CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 426: DYING FOR FACE AT AN OLD AGE

Sang Ning felt relieved; tonight seemed to be one of those close calls that ended safely.

The helicopter was part of the advance team, mainly there to subdue the mob.

Sang Ning didn’t know much about weapons, but she thought tonight’s helicopter operation was quite advanced—not only was the noise minimal, but it could also target objects from a distance. She was glad she wasn’t one of the criminals.

The helicopter’s spotlight hung overhead, illuminating the entire night sky, while ground support vehicles began arriving one after another.

Sang Ning and Lu Yujing finally dared to step out of the Banana Forest. Zhou Rui and Song Shiye followed them to the roadside, but after scanning the area for quite some time, they didn’t see the others.

"Where did Qin Feng, Jiang Xiaoti, and Mr. Li’s family go?" Zhou Rui asked Sang Ning.

Sang Ning was equally baffled and shook her head in confusion. "I have no idea!"

After the shout to hide, everyone scattered, running in different directions. She just happened to run into Lu Yujing. As for the others, she was curious herself—where on earth did they run off to?

Not only did they fail to encounter each other despite running around for so long, but there had also been no sounds from them for such a long time.

Meanwhile, the four individuals everyone was wondering about—Qin Feng, Jiang Xiaoti, and Mr. Li’s family—were crouching behind a massive coastal rock.

When Sang Ning called out to run and hide earlier, the four of them had instinctively dashed in the same direction. Rather than wandering through the Banana Forest like Sang Ning and Lu Yujing, they made a beeline straight through.

Unexpectedly, their sprint had taken them out of the Banana Forest and all the way to the coast.

Yet, upon reaching the coast, they didn’t dare move recklessly. The far-off sea was illuminated by enormous searchlights that occasionally swept over the shore.

They couldn’t be sure if there were any accomplices nearby. If they decided to run along the coastline and were caught by the searchlights and subsequently spotted by more criminals, they’d be finished with no place to hide.

The coast was littered with enormous, uneven rocks. Li Haidong suggested they hide behind one of the rocks and observe the situation first. If it turned dangerous, running later would be safer.

Unfortunately, in their frantic escape, all four had lost their cell phones. Unable to make contact or call for help, they were further unnerved by the gunfire echoing nearby and dared not show themselves.

Hiding behind the rock, their clothes were drenched from the crashing waves. With the tide rising at night and the water behind them climbing steadily, they began to fear that the waves might swallow them up. They debated finding another hiding spot.

The group tiptoed out from behind the rock, only to see helicopters circling above in the air. Moments later, gunfire intensified.

The helicopter’s spotlight lit up again. If they were caught in its beam, they’d have nowhere to hide. Unsure whether the people onboard were friend or foe, they ducked back behind the rocks.

Jiang Xiaoti’s legs had gone numb from squatting. She shifted slightly, only to realize the seawater had already reached the rock she was perched on.

She asked in a low, worried voice, "What do we do? Are we really going to keep hiding here? If a big wave crashes over us, we’ll be done for."

The other three, including Li Haidong, glanced down at their feet. The tide was undeniably rising—it wasn’t a sustainable solution.

Li Haidong pondered for a moment and proposed, "Alright, I’ll go out and check what the deal is with those helicopters. You guys stay here and get ready to run if needed."

Wei Lan immediately grabbed Li Haidong’s sleeve. "No way. I’m going with you."

Qin Feng disagreed as well. "Uncle, I’m younger. If anyone should go, it should be me."

Jiang Xiaoti kept quiet, but her concerned expression clearly showed that she didn’t approve of Li Haidong’s plan either.

But Li Haidong remained unwavering. "It’s no time for squabbling. Let’s not have everyone rushing to die together, alright?"

Li Haidong gently patted Wei Lan’s hand. "Lanlan, I understand you’re worried. But calm down—for now. If I’m unlucky enough to die, you can always follow me to the afterlife later."

His bleak comment instantly lightened Wei Lan’s concern significantly. She yanked her hand away and snapped, "Follow you into the afterlife? Dream on! If you die, I’ll remarry."

Li Haidong was left speechless, his lips twitching but not daring to argue further. He got up and started walking away.

He swore he had never been this embarrassed in his entire life. During their chaotic escape, he’d lost one shoe. Now, every step he took was uneven. His perfectly ironed suit pants had been torn—possibly snagged on something—leaving a gaping tear along his thigh. Walking like this made him feel as though he was wearing a high-slit cheongsam.

Humiliated, he worried that if anyone saw the state he was in now, he’d never show his face again.

He staggered along the beach, sand slipping into his remaining leather shoe and making his foot ache. Frustrated, he took off the shoe and walked barefoot.

As he approached the Banana Forest, a helicopter suddenly hovered above him, casting a powerful beam of light down. Li Haidong raised his hand to block the glare, his steps slowing instinctively.

"Look! Someone’s over there!"

"He doesn’t even have a shoe left. How pitiful!"

Voices rang out from the helicopter. As soon as someone began descending from the ladder, Li Haidong spun around and sprinted back the way he came.

Sang Ning landed on the ground and watched Li Haidong’s retreating figure with confusion.

"Am I scarier than the criminals? Why is he running away from me?"

Li Haidong didn’t waste a second. He ran back to the coastline without pause.

Collapsing behind the rock, he gasped for air, his expression grim. Wei Lan leaned forward, anxious. "What’s going on out there? Tell us! We’re dying here waiting!"

Li Haidong waved a hand and straightened up, composing himself. He said gravely, "It’s fine now; it’s safe. You can come out."

The three others were ecstatic. Jiang Xiaoti, the youngest, couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately jumped up. "Awesome! Finally, we can leave!"

Qin Feng and Jiang Xiaoti stepped out from behind the rock and caught sight of their teammates in the distance—waving from under a helicopter. Squinting, they realized it was their familiar companions!

Sang Ning, Lu Yujing, Song Shiye, Zhou Rui were all there!

The duo sprinted toward them with unrestrained joy.

Wei Lan, hearing the joyous commotion outside, finally relaxed. She grabbed Li Haidong’s arm, trying to help him up.

Li Haidong barely raised himself off the rock before dropping back down. "You go ahead. I’m not going."

Wei Lan withdrew her hand in annoyance. "Li Haidong, cut the crap!"

Li Haidong rubbed his temple stubbornly. "I’m not going unless you bring me a clean set of clothes."

Wei Lan glanced down only to notice his torn pants—battered by the sea breeze—had turned what were once luxurious dress pants into a ragged mess, flapping in the wind like discarded fabric.

"You’re too old to still care so much about your dignity," Wei Lan couldn’t help but mock him.

The tide had risen, and where Li Haidong was sitting, the water was now halfway up to the rock’s surface. Yet, he stubbornly refused to leave without something respectable to wear.

"Fine. Stay here. And if you drown, don’t bother calling for help." Wei Lan had no other options. She threw down the remark and hurried off to find clothes for him.