Chapter 37

Chapter 37

"Why were you kidnapped?" On the other end of the video call, Lu Qiuyan sounded exasperated as he filled Yu Shang in on Tian Ruan’s situation.

"Someone said there was gold in the guest room I was staying in, so I got kidnapped," Tian Ruan said angrily. "It’s gotta be the same person who drugged Mr. Yu."

"Drugged?"

Realizing he’d let it slip—if he mentioned it was an aphrodisiac, everyone would know what happened between him and Yu Jingmo—Tian Ruan quickly corrected himself, "Yeah, *laxatives*."

"..."

Yu Shang hauled ass over there.

Du Henbie, having caught wind of the situation from God knows where, arrived right after Yu Shang. Without a word, he grabbed Lu Qiuyan’s phone and, upon seeing Tian Ruan tied up in the video call, first frowned, then cracked up. In English, he said, "You’re a riot."

Tian Ruan: "..." Fuck me.

To make it worse, the kidnappers also laughed at this. "See? Even your friends think you're a joke."

Yu Shang wasn’t laughing. Taking the phone, he asked, "Where’s my dad?"

"He’s on his way," Tian Ruan replied.

"How much ransom?"

"A mil."

Yu Shang knew they could scrape it together, and given how unprofessional these kidnappers seemed, Tian Ruan’s chances of being rescued were high. But just in case, he turned to Du Henbie. "Mr. Du, do you have connections in the U.S.?"

Du Henbie said calmly, "Asking for my help isn’t free."

"What do you want?"

Du Henbie smiled without answering and walked off to make a call.

Meanwhile, Tian Ruan winced and asked the tattooed man, "Boss, I need to use the bathroom."

The tattooed man scoffed. He knew Tian Ruan had been interrupted earlier when trying to go. Roughly yanking him up, he said, "No funny business, or I’ll blow your brains out."

Tian Ruan nodded obediently. "Got it."

He then said to the phone, "I’m turning off the camera, but don’t hang up, okay?"

Yu Shang & Lu Qiuyan: "..." As if.

The screen went black. Awkwardly, Tian Ruan stuffed the phone back into his pants pocket and, still bound, was shoved outside the factory building. The kidnapper pointed to a patch of dark weeds in the corner. "Over there. Don’t wander off."

"Boss, can I have a tissue?"

"Why are you so damn needy?" Despite his grumbling, the kidnapper grudgingly handed him a tissue.

Tian Ruan shuffled to the weeds, his bound hands just able to reach his pants.

Soon, the sound of him pissing could be heard.

Lu Qiuyan silently held the phone at arm’s length.

After finishing up, Tian Ruan tossed the tissue, hiked up his pants, and walked back. "Thanks. This is my first time being kidnapped, and you guys are weirdly decent."

The kidnappers burst into laughter again as if hit in their funny bones, the tattooed man's cigarette-holding hand shaking from laughter. He assured Tian Ruan, "Don't worry, as long as the money arrives, we won’t touch a hair on your head."

Tian Ruan nodded with feigned gratitude, "Thank you."

"Heh, you're the first hostage we've had who’s this obedient. You're alright."

"Yeah, my friends say the same thing."

His friend Lu Qiuyan silently thought this guy was talking complete nonsense—weird as hell.

After about half an hour of such idle chatter, one of the kidnappers suddenly said, "A black Chevrolet is coming."

The tattooed man racked his gun and pointed it at Tian Ruan, "Stay still, princess."

Tian Ruan flinched—not from fear, but from how gross that was.

The masked kidnappers went out to meet the arriving guest at the factory entrance. Tian Ruan tried peering around, but the doorway was completely blocked.

Only the sound of the approaching car grew louder.

"Is my dad here?" Yu Shang's voice suddenly came from Tian Ruan’s pocket.

Tian Ruan startled—he’d forgotten his phone was still on video...

"Did he bring anyone else?"

Tian Ruan whispered, "They're probably staked out around here."

Lu Qiuyan said, "These places usually got two ways in. Check your surroundings."

"Already did. The back door’s chained shut." Even if it weren’t, Tian Ruan wasn’t about to risk his neck—getting shot could mean death or permanent injury.

These small-time crooks—the kind that usually slip through—weren’t professionals. This ransom was probably their biggest score yet.

"Hey, you the young master's old man?" The tattooed man’s mocking voice rang out.

The other kidnappers snickered, "This guy’s given us quite the show."

"Show?" A cold, deep voice spoke, each word impeccably enunciated, posh as an English lord.

"Yeah, how’d you bag him? All you Chinese rich boys this pretty?"

"..."

Tattooed man: "Cut the crap. You got the million?"

"It's here. I need to see him first."

"Right here."

The kidnappers stepped aside. In the hazy moonlight, a tall figure stood on the open lot, walking without hesitation toward the factory, leaving moonlight and starlight behind.

Tian Ruan stared wide-eyed at the man approaching him.

He’d never seen Yu Jingmo like this—as if he’d walked straight from an arctic wasteland, ice in his veins.

Tian Ruan shivered, lips parting but no words coming out.

Yu Jingmo carried a white plastic bag filled with neatly stacked cash, unmistakable at a glance—no point checking.

Kneeling before Tian Ruan, he ignored the ominous gun barrel and growled, "Are you alright?"

Tian Ruan dazedly nodded. "I'm fine."

Yu Jingmo's ink-black eyes scanned Tian Ruan from head to toe, the ransom money within arm's reach.

The tattooed man stepped forward, yanked the plastic bag, and checked the authenticity and amount of the bills. After confirming it was all there, he whooped, "We're rich!" The kidnappers cheered and high-fived in celebration.

Then, the tattooed man demanded, palm up, "Give me the car keys."

Yu Jingmo flipped him the keys.

"You're way too damn compliant," the tattooed man chuckled as he picked up the keys. "I almost feel reluctant. Hope we run into fat sheep like you again next time. Boys, let's go."

The kidnappers hauled the over twenty pounds of cash into the car, ready to make their escape.

Yu Jingmo freed Tian Ruan.

"...That's it?" Lu Qiuyan's voice came from Tian Ruan's pocket.

"Dad, are you okay?" Yu Shang asked.

Yu Jingmo fished out Tian Ruan's phone, said, "We'll talk later," and hung up.

Tian Ruan wriggled out of the loosened bonds, frantic for Yu Jingmo. "We have to get that million back!"

"Leave this to the professionals. You stay put." Yu Jingmo remained stone-faced, but Tian Ruan could tell from his slightly furrowed brow that he was furious.

"...Mr. Yu, I'm sorry."

Yu Jingmo caught his hand, hauled him to his feet, and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes. "You did nothing wrong. It's my fault."

"?"

"I dragged you into this. If I hadn't brought you along, you wouldn't have been in danger."

Tian Ruan mulled it over. "If you hadn't brought me, you'd have been swindled."

Yu Jingmo: "That would've been my problem."

Tian Ruan widened his eyes. "Are you saying I shouldn't care about you?"

Yu Jingmo realized his mistake and frowned deeply. "I meant I can handle it myself."

Tian Ruan sulked. "You brought me here, and now you're cutting me loose."

"..." Yu Jingmo's chest tightened, and his head throbbed. He rubbed his chiseled temples. "Sorry, let's talk later."

As they walked, Tian Ruan kept at it. "No, let's clear things up now. It won't sit right otherwise."

Seeing him so persistent, Yu Jingmo caved. "I was worried about you."

Anxiety had stripped his words of their usual restraint—uncharacteristic of Yu Jingmo.

Tian Ruan paused mid-step, the pieces clicked. So that was it. Yu Jingmo had iced him out to protect him, to keep him safe.

Under the silver moonlight outside the factory, Tian Ruan took Yu Jingmo's hand and said, "I'm your shield. I belong on the battlefield—unless you see me as just a vase."

Yu Jingmo looked down at him, his stern mouth softening. "You're not a vase."

Tian Ruan's hazel eyes glowed softly in the night, warm and clear. "So sometimes, I must step up for you. I'm a man too—I'm not afraid. Though I may only have some street smarts, there are far more fools in this world, and I can handle them."

Yu Jingmo grasped the young man's slender, slightly cool hand in return. "Alright."

Pleased that he had persuaded Yu Jingmo, Tian Ruan felt a surge of joy from the bottom of his heart. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a car engine cutting off nearby, followed by the kidnappers cursing loudly. Then, the SWAT team surrounded the criminals, their high-powered flashlights blazing.

Shots rang out.

Bodyguards materialized out of nowhere, forming a protective circle around Yu Jingmo and Tian Ruan.

Having given up on the bodyguards, Tian Ruan tugged at Yu Jingmo, ready to duck into the warehouse. But then, the chop of rotor blades filled the air as a white helicopter slowly descended.

"?" Tian Ruan asked, "Mr. Yu, did you arrange this?"

"No." Yu Jingmo studied the helicopter impassively. Judging by the model, it was a personal helicopter—he owned one himself. But given the distance across the ocean, it couldn’t possibly be his.

Before long, the pilot, wearing a flight helmet and night-vision goggles, jumped down and approached Tian Ruan. "Sirs, we need to evacuate you now."

"Who sent you?" Yu Jingmo asked.

"Madam Du."

In the original story, there was only one Madam Du—Du Henbie’s mother. She had never made an appearance, only mentioned briefly in Du Henbie’s words, such as, "My mom called me home for dinner," "My mom also likes collecting stamps," or "My mom has a ton of interests and runs an art gallery."

Tian Ruan was utterly stunned. Madam Du had sent a helicopter for him??

Yu Jingmo declined politely, "No need. Pass along our thanks to Madam Du."

The pilot insisted, "But it's dangerous here."

"It's under control." Yu Jingmo glanced at his ringing phone and answered, "We're on our way."

The pilot hesitated. "But this was Mr. Du’s direct orders."

Yu Jingmo turned to Tian Ruan. "Let’s go."

Tian Ruan: "Mm."

The pilot: "..."

The bodyguards hurried to follow, passing the pilot with a teasing remark, "Hey, foreigner, our sir and his wife are just lovey-dovey~ (air quotes)"

Tian Ruan stumbled over a patch of weeds and nearly fell, only to be steadied by Yu Jingmo. Flustered, he snapped, "They’re getting written up when we get back—total slackers!"

Yu Jingmo: "Mm."

The bodyguards: "..."

After that, they clammed up like scared rabbits, keeping their heads down and trying to blend into the background as much as possible.

The four subdued kidnappers, now under police control, cursed up a storm. Unlike cops back home, the foreign officers had little patience—they laid into them, leaving the criminals bloodied.

When Tian Ruan saw them, it took him a moment to recognize them. "Yo, guys, who worked you over? Priceless! HAHA!"

Giving them a taste of their own medicine, Tian Ruan thoroughly mocked them.

The kidnappers questioned their life choices (silently): "..."