Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 446: Keep Your Distance

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Keep Your Distance

Following the text message, Gu Fan arrived alone at a dilapidated factory. He waited in silence for a moment, but the place remained empty. Unable to resist any longer, Gu Fan spoke out, "Enough, Ning Qi, I know you’re hiding nearby. Don’t worry, I came alone."

A moment later, Ning Qi stepped out from her hiding place, a smile on her face. "Gu Fan, you truly kept your promise. I knew I didn’t misjudge you."

Gu Fan seemed unenthusiastic, "Talk, what have you done to Lin Xi’s parents? Where have you taken them?"

Ning Qi answered with a smile, "Rest assured, we’re not monsters, we won’t harm them for no reason. Lin Xi’s parents are safe for now, but if Lin Xi fails to cooperate, I’m afraid I can’t guarantee their safety."

Gu Fan frowned at her words, "So what exactly do you want?"

"A simple hostage exchange. Qian Ying in exchange for Lin Xi’s parents. Two for one, a fair deal," Ning Qi maintained her cheerful smile. Gu Fan nodded in agreement, "No problem, when and where?"

Ning Qi replied, "Tonight. I’ll give you an hour and a half to bring Qian Ying here. We’ll bring Lin Xi’s parents, and no one attempts any tricks."

"Okay, deal." Gu Fan immediately called Lin Xi to inform her about the plan.

After hearing the news, Lin Xi promptly agreed to the exchange and warned Gu Fan to be careful. She and Du Jun would bring Qian Ying to the old factory.

Hanging up the call, Lin Xi looked calmly at Qian Ying, who was cowering in the corner. "Second elder sister, please don’t look at me like that. I’m scared."

Lin Xi compared Qian Ying with Yang Xinran, only to find Yang Xinran more tolerable. Unable to suppress her anger, Lin Xi raised her hand threateningly, causing Qian Ying to quickly cover her face, pleading, "Second elder sister, please, no hitting my face!"

Lin Xi sighed at Qian Ying’s behavior and lowered her arm. She then blindfolded Qian Ying, preparing to escort her to the exchange location. At the same time, she asked Qin Jia to inform Su Hui and others, urging them to take action together.

Lin Xi had a feeling that the kidnappers wouldn’t easily let go after the hostage exchange.

Meanwhile, at the other location, Ning Qi and Gu Fan both were waiting for the other parties to arrive. With nothing happening, they started to chat. Gu Fan asked Ning Qi, "I thought you wanted to get away from the Shennv Xuanhui. Why are you helping them again?"

Ning Qi shook her head, "Sometimes it’s not so easy to break free when you want to. When you captured Qian Ying, I thought I’d be safe. But then I ran into Qian Feng and Qian Xue. It seems like this is my destiny."

Hearing this, Gu Fan sympathized with Ning Qi. She had just escaped one peril only to fall into another. Therefore, he kindly suggested, "If you could cooperate with us secretly, we could defeat the Shennv Xuanhui, and you could be free."

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi scoffed, "I don’t need that. Initially, I only wanted to escape Qian Ying’s control, so I hoped you guys could defeat her. However, after meeting Qian Feng, I discovered she’s much better than Qian Ying. She has given me status in the Shennv Xuanhui, and will teach me many useful things. I’m reborn and I am willing to work for Qian Feng and for the Shennv Xuanhui."

Gu Fan sighed, "But do you really want to be under someone else’s control for the rest of your life?"

Ning Qi was nonchalant, "What’s wrong with it? Haven’t you worked under someone else’s instructions? Isn’t that being controlled by others too? If that’s the case, why don’t I choose a good master?"

Gu Fan found that reasonable. No matter who he worked for, he still had to work. But wait... something wasn’t right.

Gu Fan frowned, "Yes, I used to work for others, but I never did anything against my conscience. Plus, I had a choice. I could choose to quit, can you?"

"You..." Ning Qi was rendered speechless, fuming silently. Aware of the tension, she loosened up on purpose, not allowing their verbal spat to ruin the atmosphere. This took Gu Fan by surprise.

Ning Qi walked up to Gu Fan, full of apparent gentleness. "Let’s stop discussing these issues so we don’t hurt our relationship. Although we’re on different sides, we can still coexist peacefully."

Seeing Ning Qi approaching closer, the atmosphere becoming intense, Gu Fan felt awkward. "What are you trying to do?"

"Lin Xi isn’t right for you. She will only bring troubles. But I am different, I am serious about you." Saying that, Ning Qi nearly threw herself into Gu Fan’s arms.

"Serious?" Gu Fan’s heart rate quickened as he looked into Ning Qi’s beautiful face. With Ning Qi gazing back at him, she tiptoed, ready to make her move.

"Sorry, this isn’t the right time for this." Gu Fan quickly pushed Ning Qi away, preventing unnecessary situations. However, he didn’t step back, for then it would seem like he dreaded Ning Qi.

However, Ning Qi wouldn’t give up. This was a task assigned by Qian Feng – to win over Gu Fan and show Lin Xi how unreliable her chosen man was.

Ning Qi embraced Gu Fan directly, trying to warm up Gu Fan’s rejecting heart. But as soon as she tried to speak, Gu Fan pushed her away again.

"Sorry, madam, my previous love affair with an older woman didn’t end well. I have no intentions of having another. Please understand," Gu Fan firmly declined. He wasn’t about to fall into Ning Qi’s badger game so easily.

How could Gu Fan not know what kind of woman Ning Qi was? He always kept Ning Qi at a safe distance, not wishing to become a puppet she could manipulate.

"Damn!" Ning Qi was fuming silently. Gu Fan was refusing to submit, even though there were some moments of intimacy that happened back at the Yuxueyun Mountain.

Ning Qi did not plan to give up. No man had ever resisted her before, and Gu Fan would not be an exception. She couldn’t believe there could be a man on this earth who would resist a beautiful woman’s advances. She only assumed Gu Fan was faking his rejections.

Just as Ning Qi was readying her next move on Gu Fan, Lin Xi finally arrived, "Enough, Ning Qi, stop testing Gu Fan. He can absolutely withstand any temptations. And Qian Feng, don’t you think your tricks are tedious?"

With a disdainful expression, Lin Xi walked in front. Du Jun was trailing behind, escorting Qian Ying.

Seeing Lin Xi, Ning Qi retreated like a mouse seeing a cat. Scared, she didn’t dare to face her or even meet her eyes. Simultaneously, those backing her up arrived at her side.