Chapter 262

Chapter 262

The Traffickers

Lin Nannan had no idea that her actions had not only thrown the Lu household into disarray but also caused upheaval in the capital. However, everyone was looking in all the wrong places.

She hadn’t gone to the capital but instead headed to the place where Lu Hang had once encountered trouble—a location he had mentioned in passing during their conversations. She believed that Lu Hang’s current mission must be related to that incident; otherwise, the task wouldn’t have been so time-sensitive and covert.

She was going to Yun City. Only there could she possibly find Lu Hang.

Even if she was wrong, it didn’t matter. That place was the most dangerous for Lu Hang. As long as he wasn’t there, the risk would be reduced—which was actually a good thing.

Boarding the train, Lin Nannan hadn’t booked a sleeper berth. She had been in such a hurry that she almost couldn’t get a ticket at all.

Sitting on the hard seat, the noisy, stuffy train car, filled with all sorts of smells, gave her a headache. It was her first time in such an environment, and she found it quite uncomfortable.

A pretty face with nice clothes always draws attention, especially Lin Nannan, who had been fussed over by the Lu family during her recovery. Not only was her skin fair, but she also looked soft and vulnerable-looking—making her seem like an easy target.

After boarding the train, since she was traveling alone, she immediately caught their eye.

The calculating gazes directed at her didn't faze her—just irritated her.

Right now, she just wanted to reach Yun City as soon as possible and had no intention of stirring up trouble. But some people, too dumb to see the danger, thought she was an easy mark and kept staring at her, irritating her to no end. Eventually, she decided that instead of waiting for them to make a move, she would act first. After all, these people wouldn’t board the train without a purpose—if they didn’t find a target, they'd be riding for nothing. They must have boarded to transport their "prey."

With that in mind, Lin Nannan began observing her surroundings. She soon realized that the people watching her included men and women, old and even young—a child held by a young woman, showing no signs of distress.

When she looked at them, they even smiled at her as if they were familiar.

As the train moved forward, she noticed that while she remained still, these people took shifts moving about but kept their eyes fixed on her. The woman holding the child left briefly at one point but then stayed put, never moving the child again.

During the journey, Lin Nannan ate and drank, but the child in the bundle never stirred. Her gut told her something was wrong—she suspected this child was the key to their operation.

A child, once stolen and sold, could fetch hundreds or even thousands—way easier money than an honest day's work. These people likely intended to snatch her up as a bonus.

Thinking this, she lowered her gaze, careful to keep her face blank and not alert them.

She pondered how to get the child into her hands safely…

Only by confirming that the child was indeed drugged could she expose these criminals. Otherwise, they might turn the tables on her, causing unnecessary trouble.

And she hated trouble.

If they hadn’t been staring at her so persistently, she wouldn’t have paid them any attention. But now, she felt this child was connected to her by fate—she had to save them.

Sometimes, the one being watched isn’t the prey—the tables can turn, and the hunter may become the hunted. So, when the traffickers smiled and struck up a conversation with her, Lin Nannan played along, playing the wide-eyed innocent, making them even more eager.

Not only that, she deliberately made a show of having money in front of them, eating well and subtly signaling that she had money. This only fueled their greed, making their fingers itch to grab her.

When she set her mind to something, no one could stop her. Soon, the people who had been watching her were chatting with her, even sharing the food she offered—everything unfolding naturally.

"This child is so adorable," Lin Nannan said, leaning closer to the woman eating the bun she had given her, her voice filled with admiration.

The child had that pampered look, clearly well cared for. Though the outer clothes were worn and patched, the clothes underneath were quality-made—completely different from the exterior. She was certain this child didn’t belong to them. What’s more, the child’s complexion was off, and in such a noisy environment, it hadn't so much as twitched—something was definitely wrong. She was sure the child had been drugged.

Because Lin Nannan played the fool so well, freely handing out food like candy and even revealing personal details, the traffickers let their guard down, even joking with her.

Lin Nannan giggled along like a fool, then rubbed her hands together and said, "Big sister, let me hold the child for a bit! I can’t finish this meat—you can have it all!"

Hearing such an offer, the older woman next to what passed for its mother didn’t even wait for her to respond and eagerly agreed.

They assumed Lin Nannan was just a clueless young woman and agreed without a second thought.

The child wound up in Lin Nannan’s care. After a quick check, she realized the child was in serious danger. Her eyes narrowed. She immediately shouted when she saw the train police approaching, "They're human traffickers! Catch them!"

Her words set the whole train car buzzing. Everyone stood up, staring at the group who had been eating so heartily just moments ago...

The group, who’d been eating happily, froze at her words. Their faces twisted with panic before the young woman lunged for the child, screaming, "That's my child! You're the trafficker!"

Lin Nannan didn’t hesitate. She seized the woman’s wrist and bent it back sharply. The woman shrieked in pain, unable to speak.

"Help! She's stealing my grandson! You all saw it—my daughter-in-law was holding the child the whole time!" The old woman was slicker, playing the victim. "Please, help us!"

Lin Nannan brushed off the drama. Instead, she unwrapped the child’s blanket and declared, "Check out these fancy clothes—no way they could afford this. And since I boarded, this child hasn’t moved or made a sound. Is this how you care for a baby?"

She jiggled the baby’s arm lightly, but there was no response. Now on high alert, the passengers helped the cops tackle the suspects.

Lin Nannan handed the child to the police. "They dosed him hard. He needs urgent medical attention."

The cops thanked her and hauled the child off.

With the traffickers arrested, the passengers stared at Lin Nannan curiously. She frowned and touched her cheek. "What’s wrong?"

"How’d you know they were traffickers?" an old woman asked.

Lin Nannan gave a shrug. "They wanted to sell me."

The car erupted in gasps. Someone stood up, bewildered. "But they did nothing! You even shared food with them!"

They’d all thought Lin Nannan was a sucker for sharing food—until now.

Seeing their confusion, she laid out how the traffickers had been sizing her up from the start. "They wouldn’t board a train without a target. The ticket’s too expensive. So I watched them and noticed the child—no crying, no movement. I played along, and well… you saw the rest."

The crowd went wild with praise.

"No way! They picked the wrong mark—you played *them*!" someone praised.

"Not just brains—guts!" another added. "My daughter would’ve been tricked in seconds!"

Lin Nannan turned red. "I had backup. Without everyone, they might’ve escaped."

No way out—unless they wanted to dive off a speeding train.

While her train car buzzed with relief, chaos unfolded elsewhere. The child’s condition forced an emergency stop. Authorities questioned Lin Nannan, who, realizing her family would worry, gave Lu Hang’s address and asked them to inform her relatives she was heading to Nan City.

The crew was floored by her chill attitude.

With the child and traffickers off the train, Lin Nannan’s reputation spread. Nobody messed with her after that.

After transferring trains, the frantic Lu family finally received news.

"Cops called," Lu Ding announced. "Nan Nan busted traffickers and saved a kid, left our village’s number, and said she’s going to Nan City. They told us not to worry."

The relief didn’t last. Lin Zhaoyou called Zhang Dabang. "Is Lu Hang in Nan City?"

"Wait—she went there?!" Zhang Dabang was stunned.

Lin Zhaoyou repeated the message. "Is he there or not?"

A long silence spoke volumes.

Zhang Dabang couldn’t confirm, but the implication was clear.

"That crazy girl!" Lin Zhaoyou fretted. "Nan City’s dangerous—how could she?!"