Jian Tong's head violently shook as she became increasingly desperate. "I refuse, Mr. Shen, I do not wish to transfer to the PR department," Jian Tong pleaded frantically, "I admit my wrongdoing, Mr. Shen, please let me go. I've already served three years in prison and paid my price. Just give me my bank card and I will disappear forever, I promise, never to appear before you in this life again."
Jian Tong could do nothing but beg. She hadn't noticed the shock in Su Meng's eyes when she mentioned her prison time. Su Meng had only recently arrived in S City two years ago and wasn't a local, hence she wasn't aware of Jian Tong's past.
But if it were the old employees who had been with Shen Xiujin for a longer time, they would have been well aware of Jian Tong's history.
Shen Xiujin's eyes narrowed dangerously... Did she think she could escape?
Not appear before him in this lifetime?
"Heh," with a scoff, the man pulled out his phone and gave an order. Soon after, the door was knocked on again and an underling handed over a card to him.
The man squatted slowly, meeting the eyes of the woman kneeling on the ground, holding the bank card between his fingers, "All the money in this bank card has just been transferred out by Shen Yi." Jian Tong glanced at the bank card, puzzled, and looked up at Shen Xiujin.
The man's slender lips moved slowly as he said, "You want me to let you go, right?"
Jian Tong, though confused, nodded immediately.
"Do you think I am a good person?" the man kept asking, and Jian Tong fell silent. He chuckled, "That's right, Shen Xiujin was never a good person; why would he let you off easily."
As if discussing someone else's affairs, Shen Xiujin watched Jian Tong indifferently like a cat playing with a mouse, a bewitching smile slowly spreading across his handsome face:
"Jian Tong, this card is now empty. As soon as you earn five million," shaking the bank card in his hand, "as soon as there are five million in this card, I'll let you go. How about it?"
How about it?... Jian Tong's eyes dimmed as she stared at the bank card between the man's fingers. Her face was devoid of hope... He never intended to let her go!
Five million... It was an enormous sum for her now, vast to the point of being unimaginable! And for Shen Xiujin, did he lack that five million? Jian Tong instantly understood the mockery in Shen Xiujin's proposition.
The deep eyes of the man locked tightly on the woman's face, not letting any subtle expression slip by. A spark appeared in his eyes and the corner of his lips slightly tilted... Dreaming of escape?
With a "snap," Shen Xiujin stood up, the bank card falling before Jian Tong, "Jian Tong, I don't care how you do it, when there are five million in this card, that's when I'll let you go. Otherwise, don't even think about being free. And don't try to run, as long as you live in this world, I will find you."
Five million... Where would she get five million?
Panic stricken, she turned towards Shen Xiujin leaving through the door, crying in desperation, "Mr. Shen, you're asking for the impossible! How can a cleaner earn five million?"
The man turned sideways, his gaze briefly skimming her, "Su Meng will transfer you to the PR department. Whether you sell laughter, pity, or stupidity, you can sell anything. The rich have many odd likings, and you said you could bend your knees easily, didn't you? Go and see how it works. If worse comes to worst, you could even sell your body." After saying this, the man sneered:
"Though, with your looks right now... it's hard to say." Shen Xiujin squinted, uttered "Take care of yourself," and disappeared from view.
Jian Tong, blood drained from her face, totally colorless, invoking a twinge of sympathy from Su Meng... "How did you offend Mr. Shen?"
Jian Tong turned to Su Meng, a tragic smile on her lips. Only then did Su Meng see the pallor of her lips marked by a circle of bite scars, "You... are you alright?" Su Meng questioned.
"I'm fine," Jian Tong stood up, swaying. Su Meng, out of compassion, reached out to help, but Jian Tong managed to stabilize herself, showing gratitude in her pale face, "Thank you, Ms. Meng."
"Are you... sure you're okay?" Su Meng doubted Jian Tong's assurance of being "fine."
Jian Tong shook her head towards Su Meng, repeating the same three words: "I'm fine."
Who would believe that... Watching the struggling woman moving forward, Su Meng asked, "You know Mr. Shen, right?"
Su Meng clearly saw a momentary stiffness in Jian Tong's back, but Jian Tong responded with a question, "Ms. Meng, where is the PR department? Am I supposed to start tonight?"
Su Meng was taken aback, "You..." Intent on asking something else, she swallowed her words and instead said, "Come on, I'll take you there."
Along the way, Su Meng deliberately slowed her pace. With her keen eye developed in the tumultuous entertainment business, she observed Jian Tong's legs. She hadn't noticed before, but now she could tell there was something wrong with Jian Tong's legs.
"Jian Tong, is your leg numb from squatting just now?"
Jian Tong considered it unnecessary to hide her condition from Su Meng any longer. She turned around and lifted her clothes, calling out quietly, "Ms. Meng."
Su Meng's eyes followed Jian Tong's movements to an area of the back where the clothes didn't cover, and she inhaled sharply in shock, "You..." Involuntarily, her eyes widened, hand over her mouth, unbelieving of the woman before her.
As Jian Tong slowly lowered her clothes and tidied the hem, she confronted Su Meng's horrified expression, "Ms. Meng, I am missing a kidney. Ever since, my health has deteriorated; if I walk too swiftly, it hurts."
"A kidney, a kidney... Where is it?"
"I donated it, I suppose. I don't really know."
Even Su Meng, accustomed to rough seas, felt a shiver run down her spine at the composed face of Jian Tong, who calmly spoke of not knowing where her kidney had gone. How could Jian Tong be so calm?!
"That's a kidney, part of your body!" It took effort for Su Meng to suppress her outcry, trying to speak as evenly as possible. How could Jian Tong be so calm in speaking about it?
Jian Tong tugged the corner of her mouth, "I know." Beyond those three words, she said nothing superfluous, only gazing firmly at Su Meng, imploringly begging, "Ms. Meng, please keep this a secret for me." She didn't want others to know.
"You... Alright!" Su Meng took a deep breath to calm herself. She still couldn't understand why she felt a certain similarity to the woman before her.
After a moment, Su Meng asked, "Seeing as how you lack a kidney, do you still want to join the PR department? You must be able to drink in the PR department, and even if you can't drink, you'll have to cater to difficult guests with a sip or two. I'll speak to Mr. Shen; given your condition, you can't join the PR department." For some reason, Su Meng felt compelled to help Jian Tong.
"Don't, Ms. Meng," Jian Tong quickly stopped her, pleadingly looking into Su Meng's eyes, "...Mr. Shen might already be aware." She showed the bank card in her palm with a tragic smile towards Su Meng, "Ms. Meng, with your broad experience, do you think someone with my looks could earn five million?"
The answer was apparent; Su Meng trembled slightly as she understood—Shen was torturing and humiliating this woman.
But it seemed excessively cruel...