Although this shop was deep in the alley, its business was unusually good.
The shop owner was even able to recognize Lu Nianzhi, apparently Lu Nianzhi was a regular customer here before.
Rong Dai hadn't been able to enjoy good food properly for a period of time. This hot pot meal with Lu Nianzhi was eaten with great enjoyment.
After eating their fill, the two sat on chairs to rest.
"Nianzhi?"
While the two were chatting, a deep male voice sounded behind them.
Rong Dai saw Lu Nianzhi's body suddenly tense up when she heard this voice, and her face also froze and turned cold.
She looked back and saw a man in his mid-thirties.
The man was good-looking, wore a tailored suit, mature and restrained, and looked somewhat scholarly.
He looked at Lu Nianzhi with a gaze that was very surprised, and even a little delighted.
“Rong Dai, go back first, I’ll be back soon!”
Before Rong Dai could ask, Lu Nianzhi, as if startled, grabbed her bag and stuffed it into her arms, while pushing her out.
Rong Dai didn't understand, but she could see there was history between Lu Nianzhi and this man.
She had never been a gossipy person, so carrying her bag, she nodded and left the restaurant.
The old alley still retained its original hutong style. It was already spring weather, but not as cold as before.
And after eating such spicy food, she broke into a sweat after walking a few steps.
Rong Dai didn't take a taxi back immediately, but strolled aimlessly on the street with her bag, curiously looking around at everything.
She had been in this world for a long time, but hadn't had a chance to tour around properly.
The sky had not completely darkened, but the street lamps on both sides were already on.
Under the warm yellow street lamps, the faces of the passersby looked hurried.
She gathered her collar, looking at these passersby, it made her miss Huo Shao Ting by her side even more.
Although it hadn't even been a year, this man seemed to have been imprinted on her soul, unable to be separated.
There were many small shops in the alley, most of them selling antiques.
Rong Dai was quite familiar with these objects, so she couldn't help but walk in to take a closer look.
Just as she was engrossed, the bag in her hand was suddenly violently snatched away!
Her body stumbled, and by the time she regained her senses, she heard a customer next to her shouting, "Robbery!"
Only then did she react that her bag had been snatched!
Her phone, keys and other things were inside, as well as a piece of jewelry she had taken a liking to when shopping with Lu Nianzhi earlier.
These were not the most important things. What was important was that there were photos of Huo Shao Ting on her phone!
If she lost her phone, she could buy a new one, but the photos would be gone!
"Stop right there!"
Rong Dai turned pale with anxiety. Disregarding her image, she gave chase.
Some of the customers reacted and tried to help, but the thief ran very fast and disappeared after a few steps.
Rong Dai was so angry her face turned green. She stood propped on her knees, panting for breath.
"Over there!"
Someone shouted loudly. Rong Dai quickly looked over to where he pointed. Sure enough, she saw her bag being waved around in the air.
Without thinking too much, she took a deep breath and chased after it!
But Rong Dai didn't notice that there were almost no pedestrians in the alley she was chasing into, and the street lights weren't very bright either.
By the time Rong Dai realized something was wrong, it was too late.
Two burly men rushed out from the dark alley. A white towel covered her nose and mouth, and she lost consciousness before she could react.
When Rong Dai gradually awoke, it was pitch black all around, and there was a musty smell in the air.
It was an unfamiliar room, and her hands and feet were tied up. Even a fool would know that she had been kidnapped!
Thinking of Zuo Ran's madness from before, her limbs turned icy cold.
She strained to listen for sounds in the darkness, but there was nothing.
Other than silence, there was only silence.
No urban clamor, no sound of vehicles either.
She was probably no longer in the city.
Rong Dai quickly analyzed the situation in her mind, and didn't dare struggle too hard.
Her hands were tied very tightly, and her legs were also bound in square knots.
Such a secure tying method truly left her helpless.
Snap!
Suddenly the lights in the room came on.
Rong Dai, who had gotten used to the darkness, instinctively squinted her eyes and raised her arm to shield herself from the glaring ceiling light.
"Drink this!"
Before she could get a clear look at her surroundings, an old woman walked over to the bed with a bowl of water, her voice as coarse as sandpaper, making Rong Dai's scalp tingle.
Looking at the old woman before her with weather-beaten skin and blind in one eye, Rong Dai felt a surge of wariness.
"Grandma, where...is this place?"
The blind old woman put the bowl down, splashing some water onto the floor.
"What's the use of asking so much? You can't get out of here. You might as well give up thinking about it, lest you make trouble for yourself."
"This is in the mountains. Without me to lead the way, there's no way you can get out."
The blind old woman climbed onto the kang with her extremely rough hands.
Rong Dai stared at her. She did not doubt the woman's words.
From her bag being snatched to now, everything had been premeditated.
By leaving her here with a blind old woman to guard her, it was evident that they were certain she could not escape.
Of course Rong Dai was not so foolish as to rashly try to flee before figuring out her bearings and her captors' motives.
"It's late, go to sleep now."
The blind old woman urged her, then wrapped herself in a quilt and went straight to sleep.
Naturally, Rong Dai could not sleep. She could only hope Lu Nianzhi would discover her missing soon.
This blind old woman did not seem to pose a threat for the time being, at least not before her captors achieved their aim. They would not harm her.
As her mind lingered over the day's events, it was not until the sky began to lighten that she closed her eyes to nap briefly.
After a short while, she heard the sounds of the blind granny getting up, chopping firewood, boiling water, and making breakfast.
She opened her eyes. Last night she hadn't had a chance to check out the room. Now she saw that the house was very old. Through the window, she saw the woods outside.
As it had just turned spring, there were only sprouts. No wonder she hadn't heard a single sound last night.
She had been dumped in the mountains!
Rong Dai frowned. Recalling yesterday's incident, it had all happened too suddenly!
Fortunately, she had just been left here. If she hadn't guessed wrong, this blind old woman was probably a forest ranger or the like.
Luckily she hadn't been sold off.
Rong Dai felt a chill. Her heart ached more and more for Huo Shao Ting.
But she had to find a way to get out of this goddamn place fast.
The blind granny had stated categorically last night that she was very confident Rong Dai could not escape from these mountains.
But Rong Dai had her ways. In her past life, she had been a tigeress of a prestigious family. Even though she had been an Empress for thirty years, and a prince's consort for several years, some things, once learned, were engraved in one's bones.
