Chapter 88: Danger

He neatly ended the call with Tang Huaihuai. When he noticed Cheng Hui staring at him, he asked, "What's wrong? Staring at me like that—are you captivated by my charm?"

Cheng Hui immediately looked away and muttered softly, "Narcissist."

He chuckled but said nothing more. Cheng Hui didn't ask who had called him; she guessed it was probably Tang Huaihuai. Despite knowing him for so long, she truly had no idea how many women were around him. He had never spoken about his romantic history. If anything, he seemed more concerned about her than even Cheng Jiu was.

After their meal, it was time to return. Cheng Hui dawdled, disappearing into the restroom and taking her time. He waited patiently in the corridor.

Ten minutes passed before Cheng Hui finally emerged, clutching her stomach and looking troubled. "Maybe you should go ahead. I'll take a cab back to campus."

"I'll drive you."

"No need, your place isn't in the same direction as my school. It's really inconvenient."

"Huimei, you never used to stand on ceremony with me. Grown up now, have you learned to care about other people's trouble?"

She suspected he wasn't being entirely complimentary, and feeling awkward, she didn't want to talk to him further.

In the end, she still got into his car, though she worried he might take her somewhere other than the university.

He gave her a frosty look and said, "Don't treat me like a beast. I haven't lost my mind—I'm not about to do anything to you. You don't need to sit so far away."

Cheng Hui pretended to look out the window, ignoring him.

It was late, but there were still plenty of students coming and going at the school gates. He drove her straight to the entrance of the women's dormitory, his top-of-the-line car drawing quite a few stares.

As soon as the car stopped, she pulled open the door and left without so much as a goodbye. He watched her disappear into the building before driving away himself.

Back in the dormitory, her roommates had already gone to bed. She hurried off to shower and change before lying on her bed, lost in thought. She didn't even hear her roommate ask why she was back so late, only responding after several attempts.

Noticing her subdued tone, the roommate asked, "What's wrong? Did something upset you?"

"No, not really."

"Come on, tell me. Maybe it'll cheer me up," the roommate joked.

Cheng Hui sighed, rolled over, and said, "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

…

A week slipped by. One day, Xin Gan saw a report on local smuggling while watching the news—the location mentioned was near the town where Cheng Jiu was stationed. The report named several people, including Fishhead, whose name Xin Gan had heard before. She knew very little about these matters, as Cheng Jiu never spoke of them.

After seeing the news, Xin Gan tried to contact Cheng Jiu, but his phone was still off. It was already mid-November. He had promised to return by the end of the year. Though there were still months to wait, she found herself growing restless. Yet she had her own responsibilities and couldn't just drop everything to go to Beiyu.

Year-end was approaching, and both the studio and family matters were keeping her busy. Whenever she had time, she would visit Madam Cheng. During their chats, her worries about Cheng Jiu would inevitably come up. Madam Cheng reassured her, "He's busy at the end of the year. Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Still, Xin Gan couldn't shake her fears—so long without contact, she couldn't stop worrying about his safety.

Madam Cheng patted her shoulder with a smile. Even if she was worried herself, she would never voice her concerns, only soothing Xin Gan. "Don't dwell on it. He'll reach out when he's free."

Since Madam Cheng said no more, Xin Gan couldn't pursue the subject.

"How is the studio? Everything alright?"

"Yes, everything's going smoothly."

"That's good. If you ever run into any trouble, don't shoulder it alone. We're all here to help you." Madam Cheng truly treated her as her own daughter. Now that Cheng Hui was mostly away at school and rarely home, Madam Cheng would spend her free time meeting friends for tea, shopping, or the occasional game of cards.

"Thank you, Mom," Xin Gan replied, a bit embarrassed, but she and Cheng Jiu were already legally married. That word, "Mom," was something she'd have to say eventually.

"Good girl. Once Cheng Jiu returns from his transfer, this house will be lively again. And when you have a few children, we old folks won't have time to be bored."

It was understandable—the elderly always longed for grandchildren.

But for now, there was no chance. As for what was happening with Cheng Jiu, they, far away in Yongcheng, remained in the dark.

…

A month ago, Cheng Jiu had set out on a secret mission—very few knew about it. According to the plan, nothing should have gone wrong, but in the end, things did not go as intended.

Ji Bai and his people had learned of their movements in advance. Cheng Jiu and his team walked into an ambush, outmaneuvered by Ji Bai, injured to varying degrees, and captured.

Ji Bai’s men were armed with guns and ammunition, heavily equipped and clearly prepared, lying in wait for Cheng Jiu’s group. For all his planning, Cheng Jiu never expected their operation to be betrayed.

There were five of them. Who was the traitor?

Each was confined separately in pitch-black underground cells, Ji Bai’s turf. On the third day, Ji Bai arrived, the basement lights snapping on, so harsh after days in darkness that their eyes could barely adjust.

Ji Bai, flanked by his men, found Cheng Jiu tied to the wall and smiled. “We meet again, old friend. Never thought it would be under these circumstances.”

The fake Ji Bai was male, while the real Ji Bai stood nearby, head bowed, posing as one of his own men.

The air in the long-unlit basement was thick with damp and mold. The place was enough to drive anyone mad with time.

Cheng Jiu’s face was bruised, lips cracked from days without water, his throat so parched it was hard to speak.

Ji Bai dragged a chair over and studied him. “See? Cling to me like a dog and you end up in my hands. Why bother? You could have lived your life in peace, but you insisted on pestering me.”

The others remained calm, not rising to Ji Bai’s provocation.

Cheng Jiu, too, paid him little heed, planning his next move. Ji Bai had spared their lives for a reason. If they weren’t dead yet, there was still hope.

“Why so quiet?” Ji Bai taunted. “Aren’t you all so skilled, specially trained? Yet you couldn’t handle a few of my men—look at you now, like stray dogs.”

Cheng Jiu curled his lip, fixing him with a cold stare.

“Not convinced?” Ji Bai sneered. “If someone hadn’t insisted you be kept alive, you’d be the first I’d get rid of. Useless.”

With that, he drove his elbow brutally into Cheng Jiu’s abdomen. Pain twisted Cheng Jiu’s face, his limbs bound and unable to resist.

“Even after you caught Fishhead, you wouldn’t let up, determined to wipe us out. Cheng Jiu, I thought you were a man I could respect, didn’t want trouble with you, but you wouldn’t let me be. Don’t blame me. Unlike you, your companions aren’t so lucky.” Ji Bai slapped his face in mockery. “Just wait. I’ll settle Fishhead’s debts with you—one by one.”

…

Cheng Jiu’s worst fear had come true. As Ji Bai implied, someone had given orders not to harm him, but his teammates weren’t so fortunate.

Ji Bai refused to reveal their fate, only grinning mysteriously, “Want to know? Not telling you.”

In the days that followed, someone brought him water but absolutely no food, sapping his strength day by day. No matter how strong he was, even he couldn’t endure long without food, surviving on water alone.

And the cold, damp basement would wear down anyone’s mind and body. But Cheng Jiu was used to hardship—special training had prepared him for worse. He was certain that Meng, the director, would take action when they lost contact.

He was waiting for an opportunity.

…

Jiang Tang arrived overnight; the real Ji Bai had been waiting for her.

“You’re finally here. Any later, and I couldn’t guarantee he’d still be alive for you.”

Her face changed. “What have you done to him?”

“Oh, so concerned?”

“I told you, I want him unharmed. You promised me, or I wouldn’t have helped you.”

“I know. That’s why I said, if you’d come any later, I couldn’t guarantee it. He’s fine for now. You can see for yourself.”

Ji Bai led her to Cheng Jiu, who was slumped with his head down, wrists and ankles bound to the wall. The state of the place shocked Jiang Tang—she rushed over to check if he was breathing.

Thank goodness—he was still alive, merely unconscious.

Ji Bai folded his arms, smiling. “Who’d have thought you’d be so devoted? Do you really like him that much?”

“That’s none of your business. Just hand him over.”

“I never said I wouldn’t. No need to hurry. He’s not going to die. He’s strong—just hasn’t eaten for a few days. We’re wearing him down a bit. Before you arrived, we gave him an injection to help him rest. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Tang dared not wake him, but once she confirmed he was only unconscious, she finally exhaled. “I want to take him away now.”

Ji Bai shrugged. “And where will you go? Hm?”

“Anywhere, as long as not here. He’s still a human being—without food or water, something could happen.”

“Fine, I can even send someone to escort you. But Miss Jiang, what will you do when he recovers?”

She had her own plan and needed nothing from Ji Bai. “That’s my concern, not yours.”

He said, “We’re all in the same boat, aren’t we? Why draw a line? If you’d rather, you can both stay and work with us. We’ll find another place—we can’t stay in Beiyu anymore. Go abroad: Malaysia, Myanmar, anywhere you like.”

Plenty of gray areas in such places.

From the sound of it, Ji Bai intended for them both to stay, not letting them leave.

Jiang Tang bit her lip hard. “That’s not what we agreed. I never said I’d stay. Are you going back on your word?”

He laughed. “Miss Jiang, you’re so naïve. Do you think my reputation was built on air? If I could find you, don’t you realize the network I command?”

She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, but she felt no pain. She understood her situation better than anyone—she was on Ji Bai’s turf. If she crossed him, she wouldn’t escape, let alone with Cheng Jiu.

“You never intended to cooperate in good faith. You’re just using me.”

He neither confirmed nor denied it, only shrugged. “Ah, love makes people foolish. Let this be a lesson. I set my sights on your precious man because he took down a lot of my people—and even my boss. It took me a lot of effort to escape, but he wouldn’t let me be. I’ve suffered enough. I can’t just let him walk away unscathed, can I?”

“But he’ll never stay. He’s not cut out for your world.”

“Then we’ll make him one of us—a villain.” Ji Bai clapped. Someone entered carrying a syringe.

“We’ll make him ours. That way, you can have him openly.”

“I don’t need your methods. He’s mine regardless.”

“Still lying to yourself? You think I’m a fool? You don’t think I’ve investigated him? He’s married, you know. He’s not yours.”

Jiang Tang forced herself to remain calm. “Ji Bai, I won’t agree to this.”

“Who are you negotiating with—a criminal? If your superiors ever find out about your involvement, you won’t escape either.”

Jiang Tang knew better than anyone how serious the consequences would be. If word got out, her career—and life—would be over.

Ji Bai had a point: if Cheng Jiu became like her, he would belong to her alone. They would be bound together, for good or ill.

Seeing her expression, Ji Bai grinned. “Why not give him the first injection yourself? The veins in his arm are easy to find—you won’t have any trouble.”

He pressed the cold syringe into her hand. All eyes were on her, urging her to hurry before Cheng Jiu woke.

Jiang Tang gripped the syringe, unmoving for a long time. She looked at Cheng Jiu and whispered, “Don’t hate me. I have no choice. You’ve been so cruel to me, and I’ve done nothing wrong. The only fault is that you don’t love me.”

“Forgive me, Cheng Jiu. If I can’t have you, no one else can.”

…

That day, a light rain fell. Xin Gan, exhausted, drifted off in her studio and was startled awake by a nightmare, her heart pounding, body slick with sweat. It was well into the night and she was alone.

She drew the curtains, sat down, and drank some water, taking a long time to calm herself. She couldn’t explain why, but she’d been plagued by nightmares lately, and there had been no news from Cheng Jiu for a long time—she couldn’t reach him at all.

She couldn’t shake the ominous feeling, but there was no clear reason for it. She was restless.

Perhaps she should return to Beiyu.

Unable to contact him, she felt uneasy. Yet, if she did go, how would she explain it to her family? If she told them she was simply worried, and they thought she was overreacting and refused to let her go, what then?

…

A few days later, Madam Cheng called Xin Gan to accompany her to a social dinner with several prominent ladies, including Madam He.

It had been some time since Madam He had seen Xin Gan. Now, as the Cheng family’s daughter-in-law, her new status left Madam He with complicated feelings—especially after the matter with He Cheng.

Xin Gan greeted her politely, maintaining the necessary courtesy.

Since Xin Gan took the initiative, Madam He had no choice but to return the gesture, forcing a smile. “It’s been a while, Xin Gan. You’re even more beautiful than before—truly, girls blossom as they grow.”

Xin Gan smiled. “That’s very kind of you, Auntie He.”

The other ladies chatted merrily with Madam Cheng, asking when she had gained such a lovely daughter-in-law. They teased her, saying they’d heard nothing of an engagement, and the wedding hadn’t even been held yet.

Madam Cheng explained with a smile, exchanging pleasantries, while Madam He was left out of the conversation.

Her mood soured further as she listened to their lively talk.

Madam Cheng announced, “My son and daughter-in-law’s wedding is set for the end of the year. I’ll send invitations to all of you, and I hope you’ll join us for a toast.”

The ladies all agreed enthusiastically.

Someone glanced at Madam He and said, “I heard your eldest son and Cheng’s boy are close friends, but Cheng’s already married. Is there any news about your son? Should I introduce someone?”

Madam He forced a polite smile and demurred, “My son’s not in a hurry. He’s busy with the company—no time for romance. When he’s less busy, he’ll look; there’s no rush.”

“Career is important, but don’t you want grandchildren?”

“I do, but I can’t force my son to find a girlfriend. Matters of the heart can’t be rushed.”

She sidestepped the topic, and the others didn’t press.

One lady had brought her daughter, a girl of fifteen or sixteen, who had been glued to her phone from the moment she entered, refusing to greet anyone. Her mother scolded her softly, and the girl pouted, “I didn’t want to come—you made me. I was supposed to meet my idol at the airport tonight, but now I can’t. And you’re still scolding me.”

“What idol? You’re too young to be chasing after celebrities.”

“It’s just fandom—what’s wrong with that? You’re the one being unreasonable.”

“Give me your phone. No more playing.”

The girl, sulking, argued with her mother, drawing everyone’s attention.

Xin Gan glanced over as well.

Madam Cheng patted her hand and whispered, “That girl’s gone astray—she’s obsessed with celebrities, doesn’t even want to study, spends all day on her phone. And the star she’s chasing? He Cheng.”

All eyes remained on the mother and daughter, so no one noticed what Madam Cheng had said to Xin Gan.

But Madam He noticed—she was sensitive to the topic of celebrity obsession, and it was only natural for her thoughts to turn to her own son, He Cheng.