The night breeze was cool, gradually drying the tears on Xiaolu's face. She cuddled herself, seeking warmth. Little did she expect that her first love and first pregnancy would lead to such an tragic outcome. Realizing she couldn't afford to raise the baby, considering her own struggles, she made the difficult decision to use the money she had saved for a trip to undergo an abortion.
Back home in the darkness, her father hadn't returned yet. Xiaolu, in a trance, searched under the bed for a shoebox where her savings lay quietly. She placed the money in her bag, sat quietly on the couch, feeling exhausted, too drained to contemplate anything.
A chaotic knocking interrupted Xiaolu's thoughts, likely her father returning home drunk. She shook her head in resignation and opened the door. Three menacing-looking men stood outside, led by a guy with a small mustache, wearing a flamboyant shirt and mismatched shorts. In his hands, he held two shiny spheres, rotating and rubbing against each other.
"Are you Fang Huaimin's daughter?" The man asked.
Xiaolu nervously nodded.
Without a word, the three men forcefully entered, the mustached man sat casually on the sofa, and the other two stood like statues on either side.
"What do you want? My dad isn't home," Xiaolu's voice trembled.
"Little girl, your dad is, of course, not at home. He sent us to find you," the mustached man grinned at Xiaolu.
"Why are you looking for me?"
"We're here for money."
"I don't have money."
"No money? What do we do then? If you don't give us the money, your dad might have to stay in a 'safe' place we know for the next ten or twenty years."
"How much does he owe you?"
"30,000."
Xiaolu gasped. Where could she find that much money?
"Give me some time, okay? I'll figure out a way. I really don't have that much money right now."
The mustached man glared and gestured to his companions, "Search."
The two subordinates immediately began ransacking, flipping over items on the floor. Xiaolu, frightened, sobbed softly. She instinctively glanced at the bag hanging on the coat rack, but the mustached man didn't overlook this subtle movement. Smirking triumphantly, he stood up from the sofa and swiftly snatched Xiaolu's handbag.
Despair overwhelmed Xiaolu as she closed her eyes. As expected, the mustached man gloated, "Not bad! Over 10,000." He pocketed the money.
"Give it back! That money is mine—mine!"
"What is it? Your dowry?" The mustached man sneered.
Glaring at him, Xiaolu realized she wouldn't get her money back.
"The remaining 20,000 , you have until the day after tomorrow to give it to me. Otherwise, you'll never see your dad again. If you dare call the police, you know what I'm gonna do."
With a wave, the mustached man and his followers left Xiaolu's home. She collapsed on the floor, sobbing. Where would she find 20,000 bucks?
...
Lin Tianchen gazed out of the airplane window at the fluffy white clouds drifting by. He smiled contentedly. During the two months in France, he not only managed his father's subsidiary efficiently but also eased the emotional pain from his failed relationship. Most importantly, he found her—the person who could bring immense joy to his entire family.
Initially, she had promised to return with him, so he left a message for his younger brother, Tianhao, in an email, hinting at a surprise. However, just before boarding, she mentioned having some matters to attend to and would join him shortly.
Tianchen understood; she wasn't mentally prepared yet. He could wait. Closing his eyes, he intended to rest a while; after landing, he planned to take a bus home. He hadn't informed anyone at home, as he disliked his father sending a long convoy to the airport. There was a risk of the paparazzi catching wind of him, and revealing that his trip to France was prompted by rejection from Ye Jingya could harm Shenghua Group's image.
"Dad, I'm back. Tianhao, I'm back. Jingya, I'm back. How have you all been?" Tianchen shouted joyfully in his heart.