Chen Xuanqiu’s kidnapping caused a huge commotion at the hotel moments later.
It was Fu Yao who first noticed something was amiss. Chen Xuanqiu had gone to the restroom half an hour ago and still hadn’t returned. Feeling uneasy, he asked Xiao Tong to look for them.
Xiao Tong circled the women’s restroom but couldn’t find a trace of Chen Xuanqiu. Perplexed, she returned to report her findings.
Fu Yao searched the lobby several times, yet Chen Xuanqiu was nowhere to be seen. A sinister premonition gripped his heart, and he immediately rushed to inform his father.
“Oh my God, dear, he must have been taken by criminals.”
Melissa’s hands and feet trembled with anxiety.
“Sister-in-law, there’s no need to panic. Perhaps she just stepped out to buy something.”
Fu Fawu quickly offered reassurance.
“Or perhaps she went home?”
Jiang Yunmei mused aloud.
Hearing this, Chen Degao immediately called the bodyguards at home. The result, of course, was painfully clear.
“It’s over. He’s definitely been captured by villains.”
Melissa collapsed onto a chair, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. There aren’t that many bad people in this world.”
Jiang Yunmei offered a weak, unconvincing comfort.
“Sister-in-law, you don’t understand,” Chen Degao explained, embracing his wife, his voice heavy with gravity. “What my wife told you earlier was true. Chen Xuanzhu has long been targeted by a human trafficking organization; the police themselves confirmed it to us.”
“Is that true? I thought you two were just…”
Fu Fawu said, visibly astonished.
“Enough talk. Let’s call the police.”
Jiang Yunmei urged her husband without delay.
Fu Fawu finally snapped back to reality, quickly pulling out his phone to dial for help.
“Dear, but we clearly lost…”
Melissa said to her husband, her voice laced with worry. The unspoken meaning was painfully clear: they had lost their son, yet Fu Fawu had reported their daughter missing. Was this truly alright?
“Melissa, come here.”
Chen Degao felt there were matters he needed to discuss with his wife privately. He led her to a secluded spot.
“Dear, we clearly lost our son, but CEO Fu just told the police our daughter was missing. Is that truly okay?”
Melissa pressed, unable to contain her urgency.
“Melissa, I know you’re worried, but you must remain calm at a time like this, understand?”
Chen Degao first comforted his wife before explaining, “The reason Chen Xuanqiu risked coming to the hotel tonight was to help us. If we reveal the truth now, wouldn’t all his efforts be in vain?”
Melissa fell into deep thought after hearing her husband’s words, her expression shifting dramatically.
“Anyway, the siblings look identical; no one will be able to tell the difference. So, our wisest course of action now is to go along with the mistake, do you understand?”
Chen Degao continued his explanation.
“But the problem is, our daughter is perfectly safe at home. If someone sees her, how will we explain it?”
Melissa asked, still perplexed.
“That will require us to manage the aftermath carefully.”
Chen Degao pondered for a moment before saying, “Here’s what we’ll do: from now on, she’ll pretend to be Chen Xuanqiu and stay at home. I’ll arrange leave for both siblings at school, and I’ll instruct the bodyguards accordingly.”
“But a lie can’t be hidden forever.”
Melissa expressed her concern.
“We’ll hide it for as long as we can, and only hope that Chen Xuanqiu returns soon.”
Chen Degao sighed.
“You used to say he was useless. It turns out you were wrong.”
As Melissa spoke, she began to cry again.
“Indeed. He’s grown up now; he understands what it means to be a man.”
Chen Degao remarked, deeply moved.
****
After an indeterminate amount of time, Chen Xuanqiu regained a sliver of consciousness. He felt as though he was lying on a leather seat, his entire body covered by a sack, unable even to open his eyelids. The only sound he could discern was the roar of a car engine.
“Brother Tian, how much longer until we reach Guliu Town?”
“About half an hour more, and we’ll be there.”
“Haha, we did it! It feels just like a dream.”
“Indeed. I never expected it to be this easy. I was prepared for a long struggle, but who would’ve thought this brat would be so careless, so pretty and daring enough to run around alone?”
“Haha, after this job, I’m leaving the organization. Then I’ll marry a wife and live a stable life.”
“Are you stupid? With all that money, why bother marrying a wife? What’s the benefit of having someone control you? How can that compare to living freely and happily outside?”
“Brother Tian is right…”
Chen Xuanqiu vaguely heard the two men’s conversation, but soon lost consciousness once more.
Chen Xuanqiu was awoken a second time by pain. He felt as though he was being carried on someone’s shoulder, his abdomen throbbing from being pressed against something. He tried to struggle, but no strength would come, a feeling that made him wish for death.
After a long while, Chen Xuanqiu heard a door open. He was finally set down, and by touch, he knew he was on a bed.
“Open it up and take a look. Don’t let her suffocate.”
A middle-aged man commanded.
“Alright, Brother Tian.”
A younger man acknowledged the order.
Chen Xuanqiu immediately felt someone untie the sack. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids remained as heavy as before.
“Brother, you know, this chick isn’t just pretty; she’s fragrant and soft too. I wish I could carry her forever.”
“Nonsense. Otherwise, how could she be worth so much money?”
“Too bad we only get ten million each.”
“Xiao Yu, just be content. If you worked honestly your whole life, you’d never make this much money.”
The two men resumed their idle chatter. From their voices, it seemed the older kidnapper was surnamed Tian, and the younger one, Yu.
Next, Chen Xuanqiu faintly heard the two kidnappers eating. From their casual conversation, he understood that he would be handed over to the buyer here tomorrow.
‘What if they discover I’m a man halfway through?’
Chen Xuanqiu realized the gravity of this question, and a powerful sense of crisis surged within him. He knew that if his identity were exposed, his fate would be truly dire.
These were not benevolent people; they wouldn’t apologize with a simple, “Sorry, we caught the wrong person.” The most likely outcome was that they would be enraged and dismember him.
‘Oh God, please don’t let them find out I’m a man!’
Chen Xuanqiu prayed silently, for he had no ability to resist and could only beg for divine intervention.
Unfortunately, it seemed fate itself wished to witness a spectacle today.
“Xiao Yu, position her properly. I need to take a few photos to send to HQ, or we won’t get paid.”
The older kidnapper, surnamed Tian, instructed.
Xiao Yu obediently complied, then manipulated Chen Xuanqiu into various poses as if she were a ragdoll. During this, he didn’t forget to grope her.
“Sigh, it’s such a waste to just hand over such a little beauty. I’ve lived for twenty or thirty years and never touched a woman, you know?”
Xiao Yu couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. The recent groping hadn’t satisfied him; instead, it had only made him more restless with desire.
“So, what exactly do you have in mind?”
The kidnapper surnamed Tian asked.
“How about we have a taste before handing her over? They never said she had to be a virgin, anyway.”
Xiao Yu suggested, his tone wicked.
“Hmm, you make a very good point.”
The kidnapper surnamed Tian remarked after a moment of silence. Evidently, even he couldn’t resist the temptation of such a captivating beauty.
“Alright then, since I’m older, I’ll let you go first. I’ll keep watch for you.”
Brother Tian promptly offered.
“What’s this about ‘letting’ me? We’re kidnappers, not moral paragons. Let’s enjoy ourselves together!”
Xiao Yu chuckled lewdly.
Next, Chen Xuanqiu felt four large hands settle on his body. At the same time, he clearly heard the two men’s heavy breathing.
‘What do I do?’
Chen Xuanqiu no longer cared about the disgust. His greatest fear now was that they would discover his male identity. He struggled with all his might, but the drug’s effect was simply too potent, rendering him unable to even twitch a fingertip.
Thus, Chen Xuanqiu could only “watch” helplessly as they unbuttoned his school uniform shirt. A strange silence then descended.
“Holy crap, why are these fake breasts?”
After a long moment, Xiao Yu let out a startled cry.
“Quick, take them off and see!”
The kidnapper surnamed Tian seemed to realize something, and commanded in a panicked voice.
The two men then fumbled to remove Chen Xuanqiu’s fake breasts. Another eerie silence followed.
“Damn it, how did we kidnap a man?!”