Chapter 58
A thousand miles away, in a spacious room that was neither cold nor damp, it was rather comfortable. The floor was covered with thick carpet, and the walls all around were thick. There was only one tall window. Light filtered through the window, vaguely illuminating a thin, frail girl huddled in a dark corner.
“Open the door.”
As the command was given, a brawny, strong woman opened the door.
A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit slowly walked into the room.
“Manman, my Manman, I’ve come to see you. We meet again. Did you miss me?”
The man spoke, but received no reply.
The man looked at the food on the table: pan-fried salmon, clam chowder, and a serving of ice cream.
Evidently, the food had been left out for a long time. The soup was cold, and the ice cream had completely melted.
The man’s face darkened. He glared at the shadow in the corner. “Why aren’t you eating properly again?”
The shadow still ignored him.
“You’ll get sick if you don’t eat. You should eat properly.” Seeing the shadow still silent, the man added, “I have something you’d be interested in seeing. A lot has happened outside recently. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating.”
The man opened Song Tingxue’s account.
“Do you know this celebrity? Perhaps you don’t. Why would a dignified young lady like you know a small celebrity? But your sister is a different story.” The man displayed several images, projecting them onto one of the walls.
One picture showed Wen Shuyan and Song Tingxue sharing a meal at a small table on the film set, both smiling, looking relaxed and happy. Another showed Wen Shuyan resting on a chair while Song Tingxue sat quietly next to her, reading a script.
“Look, your sister seems to like her very much. Aren’t they loving and well-matched? Your sister looks so happy!”
As the images slid, the figure in the corner rushed up against the wall, waving her fingers toward Wen Shuyan.
“Ah! I knew you wanted to see! Alright, take your time, look closely.”
The shadow continuously whimpered in her throat. “Sister, Sister…”
“You are here all alone, cold and lonely, but your sister is having a wonderful time with someone else outside. Look, they even got married.”
The image on the wall changed to Wen Shuyan and Song Tingxue’s marriage registration photo.
The girl stared at the marriage certificate photo, fixing her gaze on the smiling Wen Shuyan. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Sister…”
“That actress, Song Tingxue, she loves your sister very much, too. Look what she said: she will spend her life together with your sister.”
The image switched again, showing their hands clasped together, wearing matching rings.
“I’m sure you recognize your sister’s hand, but alas, your sister is holding someone else’s hand. I can imagine how happy they are, just like your parents were. They’ll have a couple of adorable children someday…”
Smash! The frail girl suddenly charged forward, grabbing the small projection robot on the table in front of him and viciously hurling it at the man.
However, she was weak and seemed very frail. The few steps she ran took all her strength, and the force behind the throw was feeble.
The man didn’t even have to dodge. The robot crashed directly onto the floor. The robot, splayed on the ground, struggled to twist its limbs, trying to get up.
The girl faced the man’s cold, sinister face. “Let me out! I need to find my sister!”
“Your sister is doing fine, isn’t she? She married the person she loves. She is very happy!”
“No! I want to find my sister! I want my sister!” The girl suddenly grabbed his neck. “Let me out! Let me out!”
The stout woman outside the door started to rush in but stopped when the man waved her away, remaining outside.
The man, being choked, didn’t resist. As the sensation of suffocation grew stronger, he laughed excitedly. “Manman, you’re becoming more and more like me back then! Are you angry? Your sister betrayed you? She abandoned you, left you alone, and doesn’t care about you anymore.”
“Shut up! My sister didn’t abandon me! My sister would never leave me! You shut up!”
“Your sister doesn’t care about you anymore. She married someone else and is happily with them. She threw you aside.”
“You shut up! You’re lying to me!” The girl choked him fiercely, applying more and more force until the knuckles of her fingers wrapped around his neck turned white.
The man actually managed a smile. “Your frenzy, cough, cough, is exactly like mine back then. You finally understand me, Manman.”
The man reached out, almost obsessively, to touch the girl’s hair, but she bit his hand back with hatred.
The man raised his arm and punched her shoulder. The frail girl instantly stumbled back like a puppet, staggering to the side.
The man caught her with his other hand. “Manman, you are far from being a proper young lady! Your mother was never crude like you. Don’t bite people like a dog, understand?”
He tossed her aside, and the girl fell onto the floor.
The girl gasped for breath, crawling up from the floor, stubbornly glaring at him. “My sister will save me. She will find me.”
“Find you? Your sister hired all those crime experts and detectives, but she couldn’t find you three years ago. After three years, she still expects to find you? Daydreaming. Speaking of which, we should thank you, otherwise your sister would have found you easily, hahaha.”
The girl’s eyes were red, and her teeth ground together. “You pervert! You lunatic!”
The man seemed accustomed to her curses. He turned to the stout woman. “Prepare her a fresh meal. If she doesn’t eat, give her the injection. I’ll be back next month. For every pound of weight she loses, I’ll cut that same amount of flesh from your body.”
The woman’s meaty face trembled with fear. “Yes, Sir.”
The man left, satisfied.
The woman turned and spoke to the two other women guarding the outer door. One went out to tell the kitchen to prepare the meal.
The man left the fortress-like room and took the elevator up. When the elevator stopped, a beautiful island unfolded before his eyes.
A beautiful white building stood on the island.
Sunlight, sea breeze, the cries of seagulls, the air mixing coconut and grass scents.
He heard voices in the distance. The man turned and saw two figures standing far away beneath a large coconut tree.
One of them saw the man, waved, and shouted, “Uncle! Uncle! Come quickly!”
The man looked reluctant. After hesitating, he walked over.
As he got closer, he saw a monkey picking coconuts from the tree. The monkey, which seemed trained, skillfully snapped off a coconut and tossed it down.
In just a moment, there were over a dozen coconuts on the ground.
Standing below were an old, lean man in his sixties with dark skin and an enthusiastic, attractive Alpha girl with a tall, upright figure.
Seeing the man approach, the girl said, “Uncle, look how clever and smart this monkey is.”
The man glanced at it, scoffing. “Xiao Mo, you insisted on coming to the island with me just to watch a monkey pick coconuts?”
The girl choked slightly. “I came here to have fun! Isn’t this interesting?”
“Boring. You should be spending this time focusing on learning how to manage the company.”
The girl lowered her head. “I know.”
“We’re going back tomorrow. You’re starting at the company. You’re the only heir left in the Xie family. Xie Corporation will be yours someday. Get your act together.”
Xie Xiaomo lowered her head even more, looking earnest and compliant. “Yes, Uncle. I’ll study hard.”
The man walked away with a scowl.
Xie Xiaomo waited until he was far away, then looked up and made a face at his retreating back, muttering, “Always scowling, as if someone owes you 800 billion. You’re so boring. No wonder you can’t get a wife.”
The man seemed to sense something. He stopped and turned around, his expression even darker. “What did you say?”
“Ah! I, I said this stupid monkey only knows how to pick coconuts. No wonder he can’t get a wife.”
“Boring! You are truly nothing like me.” The man muttered dismissively, turned, and walked away without looking back.
Xie Xiaomo sighed in relief. When the monkey deftly climbed down, the girl spread her arms. The monkey climbed onto her and expertly rummaged through her pockets for candy.
“Old man, does this monkey have a name?”
The lean, dark-skinned old man: “No. I just call him Monkey. Why don’t you give him a name, Miss?”
“Hmm,” Xie Xiaomo pondered, glancing at the green coconuts scattered on the ground. “You like picking green coconuts, so I’ll call you Xiao Qing.”
The old man: “Miss, he’s an old monkey. He has grandchildren.”
“Then let’s call him Lao Qing. Lao Qing, you’re so good at picking coconuts. You’re so smart. You can follow me from now on, Lao Qing.”
The old man thanked her on the monkey’s behalf. “Lao Qing is lucky.” He paused. “Miss, were you talking about me just now? My hearing is poor, but I heard you. I have a wife. My wife just died young.”
Xie Xiaomo: “…”
“Wife, I’m really fine now. Didn’t we even go to the vegetable patch today? You can go back to filming now.”
Song Tingxue was reluctant to leave A-Yan, but her lead role demanded she return to wrap up filming. “I’ll come back as soon as I finish.”
“Good. Tell me in advance, and I’ll send the private jet to pick you up.” Wen Shuyan opened a drawer filled with rows of accessories and watches. Every item looked expensive.
She casually picked up a watch and put it on her wife’s slender, fair wrist.
Song Tingxue: “You’re giving me something again. You give me too many things.”
In the last few days, clothes, bags, shoes, and jewelry were arriving at the house in piles.
Song Tingxue felt a slight pang of anxiety. With her movie star income, she feared she’d go bankrupt in days if she shopped this much.
“You’re my wife. These are already yours.” Wen Shuyan held her hand. Her wrist was like jade. Paired with the watch, she was very satisfied with her own taste.
“Wife, I won’t be joining you in H City this time.”
Song Tingxue nodded. She knew A-Yan was just recovering and had been asking Jing Michu about the search for Manman. They would close the door and talk for half a day. Song Tingxue was aware that the golden time for a missing person case was 72 hours, and since this case was three years old, the probability of finding her diminished with time.
Although A-Yan hadn’t said anything to her, she could see A-Yan was anxious and feeling guilty.
“Just manage with the lunches and dinners for a few days. When you see Gong Yue, tell her I remember the question she asked me last time. When you finish filming, have her return with you, and I’ll tell her everything without hiding a thing.”
Song Tingxue couldn’t help but be curious. “That’s so mysterious. What is it?”
“It’s nothing. Just about her brother, who was also my bodyguard once. He wanted to kill me for money.”
Song Tingxue’s eyes widened. She wasn’t sure how many terrifying, life-or-death moments A-Yan had been through. This one shooting incident alone was enough to scare her senseless.
“A-Yan, you must be careful. Extremely careful!”
“I will. I’m very safe staying in S City.” Wen Shuyan spoke calmly. “From now on, Yanzi and A-Feng will be with you as your bodyguards. I also think highly of your former bodyguard, Lingzi. If she is willing, she can join Gong Yue’s team. If not, I’ll give her a sum of money to thank her for protecting you in the past.”
Song Tingxue nodded. “I’ll ask her.”
“One more thing. You’ll be busy again once you finish this drama.”
“What’s going on?” Song Tingxue looked suspicious. “Did you take on a job for me?”
Wen Shuyan smiled faintly. “Yes. Aunt Lin, the friend who visited the day before yesterday, asked me. Her daughter is an Omega. You probably know her: Lin Xianglin.”
Song Tingxue: “!!!”
Lin Xianglin, the Little Queen of the Music Industry for four years! Almost everyone must know her.
“She’s also secretly married. Her Alpha wife is a university professor.”
Song Tingxue: “!!!”
The surprises she had received in the last few days outnumbered all the shocks in the first twenty years of her life combined.
“Apparently, their relationship is strained lately. They’re talking about divorce, and Aunt Lin is worried. She doesn’t know how to advise them. She said since you’re also in the entertainment industry, she wanted us all to become friends so we could mediate. Maybe we can save the marriage.”
“Coincidentally, Ji Yun called me yesterday, saying she wanted to get you a reality show to boost your popularity. Now that we’re public, you’ve lost some fans. Many people are cursing me for being a kept man who used an Omega to climb the ladder, and cursing you for being love-blind and foolish.”
“So, I thought, why don’t we bring Lin Xianglin and her wife onto the variety show? Don’t they say many couples reconcile after appearing on a reality show? Of course, some completely break up and become lifelong enemies.”
Song Tingxue blinked. “A marriage reality show?”
“Ji Yun suggested it. She said it would have great viewership. Many people are just waiting for us to divorce, waiting to see our lives fall apart.”
Song Tingxue: “…”
She suddenly remembered something. “When did you talk to Sister Ji?”
“When you were exercising and doing yoga. She said her company owner wanted to invite me to dinner to formally meet me. Then we discussed the variety show.”
Song Tingxue: “…”
No wonder Ji Yun hadn’t been yelling at her lately.
At the film set, everyone was surprised to see Song Tingxue, who had taken half a month off, finally returning today.
In the last few days, Song Tingxue’s official account had released a series of statements and clarifications. Everyone remembered the marriage registration photo she posted with her assistant, and the picture of their hands holding each other, wearing matching rings.
Now, everyone knew that Assistant Yan was actually her Alpha wife.
Song Tingxue kept a low profile. The marriage registration photo only showed their smiling faces, without revealing their full names.
Wen Shuyan also strongly requested that they wait until the wedding to fully reveal everything.
So, many people still didn’t know that Yan Qingqi was actually the powerful magnate, Wen Shuyan.
Luo Sisi was the most excited. “Sister Song, your hair grew longer! Wow! Is that a Patek Philippe?! So extravagant.”
The others had already noticed, gathering to discuss it.
“Did you see that? Patek Philippe.”
“I did. Song Tingxue is usually so low-key. Why is she so extravagant this time? Did that Yan Qingqi buy it for her?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Song Tingxue probably bought it herself.”
“Now that she’s revealed her marriage, they assume she bought it. How could Yan Qingqi, that pretty boy, afford that much money?”
“Hahaha, this is rich. I thought, with her aloof demeanor, she would find some extraordinary Alpha. But this is all she got!”
“She must feel inferior, so she bought a watch herself just to keep up appearances.”
Song Tingxue, seeing Luo Sisi ask, whispered, “A-Yan chose it for me.”
“Sister Yan has great taste.” Luo Sisi held her wrist, examining the watch closely. “Sister Yan probably sold her old family house to buy you this watch.”
Song Tingxue was silent for a moment. It’s just a watch. A-Yan is far from having to sell her family house.
“Didn’t Gong Yue tell you about A-Yan…?” It seemed Luo Sisi still didn’t know A-Yan’s true identity.
“She did. She calls me every day to ask how Miss Yan’s recovery is going. By the way, is Sister Yan well? Why didn’t she come with you?”
Luo Sisi genuinely didn’t know.
“She’s recovered. Daily activities aren’t affected anymore. She’s in S City. I asked her to rest at home. She didn’t come this time. How is Gong Yue?”
“She’s fine. She was discharged a few days ago. She’s been taking care of her colleague A-Li at the hospital. A-Li was severely injured this time. He was just transferred from the ICU to a regular ward the day before yesterday. Fortunately, he pulled through. His girlfriend, whom he met casually at a mall, is very nice. She goes to the hospital to care for him every day after work.”
Song Tingxue smiled. “When Gong Yue was injured, didn’t you diligently care for her in the hospital too?”
“Of course. She’s the Alpha I have my eye on. I don’t want my future wife to be gone.” Luo Sisi looked a little excited. “Sister Song, you’re so brave! They released a scandalous photo of you, and you immediately posted your marriage certificate!”
Song Tingxue shook her head, then suddenly asked, “In the photo of A-Yan and me, do we look good together?”
“You look great! Handsome Alpha, beautiful Omega. A perfect match. Very pleasing to the eye!”
Director Xiao, who was out shooting on location, also called. He asked about Yan Qingqi’s condition and said he would treat everyone to a meal when he returned tomorrow. Song Tingxue readily agreed.
“Cut!” Director Bai Ming commanded. Everyone on the set began moving, busy packing up to end the day’s filming.
Bai Ming approached Song Tingxue. “Tingxue, you’re back. Should we have dinner together tonight? To celebrate your return.”
Song Tingxue, who was talking to Xiaole, looked expressionless. “No need. Luo Sisi and I made plans to eat together.”
“Can I join you?”
“It’s not convenient.” Song Tingxue refused him coldly this time, giving Bai Ming no face. “We have a working relationship, collaborating on this film. But outside of work, you are you, and I am me.”
Bai Ming frowned. “What do you mean? Do you have to be so rigid with me? Yes, you are married, but we’ve known each other since college. We’ve collaborated before. Can’t we still be friends?”
Friends?
Song Tingxue sneered. “Who leaked those photos of A-Yan and me resting on the set? I think everyone knows the answer.”
“Are you suspecting me?” Bai Ming seemed prepared. “I found out about that. It was Xiao Peng from the props department. He took a few photos out of boredom and sent them to a friend while bragging. His friend sold them.”
“Is that so? Then Xiao Peng has regressed. Doesn’t he know he signed a non-disclosure agreement? He can’t disclose any photos from the set without permission. My lawyer will sue him. Then the truth will come out.”
A flicker of panic crossed Bai Ming’s eyes. “Don’t do that, Tingxue. We know each other well. Don’t be so ruthless.”
Song Tingxue stared directly into Bai Ming’s eyes, as if trying to see through him. Bai Ming, intimidated by the cold aura she exuded, felt cold sweat on his palms and forced an awkward smile.
Song Tingxue was chilling, like an Ice Queen—sacred, majestic, and inviolable.
“Whether he did it or not, I can let it go this time. But, Director Bai, we are not the same kind of people. We can’t be friends. Our acquaintance ends with this drama, and there will be no further contact.”
Song Tingxue was slightly cold by nature, but with her stunning looks and clean reputation, she was known in the industry as an “Ice Beauty,” a “High-Altitude Flower.” Privately, however, she was gentle with staff and those around her, rarely losing her temper.
This was the first time she had been so direct and humiliating to someone.
Xiaole shrank her neck. Sister Song was genuinely upset this time.
Upset Sister Song is so cold and terrifying!
Luo Sisi waited until she was outside, then looked at her face. “Did you fight with Bai Ming?”
“Not a fight. Just setting the record straight.”
“Don’t even think about it. It was definitely him. He’s jealous of the good relationship between you and Sister Yan. He did the deed but is making Xiao Peng take the blame. Back when he filmed Moonlight in the Mountains, he was the one who asked you to find that rich second-generation classmate to borrow 100,000 yuan for the crew. Yet, when you were being slandered online, he went completely silent, not saying a single word in your defense, letting those haters tear you down. If you stay friends with someone like that, I’d worry about him stabbing you in the back.”
In the restaurant’s private room, Luo Sisi, Gong Yue, and Song Tingxue were eating together.
Song Tingxue: “Gong Yue, you’ve recovered well. You look healthy.”
Gong Yue looked at Luo Sisi beside her, a smile playing on her lips. “Sister Sisi took good care of me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.”
Song Tingxue: “That’s good. It looks like another marriage certificate photo will appear soon on Sister Sisi’s account.”
Luo Sisi bit into the large shrimp Gong Yue put on her plate, giggling.
After they finished eating, Song Tingxue delivered A-Yan’s message. “After filming, come back to S City with me. A-Yan will tell you everything she remembers.”
Gong Yue instantly became excited, her chest rising and falling. “Did Miss Yan remember everything?”
“Yes. After A-Yan was shot, she suddenly remembered a lot of things. She said she remembers the question you asked her last time, and she will tell you everything without hiding a thing.”
Gong Yue’s eyes widened. “Miss, I’ll go back to S City with you. I need to get to the bottom of this.”
Luo Sisi was confused. “What’s going on? What are you two talking about? Why do I feel like I’m the only one out of the loop?”
Song Tingxue curved her lips and stood up. “I’m leaving first. Gong Yue, you can tell Sisi about A-Yan’s situation now. I can tell she’s very curious.”
“Yes, yes, tell me quickly!”
Song Tingxue left. Yanzi and A-Feng followed her out. Behind them, they heard the distinct sound of Luo Sisi hitting Gong Yue. “Gong Yue, are you intentionally trying to keep me from enjoying my dinner? Tell me right now! Don’t hide a single word!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll talk! Ah! Gently! Don’t pinch my stomach! My wound just healed!”
Yanzi and A-Feng exchanged glances, both thinking, Our leader is totally wrapped around the wife’s finger!
On the island, in the white villa, after a triumphant cheer from a video game, Xie Xiaomo exclaimed, then threw her phone onto the sofa, stood up, and stretched luxuriously.
Lao Qing squatted on the table, eating nuts. Xie Xiaomo waved him over. “Come here, Lao Qing.”
Lao Qing hesitated between the food and his new owner, then decisively chose the food, even turning his back on his new owner.
The butler of the house was a man in his forties, as silent and monosyllabic as her uncle.
There was also a chef, a maintenance worker, and a cleaner. All three were in their forties, and equally quiet.
Xie Xiaomo sneaked into the kitchen. The chef was cooking at this hour, making borscht that smelled wonderful. Next to him was a plate of freshly baked small bread, looking very tempting.
“Uncle Zhong, you’re sneaking food!”
Chef Zhong was startled. “I’m not sneaking food!” Seeing it was the Miss, he sighed in relief. “Miss, please leave.”
“You’re secretly cooking delicious food for yourself and you say you’re not sneaking food?”
“It’s not for me.”
“Then who is it for?”
Chef Zhong stopped talking. “Miss, go play.”
Just then, the butler entered. He stood coldly at the door and emotionlessly asked Xie Xiaomo to leave. “Miss, the kitchen is not the place for you to be.”
Xie Xiaomo: “I was just looking. Uncle is gone again and wouldn’t take me with him.”
The butler: “Miss, please leave. If you need anything, just ask. The Master instructed that since you are here on vacation, you should learn to be a young lady of high society. The piano is outside. You can practice. You can also return to your room to read or study.”
“I came here on vacation, not for lessons.” Xie Xiaomo turned to leave in a huff.
“Lao Qing, let’s go pick coconuts!”
Lao Qing heard “coconut” and, instantly motivated to work, jumped onto Xie Xiaomo’s shoulder.
Buzz, buzz, buzz. Her phone rang.
Xie Xiaomo answered. It was her best friend, Zhou Ran.
“Xiao Mo, are you on island vacation? Are there lots of bikini beauties? Are they hot? Did you flirt with any Omega girls?”
“Do you think I’m like you? Always thinking about dirty things. I’m looking for a serious girlfriend, unlike you, you scummy girl.”
“What’s wrong with that? I don’t have a girlfriend, and I’m not married. What’s wrong with flirting? It’s consensual. We are all mortals, not saints. Show me some beautiful Omegas.”
“Here you go.” Xie Xiaomo switched the camera. Lao Qing was next to her.
“Lao Qing, smile. Like this.”
Lao Qing seemed to understand and gave a surprisingly charming smile to the camera.
“What the heck is that?! Where did you get a monkey?!”
“You wanted to see a beauty, didn’t you? Besides me, he’s the most beautiful thing on this island. A beauty, even old, is still a beauty, Lao Qing.”
“Huh?! Is there no one on the island? Did you go to a desert island?”
“What desert island? My uncle bought it. My uncle said this island was a famous tourist destination twenty years ago. But now, all that’s left are emotionless servants who supervise my studying more than my middle school teachers did.”
“Hahaha…”
Zhou Ran burst into merciless laughter.
“Sigh, before I came, I thought island life would be fun. It’s so boring, like being in prison.”
“Then go out to sea! Go fishing, jet-skiing, water-skiing! Have a barbecue and beer at night!”
“The small boat? My uncle took it. Even if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t let me touch it. He’s afraid I’ll fall into the sea and the Xie family will be without an heir.”
“You’re precious! The Xie family is so rich! Who doesn’t know the Xie family in Z City! Holy crap, you’re basically in prison! I wouldn’t last a day there!”
“I want to go back too, but Uncle’s boat isn’t coming back until tomorrow to pick us up.”
Xie Xiaomo sat on the ground. Through the surrounding weeds and bushes, she saw the butler walking out with a basket. Inside were items packaged in thermal bags. He was heading toward the seaside.
Xie Xiaomo instantly perked up. “Gotta go, something came up. Talk later.”
“What came up? What could you possibly have to do? Seeing Lao Qing’s daughter?”
Xie Xiaomo hung up. Curiosity was surging. The butler was definitely taking food somewhere—fragrant soup and freshly baked bread. Was there another honored guest on this island besides them?
Xie Xiaomo hid in the bushes, watching the butler’s receding figure, following him from a distance. Lao Qing started to chatter, but Xie Xiaomo shushed him, waving him away to play on his own.
Xie Xiaomo didn’t dare to get too close, afraid the butler would notice. She followed him cautiously until they reached the edge of a cliff.
Xie Xiaomo was puzzled. Below the cliff were reefs and the sea. If anyone slipped, they would be utterly dead. Was the butler walking toward doom?
But the butler actually started descending. His figure gradually disappeared over the edge of the cliff. When his bald head vanished, Xie Xiaomo quickly ran over to look.
Xie Xiaomo was stunned. A lift was attached to the cliff face, similar to the platforms construction workers use for high-altitude work.
Xie Xiaomo lay hidden in the weeds on the cliff, watching the butler intently. The lift stopped midway. The butler pressed a button nearby, and a door opened in the seemingly solid rock face.
The butler, carrying the basket, walked inside.
The mysterious person lives inside the cliff!
The wind howled from the sea. Xie Xiaomo’s heart pounded faster and faster. She was excited and nervous, growing more curious about who was living inside the cliff.
A moment later, the butler came up on the lift. When he left, he was still carrying the basket, but the contents were different.
Xie Xiaomo watched his receding back until he disappeared. She waited a moment longer to ensure he wouldn’t return. Then, like a rabbit, she sprang out of the weeds and went to the edge of the cliff where the butler had been standing.
This area clearly showed signs of manual excavation and construction. Xie Xiaomo found a large amount of cement cast into the wall, which looked old.
Xie Xiaomo quickly discovered a cement pillar, half her height, hidden in the grass on the right. There was a glass cover on top, with a red button underneath.
Xie Xiaomo opened the cover and, filled with excitement and trepidation, pressed the button.
The lift descended with her. The platform had glass walls on three sides, protecting her from wind and rain.
If not for the curiosity of an adventure, Xie Xiaomo would have considered this a scenic lift. With the sheer cliff behind her, she faced the endless blue ocean. Below, waves crashed against the reefs, creating layers of white foam. The scenery was magnificent but also carried a sense of danger.
The lift automatically stopped midway. Xie Xiaomo searched the wall and quickly found a black button.
The door opened.
Xie Xiaomo walked in, realizing the space inside was completely hidden. She faced a circular counter, with a row of cabinets behind it, resembling a reception area.
Narrow corridors extended from both sides of the circular counter. One side was empty. The other side had an iron door, just wide enough for a large man to pass through.
Xie Xiaomo stared at the iron door.
Was this to prevent the person inside from getting out, or to prevent outsiders from getting in?
Just then, she heard the sound of people playing cards inside.
“You idiot! I played a pair. She didn’t take it, meaning she doesn’t have a pair. Why didn’t you play your pair right away, instead of playing a single card? Liu Gaofen, you’re so stupid!” A middle-aged woman’s voice shouted loudly and excitedly.
The person being scolded chuckled apologetically. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to play poker. I usually play mahjong at home.”
“You’ve been here for three years! And you still don’t know?”
“Sister Chen, how much longer do we have to stay here? I haven’t been home in three years. I’m sick of watching this crazy person all day long, and we’re not allowed to use our phones.”
“Who knows? They said we’d get a million yuan if we stay for four years. A million yuan! Don’t say anything outside, got that?”
“I won’t say anything. I’ll just say I worked away from the village for a few years.”
The women played another round. The middle-aged woman swore. “Wang Cui, go check! Is the outer door closed? That Water Butler always acts superior. He makes us open the door and welcome him in, and then close the door and see him out when he leaves. Who does he think he is? The Emperor? He’s just a butler. Does he think he’s Mr. Xie?!”
Liu Gaofen: “I’m scared of that Water Butler. He’s terrifying.”
“Mr. Xie is the truly terrifying one,” the middle-aged woman shuddered. “He’s the real pervert. Let’s go check if that crazy girl has eaten.”
Wang Cui went out and quickly returned, trembling. “S-Sister Chen…”
“What’s wrong with you? Did you see a ghost?”
“Not a ghost. It’s me, the Miss.”
Xie Xiaomo walked out from behind Chen Cui, staring at the card table the women had improvised using stools.
Chen Ping immediately stood up. “Who are you? How did you get in?”
“The same way the Water Butler came down, of course.” Xie Xiaomo pointed at the card table. “Sister Chen, you’re getting bolder. Gambling here? Is my uncle paying you to gamble and be lazy?”
Liu Gaofen quickly explained. “No, no, not gambling. We’re just passing the time. It’s not organized gambling.”
Chen Ping glared at Xie Xiaomo, looking hostile. “Who are you?!”
“Mr. Xie is my uncle, my biological uncle. My uncle has no children. I’m his only niece. I’m the Xie family heir. His fortune, including this island, will be mine someday. In other words, I’m your future boss, understood?”
Heaven knows Xie Xiaomo’s hands were shaking in her pockets as she spoke. She was terrified this woman, Sister Chen, with the fierce face, would expose her and drag her in front of the Water Butler.
Chen Ping heard she was the future boss. Seeing her expensive clothing, her beautiful and delicate appearance—clearly a wealthy young lady who didn’t worry about money—her attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. She smiled profusely. “Miss Xie! Miss Xie! We didn’t recognize you. Please don’t mind us.”
Liu Gaofen hurriedly gathered the playing cards. “We weren’t really gambling, Miss Xie. Please don’t dock our pay.”
Chen Cui: “Yes, yes. We won’t play cards anymore.”
Xie Xiaomo cleared her throat. “It’s a small matter. I won’t fuss over it. This island is so boring. Who wouldn’t play a game or something?”
The three women relaxed, seeing she wasn’t pursuing the matter.
“My uncle brought me to the island for the first time. It’s incredibly boring. This area looks somewhat interesting. Take me around. If I’m satisfied, I’ll give each of you an extra 500,000 yuan when you leave.”
The three women instantly beamed. “Thank you, Miss!”
Xie Xiaomo acted nonchalant. “It’s nothing.”
Chen Ping: “Miss, I’ll show you around.”
The two walked out. Chen Ping eagerly explained, “This place used to be a cliffside hotel. There were four rooms here: two on this side, two on that side. It cost thousands per night.”
A cliffside hotel. No wonder it felt like a reception area when I walked in.
“How do you know that?”
“I used to work at this hotel, as the housekeeping supervisor.” Chen Ping sounded slightly proud. “The rooms facing the sea used to be all glass. True sea views. But Mr. Xie later built another wall inside and went to the trouble of cutting small, high windows into it. The sea view is completely wasted.”
Xie Xiaomo’s mind raced. Did Uncle want to keep the inside as secret as possible, which is why he made it so covert? She casually agreed. “My uncle is just a strange man.”
Xie Xiaomo wasn’t interested in the two rooms on the opposite side. She was interested in the innermost room. A thick iron door with a lock was at the entrance.
Xie Xiaomo focused her gaze on the iron door. “Let’s look in there.”
“In there?” Chen Ping looked surprised, hesitating slightly.
“What’s wrong? Can’t I? Can’t I look at things that belong to my own family?”
“N-no, that’s not it.” Chen Ping explained. “There’s nothing in there. It’s just a crazy woman locked up.”
“A crazy woman?”
“She’s a young Omega girl. She’s not entirely crazy. She just doesn’t talk and doesn’t eat. Sometimes she cries all night. When your uncle comes to see her, she goes crazy and tries to strangle him. She really tries to kill him.”
“How did she get here?”
“I don’t know. She was already here when I arrived. The Water Butler was personally guarding her at first. Later, it was me, Liu Gaofen, and Wang Cui who took turns on shifts.”
“You’ve been here for three years?”
“Yes, about three years.”
“Has she been in this room the whole time?”
“Yes. Your uncle told us to feed her well, but she can’t leave this room. And she can’t have a phone or internet. There’s no signal here.”
Xie Xiaomo thought, That’s exactly like being in prison.
The two stood in front of the iron door. Xie Xiaomo searched inside but couldn’t see anyone.
“Where is she? Why can’t I see her?”
“She’s huddled in that corner, there,” Chen Ping pointed with her finger. “Like a rat, completely still.”
Xie Xiaomo followed her gaze and indeed saw the edge of a faded skirt in a dark corner against the wall.
Chen Ping saw the untouched meal on the table inside. She knocked on the iron door, swearing impatiently. “Hey! Why aren’t you eating again? Aren’t you tired of this? Just eat a few bites. If you lose weight, Mr. Xie will punish us. I’m warning you, don’t push us!”
The person inside didn’t react, seemingly not hearing her. She was motionless.
Chen Ping continued cursing.
Xie Xiaomo stopped her. “Stop shouting. Can’t you speak properly?”
Chen Ping immediately fell silent.
Xie Xiaomo: “What’s her name?”
“We don’t know. Your uncle calls her Manman.”
Xie Xiaomo nodded. “Open the door. I’m going in.”
“No, Miss. She might go crazy and try to strangle you!”
“I’m not afraid.” Xie Xiaomo curved her lips. She was an Alpha, after all. She wasn’t afraid of Chen Ping and the other two. Why would she be afraid of an Omega?
“Don’t dither. Open it quickly.”
Chen Ping slowly opened the door but didn’t lock it, fearing that if the crazy woman went berserk, she could rush in to save Miss Xie.
Xie Xiaomo slowly walked in, stepping lightly. The room was carpeted and fully furnished. In the center was the bed, with a bedside cabinet, a single sofa, and a wardrobe on the other side.
Near the door was a table with soup, bread, and a small plate of fruit.
The soup and bread were the borscht and baked bread she had seen the chef preparing earlier.
Xie Xiaomo glanced at the small, high window on the sea-facing wall. Uncle really turned this into a prison—a comfortable prison.
Step by step, she slowly approached the shadow huddled on the floor in the corner.
Xie Xiaomo lowered her voice, bending slightly. She called out tentatively, “Hello.”
The person still didn’t respond.
Xie Xiaomo tried again. “Hello. What’s your name? Is it Manman?”
The girl finally reacted, looking up at her. Underneath her messy hair, a pair of dull eyes stared blankly.
Xie Xiaomo’s throat tightened. “Manman… is that right? I won’t hurt you…”
“Let me out… I want to find my sister…” The girl’s voice was a mumbled whisper from her throat.
“What did you say?” Xie Xiaomo leaned in closer.
“Let me out!” The girl suddenly looked up and roared. “Let me go!”
Rage suddenly flared in her eyes. Before Xie Xiaomo could react, the girl pushed her away and charged toward the door.
Xie Xiaomo wasn’t knocked down, but she stumbled, caught off guard.
The girl had already reached the iron door, where Chen Ping quickly blocked her way. Two thick arms wrapped around the girl like iron clamps. Chen Ping pushed her back into the room like an eagle grabbing a chick.
“Go back! Going crazy again! Eat your food! Ah!”
Chen Ping screamed. The girl had bitten her arm and wouldn’t let go.
Chen Ping furiously grabbed her hair and yanked her away. She punched her in the stomach.
“Stop it!”
Chen Ping was in agony from the bite. She wanted to punch the crazy girl again, but hearing Xie Xiaomo’s reprimand, she reluctantly stopped. She shoved the crazy woman onto the floor. “Stay still! This is Miss Xie! Mr. Xie is her biological uncle! Be respectful to her!”
Xie Xiaomo: “Why did you hit her?”
“She tried to run and bit me!” Chen Ping angrily rolled up her sleeve, showing several bite marks on her thick arm. “She bit me! She’s always trying to run away! Where does she think she can go? It’s an island! It’s surrounded by sea!”
The girl was hunched on the floor, clutching her stomach, silent, trembling slightly.
Xie Xiaomo knelt down, speaking softly. “Manman, does your stomach hurt? Let me help you lie down on the sofa, okay?”
Xie Xiaomo reached out to help her. But the girl lunged forward like an angry beast, violently grabbing her neck.
“He’s your uncle! You’re with him! Let me out! Let me out!”
Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with endless anger and sadness.
Xie Xiaomo was startled. She had been about to forcefully pry the girl’s hands away, but she lessened her grip. She realized now that the girl’s arms, beneath her oversized clothes, were incredibly thin. She was frighteningly skinny.
“You’re going crazy again! How dare you strangle the Miss!”
Chen Ping roughly pulled the girl away. The girl hit the wall with a dull thud. It took her a moment to recover. She leaned against the wall, glaring viciously at Chen Ping.
“You tried to strangle the Miss!” Chen Ping raised her fist to punch again.
“Don’t hit her!” Xie Xiaomo, her face flushed from being strangled, gasped for breath. “If you hit her again, I’ll tell my uncle! Cough, cough! I know this isn’t the first time you’ve hit her. My uncle won’t be as lenient as I am.”
Chen Ping panicked. “Miss, I was saving you! Alright, we won’t hit her anymore. Please don’t tell Mr. Xie.”
Chen Ping was afraid the crazy woman would lunge again and hurt Miss Xie. “Miss, please leave. This is really not the place for you to be. Go play somewhere else.”
“Liu Gaofen, Wang Cui! Come and watch her. I’m escorting the Miss out.”
Xie Xiaomo was half-pushed out of the room by Chen Ping. She looked back at the person inside the iron door, seeing the messy head slumped down. Two tears fell, reflecting a crystalline light as they dropped. The girl’s lips trembled slightly, seemingly whispering in despair.
Xie Xiaomo’s heart was suddenly pierced.
Chen Ping escorted her to the lift. “Miss, please don’t come back here. There’s really nothing fun here.”
“No, I’ll be back. I’ll come back to see her.” Xie Xiaomo warned her sternly. “You are not allowed to bully her again.”
Chen Ping: “I promise we won’t hit her anymore.”
“If you tell my uncle, the Water Butler, or anyone else that I came here, I’ll tell my uncle that you were hitting her.”
“We won’t say anything. We won’t say anything! Please don’t tell Mr. Xie.”
“Good. Deal.”
Author’s Note:
Xie Xiaomo: Listen up, all of you. No one is allowed to bully this poor girl!
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