After falling pregnant that year, she had become completely lost and helpless. She was alone in France and could not afford to sustain herself, let alone consider what things would be like with the new life growing inside of her. She applied to defer her studies for a year and returned home to China immediately after her session of language classes ended. Her best friend, Lin Xiaojuan, though not considered a part of the rich and affluent, came from a fairly well-off family. She was living fairly comfortably, but for Shen Qianshu, she also took on various part-time jobs to support her.
For her child, Shen Qianshu almost gave up her studies. The inheritance from her grandmother was only enough to pay for four years of her school fees and was not enough for their living expenses in Paris. It was Lin Xiaojuan who held her hand with confidence and said resolutely, "Qianshu, after you give birth, take your child to France and study. I will earn your living expenses."
Lin Xiaojuan lived up to her headstrong words and started working while she was still studying in university. She built up her network, and earned Shen Qianshu's living expenses with her own ability.
After returning home, Shen Qianshu started work and was inundated with things to do, whilst learning the ropes and establishing her place in the company. However, as she did not have the means to employ a nanny, it was Lin Xiaojuan who took care of Tong Hua everyday. As she was a manager, she brought him along to discuss endorsement deals and network with clients. It was during one of those meetings that Tong Hua was scouted by an investor to film an advertisement. He gotten famous almost overnight. He was thrown into the entertainment industry and become a child star, his popularity skyrocketing beyond their wildest dreams.
"Qianshu, it's the weekend tomorrow, are you coming to visit the production crew?" Although she was still relatively young, Lin Xiaojuan was bright and capable and had established herself as one of Brilliant Entertainment's top managers. "Tong Hua really misses you. He hasn't seen you for three days already and he's not in the mood to eat."
"Hahaha, you are roasting me right? Where's Tong Hua?"
"He is filming now." Lin Xiaojuan laughed, "He was complaining about Yuan Hui just now."
"Tong Hua doesn't really like him."
"I don't like him either."
"Tell me, out of all my past boyfriends, which one have you ever liked before?" Shen Qianshu sighed helplessly. Lin Xiaojuan had always disagreed with several of her relationships and they had all inevitably ended in disaster.
"Your taste is sorely lacking, are you really considering to marry him?"
"Yuan Hui… dating him is fine, but marrying him, I am still not certain." Shen Qianshu said truthfully.
"Then reject him! Dating is one thing, why are you mindlessly getting married at 25? You still have your whole youth ahead of you!" Shen Qianshu heard the indignation in her voice and could imagine Lin Xiaojuan throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation.
"I don't know what's gotten into him recently, he keeps proposing. He's been so persistent that it feels like this relationship will blow to pieces if I were to reject him."
"That's alright, I will introduce you to some young, hot men. There are plenty around."
Shen Qianshu was speechless.
"Qianshu, you don't actually like him right?"
"I just want to find Tong Hua a father."
"Tong Hua doesn't even like him, what father are you going to find in him?"
"You are right!" Shen Qianshu waved her hands irritatedly. "I will talk to you tomorrow. I still need to sort out all this information when I get home, I'll have to stay up tonight."
"Staying up late will cause you to die faster, take it easy, okay? Bye."
Shen Qianshu laughed lightly then ended the call. After such a long day, she was happy to pack up her belongings and return home.
The next morning.
Just as Shen Qianshu finished her morning routine, readying herself for the day, her phone rang, flashing Yuan Hui's name. Shen Qianshu was surprised that he was calling so early. Picking up the phone, Yuan Hui's anguished cry burst out. "Qianshu, save me!"
Shen Qianshu was stunned.
Fear could be heard from his voice. "Qianshu, I sent an address to your phone. Come quickly, if not I will lose my life! Come alone, do not bring anyone else and do not tell anyone."
"Hello? Hello?" Shen Qianshu shouted twice, a little dazed. Yuan Hui had already ended the call. Shen Qianshu was baffled and tried to call back, however there was no answer. Her phone lit up with an address straight after. It seemed to be a warehouse in the outskirts.
Shen Qianshu stared at her phone blankly, visibly shaken. What had happened to Yuan Hui?
Yuan Hui was a financial analyst and was always calm and collected. He would not have come to her for help if it was not an urgent matter. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she put her phone away, hurriedly grabbing her bag and leaving the apartment to hail down a taxi. It headed to the address in the outskirts.
After reaching the outskirts, there was only a small house beside the warehouse and a large strawberry farm nearby. As they were not in the strawberry season, the whole place was deserted, with empty plots and grey hills, the surroundings cold and empty. Shen Qianshu alighted the taxi and shivered.
She felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
It was as if she had she had seen it somewhere before. Yet, she couldn't remember it at all.
Shen Qianshu took out her phone and dialed 110.
"I want to call the police." Shen Qianshu looked at the small house suspiciously and checked the address once again. She had watched many dramas with this similar kind of cliché storyline too many times to count: a deserted area without a soul to be seen and the more frightening aspect was that no one would be around to hear you, let alone save you if anything were to happen. She would not take any chances. Her voice on the phone was as innocent as a child. "Mr Policeman, I'm lost and can't find my way anymore, please save me…"
"Little one, don't panic. Tell me slowly, where are you now? Do you remember where you lost your way?"
"There is a huge strawberry farm and a small house beside Mei Lin Valley in Long Qiao District. I don't know the way anymore." Shen Qianshu had a voice that was innately young and tender, when she was distraught, her childlike voice wavered and she immediately gained the trust of the policeman on the other side of the phone.
After calling the police, Shen Qianshu crept towards the small house. Although she tried to be as quiet as possible, the moment her fingers clasped the rusty handle of the door, it suddenly opened and two dangerous-looking men came out and hauled her inside.
At that moment, Shen Qianshu only had one thought running through her mind.
Damn, why are my instincts so strong! It's just like I predicted. Thank goodness I called the police!
The tiny house was even narrower inside than it looked from the outside, its interior shabbily furnished. It seemed to be a warehouse for a type of chemical fertilizer. Shen Qianshu wrinkled her nose in disgust as a strong smell attacked her nostrils, the pungent, almost acidic smell permeated throughout the entire building and through the entire room. It seemed to seep through the walls, floors and scant furnishings. Her eyes finally settled on the figures in the room. Yuan Hui and Gu Xiaoli were forced to kneel on the floor, bound by ropes and looking extremely pathetic. Yuan Hui was dressed in an expensive suit but the usual confidence he exuded that was always present on his face, from being in the elite circles, was missing. Gu Xiaoli was wearing a long shimmery gown, her face was drawn and miserable and she looked as though the world had collapsed around her.
A man with a thick gold chain on his neck was seated on the only clean chair in the room, arms and legs spread open as though he owned the place. Many strong-looking thugs stood around him in an imposing manner, arms folded and emotionless. The innocent and pure Shen Qianshu was like a rabbit that had stumbled upon the wolves' den, caught unaware and in a complete daze.
Her boyfriend and her close friend.
"Yuan Hui, Xiaoli?" Shen Qianshu was quite shocked and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What is going on?"
Gu Xiaoli averted her gaze, but shook herself and shuffled her knees towards Shen Qianshu. She didn't care about anything else at that moment. "Qianshu, save me, save me…"
"You are their friend?" Gold-chain man gave her a sideward glance as he lit up a cigarette, revealing a muscular arm smothered with scars and tattoos.
Shen Qianshu nodded, her thoughts running in her mind ly, her clear eyes contemplating her surroundings suspiciously. Firstly, why were they held captive? Secondly, why were Xiaoli and Yuan Hui even together? Xiaoli was her high school classmate, her personality showy and provocative and she dressed in revealing clothes that matched her flirtatious nature. Yuan Hui had never been able to get along with her as he could not stand her reckless behaviour.
Gold-chain man stared at Shen Qianshu. This woman is really beautiful. He had never studied before and did not know any fanciful terms, only two words surfaced and ran repetitively through his mind — Really beautiful! Gu Xiaoli was already a stunning woman, with her head of chestnut brown curls that cascaded like flowing water down her back, she had womanly curves and a pretty face, but she was incomparable to the plainly dressed woman who now stood in front of him. This woman was like a rose, strikingly beautiful with creamy white skin and an unspeakable charm. She was like a breath of fresh air and he found it hard to look away.
"Since you're their friend, help them settle their debts." Gold-chain man said gruffly, gesturing at the two bound figures.
Shen Qianshu looked at Yuan Hui. His shoulders were slumped, his whole countenance downtrodden and embarrassing, but he was beyond caring about his appearance. "Qianshu, save me and give them the money!"
She frowned, lips pressed together and looked questioningly at the imposing man. "What debt does he owe?"
"Your friend gambled on soccer and owes us five million. Including interest that's eight million. Pay up and we'll consider his debt settled."
Shen Qianshu was shocked. Yuan Hui had an annual salary of one million dollars, he was a high-ranking white collar worker and had a promotion coming up in the yeardue. He normally did not have any bad habits, why would he suddenly owe these loan sharks money? Let alone such a ridiculous amount. How would she even get the money? As she stood silent and contemplated, Yuan Hui started to get exasperated. "Qianshu, what are you hesitating about, give them the money!"
Her eyes flickered to him again.
You owe money and I have to pay?
What kind of logic was that!kind of logic is that?
Do you think I am a cash-printing machine?!
Gold-chain man struck him hard across the face and stood up, grabbing Yuan Hui by the collar and hauling him up with his fist, "CEO Yuan, why are you are so irresponsible? Are you even a man? I've given you more than two months to cough up the money you owe us. All you do is make your pathetic excuses. Do you think I am stupid? If we weren't smart enough to catch the two of you in bed, where, how would I get back the money if you two escaped? You better p—"
Shen Qianshu interrupted, "Wait, wait, what… catch the two of us in bed?"
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