Ming Yuqian's eyebrows twitched. Despite his business experience, he had never dealt with situations on the edge of legality, let alone situations involving lives.
Ming Yutong was the same.
The siblings wanted to teach Jiang Shenli a lesson and see him face legal consequences, but they never intended for him to die in front of them.
Ming Yuqian immediately signaled the mercenaries to hold their positions and not act recklessly.
"Since you found your way here, it seems you already know that the diary is in my possession," Jiang Shenli said, seeing Ming Yuqian and Ming Yutong arrive with their team, realizing his actions had been exposed.
"Give me back the diary," Ming Yutong demanded. "I can let you go."
"Who are you trying to fool!" Jiang Shenli didn't believe it at all. "As you said, I already know the contents of the diary. Even if I give it back to you, I still know what it contains. Do you really think you'll let me go?"
"You're not naive given your achievements in business. Do you really believe me?" Jiang Shenli's expression was twisted.
"As long as you return the diary, I will believe you. I know you don't trust me, but you don't need to risk your life on this. Give me the diary, and I'll let you go. Even if I break my promise later, you'd still have time to prepare, which is better than risking your life right now."
Ming Yutong sneered, "It's just a diary. It's important to me, but is it so important to you that you'd gamble your life on it?"
Jiang Shenli hesitated, his gaze shifting between Ming Yutong and the mercenaries surrounding him.
"You're looking to get revenge on me because of Jiang Mingkai, aren't you?" Ming Yutong continued.
"It's all because of you. Jiang Mingkai ended up like this—either in bed or on a wheelchair every day, and when he goes out, he's met with strange looks," Jiang Shenli admitted openly. "I want you to take responsibility for Jiang Mingkai! You ruined him, so you must take care of him!"
Ming Yuqian scoffed angrily, "Jiang Mingkai was ruined by Fu Yinxiu. Why don't you go after him? Are you picking the soft target? Besides, if you're seeking justice, shouldn't you start with Ming Silian, who first tried to scheme against my sister? Are you really so shameless to play the victim?"
"What a disgraceful person your son is, trying to target my sister. Maybe you should change your name to Jiang Face-Skin!"
"Oh, what's the point of talking about this now!" Jiang Shenli said.
"It's pointless," Ming Yutong said coldly. "But I've already offered you an escape route."
Jiang Shenli thought for a moment and finally said, "Tell them to step back!"
"Alright," Ming Yutong said, signaling the mercenaries to step back.
But they still kept their guns trained on Jiang Shenli.
"Tell them to put their guns down!" Jiang Shenli demanded.
Ming Yutong couldn't help but laugh, "Mr. Jiang, you're no longer a naive young man. Don't say such naive things."
"I've already shown my sincerity by having people step back. You should show your sincerity too. Asking them to put down their guns is impossible. It's no different from just letting you go," Ming Yutong said coldly. "As long as you hand over the diary, I'll let you go immediately."
Jiang Shenli, with a grim expression, gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to argue for more time, a slender silver flash suddenly crossed Ming Yutong's line of sight and directly pierced the back of Jiang Shenli's right hand, which was holding the gun.
Jiang Shenli felt a numbness in his right hand.
He couldn't even hold the gun, let alone pull the trigger. The handgun clattered to the ground. The mercenaries were momentarily stunned and didn't react immediately.
The hidden members of the Alpha Guards, seeing the situation, rushed out. They thought the others were too unprofessional, freezing up at the slightest unexpected situation.
The Alpha Guards subdued Jiang Shenli, and Fu Yinxiu walked over.
Ming Yutong looked at Fu Yinxiu with a complicated expression.
He had been here the whole time, never leaving?
Jiang Shenli, subdued by the Alpha Guards, glared at Fu Yinxiu with hatred.
Fu Yinxiu, however, didn't even glance at him.
Instead, he looked at Ming Yutong.
Ming Yuqian narrowed his eyes, stepped forward, and stood in front of Ming Yutong, blocking Fu Yinxiu's gaze.
Fu Yinxiu scoffed, "Is this how you thank someone from the Ming family?"
Ming Yuqian's lips tightened.
Ming Yutong placed a hand on Ming Yuqian's shoulder. Ming Yuqian looked back and saw Ming Yutong shake her head.
Though Ming Yuqian was displeased, he moved aside.
Ming Yutong stepped forward. Despite her lack of affection for Fu Yinxiu, she seriously thanked him, "Thank you."
"Just didn't want to take the blame," Fu Yinxiu retorted.
"I was panicked yesterday, not intentionally…" Ming Yutong bit her lip and took a breath. "Actually, after calming down, I realized it had nothing to do with you."
Fu Yinxiu wanted to ask what was written in the diary that made Ming Yutong so anxious and willing to go through so much trouble with Jiang Shenli. Before he could ask, he heard Alpha Guard 1 shout, "Master, be careful!"
The scene unfolded like slow motion.
Fu Yinxiu saw Alpha Guard 1 and Alpha Guard 2 rushing over, as well as other Alpha Guards, except for those holding Jiang Shenli, who couldn't move. The others also rushed toward him. However, there was some distance, and even if they rushed, it was too late.
"Sister!" Ming Yuqian also reacted quickly and hurried to pull her away.
In the confusion, Ming Yutong hadn't yet figured out what was happening when she suddenly heard a chilling gunshot.
Instantly, she looked up and saw Jiang Mingkai standing by the window, still holding the gun.
Without thinking, her body reacted instinctively, and she stood firmly in front of Fu Yinxiu, not stepping aside.