Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

"By the way, where's Zhao Sisi? Isn't she going to the company?" Yang Mo found it odd. Usually when Lin Yanhe went to the company, she went with Zhao Sisi—why was she alone today?

"Zhao Sisi?" Chen Shutang shot Yang Puqi a glance. "It's all because of you."

"Because of me? What do I have to do with it?" Yang Mo was baffled; he couldn't see what connection Zhao Sisi could possibly have with him.

"Zhang Bin learned from you and found himself another lover, so of course Zhao Sisi went to have a talk with that little vixen," Chen Shutang said. But then, realizing Lin Yanhe was right beside her and that what she had just said was a bit inappropriate, she quickly added, "Sister Lin, I didn't mean you—please don't get the wrong idea."

"Mm, I know." Lin Yanhe naturally understood that Chen Shutang wouldn't be making veiled accusations against her. Lin Yanhe knew Chen Shutang's temper well enough—though she could be a little proud at times, she was kind at heart.

"How could this be learning from me?" Yang Jincong laughed. "That Zhang Bin was up to no good back in high school—he was always egging me on to go have one-night stands. Good thing my heart held only you back then, so I wasn't led astray."

Chen Shutang and Lin Yanhe both couldn't help laughing at Yang Juehuan's words. Chen Shutang had only been speaking offhandedly to begin with and hadn't meant to blame Yang Juehuan at all.

When they reached the company, the three of them went in together. After that big fire, the company's storefront had been renovated and looked brand new, though the interior hadn't changed much. Lin Yanhe's office was still on the second floor behind the glass partition.

"President Lin, Mr. Yang," the company staff greeted Lin Yanhe and Yan one after another. That Yang Ce was the company's investor was no secret—most of the company's senior management knew—so they were equally courteous to Yang Ce upon seeing him. As for Chen Shutang, most people had never met her, but seeing her walking alongside Lin Yanhe, they nodded to her in friendly greeting.

"President Lin, the proceeds from the direct-sale store this morning—" The company's accountant hurried over when she saw Lin Yanhe arrive. "President Zhao didn't come today?"

The company's daily proceeds were always Zhao Sisi's responsibility to deposit at the bank, but today Zhao Sisi hadn't come, so the accountant had sought out Lin Yanhe to ask what should be done.

"I'll go," Lin Yanhe said with a nod, as she naturally knew about this matter too.

The direct-sale store on the commercial street generated a considerable amount of cash every day. Because the sum was rather large and not safe to keep all at the company, it was deposited at the bank each day.

The accountant counted out the day's proceeds in front of Lin Yanhe, packed them into a small briefcase, and handed it to her.

"Yang Ce, Sister Mengyan, I'm going to the bank. Wait for me at the company," Lin Yanhe said after taking the briefcase.

"Let me drive you," Yang Yanzhou said. "It's not very safe for a girl to carry that much money alone."

"It's fine. Zhao Sisi goes by herself every day," Lin Yanhe said with a smile. "The commercial street is quite crowded—there won't be any danger."

"Come on, don't you remember getting robbed on the commercial street?" Yang Ce shook his head. "I'm not willing to take that risk, and besides, it's no trouble at all."

Lin Yanhe had no choice but to nod and agree to let Yang Ce come along. As for Chen Shutang, she wasn't very familiar with the company's business and had nothing to do sitting there alone, so she accompanied Lin Yanhe to the bank as well.

Seeing Yang Ce pull out the car's remote, Lin Yanhe found it strange. "Yang Ce, the bank is just up ahead—there's no need to drive."

"Get in. It's no trouble either way." Yang Ce pressed the remote unlock and spoke.

Though Lin Yanhe thought Yang Ce was making a fuss over nothing, she got into the car with Chen Shutang all the same.

On the way to the company earlier they had passed a bank, the nearest one to this area, and she supposed Zhao Sisi must have opened her account here too. Sure enough, Yang Ce did not ask; after he parked, Lin Yanhe pulled the door open as naturally as could be and walked toward the bank. This had to be the one.

At noon the bank was not very crowded. Lin Yanhe took a number; only three people were ahead of her. Just as the speaker called out her number, a tremendous crash came from the bank entrance, and in the next instant alarms blared and the whole bank dissolved into chaos—those making withdrawals, those who had just finished, those conducting business, those who had just finished, those waiting, and everyone else froze on the spot for a heartbeat. Then three figures in black overcoats and black ski masks came charging into the bank.

The first alarm had been triggered when one of them smashed the surveillance camera by the door, but the wailing had no effect whatsoever on their movements. One of the three carried an AK-47-style submachine gun; the other two each held a compact Type 54 pistol.

The burly man with the submachine gun led the charge into the bank, putting two rounds into the cameras mounted in the left and right corners. The accuracy of his shooting was enough to make one's jaw drop.

"Nobody move!"

Only after the other two had entered the bank and taken up positions flanking the big man, one to each side, did he bellow the order.

In truth, he need not have spoken at all; everyone inside was already frozen in bewilderment. The bank guard, though, was wavering over whether he ought to do something—after all, he was the only one present with any capacity to put up a fight.

But the guard's hand had barely moved toward his waist when a single shot rang out—"bang"—and a bullet struck him square in the brow, fired by the gunman on the right. He dropped to the floor without so much as a grunt.

"Ahhh!" Customers and staff alike were petrified, and a chorus of terrified screams broke out.

Yang Ce frowned. These robbers were a little too professional. Submachine guns were rare enough, true, but robbers with connections could still get their hands on them; that in itself was nothing. What made him suspicious was the sheer accuracy of their marksmanship—every shot found its mark.

Through the eyeholes of their masks, Yang Ce saw three expressionless faces, eyes brimming with cold severity. Nothing special about them—three very ordinary men.

"Shut your mouths, all of you," the man with the submachine gun said coldly. "Unless you want to end up like him, stand still and don't move."

The words seemed to work like magic; everyone who heard them clamped their mouths shut and did not dare make a sound. No one wanted to be the second guard. These people clearly fired without a moment's hesitation, without even blinking—no one dared try anything.

"Listen up, all you customers in the bank—none of this concerns you. Get over to that side, all of you, hands on your heads, squat down on the floor. Otherwise, don't blame me for getting rough." The man with the submachine gun was pleased with the scene before him. He gestured with the muzzle toward one side of the bank as he spoke to the customers.

"Yang Ce, what do we do?" Chen Shutang and Lin Yanhe clung tightly to Yang Ce's hands, one on each side. By now Chen Shutang's forehead was drenched in sweat.

"It's all right. Let's watch and see." Yang Ce was hesitating over whether he ought to act. Arrogant as he was, he was no fool; all three men were armed with firearms, and to take them on bare-handed would be suicide.