Liu Yilin was currently confined to a house, her feet fitted with an electronic shackle. If she stepped outside, the shackle would trigger an alarm and notify the guards.
"Miss Liu, I hope you'll think carefully. If you don't plead guilty, you could face twenty to thirty years or more in prison."
A man from Maple Country was trying to intimidate her.
However, Liu Yilin was no naive girl. She simply looked at him coldly and replied,
"I am not guilty. What crime do you want me to plead to?"
"Heh heh, Miss Liu, it's not up to you to decide guilt or innocence. We have evidence of your financial dealings with Bartopia."
The man from Maple Country sneered.
"Preposterous! I am from the Eastern Ancient Country, and we have always had business dealings with Bartopia. What right do you have to arrest me?"
Liu Yilin said, half in anger, half in disbelief.
"Miss Liu, I think you haven't grasped your situation. You are not in the Eastern Ancient Country, but in Maple Country. You have violated our Maple Country's laws."
The man from Maple Country said with a smile.
"Shameless… This is extraterritorial jurisdiction."
Liu Yilin said furiously.
"Miss Liu, please don't speak nonsense. We are merely enforcing our Maple Country's laws. As you are on our soil, we have this right."
Although Liu Yilin spoke the truth, the man from Maple Country wouldn't admit it.
"I will not plead guilty. I have nothing more to say. I will speak to my lawyer when they arrive."
Liu Yilin fell silent.
"Fine. Let's see how long you can remain stubborn."
The man from Maple Country had been interrogating her all day with no results, and he left in a huff.
After her interrogators left, Liu Yilin slumped tiredly onto the sofa. She wanted to call Ning Beichen, but they had taken her phone.
Chen Lin was nowhere to be found, and she didn't even know where Feng Wu had been taken. Now, she was completely alone, and the room was filled with surveillance cameras, making her feel as though there was nowhere to hide.
With a crash, Liu Yilin smashed a glass, trying to vent her helpless rage.
But anger was of no use. It only made Liu Yilin feel defeated.
She had thought Maple Country would be reasonable, so she had come to negotiate without a second thought, asking them to release Chen Lin.
Instead, she was apprehended the moment she stepped off the plane. Not only did she get herself into trouble, but she also implicated Feng Wu. Now, she had no idea where Feng Wu had been taken or what he was enduring.
Annoyance?
Regret?
Helplessness?
Countless negative emotions washed over Liu Yilin, leaving her mentally exhausted.
She walked to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and crouched on the floor, crying under the spray.
This was the only place without cameras. Only here could she freely express her most genuine emotions.
Hot water streamed down on her head. Curled up on the floor, she appeared utterly helpless.
"If Ning Beichen were here, he would surely have many solutions, wouldn't he?"
Liu Yilin thought to herself.
But then, the thought of him not being back yet, likely frolicking with some princess in another country, probably unaware of her predicament, made her angry.
Just as she was crying rivers of tears, a hand suddenly landed on her head, startling her like a frightened bird, causing her to jump up from the floor.
"Shh… It's me."
Ning Beichen's voice reached Liu Yilin's ears.
"Ning Beichen!"
Upon hearing Ning Beichen's familiar voice, Liu Yilin exclaimed with excitement.
"Shh, shh… Don't be so loud. I snuck in."
Ning Beichen quickly covered her mouth and said.
"Ning Beichen, it's really you! That's great. I thought you'd forgotten about me."
Liu Yilin turned and, like an octopus, clung tightly to Ning Beichen, refusing to let go. Tears streamed down her face as she looked utterly wronged.
"Boss, how could I forget about you? I was just slightly delayed by some matters."
Ning Beichen explained.
"I think you were delayed by a princess. You've even become the cover story of an international magazine."
At this, Liu Yilin started to sound jealous.
"Boss, am I that kind of person? I was genuinely delayed by some matters, otherwise I would have returned long ago."
Ning Beichen explained, feeling a little guilty.
He himself didn't even know why he felt guilty; he didn't need to explain himself to Liu Yilin.
"Alright, boss. I snuck in, so I can't stay here for too long."
Ning Beichen quickly changed the subject.
"Ning Beichen, these people from Maple Country are despicable! They arrested Chen Lin and took Feng Wu too. Ning Beichen, I don't want to stay here. Can you take me and escape?"
Liu Yilin feared that once Ning Beichen left, she would return to her helpless state.
"Boss, don't worry. Escaping is only a last resort. If I take you to escape, they will solidify your charges. Can you tolerate such a slander?"
Ning Beichen said to her.
Liu Yilin immediately shook her head.
"Boss, rest assured. With me here, you just need to stay a little longer. I will not only make them voluntarily drop your charges but also escort you back with all due respect."
Ning Beichen soothed her.
"It's… difficult. Then hurry. Oh, and don't forget Chen Lin and Feng Wu."
Liu Yilin said urgently.
"I won't. Don't worry. I snuck in to see you just to reassure you. I'll handle everything, so you don't need to be afraid. No matter what they ask you, just refuse to answer. Leave the rest to me."
Ning Beichen instructed her.
Not long after, Ning Beichen quietly left the premises. The surveillance systems around them did not capture any trace of him.
After meeting Liu Yilin, Ning Beichen began to move his troops and strategize.
That same evening, Viller returned home from work and called out for his wife and child several times. However, there was no response from inside.
Viller frowned slightly but didn't think too much of it. He took a can of beer from the refrigerator and sat on the sofa, feeling tired as he drank.
But by nine o'clock that night, his wife and child still hadn't returned. This made Viller feel that something was wrong, as his wife rarely stayed out so late.
And his child hadn't returned either. Viller picked up his phone, intending to call his wife and ask where she was.
However, when he dialed his wife's number, it was a man who answered.
"Who are you? Where is my wife?"
Viller asked, feeling angry.
He had always had a good relationship with his wife and couldn't believe she would betray him.