Chapter 275 - 275 Hostage

275 Hostage

The sudden power outage caused an uproar in the building.

The agents disguised as cleaners and waiters took off their coats, revealing bulletproof vests underneath. They held pistols and daggers and plowed their way through the crowd with the threat of violence.

It was unknown who fired the first shot, but the sound of gunfire produced a hush, which quickly transformed into screams.

They were there for an audition. How did things devolve into such a mess?

Jin Lu gritted her teeth and suppressed the shakes that overtook her, doing her best not to cry out.

She had not received any training for her role, and it was all she could do to follow the plan.

Just as she was about to sneak away to meet up with Qiao Yue, a pair of hands grabbed hold and pulled her back. Hot air blew in her ear, trapping her in a suffocating heat. “Miss Jin, where are you going? The night has just begun.” The man – for it could only be a man – had an arm around her waist as he chuckled.

“They have guns! We’re in danger,” Jin Lu tried, speaking softly but urgently.

“Don’t worry. I shall escort Miss Jin to safety.” Andy pulled her to her feet as he spoke.

They were so close that Jin Lu caught whiffs of a strange smell on him.

Jin Lu had been a bar singer for years, and she had seen many people who showed disdain for the law.

The smell permeating the air around Andy was manufactured by long-term drug abuse. Although his heavy cologne effectively covered the odor, it was not enough to dispel the stench that had penetrated his body. Now that they were so close, Jin Lu finally smelled that familiar scent.

Andy was not simple!

“Don’t be afraid, Miss Jin. Those outside are all my people.” Andy directed Jin Lu away, walking past several girls who hid, trembling in the dark.

Even then, Jin Lu could hear the terror in the voices of the other auditioners.

Her heart fell.

The corridor was pitch black, and the gunshots had stopped at some point.

Jin Lu grabbed Andy by his lapels, but that did nothing to stop the iron bar of an arm leading her on. It did not even seem like Andy was using much strength.

“Not to worry, Miss Jin is… delicate. As expected of an idol. I’m sure you manage your body well,” Andy whispered in her ear.

“Thank you for the compliment. May I know where you’re taking me?”

Andy did not answer, and the two continued their silent march to the elevator.

Most elevators in buildings, like the one they were in, had backup generators in case of a power outage. The lights in the elevator were off, but the danger sign near it shone bright red.

“Hush. Don’t be afraid, Miss Jin. The elevator is safe.” Andy stepped into the elevator with Jin Lu.

The walls of the elevator were covered in mirrors. In them, Jin Lu saw her fear etched in stark relief. It was a frightful comparison to Andy’s calm, stoic demeanor. It was then that Jin Lu realized how dangerous her situation was.

She had dropped her earpiece somewhere along the way, and now she only had the body camera disguised as a button still on her person.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yue kept calling Jin Lu through her microphone.

Yet, Jin Lu did not respond.

Qiao Yue’s computer had enough battery life to last for a while, so the scene of Jin Lu being led away by Andy was transmitted to her laptop without interruption.

What was going on…?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Andy eyed the button, a mysterious yet frightening smile lighting his face. It was almost… familiar.

“I think I dropped my ear stud,” Jin Lu muttered.

“It’s just an ear stud. I can gift Miss Jin many more if she’d like,” Andy said without missing a beat.

Jin Lu felt her hair stand on end and goosebumps travel along her arms.

“Where are we going?”

Andy led Jin Lu to the top floor of the building. It was strange. While the rest of the building was shrouded in darkness, the top floor remained brightly lit.

The room was lavishly decorated in a European style, with furniture and murals complimenting each other.

As soon as they entered, Andy picked a bottle of wine and filled a glass.

“Come, Miss Jin, have a glass of wine. It’ll do wonders for your nerves.” Andy passed Jin Lu the glass.

Qiao Yue clenched her fists as she glared at the image on the screen. “No, Jin Lu, don’t drink it!”

The wine was either filled with drugs or Obedient Water.

“I…” Perhaps Jin Lu sensed the urgency in Qiao Yue’s voice, despite not being able to hear her, which caused her to hesitate. She bit her lips, shaking like a leaf. “Mr. Andy, I can’t drink. It’s bad for my throat. I still want to be a singer in the future.”

“Are you afraid that I’m trying to poison you? I only want to help you reach your full potential, to give form to your inner beauty…