Chapter 312: Childhood Memories
13:10
Fully armed, Fang Xiaocao and her team drove two cars out of the villa, taking the backroads straight toward the southern part of the city.
13:40
Half an hour later, the two cars slowly came to a stop outside an abandoned steel factory. The entire site was in ruins—workshops had collapsed, and the massive structure, once capable of supplying steel to multiple cities, had fallen into decay due to environmental regulations and market saturation.
Of course, the factory hadn’t completely shut down.
Instead, it had merged with other steel plants and relocated.
This old steel factory had simply been left behind, abandoned for years because no company or developer was willing to take it over.
Fang Xiaocao and Hummingbird got out of the car. As she gazed at the dilapidated buildings, nostalgia washed over her. When she was a child, the orphanage she lived in wasn’t far from here. Back then, she and Zhi Qi used to sneak out and visit the factory’s cafeteria for free meals.
The uncles and aunties at the factory had been kind to them, never minding the extra portions they served. In fact, the two little girls could never finish their meals, so they were often given leftovers to take back.
That was one of the few warm memories in Fang Xiaocao’s otherwise harsh childhood. She had often wished that the factory workers were her parents.
But that warmth was short-lived.
When she was ten years old, the factory shut down, merging with others and relocating. Some workers lost their jobs, while others transferred elsewhere.
All that remained was an empty factory, a cafeteria devoid of the once-familiar aroma of food.
When Xiaocao heard the news, she hugged Zhi Qi and cried for hours. It felt like she had lost her home all over again.
Wiping away a tear, she walked into the steel factory alone.
Tom and Hummingbird drove off to hide the cars, ensuring they wouldn’t attract attention.
Walking through the familiar ruins, childhood memories surfaced one by one, playing like an old film reel in Xiaocao’s mind.
She had long forgotten the faces and voices of the factory workers who had once been kind to her, but the sense of familiarity remained.
Since she had time, she revisited all the places where she and Zhi Qi used to play. It felt like a farewell to her past self, a way to mourn her childhood.
She was no longer that little girl.
And perhaps, in the near future, she and Zhi Qi would become enemies.
Just like her lost childhood, their friendship might never return.
There were too many signs—Zhi Qi was acting suspiciously.
Maybe she was the one who had been secretly plotting against Xiaocao, setting traps to get her killed.
Or perhaps…
The Zhi Qi who returned from the mountains wasn’t Zhi Qi at all.
Maybe she had been replaced by Thousand Faces from the Blacklist.
If Xiaocao were Thousand Faces, she would’ve chosen to impersonate Zhi Qi too. Taking over Zhi Qi’s identity meant gaining control over the entire Zhi Corporation, which was far more valuable than disguising oneself as an ordinary university student.
If Zhi Qi really was Thousand Faces, then among Su Wanqing, Wen Shi, and Yun Luoshu, one more person had to be an enemy—the one who had discovered Hot Noodles’ existence, manipulated her with false information, lured her to the temple to face a tiger, and hired assassins to kill her.
But who was it?
All three of them had access to her phone.
All three could have learned about Hot Noodles.
In other words, all three were suspects.
Yet, among them, Xiaocao had singled out the most suspicious one—Su Wanqing.
Not only had Su Wanqing seen her phone before, but she had also spent an extended period alone with it while Xiaocao was unconscious after crashing her car into Qi Yu.
While she was unconscious…
Had Su Wanqing checked her phone?
It was highly likely.
That was why Xiaocao considered her the prime suspect.
And now that she had suspicions, it was only a matter of time before she uncovered evidence.
Since this person wanted her dead, they would strike again.
All Xiaocao needed to do was stay vigilant.
________
“Your Highness, we’re back!”
Tom’s voice snapped Xiaocao out of her thoughts.
She turned and saw not just Tom and Hummingbird but also Taotie, who had arrived.
Xiaocao smiled slightly and checked the time.
13:52
There were only eight minutes left before Hot Noodles’ predicted event.
Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Are you curious about who we’re saving today?”
Tom and Hummingbird remained expressionless, waiting quietly for her explanation.
But Taotie eagerly nodded. “I’m dying to know!”
Xiaocao shot him a glare before finally revealing, “Today, we’re saving the Young Master of the Night family—Ye Lingchen.”
Taotie’s eyes widened in shock. “No way, seriously?”
Xiaocao gave him a sharp look.
Realizing he had been too loud, Taotie quickly shut his mouth and smiled sheepishly.
“You’ve all seen the intel on the Night family and Ye Lingchen, so I won’t repeat it.”
“But whoever dares to attack the Young Master of the Night family isn’t just some small-time crook. If we want to save Ye Lingchen, we must be prepared for a brutal battle.”
“I have only two requirements: First, Ye Lingchen must be rescued alive. I don’t care if he loses a few limbs. Second, none of you are allowed to die. You’re not just my subordinates—you’re my family. I won’t allow any of you to get hurt.”
At that moment, Xiaocao radiated authority.
She was like a commanding general, strategizing before battle.
Hearing her words, Tom, Hummingbird, and Taotie immediately stood at attention and responded in unison, “Yes, ma’am!”
This was the first time Xiaocao had ever exercised her full authority as their leader.
But instead of feeling resentful, they felt that this was how she was meant to be.
Xiaocao exhaled deeply.
“The intel says the attack will happen at 14:00. It’s 13:58 now. We have two minutes left.”
“Tom and Taotie, find good vantage points and be ready to strike. Hummingbird, you’ll stay with me—we’ll provide support from the center.”
“No matter what happens, once Ye Lingchen is rescued, we take him and leave immediately. Their target is him, so once he’s gone, their plan will fail. They’ll either retreat or give chase, and I’ll be safe here.”
Xiaocao’s voice was firm as she laid out the plan.
