Translator: Lonelytree
I drank a mouthful of soy milk and yanked the tape off the mouth of the person who looked at me pleadingly. He couldnât help but cry out in pain.
I threw away the tape and sat cross-legged before from him.
He immediately put on a fawning expression. âMiss pretty, this is our mistake. Please be merciful and let us go. We promise never to come back here again!â
âWhatâs your name?â I asked.
The man was startled, he clearly wasnât expecting for me to chat with him. With another glare from me, he answered honestly, âMy name is Tan Si.â He twisted his body and used his head to point at his friends. âThis is our eldest brother, Ah Hu; the second brother, Da Xiong; third brother, Ah Mang; and Iâm the fourth, people refer to me as Brother Tan Si.â
I nodded. âWelcome to my humble abode, Brother Tan Si.â
âHa ha, Miss Pretty. Please forgive us for our impunity. Please be magnanimous and let us go.â Tan Si smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits.
I put down the cup of soy milk to grab at the iron rod. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the four men flinch at the same time. Last night, I used this very same rod to knock at the back of their necks and apprehended them.
I knocked the rod against the wall to create a metallic sound. I asked kindly, âTell me, what are you doing here?â
Tan Si swallowed. He was about to answer when Ah Hu, who sat beside Tan Si, kicked him. Before Ah Hu could retract his leg, I smacked his calf with the hefty iron rod.
Ah Hu immediately yelped in pain. He rolled to the ground with a painful grimace on his face.
âBrother Hu, Brother Hu, are you okay?â Tan Si asked anxiously. He wanted to help his brother but he was tied up and couldnât move. âMiss Pretty, please spare our lives!â Tan Si very astutely turned to beg me instead.
I narrowed my eyes at Ah Hu. âStill thinking about resistance? Then you shouldnât have been caught in the first place! Donât you understand the simple concept of winners take all? I now decide your fate. Do you really think itâs a wise idea to irk me?â
Ah Hu curled up on the ground and stopped moving. Between heavy pants, he glared hatefully at me.
I smiled. âPlease donât look at me like that. You should direct that hate to the person who hired you instead. They gave you the wrong information about this house and its occupant. So really, think about it. Who set you up? It definitely wasnât me.â I turned away from Ah Hu and locked my eyes on Ah Si. âYou still havenât answered me. What are you people doing here?â
Tan Si swallowed and then stole a glance at his Brother Hu. I tapped the rod. âDo you want a taste of this too?â
âNo, no, no, no. Miss Pretty, this is all our fault, weâre wrong. Please forgive us, Miss Pretty.â
âAnswer me!â I demanded coldly.
âWe, we are here to steal stuff.â Tan Si stammered.
I scoffed. âDo you people think Iâm a fucking idiot?â
Tan Si curled his head away from my iron rod. âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry. Iâll be honest now.â
I slammed the iron rod against the ground and the four men shivered.
âWe, we... someone hired us to come here to kidnap, kidnap...â Tan Si stole a glance at me.
âTo kidnap me?â I finished the sentence for him.
âYes.â Tan Si concurred and deflated like a balloon.
âAnd then what?â I asked calmly.
Tan Siâs beady eyes moved towards me.
âWhat are you people supposed to do after kidnapping me?â I repeated the question.
âSell, sell you,â Tan Si whimpered.
I was shocked before I broke into a laugh. These people were truly ruthless, they thought about using such inhumane method to get rid of me once and for all.
I sat back down before Tan Si and looked at him.
Tan Si smiled obsequiously at me. When he saw that I didnât respond to him, his lips turned down and verged on crying.
I realized I liked this feeling of having control.
âI have one last question, you better think about it carefully before you answer it.â I regarded Tan Si.
Tan Si nodded vehemently, âIâll tell you everything I know.â
âWho hired you? Where are you going to sell me to? Have you contacted the buyer? How many people are there in your gang?â I looked at Tan Si seriously.
Tan Si licked his dry lips and said carefully, âMiss Pretty, these are... These are four different questions.â