Huo Shao Ting's eyes were cold. He took out his phone and showed him the photos: "Saving people, resolving things."
Simple and to the point, leaving Lu Hong speechless.
Lu Hong looked at the photos on the phone, his expression also becoming grave. He also realized the gravity of the situation.
"Rescuing from the balcony is indeed the safest approach, but I'll need some time to mobilize without protective measures."
Huo Shao Ting glanced outside. He could only rescue from the floor above, as the distance between balconies on the first floor was too far.
But they couldn't wait for Lu Hong's people to arrive. The door wouldn't hold for long.
"There's no time. Have someone from building management bring safety ropes. Once I succeed here, immediately control the people in the room. I don't want this getting out of hand."
His voice was cold as he instructed. The property manager soon arrived, also realizing something was terribly wrong from the scene.
After all, Huo Shao Ting was one of the top figures in Shenjing. His reputation preceded him.
Lu Hong of course knew this couldn't escalate. He promptly ordered his colleagues while Huo Shao Ting brought his security team to get ropes and go upstairs.
Though this was a high-end residential complex, occupancy wasn't too high on this floor, so entering was quick.
The security swiftly set up the safety ropes. Huo Shao Ting walked onto the balcony and leaned over. "Rong Dai?"
Rong Dai was curled up in a corner, eyes fixed on the room's sliding glass door where a large hole had been smashed open.
She could clearly see Zuo Ran's smug expression. Zuo Ran's crazed gaze made her hands and feet go cold.
There were also seven or eight brawny men with tattooed arms inside, clearly gangsters.
If she fell into their hands, it would be a fate worse than death!
She didn't dare imagine what would have happened if she hadn't urgently called Huo Shao Ting for help.
Hearing Huo Shao Ting's voice suddenly, she felt as if she had crossed worlds. Tears instantly welled up uncontrollably.
"Huo Shao Ting, you came!"
She looked up at him eagerly, tears streaming down her face. When she first returned to the past, she had felt this man was cold. But now, seeing him, her heart was filled with a sense of security, of warmth.
"Are you okay? What's the situation inside?"
This was the first time Huo Shao Ting had seen her so panicked, face covered in tears. Something squeezed painfully in his chest, and his brows furrowed more severely!
But his tone remained gentle, as if soothing a child, afraid to startle her.
Rong Dai quickly shook her head, tears flowing nonstop.
"I...I'm fine. They already smashed a big hole in the door." Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
Though the inner palace in her past life had been sinister and dangerous, she had never encountered such peril. No matter how calm and clever she was, she was afraid.
Huo Shao Ting's eyes were deep. Seeing her panic, tattered and bloodied, fury churned inside him!
"Don't panic. I'll save you. You'll be safe."
Huo Shao Ting looked at her, keeping his voice gentle.
The security also lowered the prepared safety ropes. Rong Dai nodded and reached for the rope with trembling hands. When she saw the view below, she felt dizzy and stumbled.
Huo Shao Ting watched closely from above, immediately frowning. He turned and asked the security, "Two people should be fine, but we need to be quick, or they could grab her and it'd be big trouble."
"Boss, let me go down," his assistant Zhang said at once. Before becoming Huo's assistant, Zhang had been a famous security professional.
Huo Shao Ting ignored him and started unbuttoning his shirt, tossing his suit jacket to Zhang.
"Boss, it's too dangerous. We're your security. We can't let you take the risk. We'll safely rescue Madam."
The security tried to stop him as well.
But Huo Shao Ting loosened his tie and took off his shoes, giving them a sharp look. "Do your jobs." Then he strapped on the rope.
Though the security wanted to protest further, Zhang stopped them with a look.
He realized the boss wouldn't feel assured unless he went himself.
Besides, the boss had received extensive training. His abilities weren't in doubt.
Huo Shao Ting quickly rappelled down the balcony. Rong Dai hadn't expected him to come and threw herself into his arms when she smelled his familiar crisp scent, propriety be damned.
Clinging tightly to him, she didn't say a word. The sense of security filled her entirely.
"It's okay now," Huo Shao Ting said, not having expected her to actively hug him. Her shoe stepped on his bare foot, making him frown slightly. Still, he gently stroked her hair.
Only now did he realize her head had been smashed and blood had just congealed.
He looked back at the room, eyes cold at the photos on the wall.
"Let's leave here first."
He spoke lowly, crouching to strap the rope around her slender waist. One big hand held her tightly against his chest. Rong Dai also clung to him, not daring to look down.
Seeing this, Zuo Ran inside flew into a rage. The thugs started wildly kicking the battered door, soon kicking it apart completely.
Zuo Ran charged out like a madwoman, screaming, "Rong Dai, you cheap slut! How dare you seduce a man!"
She howled and grabbed at Rong Dai's legs.
Rong Dai panicked and reflexively kicked her in the forehead, sending her shoe flying!
"Faster!" Zhang urged anxiously from above. The trained security quickly pulled them up.
"You cheap slut! Just you wait! I'll kill you!"
Zuo Ran clutched her bleeding forehead, eyes blazing with fury at the two before storming off the balcony.
"Boss, give me your hand!" Zhang yelled, scared witless, hurriedly reaching to pull them up.
"Get Madam up first," Huo Shao Ting said calmly, waiting until Rong Dai was safe before climbing up himself.
Only when her feet touched the floor did Rong Dai come back to her senses—she had been saved.
Remembering the perilous scene, her legs went weak and she stumbled. Huo Shao Ting quickly caught her.
"It's over. Don't worry, it'll be handled. Trust me." Despite his confusion, his voice was gentle.
Teary-eyed, Rong Dai leaned against him and nodded before fainting away.
