Jin Shuhan didn't immediately go ashore after escaping the clutches of evil. Instead, she swam along the river for quite a distance until she was almost exhausted before finally climbing onto land. After resting briefly, her first instinct was to call the police. Although it would destroy her budding career, it was still better than spending the rest of her life being blackmailed by those three beasts with the video.
Most importantly, Xue Can was initially going to let her go, but after learning that she was an artist under Qingya Media, he changed his mind. Who knows what he might force her to do that would betray President Chu?
Weren't Qinglu and Ozawa-chan previously used by ill-intentioned people to frame President Chu? She had everything she had today thanks to President Chu and his wife's help. How could she repay their kindness with betrayal?
However, her bag was still in the car, and without it, she couldn't call the police. She had to figure out a way to return first.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, overgrown with weeds. Jin Shuhan was already disoriented, not knowing which direction was which. And now, under the pitch-black night sky, she could only cautiously observe her surroundings while carefully moving forward.
After walking for about twenty minutes, she finally and unwittingly made it to the roadside.
"Ah..." Jin Shuhan let out a long breath of relief. If she had found the road, she could make her way back more quickly.
The night air was cold, and with her whole body soaked, Jin Shuhan shivered uncontrollably. Yet, no matter how cold it was, it couldn't compare to the chill in her heart. The memories of everything that had happened to her tonight replayed in her mind as if it were a dream.
As she walked along the road, she unintentionally glanced back and noticed a car's headlights rapidly approaching from the distance. Her nerves instantly tensed up, and she hurriedly hid in the roadside bushes, covering her mouth tightly. Fear filled her eyes as she stared unblinkingly at the distant lights.
This remote road rarely had cars passing by so late unless... it was those three beasts looking for her!
However, as the car drew closer, she caught a glimpse of flashing lights — police lights! Yes! It was a police car!
Jin Shuhan's excitement surged, and she rushed to the middle of the road, waving her arms frantically. Soon, the police car slowed and pulled over beside her. The elderly officer driving rolled down the window, and after hearing her explanation, he quickly told her to get in.
Jin Shuhan's heart finally settled. After thanking the officer, she collapsed tiredly in the seat, her head drooping as the scenes of her assault kept flashing through her mind like a slideshow. The old officer glanced at her through the rearview mirror, noticing how she held her head in her hands, silently sobbing. He furrowed his brows but said nothing.
Ten minutes later, the car came to a stop.
Jin Shuhan took a deep breath, wiping away her tears as she asked through her sobs, "Are we at the police station?"
Looking up, she was met with nothing but darkness outside the window. Where were they?
Confused, she heard a knock on the window beside her. Instinctively, she turned her head, only to be greeted by Xue Can's sinister and perverted grin!
For a moment, Jin Shuhan was utterly dumbfounded, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around her throat, choking her. Her mouth hung open, but she couldn't breathe. The old police officer in the driver's seat opened the door, stepped out, lit a cigarette, and stood with his back to Xue Can and the others.
The next moment, Zhou Jie's boyfriend and another man yanked Jin Shuhan out of the car.
At that moment, the despair in Jin Shuhan's heart deepened beyond anything she had ever known. Her face turned ashen, and she no longer even resisted as they dragged her toward the nearby manor.
Xue Can, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, casually strolled over to the officer. With a cold, sneering tone, he said, "What's the deal? It took you forever to deliver her, you useless fool."
The officer's eyes darkened as he glanced at Jin Shuhan being dragged away. His fists clenched, and he responded coldly, "Xue Can, don't ask me to do this kind of thing again."
Xue Can paused for a moment before a wicked smile curled on his lips. He raised his hand and slapped the officer. "What's this? You've grown a conscience, hmm? You seem to have forgotten how a convict from twenty years ago managed to become a police chief. Or why your daughter is studying in the U.S., hmm? Learn your place. Cross me again, and I'll really get angry. Hahaha…"
The officer pursed his lips and said nothing, lowering his head in silence for a moment before getting into his car and driving away.
As he crossed the small bridge, the chief slammed on the brakes. Images of Jin Shuhan being dragged away flashed in his mind.
That poor girl... she was about the same age as his own daughter.
"Monster! Monster! Monster!" The old officer frantically slapped his own face, then threw open the car door and jumped out, kneeling on the ground, pounding his fists into the earth. "Wang Kelv, what are you doing?! Look at what you've become! How are you any different from those monsters?!"
He roared in despair, alternating between punching the ground and slapping his own face.
The nineteenth layer of hell is a place where black and white blur together, and humans and ghosts are indistinguishable.
In the end, what's there to fear about ghosts? Even the King of Hell must respect human nature by at least three points.
At 2:00 a.m., in Lao Wu's room, where Chu Yuxuan was monitoring the situation, he received a WeChat message from Jin Shuhan: "Thank you, President Chu." Shortly after, the payment came through.
Chu Yuxuan hesitated for a moment but didn't reply. Jin Shuhan had already found it hard enough to open up before, and saying too much now would only hurt her pride.
Lao Wu glanced at Chu Yuxuan's phone screen, a strange look flickering in his eyes.
The next evening.
After dinner, Chu Yuxuan sat on the living room sofa, cigarette dangling from his lips, rummaging through the drawers for a lighter. After a long search, he couldn't find one and looked over at Lao Wu, who was daydreaming at the dining table. "Lao Wu, pass me your lighter."
Lao Wu seemed lost in thought and didn't hear him.
"Lao Wu… Lao Wu?"
After calling twice more, the foreign-looking man finally turned his head, puzzled. "Uh, what's up, big brother?"
Chu Yuxuan stared intently at him. "Why do you seem so distracted?"
Lao Wu shrugged with a faint smile. "Nothing. I've just been staying up late these past few days. A bit tired."
Chu Yuxuan wasn't entirely convinced. Just then, Yao Liang drove the modified GTR back into the courtyard.
Lao Wu stood up, looking at the GTR. "Big brother, why haven't they made a move yet?"
Chu Yuxuan sighed and walked out of the villa. Lao San and Xiao Qing followed closely behind, while Lao Si remained seated in front of the Guan Yu statue, as still as a statue himself.
Yao Liang stepped out of the car, scanning their faces, and walked toward Chu Yuxuan with heavy steps.
Chu Yuxuan had been inspecting his new car since he stepped out but noticed Yao Liang's pale face and unnatural expression. Sensing something was off, he asked, "Lao Liu, what's going on?"
The others also turned their attention away from the GTR and all looked at Yao Liang.
"Big brother, the car keys," Yao Liang forced a weak smile and handed Chu Yuxuan the keys, but avoided answering the question, biting his lip and refusing to meet Chu Yuxuan's gaze.
Chu Yuxuan's suspicion grew. Taking the keys, he pressed again, "Lao Liu, what happened?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yao Liang suddenly knelt before Chu Yuxuan, his face pale with tears in his eyes. "Big brother! I was followed by members of the Tianji Society. They shot me… and told me they have my family! They… they want me to kill you!"