Fang Li had already confiscated her phone to facilitate sample collection.

She followed the doctor, walking steadily deeper into the lab.

Though she had mentally prepared herself beforehand, facing the familiar surroundings still awakened painful memories that assailed her.

Frowning, she instinctively slowed her pace. As the doctor began to speak, she suddenly grabbed Shen Du’s sleeve as if startled.

“It’s nothing; we just need to extract some samples. It won’t hurt you,” Shen Du said in a noticeably gentler tone, with a hint of coaxing.

Lin Zhiyu nodded silently without further protest.

The doctor stopped before her and smiled politely. “Miss Lin, if you’re ready, please come in with me.”

Lin Zhiyu didn’t move but instead turned to Shen Du. “Can you stay with me?”

For some reason, having Shen Du by her side gave her a great sense of comfort.

Shen Du raised his eyebrows slightly, then nodded after a moment’s thought.

Striding forward, he actually followed her into the collection room.

Seeing the long needle, Lin Zhiyu tightened her grip on Shen Du’s wrist.

She bit her lip hard, trying to steady her nerves.

At that moment, the doctor had already inserted the needle into her body.

Enduring the ordeal, Lin Zhiyu breathed cautiously and silently.

“All done. Mr. Shen and Miss Lin, please wait here. I’ll go check inside,” the doctor said as he withdrew the needle.

Lin Zhiyu exhaled deeply but remained silent, her face pale.

Shen Du gently patted the back of her hand in reassurance.

The doctor disappeared inside for quite some time, appearing again after what felt like an eternity.

Holding a report, he approached Shen Du with a troubled expression.

“Just be straightforward,” Shen Du said flatly, seemingly already anticipating the outcome.

“It’s like this. Miss Lin’s body still contains residual samples from the previous experiment. If you want to proceed with the test, it must be with her consent—these samples cannot be transferred to another person’s body. However…” The doctor glanced with concern at Lin Zhiyu.

“Miss Lin’s body hasn’t fully recovered yet and is severely depleted. What she needs most now is rest. Forcing the experiment could be dangerous…”

Lin Zhiyu listened silently, showing no sign of refusal.

She knew well she had no grounds to object.

If Shen Du insisted on proceeding, she might not even have the chance to speak up.

“Since her body won’t allow it, we’ll wait until she’s ready,” Shen Du finally said calmly.

Lin Zhiyu looked at him silently, her gaze lingering.

To her, the Shen family was known for their ruthlessness and willingness to use any means to achieve their goals. If that were true, wouldn’t he have ordered the experiment to begin immediately?

“What are you staring at? I told you to rest—are you unwilling?” Shen Du’s cold words cut through her thoughts.

He then rose from his chair.

“You heard the doctor. Cooperate with the prescribed nutrition plan and get well quickly. Once the experiment finishes, you can get your money and start anew.”

Lin Zhiyu acknowledged the logic in his words and followed silently as he led her out.

By the time they left the lab, night had fallen.

“Boss, there’s nothing else today. We can head back to rest. Tomorrow, we need to go to the company,” Fang Li said, driving and arranging recent matters.

Shen Du did not reply but glanced at the rearview mirror.

Before he could say anything, Fang Li sensed something amiss.

“The black car has been tailing us since we left,” he said grimly, pressing the accelerator.

Lin Zhiyu instinctively gripped the handle, trying to steady herself.

Shen Du’s expression darkened as well.

No matter how fast they went, the car behind wouldn’t lose them; in fact, it closed the distance.

A cold sweat broke out on Fang Li’s forehead. This was becoming tricky.

“Take the bridge,” Shen Du suddenly ordered.

Fang Li nodded and floored the gas, driving up onto the bridge.

The black car pursued relentlessly.

It pressed Shen Du’s vehicle into a corner, seemingly intent on forcing it to stop.

If they refused, the only option would be to force the pursuer off the bridge into the river.

Fang Li frowned, gripping the wheel tightly.

Lin Zhiyu felt nauseous from the jolting. Looking down, she noticed her phone had fallen.

As if struck by an idea, she picked it up and said to Fang Li, “Ram them!”

Fang Li was puzzled but nodded and then slammed into the black car.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Zhiyu switched on the flashlight and shone it into the rearview mirror.

The blinding light momentarily stunned the driver.

Taking advantage, Shen Du stood from the passenger seat, turned the wheel sharply, and crashed into the pursuer’s front.

The black car immediately broke through the guardrail and plunged into the icy river below.

Fang Li quickly stopped the car, panting slightly.

Shen Du glanced at Lin Zhiyu, who was still shaken, and though he said nothing, a trace of admiration flickered in his eyes.

“Boss, I’ve already arranged for reinforcements. Would you and Miss Lin like to head back? I’ll handle things here.”

As he spoke, another vehicle pulled up beside Shen Du’s car.

Shen Du nodded faintly and then got in with Lin Zhiyu, departing.

Back at the villa, Lin Zhiyu felt utterly exhausted. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take a shower first.”

She asked Shen Du.

“Go ahead,” he replied, idly toying with his phone, lost in thought.

Lin Zhiyu went upstairs. After showering, she lay on the bed for a while before remembering her phone was still with Fang Li.

Hesitating, she got up to check if Fang Li had returned.

But just as she reached the stairwell’s corner, she heard the sound of repeated kowtowing and desperate pleading.

“I really don’t know anything! Please, spare me! I beg you!”

Shen Du’s eyes bore contempt and amusement as he rose suddenly and thrust a knife violently into the man’s body.

“You should know the consequences of crossing me. What use is your begging now?”

The man trembled, coughing up blood, unable to utter another word.

Lin Zhiyu witnessed this scene, her hand flying to her mouth in disbelief, her face pale and filled with shock.