Chapter 40: Fang Xiaocao : I’ll Exchange Myself for Her, Do You Agree?
“No… please don’t…”
“Wuwuwu…”
Hearing and understanding what was happening, Su Wanqing broke into frightened sobs.
“Be quiet, or I’ll kiss you right now.”
Han Xue threatened viciously.
“Calm down, let’s talk this through.”
Wang Qiang called out urgently.
“Han Xue, don’t be impulsive.”
“I’ll contact Fang Xiaocao right now.”
“Just stay calm!”
As he spoke, Wang Qiang pulled out his phone while carefully trying to appease Han Xue.
Wang Qiang was a good police officer. He would always put the safety of innocent civilians first. He couldn’t allow a suspect to harm a hostage right in front of him.
“Officer Wang, you’d better hurry up.”
Han Xue sneered coldly.
“Su Wanqing, don’t panic, don’t struggle. Stay still and keep quiet.”
Wang Qiang instructed while dialing the number.
He feared that any struggle from Su Wanqing might provoke Han Xue, who was already unstable, and lead to unpredictable consequences.
“Okay…”
Su Wanqing whimpered in response.
“Han Xue, can I take her place as your hostage?”
A young female officer cautiously suggested.
“No!”
“Stay back!”
Han Xue shouted, dragging Su Wanqing backward into a hospital room and slamming the door shut, blocking herself inside while confronting Wang Qiang through the door.
“Alright, alright, don’t get agitated.”
Wang Qiang called out.
He then turned to glare at the young officer, signaling for her not to provoke the suspect further.
The young officer reluctantly stepped back.
Wang Qiang had also considered offering himself as a substitute hostage, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
It wouldn’t work with Han Xue.
Now, because of the young officer’s actions, Han Xue was even more on guard. She had retreated into the hospital room, making any forced rescue attempt even more difficult.
Even though the officer had good intentions—willing to sacrifice herself to protect Su Wanqing—she was still inexperienced and had unintentionally made the situation worse.
Wang Qiang had originally planned to make Han Xue drop her guard and take advantage of a lapse in attention to rescue Su Wanqing. But now, he would have to come up with a new plan.
“Click!”
The stairwell door suddenly swung open.
Wang Qiang frowned and turned to look.
He saw Fang Xiaocao and Yun Luoshu stepping out from the stairwell.
“Officer Wang, no need to make that call.”
Fang Xiaocao, still dressed in a hospital gown, smiled.
“What are you doing here?”
Wang Qiang asked in confusion.
Earlier, when Han Xue couldn’t find Fang Xiaocao in the hospital room, Wang Qiang had been wondering where she had gone.
Now that she had appeared, he naturally asked.
“I stepped out to throw something away and happened to see Han Xue taking Su Wanqing hostage. I figured Han Xue might come after me for revenge, so I moved Wen Shi to safety in advance.”
Fang Xiaocao casually explained the excuse she had prepared.
Hearing her explanation, Wang Qiang found nothing suspicious.
It made sense. There was no reason to doubt it.
So Wang Qiang didn’t question her further.
“Officer Wang, let me go in and switch places with Su Wanqing.”
“She’s terrified.”
Fang Xiaocao whispered.
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
Wang Qiang rejected her proposal without hesitation.
He glanced at the hospital room and saw that Han Xue hadn’t noticed Fang Xiaocao’s arrival yet. He quickly urged, “Go back to the stairwell, now. Stay out of sight.”
Su Wanqing had to be rescued, but he couldn’t let Fang Xiaocao risk herself.
His duty would never allow such a thing to happen.
Even if a substitution was necessary, it had to be one of them.
“But—”
“No buts!”
“I won’t allow it!”
Fang Xiaocao barely got a word out before Wang Qiang firmly shut her down.
“Hurry up and get back inside. No matter what happens, do not come out.”
Wang Qiang ordered.
Inside the hospital room, Han Xue peered through the glass, observing Wang Qiang’s actions with a suspicious look.
The next second, with a “click,” the hospital room door was pushed open.
Han Xue stuck her head out.
“Fang Xiaocao, you’re finally here!”
Han Xue’s eyes lit up, and she let out an excited shriek.
Hearing the door open, Wang Qiang cursed internally.
“Damn it!”
Hearing Han Xue’s voice, Wang Qiang sighed.
“Yes, I’m here.”
Fang Xiaocao smiled.
She ignored Wang Qiang’s desperate glances and took two steps forward, stopping just outside the door, facing Han Xue.
“Good, good, good…”
“Come in!”
Han Xue raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“Why should I?”
Fang Xiaocao asked with a smirk.
“If you don’t, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do to Su Wanqing.”
Han Xue narrowed her eyes, the menace and madness in her gaze filled with silent threats.
Fang Xiaocao blinked.
“I’ll come in, but you have to let Su Wanqing go first.”
She attempted to exchange herself for Su Wanqing.
“Can’t have both of us trapped inside, right?”
Fang Xiaocao muttered to herself.
“You’re negotiating with me?”
“What gives you the right to negotiate with me?”
“Fang Xiaocao, who do you think you are?”
Han Xue pulled Su Wanqing closer and pressed her lips against Su Wanqing’s pale neck, casting Fang Xiaocao a sideways glance.
Her sinister gaze radiated both menace and madness.
“Fang Xiaocao, are you sure you’re not coming in?”
Han Xue exhaled against Su Wanqing’s skin, her breath carrying an eerie threat.
Su Wanqing trembled in fear, too terrified to move, pleading for help with her teary eyes.
Fang Xiaocao remained composed and discreetly winked at Su Wanqing, signaling her to stay calm.
“Fang Xiaocao, are you coming in or not?”
“Hmm?”
Han Xue parted her crimson lips, revealing sharp white teeth poised above Su Wanqing’s pale neck.
Under the bright hospital corridor lights, her blood-red lips looked as if they were coated in fresh blood, and her teeth gleamed with a chilling glow.
Fang Xiaocao had the illusion that Han Xue wasn’t a human but a venomous snake, ready to sink its fangs into its prey.
“Han Xue, I’m saying this for your own good.”
“Think about it…”
“You’re alone, but Su Wanqing and I are two people.”
“Even if you have infectious diseases as a weapon, if you hurt us, we’d fight you with everything we have. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Fang Xiaocao spoke in a lighthearted tone.
Hearing this, Wang Qiang’s expression changed.
“Not good! Fang Xiaocao’s words might provoke Han Xue!”
“Xiaocao!”
Wang Qiang tried to stop her.
Fang Xiaocao glanced at Wang Qiang and winked.
“You’re threatening me?”
Han Xue’s voice turned ice-cold.
She moved her mouth closer to Su Wanqing’s neck.
“Han Xue, think carefully!”
Fang Xiaocao called out.
“Actually, your threat isn’t valid.”
“If you truly harm Su Wanqing, she’ll be infected, and Officer Wang will no longer have any reason to hold back.”
Fang Xiaocao spoke quickly.
Hearing her words, Wang Qiang had a realization.
“That’s right, Fang Xiaocao is correct!”
“If you hurt Su Wanqing, she’ll be infected. Then I’ll have no reason to hesitate—I can take you down immediately.”
Hearing only the first half, Wang Qiang had worried that Fang Xiaocao was provoking Han Xue. But as she continued, he understood her intent.
Fang Xiaocao wasn’t provoking Han Xue—she was subtly reminding her of the importance of keeping Su Wanqing safe.
If Su Wanqing got hurt, Han Xue’s revenge plan would be completely ruined.
Han Xue hesitated for a moment, unconsciously pulling her mouth slightly away from Su Wanqing’s neck.
“You heard that, Han Xue.”
“I’ll exchange myself for Su Wanqing. Do you agree?”
Fang Xiaocao smiled.
(End of Chapter 40)
