Chapter 255 Kidnapping
Black, an endless expanse of black.
Xia Mian tried to rub her eyes but found she couldn't move her hands; it was as if she was bound by something. She tried to ask what was wrong but found her mouth was also taped shut, and she couldn't open it at all.
What happened?
He tried hard to recall that after leaving the dance studio, he walked towards the agreed-upon cosmetic clinic while calling Zhou Pingchuan. He thought about saying something suggestive, but fearing passersby might overhear, he slipped away to a secluded corner.
Then someone suddenly covered his mouth and nose from behind, and then...
Summer Sleep thought of a scenario.
He must have been kidnapped.
When she first realized that she couldn't see or move, she was inevitably panicked. But once she understood her situation, Xia Mian calmed down.
Since it was a kidnapping, the fact that they didn't kill him directly suggests that the kidnappers had their own motives.
Since he has a purpose, as long as he tries his best to maneuver and doesn't provoke the other party, he has a chance to save his own life.
Xia Mian shifted again, focusing his attention on the sensations on his skin. He should be sitting on something like a stool now. His neck can move, but his shoulders and arms are tied behind his back. His waist and abdomen can move, and his legs are completely bound with ropes starting from his thighs.
It would be very difficult to escape on your own under these circumstances.
"Have you figured out where you are?" Suddenly a female voice came from the left. Then, the tape on Xia Mian's mouth was ripped off, and the skin around her lips stung painfully.
Xia Mian's heart skipped a beat.
That woman's voice... he recognized it!
Zhu Ziqi!
The fact that she was quiet just now, but suddenly spoke, means she had been silently observing him. It's similar to a cat repeatedly toying with a mouse after catching it, just to enjoy watching the mouse run away in terror.
Since she wanted to see it, he pretended to show it to her.
Xia Mian immediately put on a panicked expression, her lips trembling violently: "Zhu Ziqi? What are you going to do?"
"I called you over to play some games," Zhu Ziqi said, seemingly pleased with his reaction, his voice laced with obvious amusement. "I didn't expect you to still remember me; I thought you'd forgotten me."
"I remember. Back in the 'Escape' production team, although we didn't get along very well, we kept to ourselves after the misunderstanding was cleared up. Today..."
"Shut up!" Before Xia Mian could finish speaking, Zhu Ziqi shouted sharply, "You ruined my life, and now you're telling me we should keep to ourselves? Yes, you're right, we haven't crossed paths again because you've ruined me. You're now a hot, popular young actor, and what about me? A rat everyone hates, a washed-up actor who retired from the industry because of principles. I don't deserve to have anything to do with you!"
It was indeed because of this matter.
Actually, Xia Mian was testing her just now.
She falsely accused him of stealing an expensive brooch, but luckily he was on guard, and with Zhou Pingchuan's help, he escaped unscathed.
She was clearly in the wrong and suffered the consequences, yet the blame was entirely placed on her, which shows how twisted her mind is.
Born into a prestigious family, he somehow managed to become a criminal; it's hard to know whether to sigh or be angry.
“Ziqi,” Xia Mian said, “I know you hold a grudge against me. Since we’ve met today, let’s talk it over. What do you want? To return to the entertainment industry? Just tell me, and I can help you.”
Zhu Ziqi laughed loudly: "Help me? Haha, stop pretending to be a good person here. I'm not the only one you've harmed!"
“Yes,” another female voice came from the right, “you’ve ruined not only Ziqi’s life, but also mine, and every soul that hates you! Help us? You should save your energy to help yourself!”
Xia Mian was more familiar with this person; she had just issued an apology statement to him not long ago.
Yu Xingtong.
Although they are both in the entertainment industry, they have different roles and rarely have any interaction. How did they suddenly get mixed up together?
Based on Yu Xingtong's words, it's possible they have other accomplices. Xia Mian feigned an even more horrified expression: "Then what do you plan to do with me?"
Yu Xingtong scolded playfully, "What's the rush? Your little sweetheart hasn't arrived yet. I'll tell you when she does."
From the moment he realized he had been kidnapped until now, except for the first few minutes, Xia Mian had remained calm. He knew that fear wouldn't help; only by keeping his mind functioning properly and trying to find a way out could he have a chance to break the deadlock.
Including his conversations with Zhu Ziqi and Yu Xingtong, he was constantly trying to get information out of them.
Upon hearing the words "little lover," his heart sank to the bottom, and he could no longer calm down.
They can do whatever they want with him, but they can't let Zhou Pingchuan be implicated. It's not that he doesn't trust Zhou Pingchuan's abilities; he just... doesn't want to see even the slightest accident happen to Zhou Pingchuan.
"If you have any complaints, take them out on me," Xia Mian gritted her teeth, her voice icy cold, "Don't touch Third Master!"
Zhu Ziqi: "Third Master? Heh, of course we wouldn't lay a hand on him. Do you think we're fools? We've experienced his ruthless methods firsthand. Besides, the person you love most should be your first love, Zhou Ting."
Upon hearing the name "Zhou Ting," Xia Mian breathed a slight sigh of relief, thankfully Zhou Pingchuan hadn't been implicated.
Immediately, a question arose in his mind: How did the two of them know about the original owner's past with Zhou Ting when they had no connection with him?
There must be people close to him and Zhou Ting in the kidnapper's gang!
As Xia Mian was pondering this, Zhu Ziqi suddenly said in a lighthearted tone, "Oh dear, speak of the devil, and here he comes! Your little sweetheart is here!"
Xia Mian raised her head, trying to see, but her eyes were covered and she couldn't see anything. She could only hear Zhou Ting's voice: "Mianmian, how are you? Did they hurt you? Let him go! Want money or anything else? Name your price, I'll give it to you!"
"Tsk tsk," Zhu Ziqi clicked his tongue, "Xia Mian, you see, feelings are truly a strange thing. You told us not to hurt Zhou Pingchuan, and Zhou Ting told us not to hurt you. It's a pity you can't see his expression. After hearing my words, his face was full of sadness, and it made everyone's heart ache."
As Zhu Ziqi was speaking, Yu Xingtong, for some unknown reason, suddenly kicked the stool where Xia Mian was tied up hard: "Why do they all like you? You're just a little prettier! Why do they all like you? Why! Why!"
"Yu Xingtong, calm down!" Zhu Ziqi shouted, startled.
But Yu Xingtong was lost in her own emotions and couldn't hear anything anyone said, venting to herself: "No, it's not just liking, he loves you so much that he's willing to divorce his first wife. Oh right, and the second young master too, he likes you too! What kind of bewitching potion did you give these young talents?! Look at their eyes!"
With that, Yu Xingtong swiftly ripped the blindfold off Xia Mian's eyes. Finally seeing the light of day again, Xia Mian quickly surveyed her surroundings.
This appears to be an unfinished building; the ground isn't even paved with cement, and the 30-square-meter space is filled with construction debris. Apart from that, there are no other buildings that resemble landmarks.
Zhu Ziqi and Yu Xingtong stood on either side of him. Opposite him, Liu Er was holding Zhou Ting, whose hands were also tied behind his back. The latter looked gloomy, while the former looked panicked.
"You bitch, why are you pulling the black cloth over yourself!" Liu Er released Zhou Ting, dodging and cursing Yu Xingtong as he went. "I've already said I won't show my face, I won't show my face! How is Mianmian supposed to see me now? Are you fucking crazy?!"
Yu Xingtong burst into laughter, her laughter growing even more manic. Zhu Ziqi looked at her with the disdainful gaze one would give a mentally ill person, while Xia Mian frowned deeply.
Liu Er had appeared on a variety show with him and Zhou Ting, and they had also attended Xia Mingzhao and Zhou Ting's wedding together. During the wedding procession, Zhou Ting pulled him into a storage room to confess his feelings. If Liu Er had happened to be passing by, he might have overheard their conversation.
But Zhou Tingxia and Mingzhao weren't married at the time, so how could there be a divorce? Even if Liu Er knew about Zhou Ting's feelings for him, he could never have known that Zhou Ting was going to divorce his wife for him.
Besides Liu Er, there were other people in the gang.
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