The next day.
Pu Yu was woken by her phone vibrating.
Still groggy, she felt around for her phone. Sister Chen's incoming call flashed on the screen.
Her heart jolted, and she was instantly wide awake.
"Miss Su, Boss Zhao has news!"
Sister Chen's voice brimmed with barely contained excitement. "They found Yuan Hongzheng! He was hiding in a village in the next county. Boss Zhao has already sent people to 'invite' him over. They should have him back by this afternoon!"
Pu Yu bolted upright, her heart practically leaping into her throat.
"What time? Where?"
"Three this afternoon, the Old Place," Sister Chen said. "Boss Zhao said to bring the money. You'll count it out and settle up in person."
Even after hanging up, Pu Yu was still struggling to take it in.
She stood up, walked to the mirror, and looked at her reflection.
Her face was still young, even a little childlike.
But her eyes were different from a week ago.
There was anxiety in them, and fear.
But there was also the resolve of someone who had burned her boats.
After washing up, Pu Yu put on the same cape dress with the bow. She had no money left to buy another expensive outfit.
Five neat bundles of cash lay in her pearl bag.
Was it enough?
No.
But it was all she could scrape together.
Besides that, she had hidden a fruit knife she had prepared long ago.
The cold handle against her palm steadied her trembling hand a little.
If everything went smoothly, she would never need the knife.
If it didn't...
She closed her eyes briefly, not daring to follow that thought any further.
At three that afternoon, Pu Yu arrived at the entrance to Grand Prosperity Manor right on time.
Sister