Seeing that he’d already been discovered, Yun Wanhe let out a helpless sigh.
"I guess I don’t have much of a choice..."
He quietly stepped out from behind the shelf and cautiously approached Bai Xue.
"Don’t worry," he whispered. "I’ll get you out first."
Bai Xue looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Thank you..."
Just as Yun Wanhe reached for the ropes...
BANG!
A crowbar slammed into the back of his head.
Yun Wanhe’s eyes rolled back.
Without even getting a chance to react...
He collapsed face-first onto the concrete floor.
Thud.
Standing behind him was Shen Tian, casually resting the crowbar on his shoulder.
"There we go."
Bai Xue stretched her arms after slipping free of the ropes.
She rolled her shoulders before glancing down at the unconscious Yun Wanhe.
"Jeez... He’s definitely lustful... But not stupidly lustful. He was tempted by another beautiful woman, but when it really mattered... Chi Lingxi still came first."
Shen Tian nodded.
"She’s the center of his fate. He wants other women... But if he had to choose, he’d abandon everyone else for her."
He tossed the crowbar aside.
"Anyway... Let’s get the show started."
Bai Xue smiled and clapped her hands.
"Everyone! Time to move!"
"Yes, Ma’am!"
The warehouse instantly sprang to life.
The masked men hurried in every direction.
Some moved crates.
Others rearranged equipment.
A few adjusted lights and props.
Everything had been planned in advance.
Shen Tian and Bai Xue calmly walked toward the center of the warehouse.
There...
Chi Lingxi still lay unconscious on the cold concrete floor.
The two men who had carried her in looked at each other awkwardly.
One finally scratched the back of his head.
"Boss... Shouldn’t we at least put a blanket or a mat under her? I kind of feel bad..."
Bai Xue shook her head.
"No. It has to feel real. If she wakes up too comfortable, she’ll become suspicious."
The two men immediately straightened.
"Understood!"
Shen Tian pointed toward Yun Wanhe.
"Bring Sleeping Beauty over here too."
"Yes, sir!"
The two men grabbed Yun Wanhe by one leg.
Rather than lifting him...
They simply dragged him across the warehouse floor.
Thunk.
Bonk.
Clunk.
His head bumped into every little crack and piece of debris along the way.
Shen Tian watched for a second before rubbing his forehead.
"...Maybe lift his head a little."
The two men immediately stopped.
"...Right."
"...Sorry, Boss."
They awkwardly picked him up properly before laying him beside Chi Lingxi.
"There."
Shen Tian looked around the warehouse one final time.
"Perfect."
He clapped once.
"Everyone, take your positions."
The warehouse immediately fell silent as everyone moved exactly where they had been instructed.
Shen Tian looked at Bai Xue.
"And you, my dear..."
He pointed toward Yun Wanhe and Chi Lingxi.
"You need to be one of the kidnapped again."
Bai Xue’s shoulders slumped.
"...Do I have to?"
Shen Tian couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You’re the star of this act."
She let out an exaggerated sigh.
"...Fine! If I must."
One of the men carefully tied her wrists again, loosely enough that she could free herself whenever necessary, but convincingly enough to fool anyone watching.
Bai Xue then walked over and gracefully sat beside the two unconscious captives.
"How do I look?" she whispered.
Shen Tian gave her a thumbs-up.
"Like a professional kidnapped woman."
She rolled her eyes.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Shen Tian picked up a metal bucket filled with ice-cold water.
He glanced behind him.
The two masked men immediately straightened their backs and crossed their arms, doing their best to look intimidating.
"...Good enough."
He first removed the hood covering Chi Lingxi’s face.
Then made sure the protagonist was all tied up.
"Looks good!"
Splash!
The freezing water drenched all three captives.
"Cough!"
"Ah!"
The three of them jolted awake almost simultaneously.
Bai Xue immediately slipped into character, trembling as though she had been terrified for hours.
Chi Lingxi coughed repeatedly, water dripping from her hair as she frantically looked around.
"Where... where am I?"
Her voice trembled.
Bright lights shone directly above the three captives.
Beyond that small circle of light...
The warehouse was swallowed by darkness.
Only vague silhouettes could be seen.
Beside her, Yun Wanhe groaned.
He winced as pain shot through the back of his head.
"...Damn..."
He slowly looked up.
His sharp eyes locked onto the masked man standing before him.
Only the man’s eyes and mouth were visible beneath the black mask.
"Who the hell are you?"
Yun Wanhe growled.
Shen Tian slowly spread his arms.
A grin appeared beneath his mask.
"Congratulations! You’ve all just been selected..."
He paused dramatically.
"...to be sold by human traffickers."
He began clapping.
The two masked men behind him immediately joined in.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The slow applause echoed throughout the warehouse.
Chi Lingxi’s face instantly turned pale.
She instinctively shrank backward as tears gathered in her eyes.
"No... No... this can’t be happening... Grandpa will save me..."
She whispered helplessly.
Seeing the woman he loved on the verge of tears...
Yun Wanhe exploded with rage.
"You bastard!"
He violently tried to lunge forward.
Unfortunately...
His wrists and legs were tightly bound.
The only thing he accomplished was falling face-first onto the concrete.
Thud.
"Tsk... tsk... tsk..."
Shen Tian slowly walked over before crouching in front of Bai Xue.
"If you keep making a scene..."
He gently tilted Bai Xue’s chin upward.
Then, in full view of Yun Wanhe and Chi Lingxi...
He slowly ran his thumb across her cheek.
"I’ll have to punish these two beautiful ladies instead."
Yun Wanhe’s pupils shrank.
"No! You can’t!"
His voice cracked.
"I’ll cooperate! I’m sorry! I swear I won’t resist anymore! Just... don’t hurt them!"
Satisfied, Shen Tian stood back up.
"That’s much better."
Beside him...
Bai Xue almost pouted.
’That’s it? I thought he’d keep teasing me a little longer... What a shame...’
Still keeping up her frightened act, she lowered her head to hide the tiny smile threatening to appear on her lips.
She was getting turned on by Shen Tian...
Yun Wanhe forced himself to calm down.
Now wasn’t the time to act recklessly.
He had to be patient.
He had to play the long game.
[For now... I need to survive.]
[I need to get out of here...]
[Just me.]
[As long as I escape, I can find a place to—]
Before the thought could finish...
Bai Xue gave a signal to Shen Tian...
Thud!
Shen Tian’s boot slammed into Yun Wanhe’s chest.
"Gah!"
Yun Wanhe was sent rolling across the floor before crashing into a crate.
The impact knocked the breath from his lungs.
Chi Lingxi flinched.
’Just me.’
She lowered her eyes.
But hearing it again...
She was certain.
It belonged to Yun Wanhe.
And his first instinct...
Was to abandon everyone else.
’My friends always said he had a crush on me... He never really cared about me. He was only attracted to my appearance...’
Her opinion of Yun Wanhe quietly sank even lower.
Shen Tian noticed the subtle change in her expression beneath his mask.
A smile appeared in his eyes.
"Perfect," he muttered. "Exactly as planned."
The most effective weapon against a protagonist...
Was the protagonist himself.
"Well then," Shen Tian said casually, dusting off his gloves.
"I need to go prepare something."
He turned toward the exit.
"I’ll be right back."
As he walked away, he spoke without looking back.
"Gentlemen, move these people."
"Yes, Boss!"
The two men immediately stepped forward.
They roughly hauled Yun Wanhe, Chi Lingxi, and Bai Xue onto their feet before escorting them deeper into the warehouse.
Yun Wanhe kept his mouth shut.
His mind raced nonstop.
[Think... There has to be a way out... If I can just get a little time to—]
Bump.
Bai Xue accidentally... or at least, seemingly accidentally... shouldered him.
"Oh! Sorry... I tripped."
The interruption broke Yun Wanhe’s concentration completely.
Bai Xue secretly smiled to herself.
’Nope. You’re not finishing that thought.’
Hearing only another fragment of his thoughts...
Chi Lingxi became even more disappointed.
’He’s still only thinking about himself...’
The three captives were shoved inside a large shipping container.
Bang!
The heavy metal doors shut.
Outside...
The moment nobody could see him...
Shen Tian removed his mask.
He looked toward everyone throughout the warehouse.
Lowering his voice, he grinned.
"Alright, everyone. Places."
He stretched his shoulders.
"Time for the villain..."
He paused.
"...Or should I say... the hero... to save the beauty."
(Author Note: IMPORTANT!)
I just want to say THANK YOU for all the support this month! It truly means the world to me!
With a new month about to begin, I hope you’ll all continue reading because I have SO MUCH planned for this novel! There are a lot of surprises coming!
I’m working hard every single day to make this story the best it can be, and every Power Stone, Golden Ticket, Gift, Comment, and Review motivates me to keep going.
Thank you all again for supporting me!! I can’t wait to show you what’s coming next!
(It’s going to be hilarious... and might shock you) XD

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