"Ah!" Even though the sound was muffled by the ship's hull, Old Three's brief cry still caught the attention of Old One, who was not far away.
He stood up abruptly, his brows furrowing slightly as his eyes fixed on the direction of the "sunken ship" where the noise originated. His right hand instinctively reached for the gun at his waist.
"What was that noise?" Old Two happened to return from the woods at that moment, his arms full of dry branches.
"There's something going on over there. Old Three might be in trouble. I'm going to check it out. You stay here and don't move an inch!" Old One ordered, pulling out his gun with one hand while turning on a flashlight with the other as he cautiously made his way toward the "sunken ship."
Old Two watched as his leader disappeared into the darkness, the beam of his flashlight growing fainter and fainter.
He glanced around, his eyes falling on the tent. A lecherous grin spread across his face as a vile thought crossed his mind.
After waiting a minute to ensure Old One was far enough away, Old Two rubbed his hands together and slipped inside the tent.
...
Chu Xiaoxiao had never felt so helpless in her life. She had shown extraordinary talent from a young age, and by twelve, she was already helping her mother manage the vast Chu Group, growing it into the powerhouse it was today. Few knew that she was responsible for at least half of the company's success.
Because of her remarkable abilities, she was always the center of attention, whether at school or in the company. She had always considered herself different from others, like a queen overlooking her subjects.
But now, having been kidnapped and brought to a deserted island, trapped in a pitch-black tent that seemed as hopeless as her unknown fate, she realized how vulnerable she truly was. She was no different from anyone else—perhaps even weaker.
"If I hadn't insisted on visiting his grave, I wouldn't have ended up in this situation," she thought bitterly.
Suddenly, voices from outside interrupted her thoughts. Shortly after, the tent flap was abruptly pulled open, and a beam of light cut through the darkness.
But it wasn't a ray of hope that appeared before her—only a loathsome, ugly face. Chu Xiaoxiao recoiled in terror, clutching her knees as she shrank back, but there was nowhere to hide in the small tent.
Old Two grinned at the sight of the terrified girl. One of her sandals had fallen off during the abduction, revealing five delicate, pearl-like toes.
His eyes gleamed with lust as he surveyed his prey. "Hey there, little beauty, been waiting long? Uncle's here to make you feel real good," he sneered.
"No, stay away!" Chu Xiaoxiao shook her head frantically, tears welling in her eyes as she desperately tried to shield herself with her thin clothes.
Her fearful, tear-streaked face only fueled Old Two's vile desires. Unable to hold back any longer, he lunged forward, tearing at her dress.
The sound of fabric ripping was accompanied by Chu Xiaoxiao's scream, exposing a patch of snow-white skin.
"Heh, rich girls sure are well-nourished, look at this figure!" Old Two tossed aside the torn cloth, his hand ready to strike.
Chu Xiaoxiao had given up hope. She could only cover her chest and tremble helplessly.
"I suggest you don't move," a cold voice suddenly cut through the air. Old Two felt something cold and metallic press against the back of his head, and his body stiffened.
Chu Xiaoxiao stared in shock at the shadowy figure emerging from behind Old Two. The light from outside made it difficult to see his face, but the voice sounded familiar.
"Raise your hands and back away slowly!" the calm voice commanded again.
Old Two, seasoned in the underworld, could tell from the tone that this was no amateur. The voice, though young, was steady and composed, indicating a cool-headed demeanor. If he made any sudden moves, the boy might actually pull the trigger.
He quickly assessed the situation, cold sweat forming on his forehead. Reluctantly, he raised his hands and began to step back slowly. The tent was small, so the intruder hadn't even fully entered, only one foot inside the flap.
The two figures moved in sync, the gun pressed firmly against Old Two's head as they backed out of the tent. As they did, light once again filled the tent, just as hope was rekindled in Chu Xiaoxiao's heart. Tears of relief welled up in her eyes as she realized she had been saved from the brink of despair.
When they were about two or three meters from the tent, the boy stopped.
"Hey, brother, which gang are you with? Maybe there's been some misunderstanding?" Old Two tried to sound calm, suppressing his fear.
The boy didn't answer, instead taking a few steps to the side, keeping the gun trained on Old Two. "Back up!" he ordered again.
Old Two hesitated, then slowly backed up, trying to gauge the boy's intentions. "Come on, kid, don't do anything rash. We can talk this out. Do you know who's in there? She's worth ten million!"
Chu Xiaoxiao listened anxiously from inside the tent, her heart racing. She watched as Old Two retreated further and further, until he disappeared from her view.
"Yeah, I heard. She's worth ten million! I've never even seen a hundred thousand, let alone ten million. Alright, that's far enough. Stop right there!" the boy's voice commanded.
"What? Stop where?" Old Two was confused.
"Bang!" The gunshot shattered the silence of the night, echoing like a thunderclap.
Chu Xiaoxiao stared, wide-eyed, as the gun in the boy's hand emitted a flash of light, leaving a blurry afterimage on her retina and a temporary ringing in her ears.
A dull thud followed as a body hit the ground.
Chu Xiaoxiao was stunned, unable to process what had just happened. Then the boy's face appeared in the tent opening.
The strong light from outside illuminated his face, making his eyes appear especially bright.
It was him!
Why him?
She had imagined being rescued by the police, special forces, or even a local islander—but why was it him?
"Hey there, beautiful, we meet again!" Nie Yun greeted her with a broad smile.