Mrs. Shen stiffened, looking fearfully at the newcomers—all strangers to her.
"Mom, Mom, save me!" Shen Lu cried, her face drained of color. "Save me, I don't want to go with them, I don't want to go."
Mrs. Shen watched the burly men and pursed her lips, a surge of impulsiveness rising within her: "You can't take my daughter away, this is abduction. Do you have no sense of reason?"
Someone scoffed, as if mocking Mrs. Shen's helplessness.
"Mrs. Shen, it seems you're the one being unreasonable, right?"
"You can't do morally reprehensible things without facing punishment."
"You can't expect to reap all the benefits, Mrs. Shen, you are utterly foolish."
"Too clever for your own good, unfortunately your cleverness has led you astray."
The four men took turns speaking, leaving Mrs. Shen's complexion pale as paper.
"Take her away!" the leader commanded, and they started to leave with Shen Lu in tow.
"Mom, Mom, save me—"
Shen Lu's mouth was quickly gagged, silencing her.
