Chapter Eleven
The room was quiet. I inhaled heavily with my hands slightly trembling.
They had taken Shu Nian to the quiet villa here so he could recuperate properly. I was just conveniently taken as well.
My head wound had been bandaged, no longer bleeding. This was thanks to Ke Luo, who still had some kindness in him to send me to the hospital. Even though they had brought me along, they had come to ensure that Shu Nian would receive a thorough examination.
My stomach felt uncomfortable, but now wasn’t the time to worry about it. No matter how my insides suffer, they’d still be in the same place anyway. It’s entirely better than having them dug out.
At least compared to one possible fate, tolerating this bit of physical pain was nothing but a piece of cake.
Pulling myself together, I tried to calm down. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling.
Maybe the situation wasn’t that bad. I was violently tossed in here, but this wasn’t some prison cell. It was just an ordinary study room. There was even wine in the cabinet. Of course, there were men guarding outside the door, but Ke Luo didn’t even so much as tie me up. I could move freely in the room.
The swelling of my head throbbed painfully. The feeling was hard to bear. There was no end to the panic in my heart. I felt a cold sweat drip down my forehead after sitting for a moment.
My mouth was dry, so I figured I’d go open the cabinet. I selected a bottle of wine according to the year. Since a glass was readily-available as well, I helped myself to a drink.
On one hand, it settled my mind; on the other hand, I seemed to have really run into bad luck. I’ll let myself drink something good anyway before hitting the road again.
The door was pushed open. The tall young man took a couple steps inside, and his eyes widened.
“You…”
He probably didn’t even expect me to shamelessly drink Lu Feng’s stash when death was so near at hand. He frowned at once.
“I need an explanation.”
“Okay.” Luckily, he still offered me a chance to explain.
“Why do it?”
“I didn’t rape him,” I replied quickly.
“I want to know why you were a spy. Who are you working for?”
My heart suddenly sank a little. I didn’t say a word.
“In what way has Uncle Lu wronged you? In what way has Xiao Nian offended you? Why do that to them?”
“They didn’t do anything. What about you? You dare say that you don’t owe me the slightest bit of debt?”
Ke Luo was taken aback. “Then why didn’t you just direct it at me?”
How could I say something ridiculous as “I couldn’t bear to?” I spread out my hands and simply said, “Okay, this time I was wrong.”
Ke Luo glared at me coldly. I could feel a cold chill run down my spine. Never before had I wished like now that he’d wholeheartedly care for Shu Nian, barely having the time to spare a look at me.
“Regarding the company, I’ll confess to Lu Feng and await his decision. Don’t interfere. Concerning Shu Nian, I was wrong first. I apologize to him. But seeing as not a hair on his head was harmed,” I paused and smiled, “and also our…friendship all these years.”
Ke Luo watched me.
I poured a glass, raised it toward him, and humbly said, “Just consider it as a plea from Uncle Lee. Cut me some slack, and let’s make peace.”
Ke Luo stared at me for a while. He took the glass from my hand at last despite his emotionless face.
I immediately felt an incredible sense of relief. But the next instant, he threw the entire glass of wine in my face.
I was stunned for a long while as the wine ran down my chin. I heard a knock outside the door.
“Come in.”
An indistinct shadow appeared at the door. “Master Ke, the men from the Xie family have arrived requesting us to hand the man over.”
Ke Luo glanced at me, then turned his head. “Tell them that I was the one who caught him, so he would naturally be at my disposal.”
“But they’re extremely persistent…”
“Assure Xie Yan that I will deal with it.”
My one heart sank.
I could imagine how big and deep his hatred toward me was, but I still had no idea as to how he’ll “deal” with me.
The house became quiet once more. I could only hear the sound of my rough, heavy breathing.
Soon there was another knock at the door. Obviously the Xie family there won’t leave the matter at that if they can’t personally “deal” with me.
“Master Ke, it’s better that you personally…”
Ke Luo frowned. When he turned around, his face bore the striking resemblance of Lu Feng’s grimness.
As soon as he walked out, he locked the door from the outside. The click sent chills through my entire body.
Xie Yan possibly had to hack me to pieces before his hatred was quenched. It would probably be much more so for Ke Luo.
My teeth slightly chattered. I admitted that I was afraid of death. And now that things were uncertain like this, how could I resign myself? What’s more, they may not necessarily give me a quick relief.
Taking advantage of the two men’s dispute as to who would handle me, I stood up and looked down from the window.
What luck, it was only the third floor. The antique European window, which was originally suitable for ladies to greet their brave lovers, was now facilitating me to run for my life.
With my whole body outside the window and one foot straining to reach a ledge to step on, I heard talking outside the door.
My heart raced.
Once they realized no one was in the room, even if I made it to the ground in time, I can forget about escaping.
As soon as I stepped on the second floor window sill, I quit dawdling and jumped directly down.
I slightly crouched when I hit the ground. Apart from the small pain in my feet, I didn’t so much as twist my ankle. When I was young, I’d scraped through tough conditions. Now that I was old, I managed to refrain from becoming too clumsy.
This villa was so huge that it’s abnormal. Walking on such a long cobblestone path, I thought I’d been discovered and had almost given up hope.
But when I went through the main gates, I wasn’t stopped to my surprise. The entrance guard wasn't suspicious of me. He didn’t even look at me, so I was allowed through.
I didn’t even have the time to celebrate. Not having the nerve to delay, I hurried off.
Devastated, I hid for several days, living in a complete mess.
Of course I didn’t have the guts to return to the apartment. Fortunately, I had stored emergency cash and ATM cards for use in another location. I just never expected I’d put them to good use so soon. I couldn’t help but repeatedly curse myself unlucky.
I regretted my indecisiveness. At that time, there was no need for me to meddle with that man. As a result, it’s now the same as offending both the Xie family and the Lu family.
I didn’t lack the money, but to continue in hiding was not the way. All day long, I was like a rat, hiding and scurrying about. For the sake of safety, I could only eat and sleep in poor rundown places. Upon seeing a familiar person, I would walk off with my head turned away.
I couldn’t stay in T city for the time being. I should move away from here and lie low until the fuss died down.
But to run away from here wasn’t going to be that easy. I didn’t have the nerve to go back to the apartment and take the things I needed. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could only look to Tong Shan. What's more, he was an enemy of both families, not a friend, and still owed me a large amount of money.
Tong Shan could actually be considered loyal to his comrades. A half an hour after I had given him a call, a car came to pick me up.
I didn’t let my guard down with Tong Shan. It’s just that I knew it wouldn’t do him any good for me to be captured
Even though Tong Shan never exposed his face, it was clear this time that it wasn’t just me who would be caught. Sooner or later, it would descend on him. It wouldn’t be that easy to wash his hands from it. Even if he got rid of me, he wouldn’t be able to make it up to both families.
Since we’re on the same boat, he might as well help me. Naturally, I’d be of use to him in the future.
I probably calculated the right move this time. Tong Shan treated me rather courteous and polite. He arranged a safe place for me to stay and agreed to help me set up new paperwork and passport.
I didn’t want to exaggerate it so much as to flee the country. But according these people, Ke Luo was searching everywhere for me even if he had to dig three feet deep to drag me out.
Xie Yan had already given up and returned to S city, yet Ke Luo still wouldn’t let me off so easily. He relentlessly pursued me.
What for? Did he really hate me that much?
For a dog that had run off after being beaten so much, he should have some compassion.
Or perhaps I should never have had any expectations on Ke Luo from the very beginning?
“Tong, sir, you asked for me?”
“My goodness, come sit, come sit. Let’s call for a couple glasses,” Tong Shan greeted me with a grin.”
“Has the passport arrived yet?”
“No need to rush. Sit, sit. Young people must have patience.”
To have to wag my tail for this old geezer and be mixed into this, I didn’t have just any ordinary bad luck. I forced myself to sit down. Several days had already passed, and I still hadn’t received the required passport. I’d be lying if I claimed that I wasn’t uneasy about it.
“Tong, sir, honestly speaking, it’s not that difficult to prepare them, right?”
“Why? Don’t you trust me?” Tong Shan chuckled. “Well, you know, they’ve nearly overturned the heavens searching for you.”
I didn’t make a sound. Sometimes I really had the urge to go find Ke Luo and ask him to his face what on earth he wanted to do to me so his anger would subside. Carry out the top ten tortures?
To him, what we had been through together wasn’t even enough to bring about the tiniest bit of pity?
My chest constricted. In one mouthful, I emptied the glass Tong Shan had poured for me.
Just as I wanted to drink a second glass, the glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. I slowly looked at my own hand, and my head swirled.
Damn it.
“Don’t blame me.” Tong Shan’s kind smiling face and voice became vague and distant. “In fact, the Lu family forced me to a tight corner. If I don’t hand you over, my days would be tough. It’ll be difficult for everyone…”
Bastard.
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