The summer when Chi Yu was twelve years old remains an indelible nightmare.
In an abandoned water plant, rats scurried underfoot, and a few mummified moths dangled from the cobwebs in the corners.
The kidnappers, shirtless and engrossed in a game of cards, peppered their speech with vulgarities and profanities, while the stench of sweat and foot odor permeated the air.
For Chi Yu, who had an acute aversion to filth, it was an utterly nauseating scene.
Yet these external factors paled in comparison to what was to come.
Even after learning that the Chi family would pay a substantial ransom, the kidnappers, driven by sheer madness, subjected Chi Yu to inhumane torture.
It took seven harrowing days before she was finally rescued.
Chi Yu's body was covered in injuries, and her mental state was so severely shaken that she nearly lost her sanity.
Even today, a psychologist still conducts regular check-ups on her.
Chi Yu never imagined that after only five years, those men would be released from prison.
Back then, they were just a step away from getting the sixty million yuan ransom.
It was Chi Yu who had stolen one of their phones to call the police, leading to their capture and incarceration.
Given the ruthless nature of those men, she was certain that, upon their release, they would seek revenge on her at all costs.
Though the book never mentions any retaliation against Chi Yu, she couldn't shake her unease.
The sudden, terrifying news plunged Chi Yu into a state of high alert.
She ordered Qi Hui to stay by her side at all times while nervously biting her fingernails, making a call to Chi He.
Using the excuse of a nightmare in which the men were released, she persuaded Chi He to arrange for four strong bodyguards to protect her.
Chi He had actually received the news earlier than Chi Yu.
To avoid hindering Chi Yu's post-surgery recovery, he chose to keep it from her.
The bodyguards were already in place, and Chi He had also pre-warned Qi Hui, instructing him to be extra vigilant.
The hospital offered no sense of security; Chi Yu was desperate to return home.
Chi He, being one of the few who knew exactly what Chi Yu had gone through back then, fully understood why she was so afraid.
He took it upon himself to negotiate with the doctors, arranging for Chi Yu to be discharged and sent home the next morning.
Chi Yu would only have to wait one more day.
It was unclear whether it was the prospect of finally returning home that gave Chi Yu a sense of peace or if her emotions were simply running high.
Her heart raced throughout the day.
Qi Hui had been guarding Chi Yu in the hospital for ten days, exercising extreme caution. Not a single suspicious person had been seen, not even a fly.
Although he inwardly disapproved of Chi Yu's overreaction, he dared not show any sign of it.
Over the past two years, Chi Yu's temper had become increasingly unpredictable.
It was best not to anger her.
As Qi Hui pondered this, he received a video message from Ning Jin one idle evening.
In the city's grand theater, Ning Jin, holding a violin in her hands, awaited her first chance to perform on stage.
"I'm so nervous. If only Brother Qi Hui could be my audience, I'd be so happy," she said.
Dressed in a pink evening gown with light makeup, she looked far more beautiful and captivating than usual.
The deep anticipation in Ning Jin's eyes melted Qi Hui's heart.
She had mentioned that she could play the violin, but he had never had the opportunity to hear her.
Chi Yu was already asleep.
Perhaps knowing she would be able to go home tomorrow, she slept soundly, not even turning over.
Qi Hui was tempted.
He told himself it would only be three hours.
As soon as time was up, he would return immediately.
Using the excuse of going downstairs for a smoke, Qi Hui tricked the bodyguards and drove away from the hospital.
As he exited the hospital gates, a van brushed past his Audi.
Qi Hui was completely unaware that, from that moment on, his fate was about to spiral into an abyss.
"Miss Chi needs to undergo one last check-up before her discharge,"
A masked doctor in a white coat explained to the bodyguards outside the ward.
The bodyguard glanced at the name tag on his chest and mused, "Doctor Shen, your voice seems different from what I heard earlier today."
The man rubbed his nose and responded casually.
"Ah, I got caught in the rain this afternoon and caught a cold, so my voice sounds quite nasal, doesn't it?"
The bodyguard remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the man's face.
The man smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were exactly like those of Doctor Shen, who had been attending to Chi Yu.
The bodyguard lowered his guard and returned a smile, "Our job is quite unique. I hope you understand, Doctor Shen."
"Of course, it's all in a day's work," the man replied as he approached the bed.
He called out to Chi Yu several times, but she didn't respond.
"Damn it!" the man exclaimed in a tense voice.
The bodyguard, hearing the commotion, rushed into the room, asking nervously, "What's wrong?"
The man lowered his head, his eyes flashing with cunning. He pulled a small spray bottle from his pocket and swiftly sprayed it into the faces of the four bodyguards.
The bodyguards didn't even have time to struggle before collapsing to the ground.
Two hours earlier, Chi Yu had been given an injection.
The nurse's hand was exceptionally steady, clearly more skilled than usual, prompting Chi Yu to praise her for her extraordinary performance.
Ten minutes later, a wave of drowsiness washed over Chi Yu.
She fell asleep—or rather, she was knocked out cold.
The man dragged Chi Yu out of the ward, where someone was waiting downstairs to help quickly load her into a car.
…
At nine that evening,
The bodyguards awoke in a panic and searched the entire hospital, but there was no sign of Chi Yu.
The kidnappers had deliberately disguised themselves and avoided the surveillance cameras, displaying a keen awareness of counter-surveillance tactics.
When the bodyguards, pale-faced, called Chi He, he had just finished one engagement and was about to head to another.
Upon learning of Chi Yu's disappearance, Chi He immediately darkened his expression, disregarding the fact that a prominent figure was present, and left after saying, "There's an urgent matter at home."
At the Grand Theater,
Ning Jin's performance was flawless.
After the curtain call, Qi Hui presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
The other members of the orchestra cast envious glances at Ning Jin, teasing her about how handsome her boyfriend was.
Blushing shyly with her bouquet, Ning Jin replied, "Oh, stop teasing. He's like a brother to me, not my boyfriend."
Hearing this, Qi Hui's expression dimmed momentarily.
But the next second, Ning Jin said with a hint of melancholy, "Maybe Brother Qi Hui likes someone else."
Anxious, Qi Hui quickly refuted, "I don't like anyone else!"
The group playfully cheered, suggesting they should just get together.
Ning Jin only smiled, clearly enjoying being the center of attention.
As for Qi Hui's true feelings, she couldn't care less.
To Ning Jin, Qi Hui was just a tool.
When she needed him, a few words would draw him in.
When she didn't, the same few words would send him away.
Qi Hui was too naive to realize he was being toyed with, falling into her trap every single time.
This was Ning Jin's first performance with the ensemble since joining the St. Mo High School Orchestra.
She had Qi Hui come not only to boost her image but also to subtly show the orchestra members that she was quite popular.
The image of a goddess required careful effort to establish, step by step.
With the school heartthrob Jin Yao defending her against Chi Yu and a dashing guy presenting her with flowers afterward,
After today, Ning Jin's popularity at school would only soar higher.
Surpassing Chi Yu was just a matter of time.
(End of Chapter)