Chapter 321: Report
Chapter 321: Report
"Okay, take me to see him, and I'll be back when I'm done."
An Ran doesn’t care about anything else at that moment. As long as Zhan Lian can take her to see Yun Tao, everything will be fine. She just needs to tell him everything, and if Zhan Lian wants her to return, she will.
Since An Ran gives him that assurance, Zhan Lian knows he can’t make decisions about Little Mint’s life. He doesn’t feel capable of taking on that responsibility, so he decides to take An Ran, Doll, and Little Mint to Area 1.
Of course, Zhan Lian still insists that An Ran sit in the passenger seat and keep an eye on the rearview mirror for him.
District One is located in the north, facing District 4 to the south. The streets are nearly empty, with only a few people patrolling and cleaning. It looks even more desolate than District 4.
"Once Tiesi Village is cleaned up, we’ll move to District 1," Zhan Lian says as he drives, glancing at An Ran in the passenger seat. "Then you can go anywhere you want. District 4 is too chaotic right now."
An Ran doesn’t know the details of the chaos in District 4. She’s been trapped in that high-rise dormitory by Zhan Lian, rarely venturing outside the compound. When she occasionally glances out, she notices there are very few people in District 4.
In comparison, District 3 seems the most populated.
The car eventually arrives at the gate of a government building. An Ran, sitting in the passenger seat, turns her head and sees a sign hanging next to the gate that reads something like "Tea Research Institute." She doesn’t pay much attention, as Zhan Lian has already driven the car inside.
The sun is setting, casting an orange-red glow on the smooth inner road. Suddenly, a piercing scream sounds from outside the car. Zhan Lian slows down, and An Ran is startled. Her eyes widen, and she sits up straight. She sees two men in military uniforms, carrying a woman, walking toward them from around the corner.
The woman is the one screaming, her hair disheveled as she struggles in the grip of the two men. Behind them, standing in the shade of a tree, is a man holding a crying child, watching the woman’s struggle with an expression of pity.
Behind him stands a crowd of onlookers, including Yun Tao and Hengheng.
Zhan Lian stops the car and casually parks it on the side of the road. He turns off the engine, gets out of the car, and moves to the passenger side, pushing An Ran back when she’s about to open the door.
"I’ll go call Yun Tao over. Don’t get out of the car," he instructs.
With that, Zhan Lian waves to Yun Tao, signaling him to come over, and then moves to pursue the two soldiers who are dragging the woman out.
Yun Tao has noticed An Ran's car long before, and as soon as Zhan Lian waves, he approaches with Hengheng in his arms.
"Aunt." Hengheng, held by Yun Tao, sees An Ran through the car window and beams with happiness. Then he looks toward Little Mint, but she’s asleep in the back seat.
Before An Ran can say anything, Yun Tao speaks in a serious tone, "Today, in this yard, a husband reported his wife. She’s a wood-type power-user."
"Ah?" An Ran’s heart sinks. Yun Tao’s words make her forget why she’s here. She asks, "Why did those two soldiers take her?"
"The supplies in Tiesi Village won’t last much longer," Yun Tao replies, his eyes conveying more than his words. He looks at An Ran silently, the weight of his gaze speaking volumes.