Chapter Twenty-Nine: Her Loyalty
Cheng Yin realized something was wrong on the morning of the third day.
Lin Shirong was supposed to pick her up and take her to the company, but he only sent a text message: "Something urgent, take a taxi yourself."
Cheng Yin dialed his number, and it rang for a long time before being answered.
"Mr. Lin?" Cheng Yin heard the noisy footsteps and shouts in the background.
"Don't come to the company." Lin Shirong's voice was very low. "Stay in the hotel, lock the door, and if anyone asks, just say..." A burst of noise interrupted him, "...say you don't know Li Yaodong."
The call abruptly ended. Cheng Yin stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of apartment 3306, sunlight reflecting off her phone, creating a blinding glare. She tried calling back, but it went straight to voicemail.
The sky over the Pearl River Delta was still dazzlingly blue, and the Japer Fountain was performing as usual, with the laughter of tourists faintly coming through the glass.
Everything was normal, except for that strange phone call from Lin Shirong.
Cheng Yin turned on the TV and tuned to the local news channel. The female anchor was reporting on a dock warehouse explosion in Cantonese. The scene then switched to the entrance of a hospital, where the person on the stretcher was blurred out.
The phone suddenly vibrated. An unknown number read: "Ms. Cheng, Cici is in our hands. If you want to save her, come to the airport alone. A plane is waiting for you. Don't tell Li Yaodong, or she'll die."
In the accompanying photos, Cici is tied to a chair, her silver sequined dress stained with blood, her makeup a mess, a far cry from her radiant self at the party. The background is clearly a warehouse in Siam, with posters in Siamese on the walls.
Cheng Yin's fingertips were icy cold. She remembered Lin Shirong's warning, Li Yaodong's parting words, "If you need anything, go to Lin Shirong," and Cici's sly look when she teased her at the party...
This isn't the kind of street brawl Xu Chen is involved in; it's real danger, the kind that could kill people.
Hong Kong International Airport was bustling with people. Following the instructions in the text message, Cheng Yin walked to the VIP channel.
Two men in black suits approached her, confirmed her identity, and then silently led her onto a small private plane.
She was the only passenger in the cabin. Cheng Yin sat by the window, watching the Haojiang River gradually shrink below her as the clouds swallowed the last vestiges of familiar scenery.
The plane landed at a private airport on the outskirts of Jinfo City. Cheng Yin was led into a black van with dark tinted windows, obscuring the road outside.
The air conditioning in the car was on full blast, and goosebumps rose on her arms.
The car finally stopped in front of an abandoned factory. The iron gate was rusty, and the walls were covered with vines, like gaping, bloodthirsty mouths.
Cheng Yin was pushed off the car, and the sunlight made her squint.
"Accountant Cheng, I've heard so much about you."
The sound came from the shadows. A tall, thin man emerged, with sallow skin, a hooked nose, and a scar above his right eye.
"Where is Cici?" Cheng Yin's voice was calmer than expected.
King laughed, revealing his smoky, yellowed teeth: "What's the rush?"
Cheng Yin was led into the factory, a dimly lit space filled with rusty machinery. At the very back was an iron cage, where Cici was huddled. Upon seeing Cheng Yin, she lunged at the bars.
King kicked the cage, the jarring sound interrupting Cici's words. He turned to Cheng Yin: "As you can see, Miss Cici is unharmed." He grinned. "Now, it's time to discuss the terms."
"What are the conditions?" Cheng Yin asked.
King lit a cigarette: "Li Yaodong ruined three shipments of my goods, worth twenty million." He exhaled a smoke ring. "Tell me, is his woman worth that much?"
Cheng Yin's fingertips dug into her palm: "I'm not his woman."
"Ha!" King laughed loudly, "Then why is his phone full of your photos? Why does he go back to 3306 every night?" He leaned closer to Cheng Yin, the smell of smoke hitting her face, "Stop pretending, we all know who you are."
Cheng Yin's breath hitched for a second. Did Li Yaodong have her photos on his phone? Did he return to 3306 every night?
"Let her go." Cheng Yin looked directly into Ah King's eyes. "I'll stay."
The rifle butt slammed heavily onto the cage, and Cici cried out in pain as she shrank back.
King watched with satisfaction as Cheng Yin's expression tensed instantly: "Touching." He patted Cheng Yin's face, "It's a pity Li Yaodong isn't here; he won't be able to see this good show."
Cheng Yin was pushed to the front of the cage, facing Cici across the fence.
Cici's hand reached out from the gap in the railing and grabbed Cheng Yin's wrist: "Go..." Her nails dug into Cheng Yin's skin, "They want to use you to lure Li Yaodong out..."
Cheng Yin gently squeezed Cici's hand back: "I know."
This answer left Cici stunned.
"Record a video," Ah King said, taking out his phone. "Say goodbye to your man."
The camera focused on Cheng Yin's pale face. Ah King's knife tip traced a line near her carotid artery: "Smile."
Cheng Yin looked at the camera and suddenly laughed: "Li Yaodong, do you remember what you said?" Her voice was exceptionally clear, "Eight hundred and seventy thousand for my loyalty."
King frowned, clearly not expecting this reaction.
Cheng Yin continued, "I'll give it back to you now."
The video abruptly ended.
King put away his phone: "Touching." He gestured to his men to open the cage. "Change the person."
Cici's legs gave way and she couldn't stand when she was dragged out; tears ruined her makeup. She grabbed Cheng Yin's arm: "No..."
Cheng Yin gently pried open her fingers: "Tell Li Yaodong..." She paused, "...that I did it voluntarily."
Cici was forcibly dragged away, her cries echoing through the factory.
Cheng Yin was pushed into the cage, and the iron door slammed shut, kicking up a cloud of dust.
King squatted in front of the cage: "Just wait, Li Yaodong will be here soon." He grinned, "And then you'll all die together."
Time becomes blurred.
Cheng Yin didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly a commotion broke out in the factory. Ah King answered a phone call, his face changing drastically: "Impossible!"
Gunfire erupted suddenly, rapidly approaching from the factory's perimeter.
Cheng Yin heard King's roar, the guards' hurried footsteps, and then a deafening explosion.
The factory gates were blown open, and several figures rushed in through the smoke. Cheng Yin squinted and saw Lin Shirong leading the charge, his gold-rimmed glasses shattered, his suit stained with blood, and a gun in his hand. Behind him were several bodyguards with Hong Kong features, but Li Yaodong was nowhere to be seen.
The gunfight broke out suddenly.
Ah King's men held the high ground advantage, while Lin Shirong's team was suppressed by fire at the entrance. A stray bullet struck the cage, sparks flying, and Cheng Yin curled up into a ball.
"Cheng Yin!" Lin Shirong's shout cut through the hail of bullets, "Get down!"
Before Cheng Yin could react, the factory's side wall was suddenly smashed open, and a black SUV rushed in, running over two guards. The car door popped open, and Li Yaodong jumped out, holding two guns, his eyes colder than the gun barrels.
Ah King's curses were drowned out by the sound of gunfire.
Li Yaodong was like a precise killing machine, each shot taking away an enemy. He charged towards the cage, bullets exploding at his feet, but unable to stop him.
"You fucking..." Li Yaodong's voice choked, but his hand gripped her arm tightly, as if he wanted to crush her bones, "Do you fucking know how dangerous this is?"
Cheng Yin looked up at him. There was blood on Li Yaodong's face, she didn't know whose it was, and his eyes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed. She wanted to speak, but coughed up a mouthful of dust.
Another explosion was heard, and a corner of the factory collapsed.
Li Yaodong dragged Cheng Yin toward the SUV, bullets whizzing behind them. Lin Shirong and his bodyguards formed a protective circle, but Ah King had too many men.
"Get in the car!" Li Yaodong shoved Cheng Yin into the back seat, then turned around and continued shooting.
Cheng Yin saw Ah King appear from the second-floor platform, his gun pointed at Li Yaodong's back. She screamed, but the gunshot had already rang out.
Li Yaodong staggered, blood gushing from his right shoulder. He knelt on one knee, still firing back with his gun raised. Ah King fell off the platform like a puppet with its strings cut.
Lin Shirong rushed over and helped Li Yaodong up; the three of them squeezed into the SUV. The tires screeched on the concrete as the car sped out of the inferno.
The back seat was cramped, forcing Cheng Yin to press herself tightly against Li Yaodong. His blood soaked her shirt, warm and sticky. Li Yaodong's breathing was heavy, yet he still gripped Cheng Yin's wrist tightly, as if afraid she would disappear.
"Why?" he asked through gritted teeth, his voice distorted with pain, "Why did you come?"
Cheng Yin looked at his blood-stained profile: "Cici is innocent..."
"Bullshit!" Li Yaodong roared, "You know that's not what I'm asking!"
The car swerved sharply, and Cheng Yin crashed into Li Yaodong's arms. His heartbeat was deafening, transmitted through blood and sweat.
"You said..." her voice was soft, "870,000 for my loyalty."
Li Yaodong looked as if he'd been punched in the chest. He released Cheng Yin's wrist, then grabbed her chin with such force it felt like he was about to crush her bones: "That debt isn't paid off."
Cheng Yin asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"Because loyalty won't be risked with one's life." Li Yaodong's breath, carrying the scent of blood, brushed against her face. "Only..." He paused, then changed his words, "Only a fool would."
Li Yaodong released her, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes, panting. Blood was still flowing, staining the leather seat red. Cheng Yin took off her coat and pressed it against his wound.
"Bear with it," she said, her voice more steady than she had imagined.
Li Yaodong opened his eyes, watching her clumsy but earnest movements: "If you dare to do this again..." His voice choked, "I'll strangle you with my own hands."
Cheng Yin looked up and suddenly noticed tears in Li Yaodong's eyes. This realization shocked her even more than the gunfight.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
Li Yaodong's breathing was heavy, as if he was trying his best to restrain something. In the end, he simply rested his forehead gently on her shoulder, like a tired child.
"Don't let it happen again." His voice was muffled by her clothes. "I can't take it."
Cheng Yin's hand hovered in mid-air before finally landing gently on his black hair.
His hair was coarse and stiff, like him, and it pricked my palm slightly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
