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Chapter 49 - 48

"π·π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘’, π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘–? π»π‘œπ‘›π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘™π‘¦ 𝑖 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’π‘›'𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘Ž π‘”π‘’π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘  π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘™π‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž π‘™π‘œπ‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’. 𝐼𝑓 𝑖𝑑 π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘™π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘—π‘œπ‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’ 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘›'𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘šπ‘’ π‘Ž 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 π‘π‘œπ‘–π‘›. 𝐡𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑦 π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘? π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘–, π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘¦ π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž."

He finished speaking, nodding again as he looked at the money in his hand.

"𝐼 π‘ π‘€π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ, π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦π‘™π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘™π‘’π‘π‘˜. π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ car 𝑖𝑓 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘™π‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘›. πΌπ‘›π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘π‘™π‘’! π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘–, 𝑑𝑖𝑑 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ 𝑏𝑖𝑔 π‘—π‘œπ‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘™π‘¦? π‘Šπ‘’ π‘šπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘œπ‘›."

Nangui shook his head, cutting him off.

"𝐼𝑑'𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Ž π‘—π‘œπ‘. 𝑀𝑦 π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑 β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘, π‘ π‘œ 𝐼 π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘š, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘”π‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘šπ‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›. 𝐼 π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ 𝐼'𝑑 π‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Ž 𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘œ."

"π΄β„Ž, 𝐼 𝑠𝑒𝑒…"

Sawei said softly.

This time, Nangui didn't let him finish speaking. He said goodbye and walked away, still hearing Sawei thanking him. He only nodded to himself, thinking that if Sawei know he earned much more than he was given and only handed him twenty thousand. He probably wouldn't have thanking him at all.

He went into his room, thinking about how he would start looking for a better place to live. With the heavy amount of money Peng had transferred into his account, he would have to change his lifestyle completely. Heaven had truly blessed him....bringing him this opportunity out of nowhere. He had been searching for a way out of his old life for a long time, watching the years pass without building anything meaningful.

He knew he would also visit his cousin Mulan, the tea stall owner, and give him something too, since he had played a role in everything. Deep down, he loved making others happy whenever he could, easing their burdens whenever possible. That was why he had decided to help this man, Fuyue. When Fuyue had begged him to inform him if Peng returned, he had decided to tell him immediately, imagining how happy he would be.

And indeed, he had seen the joy and excitement on Fuyue's face after he explained what hospital they were in and took him there.

Fuyue had thanked him repeatedly and even Nangui walked him to Peng's room.

But from the moment he entered that room, everything changed...things Peng would never have done before suddenly happened.

It was as if everything had been planned in advance.

It started with Peng calling a man known as "𝐊𝐨𝐣𝐞." That man sent nearly twenty of his men to the hospital. Peng went out personally to meet them, and they discussed something privately...something Nangui never heard.

Then Peng asked again about the call he asked him to made to Malo earlier. Nangui explained that Malo's phone hadn't gone through in the morning, so he tried again. When Malo answered, he told him everything, Peng didn't speak on the phone. Shortly afterward, Malo arrived at the hospital.

Nangui found a place to sit beside the hospital bed and closed his eyes, remembering everything that followed.

How Peng ordered Malo to be forced into a large black vehicle that some of the men had brought from Peng's house. The torture Malo suffered after they left the hospital and took him to one of Peng's private properties. He remembered how Peng ordered two of Malo's fingers to be cut off, yet Malo still refused to reveal what Peng wanted.

Peng had paced around him, shouting:

"π‘Šβ„Žπ‘œ 𝑖𝑠 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘Œπ‘–π‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑑𝑖𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘šπ‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘–π‘‘ π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›? π‘Šβ„Žπ‘œ 𝑖𝑠 β„Žπ‘’, π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘œ? π‘Šβ„Žπ‘¦ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘˜π‘’π‘’π‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘ π‘’π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘šπ‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’'𝑣𝑒 π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘ ?"

Nangui didn't fully understand what was going on. He only knew Malo had kept something from Peng after he left.

He remembered watching Malo's blood pour out, his eyes red, his body shaking in agony...yet not a single scream came from his mouth.

He thought that if it were him, he would have screamed so loudly that Peng would have ordered his death just to stop the noise.

Then one of the men made a suggestion. They took Yibo's number from Malo's phone and called a police officer. Peng bribed him heavily, and within minutes, the officer tracked Yibo's exact location.

He remembered how Peng kicked Malo repeatedly, laughing after they obtained the information.

The images haunted him...especially when he recalled Peng giving the order to abduct Yibo and his husband, Zhan. Peng's command was clear: kill anyone found in the house and bring them both with Yibo and Zhan.

Nangui didn't stay long enough to see the men return. Peng dismissed him and left. He only heard Peng saying he had to return to the hospital because his hand was injured from beating Malo.

Since yesterday, Nangui's thoughts had been spinning nonstop. If Peng succeeded in capturing them, what would he do to them? The same torture Malo endured? Worse?

No matter what happened, he would be responsible. Even if Peng killed them, he would share the blame.

He held his head as his mind replayed the address they had received from the police report. If he truly wanted to correct his mistake, he still had a chance.

The only problem was...if he did, would his own fate change? Would he end up like Malo?

⚑⚑⚑

Around eight in the morning, Zhan woke up in a dark room, darkness swallowing everything around him. After the darkness, the second thing he noticed was a cold breeze blowing softly....gentle, yet strong enough to make a small bulb hanging from the ceiling sway.

At the same time, his heart began to pound violently, breaking the calm he had woken up in. He closed his eyes, trying to remember what had happened and how he had ended up there, but fear flooded his mind, and the pounding in his chest made it impossible for him to recall everything clearly. The only thing he could remember was being taken from his house and dragged there.

He turned his head, scanning the room. There were no windows, nothing...only a door. The room was empty except for a single chair in the corner, and when he tried to move, he realized his hands and legs were tightly bound with something strong.

His heartbeat echoed in his ears, while dread settled deep in his chest, a fear he couldn't even describe.

He didn't know how long he stayed like that before he heard the sound of the door opening.

The door swung open, and three men walked in first. Then the last person entered....and the impact of seeing him was so intense that Zhan felt as if his heart might shatter completely, or that he might lose consciousness right there.

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠.

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠.

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠.

He stood in front of him. After stepping inside, Peng stopped, as if deliberately giving him time to stare and confirm that it was really him.

As Zhan's heart raced, everything came back to him in vivid detail.

"𝐼𝑠 𝑖𝑑 π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝑃𝑒𝑛𝑔 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘–π‘š? π΅π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝑃𝑒𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘œπ‘€π‘› π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ž, π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘'𝑠 π‘€β„Žπ‘¦ 𝐼 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘š? π‘†π‘œ π‘›π‘œπ‘€ 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘š π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘šπ‘’ π‘ π‘œ 𝑀𝑒 π‘π‘Žπ‘› 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘–π‘šβ€¦"

All the questions he had been asking himself suddenly lined up in his mind.

What was the connection between Yibo and Peng?

Why did both of them enter his life at the same time?

He still didn't understand everything, but just seeing Peng standing there felt like the answer he had been searching for had finally been revealed....Yibo had been protecting him from whatever Peng was planning.

Zhan's breath hitched as Peng started walking toward him. His eyes followed him until Peng stopped just a few steps away.

"πΊπ‘œπ‘œπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘™π‘œπ‘£π‘’."

The sound of Peng's voice made

Zhan feel as if the air had been knocked out of his lungs. Yet it also confirmed that this was truly the Peng he knew. Zhan kept staring at him, but fear locked his body in place. His legs felt numb, his hands tied tightly behind him, unable to move.

Peng stepped closer, looking at him with those eyes Zhan had once mistaken for persistence....now he understood they were nothing but cruelty. Peng let out a dry laugh and began to speak.

"π·π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦. 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘™π‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘π‘’π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’, π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝐼 π‘ π‘Žπ‘–π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’, π‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘‘. 𝐼 π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š 𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ 𝑃𝑒𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘˜π‘›π‘’π‘€. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ 𝑃𝑒𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘π‘™π‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘›π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦. 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘¦ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝐼 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ž, π‘œπ‘Ÿ 𝑖𝑓 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘ π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘™π‘¦ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘β„Ž. πΈπ‘–π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦, 𝐼'π‘š π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘β„Ž π‘›π‘œπ‘€, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›. π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’'π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘¦ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑑."

He paused, as if weighing his words, then continued.

"𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑑 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝐼 π‘™π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›. 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘£π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘’ π‘œπ‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ."

Zhan felt the words strike his ears like burning stones. His body went numb, his eyes filling with tears, yet he still couldn't stop looking at him.

"𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑑𝑖𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 π‘›π‘œπ‘€, π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘¦ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑖𝑠 π‘–π‘›π‘—π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘, 𝐼 π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘ π‘šπ‘’ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘  π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’. π‘π‘œπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘Žπ‘”π‘’, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘˜ π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘π‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘šπ‘’."

In Zhan's mind, he felt he should do something....speak, scream for help, beg, cry...anything. But his body and heart refused to respond. Instead, a single question echoed in his mind:

If he destroyed my life, what would he gain? What would revenge give him?

Yet when he tried to speak, no words came out...only a broken whisper.

"π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’β€¦ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’β€¦"

Peng stepped closer and stopped right in front of him.

"𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘ . 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘› 𝐼 π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘, π‘ π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝐼 π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘’ 𝑑𝑖𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘’. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘‘, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›. π‘π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑠 π‘šπ‘¦ π‘–π‘›π‘—π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘. 𝑂𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑑 β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘ , 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘’π‘’ 𝑒π‘₯π‘Žπ‘π‘‘π‘™π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘  𝐼 π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘’π‘‘. 𝐼 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Œπ‘–π‘π‘œ...π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘š...𝐼 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘˜π‘’π‘’π‘ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘–π‘š 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑙 𝐼 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘–π‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 π‘‘π‘œπ‘œ. 𝐻𝑒 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ 𝑖𝑑."

He crouched in front of him and grabbed Zhan's face with his uninjured hand. Zhan tried to pull away, but Peng's grip tightened so hard it felt like his face would split in two.

"π‘‡β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑛 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑑 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘–π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘π‘’ π΅π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘‘π‘œπ‘œ. 𝑀𝑦 π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘› π‘›π‘œπ‘€ 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑠 β„Žπ‘–π‘š π‘Žπ‘  𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙. 𝐼'π‘š π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘œπ‘’π‘  π‘‘π‘œ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘π‘–π‘“π‘“π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘’π‘ ."

Zhan's breath shook.

"π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’β€¦ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’, 𝑃𝑒𝑛𝑔. π·π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘‘π‘œπ‘’π‘β„Ž π΅π‘Žπ‘–. πΏπ‘’π‘Žπ‘£π‘’ β„Žπ‘–π‘š π‘Žπ‘™π‘œπ‘›π‘’. 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘β€¦"

To his shock, Peng burst into laughter.

"π‘Šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ, π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›? π‘Šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘π‘™π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œ? π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’'π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘. π‘†π‘œ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘šπ‘’...π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ?"

****

π‹πšπ­πžπ« π“π‘πšπ­ πƒπšπ²

Around 2:30 p.m., Bai's friend, Shao, looked at him and said,

"𝐁𝐚𝐒, Huo 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’'𝑠 π‘›π‘œ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘’ 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘’ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’π‘‘."

They were walking along a road behind their school, searching for the shop or house Huo had described to Bai. They had been asking around, but no one seemed to recognize the place she described.

Bai frowned.

"π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦π‘π‘’ 𝑀𝑒 π‘‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œπ‘™π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’ 𝑖𝑑'𝑠 π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’. 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛 β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑖𝑑 π‘π‘’π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’."

Shao shook his head.

"𝐼'π‘š π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘. 𝐿𝑒𝑑'𝑠 π‘”π‘œ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜. 𝐼𝑓 π‘ β„Žπ‘’ 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€, π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜. π‘‚π‘Ÿ π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž 𝑒𝑠. π‘‡π‘œπ‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€ 𝑖𝑠 πΉπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦, π‘ π‘œ...."

Bai bit his lip, scanning the street.

"𝐼'π‘š π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›-𝑔𝑒'𝑠 β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€, π‘ π‘œ 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑑 π‘‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦."

A boy walked past them, and Bai stopped him.

"π·π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠 π‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘’? π‘Šπ‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘π‘’π‘π‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒?"

The boy shook his head.

"π‘π‘œ, 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€."

He ran off.

When Bai looked back at Shao, he saw him staring at a tinted car behind them.

"π‘Šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘‘?" Bai asked.

"π‘‡β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿ. 𝐼 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘˜ 𝑖𝑑'𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑒𝑠."

Bai narrowed his eyes.

"π‘Šβ„Žπ‘¦ π‘€π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€ 𝑒𝑠? π‘Šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘?"

"𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑑 π‘π‘’β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘‘ 𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’π‘‘."

A second passed. Then Bai grabbed Shao's hand.

"π‘Šβ„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ 𝑀𝑒 π‘”π‘œ?" Shao asked.

"𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒 π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’."

Bai replied then pulled him along, turning into a quieter street with fewer houses. After walking for a while, they heard the sound of the car approaching from behind.

Bai turned and looked at it, then nodded.

"𝐼𝑑 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘¦ 𝑖𝑠 π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑒𝑠. 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 π‘”π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘ π‘˜ π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘."

"π΅π‘Žπ‘–, π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑! π·π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 π‘”π‘œ!"

Shao shouted, but Bai didn't listen. He walked straight toward the car.

Everything happened in seconds. As Bai reached the car, the door opened, a hand grabbed him and pulled him inside. The car sped off, nearly dragging Bai's leg under the wheels before he was fully inside. Shao screamed and ran, but the car disappeared before he could do anything.

:

:

π‹πšπ­πžπ« π“π‘πšπ­ π„π―πžπ§π’π§π 

Around 4:00 p.m., Nangui arrived at the gate of a house he was certain matched the address he had been given....the home of Yibo and Zhan.

𝐍𝐁

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐑 𝐒 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐬𝐑𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐒 𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐜𝐑𝐞.

π’π’‰π’‚π’π’™π’Šπ’‚π’π’šπ’Šπ’ƒπ’πŸ’šβ€πŸ’›

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