Chapter 11
It's not that you can't be a little rough with me.
The sudden sound of the door being broken down immediately put Cheng Sangluo on alert.
She immediately hid in a dark corner, staring intently at the scattered wooden planks.
With an innate and strong counter-surveillance awareness, they devised a countermeasure plan in just a few seconds.
She tightly wrapped the towel around her hands, which served both to defend against attacks and to catch someone off guard by wrapping it around their neck.
The attic was too small to stand up straight, so she had to crouch down with her back against the wall and incline little by little toward the door.
Despite the poor visibility from mid-air, Cheng Sangluo was able to capture the most minute details.
Just like now, even though she can't see anyone, she can estimate how many people are downstairs and where they are by the subtle flickering light and shadows in the stairwell.
The other party must have known that she had strong combat capabilities, so they did not show themselves, but simply threw a cell phone onto the steps.
This standoff couldn't go on, so Cheng Sangluo broke the silence, "Just say what you have to say. What kind of person breaks down my door and then hides away?"
"Check your phone, I'll give you a hint—Cheng Xing."
The long-unheard name instantly stirred Cheng Sangluo's emotions, and her questioning tone became increasingly wary: "Who are you?"
There was no response to the question, and when the person looked down from the attic with their head tilted upside down, they had already disappeared.
After confirming several times, Cheng Sangluo climbed the wall and jumped onto the steps to pick up her phone.
The phone screen was unlocked, and the page displayed a video.
Pressing play, a heart-wrenching cry for help instantly filled the hallway.
The man in the video was being beaten with sticks by a group of thugs.
He curled up, protecting his head, and begged for mercy: 'Please...please stop hitting me...I'll find a way to get the money...'
"Three million, principal and interest, can you even scrape together that?" The creditor squatted down, slapping the man's face hard in a humiliating manner. "Even if you were torn apart and sold, the money wouldn't be enough to pay off the debt. So, what are you going to do?"
Upon hearing that his organs would be harvested, the man frantically clung to the creditor's leg, pleading, "There's a way...there is...I have a sister...she can help me pay off my debts..."
'A gambling addict like you, which relative would be willing to take on your debts? Do you think I'm stupid?'
'She's my own sister, I'll definitely find a way...'
The creditor was silent for a moment, probably realizing he couldn't squeeze any more money out of the man, then grabbed his head and pointed it at the phone: 'Then it depends on whether your own sister is willing to save your life.'
The man, like a stray dog, crawled towards his phone, pleading desperately: "Sang Luo... I know you're out... Please help me for Mom and Dad's sake... We're family, we have to go through thick and thin together, right... Please help me... Please help me..."
Before he could finish speaking, the creditor kicked him away, picked up his phone, and threatened: "I'm a man of principle. I'll give you three days to raise the money. Meet me at 11 PM the night after tomorrow at the Seventeen Port Wharf. Either you pay the ransom, or we'll retrieve your body from the sea."
The noisy video abruptly stopped.
In the empty corridor, only Cheng Sangluo's burning breath could be heard.
Three million is like an astronomical number with countless zeros, easily bending her usually straight back.
Cheng Xing's pleading voice still reverberated in her ear canal, triggering painful memories.
"You good-for-nothing!" The father's spittle flew from outside the iron bars of the cell, his bloodshot eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. "You have to pay back all your military retirement pay; that was your brother's dowry for his wife!"
The mother was also crying and complaining: "Your father is so angry that he hasn't taken his blood pressure medication for days. The whole neighborhood knows that someone in our family has gone to jail. Isn't that embarrassing!"
Cheng Sangluo remembers that it was the last time she saw her parents in all these years. There was no comfort, no worry, only sharp insults in the dim world.
These screams have never faded with time; they have gradually twisted into even more cruel fragments in her mind.
"Why go to university? Why don't you serve in the army for a few years? That will save money for your family and help your brother get married. Then I'll ask someone to find you a factory job. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
With just a few words, her father sealed Cheng Sangluo's fate. While rolling a cigarette, he casually tore off half of her admission notice, and the moment the flame licked the gold-embossed school badge, she saw the scorch marks of her bloodline for the first time.
It's ironic, isn't it?
The retirement pay that Cheng Sangluo had gambled her entire future on was earned penny by penny through her desperate efforts to improve her performance, but in the end, not a single penny belonged to her.
Despite the strong bond of blood, she was treated like an outsider, or even worse, than an outsider, in her parents' eyes.
Pulling herself away from the painful thoughts, Cheng Sangluo pressed her palms firmly against the wall, her fingernails scratching deep white marks into the mottled lime.
She asked defiantly, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
From the moment she was born, the world bestowed unfairness upon her as a gift, never letting her off the hook at any important turning point in her life.
So, on what grounds?
*
In the president's office of Senyao Group, people from the investment department were reporting on the progress of several major projects.
The icy air, combined with Lin Jin's imposing aura, made everyone hold their breath.
She sat half-sitting at the table, her fingertips gently twirling the petals of a daisy, occasionally adding water with the spray bottle in her hand, as if the flourishing of the flowers was more meaningful than this dull, short meeting.
Lin Jin is a typical smiling tiger. He is not exactly aloof towards his employees, but his unpredictable temper always makes people feel intimidated.
When she hears important data, she will look up at the person speaking, making the person hesitant to continue, and even causing them to doubt themselves.
In fact, she was just figuring out how to maximize profits.
'Knock knock knock—'
A knock on the door broke the oppressive atmosphere in the office.
"Come in." Lin Jin waved to dismiss the meeting, and the group of people hurriedly left as if they had been granted a pardon.
"Boss, here's the information you requested." The subordinate approached, handing over a manila envelope. "I've found out..."
Lin Jin took the envelope but didn't look at it immediately, raising his hand to indicate that there was no need to say anything more.
She lowered her eyes to admire the daisies, a relaxed smile spreading across her face as she chatted, "Aren't these flowers pretty?"
The subordinate was puzzled. His boss was never short of flowers from admirers. Compared to those extravagant styles, this pot of daisies was too shabby. But seeing her with such a gentle expression, he answered conventionally, "It's beautiful."
Dissatisfied with this response, Lin Jin got up and walked to her office chair, sitting down. "Sheng He, are people like you who only know how to fight all incomprehensible when it comes to romance?"
Sheng He was taken aback, guessing who the boss was alluding to, and couldn't help but laugh and explain, "It's not that I'm clueless about romance, it's just that I'm at a loss for words and don't know how to describe how beautiful the flowers are, but..."
Seeing his subordinate hesitate, Lin Jin lazily rocked his swivel chair. "But what?"
"You take great care of this flower, just like you would care for its owner."
"Is that so?" Lin Jin pondered the words "careful" and smiled bitterly, "But in that person's eyes, I'm utterly wicked."
"Time will tell." Sheng He glanced at the time; it was almost lunchtime. He decided to ask, "Would you like to eat out?"
"Get the car ready, let's go to the usual spot."
"clear."
After his subordinates left, Lin Jin took out the documents from the envelope and began to read them.
Seemingly drawn to something, she gently stroked her chin with her fingertips, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Interesting."
......
It was the height of the scorching sun when Cheng Sang lingered outside the Senyao Building for a long time, his persistent high fever causing throbbing pain in his temples.
After mentally preparing myself, my collar was already soaked with sweat before I hesitantly walked into the lobby.
I thought meeting Lin Jin would be easy, but I didn't expect the building's security to be so strict. Even taking the elevator required passing through the access control.
Cheng Sangluo was stopped by security guards and had to go to the front desk to explain her purpose.
"I'm sorry, visitors need to provide an appointment record, or you can ask the other party to let us know who you want to see," the receptionist explained politely before ignoring them further.
Cheng Sangluo awkwardly put her hands in her pockets, wondering whether she should go to the parking garage to wait for someone.
"Does the puppy miss me?"
At first, a subtle fragrance, etched deep within the soul, entered the nostrils, followed by a captivating murmur that tickled the earlobes.
Cheng Sang got goosebumps all over before realizing that the person she was supposed to meet was behind her.
She was surprised by the sudden encounter, and blamed herself for being so careless as to not notice the madwoman's approach.
Turning to meet those mocking eyes, she slightly raised her chin, indicating her disdain for responding to the so-called longing. But the figure in her eyes showed no intention of lingering, and left with swift and decisive steps.
Cheng Sangluo's arrogance lasted no more than three seconds before she hurriedly took a step to catch up, "Hey...you..."
Lin Jin smiled amusedly, seemingly enjoying the fun of chasing the puppy.
Once she was seated in the Maybach parked at the door, she leaned back and looked at the person who was breathing heavily, teasingly saying, "I have no reason to entertain you, since you didn't make an appointment, unless you say you really missed me~"
Lin Jin didn't mention the seven-day bet at all, but the smile in her eyes said: See? I told you you would come to me on your own initiative.
Cheng Sangluo scoffed, refusing to say anything flattering.
She reached out and firmly held onto the car door, pushing and shoving herself into the back seat.
Lin Jin smiled and accepted the people crowding into her arms, even subtly wrapping her arms around the puppy's waist. "Is this considered throwing myself into your arms?"
Cheng Sangluo snapped, "Lin Jin, I don't have time to waste with your nonsense!"
By the time she realized something was wrong, the mischievous hand had already slipped inside her T-shirt and stroked her waist and abdomen several times.
Before the puppy could resist, Lin Jin traced the outline of his abs with his fingertips, exclaiming, "Wow, great physique~"
Cheng Sangluo hurriedly pressed her hand on her stomach, glaring at the pretty face that was filled with enjoyment, "That's enough, don't force me to use force."
"It's not like you can be a little rough with me, it's not like you haven't done it before, and..." Lin Jin, not wanting to miss out on trouble, deliberately teased the puppy's ear, "...it's not just once or twice~"
"Enough!" Cheng Sangluo struggled to break free from Lin Jin's embrace, turned her back to the car door, and demanded, "Why are you holding my family hostage?"
"Holding your family hostage?" Lin Jin muttered to himself, raising an eyebrow. "I'm only interested in you; it's not like I'd involve your family."
Cheng Sangluo had thought it over repeatedly on the way here. Lin Jin's motives were enough to explain everything that happened today. She was certain: "Who else could it be but you? You are more suspicious than my enemies. After all, you are the only one who wants me to wag my tail and beg for mercy."
Lin Jin's frivolous smile vanished, her eyes turning cold. "So in your eyes, I'm someone who only knows how to use underhanded tactics?"
"Isn't that right? Since the day I got out of prison, what despicable thing have you done to me?"
"Do you remember what I said in front of the convenience store?" Lin Jin turned her head to admire the street scene outside the window, her eyes filled with a hint of melancholy. "I said I came to help you, but you didn't believe me."
Cheng Sangluo pursed her lips, keeping the question, "Why didn't you send a letter?" stuck in her throat.
If she hadn't been swayed by Lin Jin's feigned kindness, she could have chosen to flee in the pouring rain, even if police cars had arrived, but she didn't.
Cheng Sangluo's heavy breathing carried a sense of resentment at being misplaced.
Lin Jin was silent for a moment, then suddenly threw out an enticing bait: "I roughly know who kidnapped your family, and I can even explain the whole story. Do you want to know? Beg me~"
[Author's Note]
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Aren't you furious? Hahaha, don't worry, Cheng Sangluo didn't go to Lin Jin to save someone.
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