Volume One, Chapter 8: The Abduction

Page 1/3
New Year's Day was approaching, and the weather had reached its coldest point. To energize the students during the harsh winter, the school organized a New Year's Eve party. Rumors spread that celebrities would be invited to perform, instantly igniting excitement among the already lively students. All around campus, students could be seen rehearsing in their costumes.

Feng Xi had just finished class. Since exams were scheduled right after New Year's, Gu Qingchen no longer required her daily reports, leaving time for final review. She and Lin Xin, clutching their books, trudged through the thick snow toward the library.

At the school gate, a middle-aged man inquired with the security guard about Feng Xi. Su Miaoyi, who was being asked to leave the school grounds, overheard the conversation.

The man wore shabby clothes, his face smudged with dirt, but his gaze was fierce. Behind him stood several equally intimidating men. With a sycophantic smile, the man held out a cigarette. “Excuse me, sir, do you know Feng Xi from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department? I’m her father.”

The guard took the cigarette, raising an eyebrow. “If you’re looking for your child, why didn’t you contact her first?”

The man hesitated briefly. “She’s probably in class; I tried calling, but she didn’t answer.”

The guard frowned, pulling out the contact list. “Which class is she in? I’ll find the counselor’s number for you.”

The man scratched his head, unable to say. The men behind him began to show impatience.

Su Miaoyi, also Feng Xi’s roommate, came from a wealthy family that had donated a building to the medical school. She couldn’t match Feng Xi academically or in appearance, so she often mocked Feng Xi for being poor and unsophisticated.

Seeing the man bore some resemblance to Feng Xi and appeared equally destitute, Su Miaoyi vaguely knew some of Feng Xi’s background—that Feng Xi had no parents in her family.

She stepped forward. “Uncle, I’m Feng Xi’s classmate. We just finished class. Feng Xi went to the library to study; she probably has her phone on silent. You should try looking for her there.”

Lin Shengwang, as if grasping at a lifeline, stepped forward eagerly. “Ah, thank you, classmate. Where’s the library? Can you show me the way?”

But the guard blocked his path. “Sir, please wait outside.”

Su Miaoyi smiled sweetly. “How about this, uncle? I’ll help you contact Feng Xi and ask her to come out.”

Lin Shengwang rubbed his hands, beaming. “Thank you so much, classmate.”

Inside the library, Feng Xi received Su Miaoyi’s message. Her hand trembled as she wrote, then she flipped her phone face down on the table, her eyes dull and vacant as she sat frozen.

They had found her at school.

Her body shook uncontrollably. The only memories she had of her biological father were of insults and humiliation.

Page 2/3
Outside the school gate, in a small eatery, Su Miaoyi raised her phone. “Uncle, I’ve sent Feng Xi a message, but she hasn’t replied yet. I have some errands, so I’m leaving now.”

Lin Shengwang quickly blocked her way. “Um, little classmate, could you leave me Feng Xi’s number? I’ll try contacting her again later.”

A sly glint flashed in Su Miaoyi’s eyes. She didn’t question why the father lacked his child’s phone number and promptly gave Lin Shengwang Feng Xi’s contact.

Feng Xi’s phone rang again—an unknown number.

“Damn girl! Get out here right now! I’m right outside your school, and your grandfather’s here too. If you don’t come out, I’ll break your legs!”

Inside the eatery, the man leading the group looked ferocious. “You worthless thing, is your daughter coming out or not?”

Lin Shengwang brandished his phone. “Don’t worry, I told her her grandfather’s here. She’ll come out soon. Let me get you something to eat; it’s freezing.”

The man folded his arms. “Hmph! Your daughter married my son, so we’re family-in-law now. But if this doesn’t get settled, I swear your son will rot in jail!”

Lin Shengwang clasped his hands. “Please, Yong, don’t hurt my son. You can do whatever you want with that girl, but please spare my boy.”

Yong snorted coldly and fell silent. Using one’s own daughter to settle debts was worse than beastly.

Eventually, Feng Xi couldn’t bear it any longer. She gave Lin Xin a few instructions and hurried out of the library. The winter wind in the capital was bitter and sandy, slicing at her face like knives.

Standing at the school gate, she called Lin Shengwang through the fence.

“Hello?”

Her voice was cold. “I’m right outside the school.”

Lin Shengwang signaled Yong, and together they exited the eatery. Lin Shengwang sat at a small table. “Come over. We’re at the budget restaurant opposite your school.”

Feng Xi knew the place—it was just across the street—but unease gnawed at her heart. “Let my grandfather take the phone.”

“You brat, come or not!” Lin Shengwang suddenly cursed loudly. “Dare to talk back to me! I’ll break your legs! Come or not! If you don’t come in five minutes, I’m leaving with your grandfather!”

The call ended abruptly. Feng Xi stared blankly at the snow beneath her feet.

Lin Shengwang’s curses were routine. Every New Year when the family visited, he would scowl at Feng Xi. Sometimes, when no one was watching, he kicked her. Lin Dong, the eldest child, bullied Feng Xi with his gang of younger brothers. Their mother saw everything but never intervened.

Page 3/3
To Lin Shengwang, Feng Xi was less than an animal. If not for Lin Dong’s gambling debts and the creditor’s interest in Feng Xi, she would be worthless.

Feng Xi had no hesitation; she only wanted to see her grandfather. Her aunt had told her the creditor had smashed her grandfather’s clinic, and she was terrified.

Step by step, she crossed the snowy street. As she reached the restaurant entrance, Lin Shengwang flung open the curtain and walked out, nodding toward her back. Before Feng Xi could turn, someone covered her mouth and dragged her into a nearby van.

Lin Shengwang hurried inside, beaming. “Yong, this is the brat. Look, she looks exactly like the photos.”

Feng Xi’s eyes widened in despair as she realized it was an outright trap. She struggled desperately but was powerless against the two large men.

Yong exhaled smoke. “Tsk tsk, not bad. Even prettier than in the pictures. Didn’t expect the old hag to have such a lively daughter.”

Lin Shengwang rubbed his hands nervously. “Uh… Yong, you think…”

Yong glanced over and laughed heartily, slapping Lin Shengwang on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Once this is done, we’ll be kin by marriage, and the debts will be wiped clean.”

Lin Shengwang sighed with relief, his face full of obsequiousness. “With you saying that, Yong, I’m at ease.”

Feng Xi’s hands and feet were bound, a rag stuffed in her mouth. Listening to their conversation, tears escaped uncontrollably.

She had expected the creditor to come to school, but never imagined Lin Shengwang would deceive her out. The Lin family had never considered her part of the family; worse, they treated her as a bargaining chip.

Born but not raised, regarded as private property—how hateful, how infuriating.

Now, all Feng Xi could do was desperately search for a way out, wondering if her phone had any tracking enabled.

As she pondered, Lin Shengwang coaxed her, “Xi Xi, I don’t want to do this either, but marrying Yong’s son isn’t such a loss. Once you consummate the marriage, you’ll settle down and have a child. Everything will be fine.”

Feng Xi’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Lin Shengwang.

Not only a kidnapping but also forced assault! Beasts! Vile beasts!