Qiao Qiao subconsciously took a step back at the words. Two men immediately blocked her escape route, leaving her nowhere to run.
Seeing that escape was impossible, she decided to give up entirely. "I-I have no money."
"No money is fine. Our company is very humane. If a client can't pay, we offer them opportunities to earn money," the lead man said with a smile.
Qiao Qiao looked at his smile, which held no trace of friendliness, and a bad premonition suddenly struck her. "What kind of opportunities?"
"You'll know when you get there. Take her away!"
The lead man waved his hand, and several men, disregarding Qiao Qiao's struggles, seized her and shoved her into a car.
-
At 11:59 PM that night, Yu He received a call from Mo Chao. "Hee hee, fairy sister, Qiao Qiao's final payments are all settled."
Yu He was in the study, watching Qin Beiting offer suggestions on her design drafts. She asked in a faint tone, "Is she still alive?"
"Alive, alive, hee hee! It's a civilized, law-abiding society now, how can people just kill each other? That's against the law, and I would never do anything illegal! I'm a model citizen," Mo Chao said with a grin.
Yu He: "..."
Yu He: "Say that again, with your conscience."
"Hee hee hee, I can say it ten times without a problem. I'm a model citizen..."
Mo Chao repeated with a laugh on the other end of the line. Behind him was a stage, with a spotlight illuminating a three-meter-tall white iron cage in the center. Inside the cage was a woman dressed in adult-sized bunny attire.
The cage was decorated with white roses, creating a fairy-tale fantasy. If one were to ignore that this was a live performance and transaction at an underground black market for sexual slavery.
On the stage's background screen, anonymously displayed were the price records of all those who had bid on this "item," totaling 15,291 entries and a sum of one hundred million yuan.
This meant that tonight, the "item" would perform a large-scale, multi-person show for these 15,291 guests, satisfying the peculiar tastes of these wealthy individuals.
Back at the courtyard.
"You've been on the phone with him for over thirty seconds," Qin Beiting said, checking his stopwatch, his tone sour.
"........."
Tsk, this jealous man.
Yu He ignored him and said coldly into the phone, "Just don't kill her."
"Hee hee hee, you can rest assured with me. As a model citizen, I will definitely respect life and not harm others. I absolutely guarantee she will be alive..."
Mo Chao prattled on, but then realized there was no sound from the other end. He looked and saw that the call had been hung up at some point. However, a message had arrived on WeChat.
Fairy Sister: [I'll treat you to a meal when I'm free.]
Mo Chao grinned, revealing his small canine teeth, looking like a fool, and immediately replied: [I want to eat the rice noodles you cooked. I haven't had your rice noodles for a loooong time.]
After sending the message, Yu He didn't reply.
Half an hour later, Yu He's account suddenly sent a reply: [Scram!]
Mo Chao scratched the back of his head, somewhat bewildered, and muttered, "Why is fairy sister always so cool?"
Just then, his assistant arrived with Hei Ren, one of the black market administrators.
Mo Chao put away his phone, shook Hei Ren's hand with a smile, and asked repeatedly:
"How is it? Can this exciting show I organized tonight pass your Xing Que's review? Can I join Xing Que? When can I meet your Palace Lord?"
"The Palace Lord says your show is outdated in the black market. The black market had such shows a long time ago. There's no highlight. Xing Que needs more innovative 'programs'," Hei Ren relayed the reply from above with a serious expression.
More innovative?
In Mo Chao's opinion, this kind of specialized show for wealthy individuals with peculiar tastes was already perverse and dark.
And it was considered outdated by the Xing Que Palace Lord? Then his methods must be even more cruel!
Mo Chao suddenly felt a sense of admiration.
Having operated in the underworld in the south, he naturally knew that to enter the northern market, he needed a northern backer. Xing Que was the local power in the north, and even the entire Asian region. If he could join Xing Que, he would gain considerable standing!
Then he could snatch his fairy sister back from Qin Beiting!
Those who could enter Xing Que must possess at least one irreplaceable skill. Mo Chao lacked specific skills but had resources within the wealthy circle, so he organized this show that catered to those tycoons.
What he didn't understand was: "You knew it lacked innovation from the start, right? Then why did you provide me with a venue? Providing a venue would imply there was a chance, wouldn't it?"
"The review result is disapproval. But you're allowed to finish the performance." Hei Ren didn't know why the higher-ups agreed. He was just following orders. After completing the task, he left.
Mo Chao didn't understand, but he didn't dwell on it. Mentioning money, he also left.
-
The next day, Xie He Hospital.
Under the personal guidance of Tang Pei, Yu He went to Li Yehan's ward.
On the way, Tang Pei specifically apologized for the incident in the operating room that day.
"Xiao He, I'm truly sorry. It was our oversight that day, allowing a doctor not on the research team to sneak in, which led to that accident."
"Were the videos retrieved?" Yu He asked.
That surgery was of great significance to them, so the hospital specially recorded it for future teaching material.
"They were retrieved, but it's a bit difficult to identify who it was."
Tang Pei took a tablet from his assistant and played the video that captured Qi Suilin intentionally pushing someone. However, Qi Suilin was wearing a hat and mask and was completely covered at the time, making it impossible for them to identify him.
Yu He glanced at it. "Send me this video."
"Alright," Tang Pei replied.
As they spoke, they arrived at Li Yehan's ward.
In the ward, Qi Nan had already completed Li Yehan's physical examination. Seeing Yu He arrive, he stepped forward and said, "He's recovering well. All his vital signs are improving."
Yu He nodded and looked at Li Yehan, who was lying on the hospital bed.
Ever since Yu He entered, Li Yehan had been gazing at her intently. Seeing her look over, he immediately sat up and continued to stare at her without blinking.
Yu He ignored his gaze, took his right hand, and felt his pulse. Confirming there were no major issues, she said to Madam Li beside her, "Just follow the follow-up rehabilitation training schedule."
"Yes, yes, thank you, thank you so much!" Madam Li nodded vigorously.
As Yu He was about to leave, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Can I have your contact information?" Li Yehan gazed at her pleadingly, his voice hoarse, with a hint of entreaty.
After waking up, Li Yehan found that everyone in this world seemed blurry to him. He couldn't clearly see anyone's appearance. Even his parents, he could only distinguish them by their voices and scents.
Only Yu He's face was exceptionally clear in his eyes, so he instinctively wanted to get closer.