220: Chapter 220 The Plan Begins

Julie's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled heavily as she let out a long sigh of relief.

Seeing this, Cao Kun immediately said, "No time to lose. I'll take Liu Ziqiang back to the abandoned warehouse now and proceed as planned. We can't stay here long; it'll attract attention too easily."

After speaking, Cao Kun stepped forward, bent over, and hoisted the unconscious Liu Ziqiang onto his shoulder with crisp, efficient movements.

Just as Cao Kun was about to turn and leave, Zhang Haonan suddenly spoke up to stop Julie.

"Julie."

Julie stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at him.

Zhang Haonan walked up, his gaze tender yet apprehensive as he asked softly, "When this is completely over, can we... make up? I want to be with you again. I want to marry you. I want to take care of you for the rest of my life."

Julie's heart jolted violently, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.

How could she not want to make up? How could she not want to throw herself into his arms and have the happiness she had longed for so long?

But the inferiority and scars deep in her heart had not yet fully healed.

She remained silent for a few seconds before nodding gently, her voice choked with emotion yet incredibly earnest.

"Haonan, when this is over, let's... talk about it then, okay? I need a little time. I will give you an answer."

Zhang Haonan didn't pressure her. He just smiled tenderly and reached out to gently pat her head. "Okay, I'll wait for you. I'll wait as long as it takes."

"I'll be outside waiting for you both to come out safely."

"Mhm."

Julie said no more and followed Cao Kun, turning to walk into the night.

The car sped off again. Half an hour later, they returned to the abandoned logistics warehouse on the west side of the city.

Cao Kun threw Liu Ziqiang heavily onto the ground. The cold concrete floor caused the unconscious man to let out a muffled groan.

Julie stood to the side, looking at this demon who had ruined three years of her life. There was no fear in her eyes, only icy hatred.

Cao Kun squatted down, raised his hand, and delivered two vicious slaps to Liu Ziqiang's face.

Slap! Slap!

The crisp sounds of the slaps echoed through the empty warehouse.

Stung by the pain, Liu Ziqiang snapped his eyes open and coughed violently as his clouded consciousness gradually cleared.

He looked around blankly.

A dilapidated warehouse, cold walls, dim lighting, and Julie and Cao Kun standing before him.

As for himself, his hands were tied behind his back, he was unable to move, and his entire body ached as if his bones were falling apart.

"This... where is this?" Liu Ziqiang looked utterly bewildered, his brain not yet processing the situation. "You... who are you? Let me go!"

He struggled a few times, but the rope only tightened, making it impossible to break free.

In a daze, he finally remembered what had happened.

This afternoon, he had been lying happily in his rented room, sipping wine and fantasizing about getting a hundred thousand yuan from Julie at eight o'clock tonight. He planned to immediately transfer it to his son, Liu Zihao, to make up the bride price, reconcile with his son, and enjoy his old age.

When he first started asking Julie for money, he had actually been panicked, fearing that Julie would be pushed too far and call the police or secretly find someone to deal with him.

So the first few times, he was extremely cautious, only daring to show his face after repeatedly confirming there was no danger.

But for over a year, Julie had never resisted, never refused, and certainly never called the police. Every time, she obediently handed over the money, as submissive as a lamb led to the slaughter.

Over time, Liu Ziqiang completely let his guard down. He became arrogant, feeling that Julie was entirely under his thumb and wouldn't dare to make any move.

He didn't even take precautions when going out anymore, only waiting to reach out for the money.

But he never expected that while he was sleeping soundly in the afternoon, several strange tough guys would suddenly burst in and start punching and kicking him without a word.

At his age, he had no power to fight back. He was knocked unconscious in a few hits, and when he woke up again, he was in this state.

It wasn't until his gaze landed on Julie that Liu Ziqiang's pupils suddenly constricted, and he understood instantly!

"It's you! Julie! You hired people to beat me! You kidnapped me and brought me here!"

Liu Ziqiang instantly flew into a rage, hurling abuse at Julie with a distorted, hideous face, still maintaining his usual arrogance.

"I'm telling you, you bitch! You better let me go right now! Otherwise, I'll immediately post those shameful photos of yours online, send them to your boyfriend, and send them to your company! I'll ruin your reputation! I'll make sure you can't hold your head up for the rest of your life!"

He habitually used his most effective means of threat, certain that Julie would be afraid, compromise, and beg for mercy just like before.

But this time, he had miscalculated.

Watching his flailing, aggressive display, the corners of Julie's mouth curled into an icy arc, her eyes devoid of any fear.

"Liu Ziqiang, do you think I'm still afraid of your threats?"

Julie stepped forward slowly and bent over to pick up a wooden club the thickness of an arm from the ground, gripping it in her hand.

"You used those photos to threaten me for three years, extorted over three hundred thousand from me, forced me to break up, and drove me to the point of wanting to kill someone. Do you think I'll still let you manipulate me?"

"Those photos—send them if you want to," Julie's voice was calm but carried a desperate resolve, like one burning their bridges.

"I don't care anymore. Reputation, face, the judgment of others—I'm throwing it all away."

"Today, I only want you to pay the price for everything you've done."

Looking at the ruthless determination in Julie's eyes, a strong sense of unease rose in Liu Ziqiang's heart for the first time.

He suddenly realized.

This soft target he had always manipulated seemed to truly be unafraid now.

Before he could react, Julie had already raised the wooden club and smashed it down hard against his thigh!

Thud!

A dull sound rang out.

"Aaaagh—!"

Liu Ziqiang let out a shrill scream, his whole body twitching in pain. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down.

"You... you dare hit me..." He was trembling so hard he could barely speak.

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Julie's eyes were icy as she raised the club again, smashing it down repeatedly on his back and arms, putting all her strength into every blow.

"Today, I'll let you know what pain feels like! I'll let you know what despair is!"

As the club fell, scream after scream rang out.

Liu Ziqiang rolled on the ground in agony, his previous arrogance completely vanished, replaced by nothing but endless terror.

He was finally afraid and began to beg for mercy desperately, his voice shrill and pathetic. "Stop! Stop! I was wrong! I won't do it again! I'll give you the money back! I'll never threaten you again! Please let me go! I beg you!"

Julie beat him for several minutes until her arms were sore. Only then did she stop, panting heavily, though the hatred in her eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest.

Cao Kun stepped forward and pressed his hand on her shoulder, signaling for her to calm down.

Then he squatted down and looked at the wretched, shivering Liu Ziqiang on the ground, his tone cold and devoid of any warmth. "If you want to live, do as I say."

Trembling all over from the pain, Liu Ziqiang nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at grain. "I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll do whatever you want! Just don't hit me!"

"Call your son, Liu Zihao," Cao Kun said indifferently, yet with a command that brooked no refusal.

"I'll tell you what to say, and you'll repeat it. If you dare get a single word wrong or try any tricks, I'll break your legs."

Liu Ziqiang was stunned, his face full of confusion. "Call... call my son? What... what for?"

He had no idea what Julie and this man were trying to do.

"Cut the crap. If I tell you to call, you call!" Cao Kun's gaze sharpened as he lightly kicked one of Liu Ziqiang's wounds.

"Aaah!" Liu Ziqiang screamed again, scared out of his wits. He nodded repeatedly. "I'll call! I'll call! I'll call right now!"

...