Chapter 14 The Intertwining of Fates
In the underground prison of "Dark Night," Ruan Xingchen counted the footsteps outside the iron bars in the darkness. He stopped at seventeen steps, then turned back at twenty-three, changing guard every four hours.
This was her third day incarcerated, long enough for her to get to know the guards' patterns.
A low sobbing sound came from the cell next door - it was a Burmese girl who was dragged out for "goods inspection" last night. When she came back, she could not walk steadily and her skirt was covered in blood.
Ruan Xingchen curled up in the corner of the iron cage, her fingertips pressed tightly against the silver ring on her ring finger. The cold touch of the metal became her only sobering agent.
This is the most secretive den of indulging in money in Southeast Asia. The girls sent in are divided into three categories:
- Low class: thrown directly into an underground brothel and will not survive for more than three months;
- Medium: Trained to become high-class prostitutes, specializing in serving the powerful;
- Top: Keep it clean and wait for the auction night.
Ruan Xingchen belongs to the third category, the upper class.
"A pretty and clean girl like you," a Vietnamese girl gestured to her through the fence, "the man who bought you must be rich. Maybe you can become his mistress."
Ruan Xingchen didn't say anything, but just pressed the ring harder.
In the past three days, she has seen many returned "mistresses" - some were missing eyes or fingers, and were thrown into the incinerator like rag dolls.
At night, there was a sudden commotion in the prison.
"The Boss is here for inspection!" The guards hurriedly locked the cell doors. "Shut up, everyone!"
Footsteps sounded from the end of the corridor, neither hurried nor slow, like the pace of a large cat. Ruan Xingchen instinctively tensed up—this kind of rhythmic footsteps usually meant extreme danger.
"Last month's 'cargo damage' rate exceeded the standard."
The man's voice was low and cold, like an ice knife scraping across glass.
A sudden shiver ran up Ruan Xingchen's spine.
This voice...
She climbed to the edge of the fence and looked out through the gap. Moonlight leaked in from the high window at the end of the corridor, outlining a slender silhouette. The man was wearing a black suit, and something on his left ring finger was faintly reflecting light in the dark - a ring.
Ruan Xingchen's temples were throbbing, and fragments of memories were churning in his mind:
"Wait for me." The young man put the silver ring on her hand, "Ruan Xingchen, wait for me!"
She suddenly covered her mouth, afraid that she would scream.
In the "Dark Night" conference room, Mo Xiaohan listened indifferently to the person in charge reporting with a bow.
This underground kingdom is but a marginal part of a vast business, bloody, dirty, but necessary. Even when things slacken, it's worth a look. After all, in Southeast Asia, maintaining power requires the lubrication of certain dirty deals.
"Boss, here's the new auction list." The person in charge respectfully handed over a tablet. The screen listed the various "items" that were about to be auctioned.
Age, height, weight, blood type...are displayed like commodities.
Mo Xiaohan took a quick look and showed no interest.
"Handle it as usual."
He stood up and left, the shoulders of his black suit etched a cold, hard arc in the light. As he passed through the hallway, he stumbled upon the surveillance screen. The blurry image showed a long-haired girl huddled in an iron cage, her hair obscuring her face. Her left hand was pressed against her chest, as if clutching something.
He took one more look for no reason, just one more look.
Mo Xiaohan frowned, but did not stop.
He will never know what he just missed.
Back at the tallest building in Bangkok, Mo Xiaohan stood in front of the window. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window were the lights of the entire city.
"No news yet?" He held a cigarette between his fingers. In the smoke, his outline was as cold and hard as if carved by a knife.
A-Tai lowered his head, his back drenched in cold sweat. "I'm incompetent... but Miss Ruan's clues are indeed broken..."
"Bang!"
The crystal ashtray smashed against the wall, sending shatters flying everywhere.
"I don't keep useless people." Mo Xiaohan's voice was very soft, but it made A Tai tremble all over. "If you can't find anyone else, you'll be fed to the crocodiles."
"yes!"
Artest fled the office and almost bumped into the bodyguard who rushed over.
"Brother Tai!" The bodyguard lowered his voice, "Among the new goods sent by the Qin family to 'Dark Night', there is a very beautiful oriental girl. Do you want one..."
"Get lost!" A Tai kicked him. "Do you want to die by bringing this up now?!"
The bodyguard shut up awkwardly.
They didn't know that in the prison of "Dark Night", the girl curled up in the corner counting the marks on her rings was the light that Mo Xiaohan had been searching for for half his life.
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