Chapter 38

Dragged and slammed into a seat, Wen Ran couldn't even see the guy's face. A black hood was yanked down over his head, cutting off his sight completely.

The van reeked of years of smoke and gasoline. Wen Ran went rigid as someone grabbed his hands and pulled them forward. He felt rough rope wrap around his wrists, coil after coil, tightening. Then an Alpha ran a hand along his thigh, fished into his pocket, and pulled out his Mobile Phone.

It was that useless old phone. Wen Ran's heart jumped. He flinched back like he was terrified, trying to keep the Backpack behind him from drawing attention.

'Looks young, but pretty calm.' An Alpha snorted.

The other one laughed too. 'Frozen stiff, huh.'

Two clicks of a lighter. Smoke hit his nostrils. Wen Ran pressed his lips tight and forced himself to focus, trying to sense which direction the van was heading.

Half a minute later, the driver muttered, 'We've got a tail?'

'Shit.' The Alpha beside him stared at the rear window for a while, then shoved Wen Ran's head toward him. 'You've got bodyguards?'

'I don't know...' He didn't even have a driver, let alone bodyguards. Wen Ran was baffled himself, but he squeezed out a whimper. 'I really don't know, please let me go, I wanna go home...'

'Shut up.' The Alpha cursed again. 'Takes the bus every day but has bodyguards? I swear, this isn't a setup?'

'Doesn't matter. Our job is to grab him.' The driver said, 'Call upstairs, report in, ask if we should switch locations. I'll lose the tail first.'

The van lurched forward. Wen Ran pressed against the seat back to stay upright, listening hard as the Alpha made the call.

'Shao-ge, we got him, but there's a tail. Should we switch spots... Got it. Don't worry, we'll shake them clean.'

Shao-ge had to be Shao Peng. So this kidnapping wasn't Wei Lingzhou's plan — but he and Tang Feiyi were in it together, so who was really calling the shots didn't matter.

The van kept turning, looping around. Wen Ran lost all sense of direction until the driver said 'lost them.' His heart sank. From here on, he was on his own.

A long time. Long enough that Wen Ran figured he was being driven into the mountains to be stabbed and dumped. The van finally stopped. An Alpha grabbed him by the school uniform collar, hauled him out, dragged him up some stairs, then ripped off the hood and shoved him. Wen Ran crashed into a pile of cardboard boxes, eyes squinting against the light as he tried to take in the room.

Second floor of the Abandoned Factory. One big empty room, smelling faintly of damp dust and mold. Outside the window, pitch black — no city lights anywhere.

Three Alphas had grabbed him — flat-top, blondie, and the tattooed one. Wen Ran kicked himself toward the wall the second he saw them, but blondie flipped him over and tried to take his Backpack. His hands were tied though, so it wouldn't come off.

'Shit.' Blondie yanked open the Backpack zipper and rifled through it impatiently.

Wen Ran's heart hammered. Terrified the guy would find the phone and mini tool kit in the hidden pocket, he started shaking hard. 'Those are my test papers... please don't mess them up...'

'About to die and you're worried about homework? You're something.' Blondie flipped through a couple more things, let go of the Backpack, then grabbed Wen Ran's face and turned it toward him. 'Worry about where you're gonna be sold instead, huh? Damn, this face is really something. Is that how you hooked Gu Yunchi? Or was it your ass?'

He laughed crudely. The tattooed one lit a cigarette. 'Shao-ge still has to interrogate him. Don't go getting any ideas.'

'Then we'll wait till after.' Blondie pinched Wen Ran's face for a few seconds, then let go. 'They can't seriously think they can use him to control the Gu Family, right? Gu Yunchi doesn't even look like the loyal type. Maybe he's already bored of him.'

Flat-top, who hadn't said a word, cut in. 'Enough.'

Wen Ran kept his head down, shrinking into the corner. Blondie's words were gross, but not useless. He could guess Shao Peng and the others didn't know about the high compatibility. Wei Lingzhou and Tang Feiyi might not even know about Gu Yunchi's condition.

That guess was probably right. Where the Wen Family got Gu Yunchi's medical info was still unclear, but they definitely wouldn't have told Tang and Wei. Otherwise, why would the Wen Family get to manufacture a high-compatibility Omega for Gu Yunchi? Wei Lingzhou and Tang Feiyi alone could've come up with a thousand ways to use Gu Yunchi's condition against the Gu Family.

So Wei Lingzhou and Tang Feiyi were probably furious and confused — how did the Wen Family suddenly get so close to the Gu Family?

He couldn't think anymore. The fever was getting worse. Wen Ran shook his head hard to stay awake and gave himself two orders: don't let them notice he's on the edge of heat, and find a chance to message BDH-339.

'Shao-ge should be here by now, right?' The tattooed one asked.

Flat-top checked his watch. 'Something came up in West City. Pushed to nine.'

'Nine? I'll nap then.' Blondie walked over to an old sofa a few meters away, sat down, and pulled out his phone.

The tattooed one handed flat-top a cigarette, and they both stepped out into the hallway to keep watch.

Wen Ran watched blondie quietly. He started playing a game, got into it fast — staring at the screen, tapping away, muttering to himself over the game sounds. The tattooed one and flat-top had their backs to him in the hallway.

This was the chance. Wen Ran watched them while lifting his bound hands, grabbing the right strap of his Backpack, pulling it down so the bag on his back crept up bit by bit, then sliding his hands to his right shoulder and slowly reaching inside.

Suddenly, the tattooed one glanced back at him.

His heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Wen Ran froze, dropped his eyes, and looked like he was just resting his head against his hands on the wall.

Luckily, the tattooed one didn't get suspicious and turned back fast. Wen Ran looked up again, sweating down his back, painfully twisting his hands behind him. His index and middle fingers found the hidden pocket, touched the phone, pinched it up, then curled his fingers to tuck it between his palms.

He shifted his body carefully and quickly tucked the phone against his side along the wall.

He wiped the sweat off his temple, let out a careful breath, and didn't dare waste a second. He turned slightly, hit the power button, ducked his head down for face unlock, then dropped the brightness and opened the messages.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two outside stomp out their cigarettes. No time — Wen Ran gritted his teeth, flew into BDH-339's chat, sent his location, then shut the phone off and shoved it under a cardboard box. At the same moment, flat-top and the tattooed one turned and walked back in.

Wen Ran's hands trembled slightly. Sweat kept streaming down his temples. He was so nervous he felt sick.

Another twenty minutes. A phone rang. Flat-top answered, said a few words, hung up. 'Shao-ge is on his way. Take him to the Wharf to meet up.'

'Shit! Finally won one!' Blondie closed his phone, stood up, walked over to Wen Ran, and patted his face. 'Sweetheart, you're done. Looks like you're getting fed to the fish.'

He hauled Wen Ran up and dragged him out. Wen Ran fought the urge to look back — the phone was still hidden in the corner, no time to grab it.

Back in the van, heading for the Wharf. Ten minutes in, after a turn, flat-top slammed the brakes. Blondie leaned out and looked ahead. 'Cops? Shit, the Gu Family already locked down the Wharf that fast?!'

Fifty meters ahead at the Wharf, police lights flashed everywhere. Wen Ran's spirit jolted. He clasped his hands tight.

'Call Shao-ge.' Flat-top killed the headlights and spun around, but the cops had already spotted them. Sirens wailed as they gave chase.

'Can't get through.' The tattooed one cursed. 'Shit, Shao-ge's side is probably blocked too.'

'You two take him back to the factory. Call the big boss. I'll lead the cops away.' Flat-top floored it.

Back at the factory in no time. The tattooed one and blondie dragged Wen Ran out of the van, rushed him up to another room on the second floor. Blondie grabbed tape off a nearby table, ripped it off, wound it around Wen Ran's mouth a few times, then around his legs. Together with the tattooed one, they shoved him into a box in the corner.

The tattooed one put a foot on Wen Ran's shoulder, pulled out a gun, and pressed it to his temple. 'Don't make a sound or I'll kill you.'

His shoulder throbbed under the boot. Wen Ran nodded, scared, and curled up without moving.

Bang. The box closed. Wen Ran heard it lock, then a few dull thuds — probably the two of them piling something on top.

The hurried, muffled footsteps faded. Wen Ran breathed heavily in the cramped dark. He steadied himself fast, pulled his Backpack forward, felt for the hidden pocket, found the tool kit, opened it, pulled out a tiny folding knife, and started sawing at the rope on his wrists.

He moved too fast and cut his palm. Wen Ran ignored the pain, broke free of the rope, sliced the tape off his mouth and legs, rolled over, and felt along the inside edge of the lid. No lock — must've been mounted on the outside, couldn't open it from in here. He kept feeling around the other side and found a hinge.

He found the screwdriver and started unscrewing the hinge screws one by one. The cramped box was hot, no fresh air. He was struggling to breathe, his body temperature climbing, his head spinning despite himself. Blood from the cut on his palm ran down his wrist, filling the space with the smell of blood.

All eight screws out. Wen Ran stuffed the tools back in his Backpack, shoved the lid open hard, and sucked in air through the gap.

He heard sirens, but it wasn't safe yet. The tattooed one and blondie could come back and use him as a hostage. Wen Ran pushed the lid open with everything he had, boards and all. He climbed out, opened the door, checked that no one was outside, then hunched past the stairwell and headed up.

Just past the corner, he heard someone coming up. A few seconds later, the tattooed one's furious growl from below: 'Shit! The fucker actually ran!'

Sirens were already at the base of the building. Wen Ran bolted for the stairwell on the other side, hands on the dusty railing, flying down. In the dim light, all he could see were his own legs pumping. His ears were full of his own ragged breathing. Mouth open, gulping air. Exhausted but happy — a kind of survival instinct he'd never felt before. He'd never been glad just to be alive.

Alive meant he could see Gu Yunchi. They'd made a promise: next time they met, they'd hug.

He burst out of the stairwell. His legs gave out on the bottom step. A dozen red laser dots and a few spotlights all locked onto him at once. Wen Ran collapsed onto the ground.

He turned his head. Police lights flashed like a sea of fire on one side, sirens splitting the black sky. Someone was walking toward him fast, backlit, footsteps getting quicker.

Police flooded into the building to search. Wen Ran's fingers twitched. He swayed to his feet, staring unfocused at that tall silhouette. Backlit, he couldn't see the face, but he knew who it was.

Too bad he didn't have the strength to keep his promise — to run over and hug him right away.

Half a meter left. Wen Ran dropped his head and crashed into Gu Yunchi's arms. He could hear his heartbeat — fierce and strong.

'Sorry.' His first word was an apology. Wen Ran's voice was hoarse. 'Did I mess up your trip?'

Gu Yunchi held him. His breathing was heavy. 'No.'

'Good.' Wen Ran raised his injured left hand to wipe his face and ended up smearing blood everywhere. 'Can you send someone to a room with cardboard boxes, second floor? My phone's in there, hidden under a box in the corner.'

'Got it.' Gu Yunchi took his left hand and looked at the wound.

'Just a little cut, everything else is fine... oh wait, I haven't had dinner. I'm starving.'

'I'll take you to eat.' Gu Yunchi put an arm around him and walked him back.

Past rows of police cars, Wen Ran spotted flat-top and blondie in the crowd, held by bodyguards. Flat-top's whole side was a bloody mess, like he'd been dragged out of a car wreck. Blondie had two or three bullet holes in his right leg, blood still pouring out.

A hand came up beside his face and covered his eyes. Wen Ran turned back gently, his lashes brushing Gu Yunchi's palm, and closed his eyes, letting himself be led.

Suddenly Gu Yunchi stopped, and his hand dropped. Wen Ran opened his eyes. Chen Shuhui was getting out of a car that had just pulled up. Her gaze swept over Gu Yunchi first, then landed on Wen Ran. She stepped forward, concerned. 'Are you okay, Wen Ran?'

Wen Ran looked at her. 'I'm fine.'

'Good.' Chen Shuhui smiled. 'Let's go home then.'

Before Wen Ran could answer, Gu Yunchi said, 'We're going to the Hospital first for a checkup.'

'Oh, right, let's see if you're hurt anywhere.' Chen Shuhui reached for Wen Ran. 'Come on, I'll take you to the Hospital.'

Gu Yunchi blocked her hand, calm and immovable. 'I'll take him.'

'Alright, thanks then.' Chen Shuhui pulled her hand back, a flawless smile on her face.

They walked around her toward the car. As they brushed past, in the thick air of blood and sweat and bodies, Wen Ran caught a faint trace of fragrance.

A clean scent with a hint of bitterness. Tea.

Wen Ran frowned. He'd smelled this somewhere before. Tea... zzzt — like a current shooting through his nerves. He remembered.

It was the tea-scented aromatherapy from Tao Susu's grandfather's tea house.

Wen Ran whipped his head around. Chen Shuhui was getting into the car, and the driver was closing the door for her.

'What is it?' Gu Yunchi asked.

'Nothing...' Wen Ran shook his head dazedly and got into the car.

Gu Yunchi stood outside talking to the bodyguards. Inside, the doctor started treating Wen Ran's wound right away. Wen Ran held out his hand, felt no pain, just stared blankly into space.

That secluded tea house Gu Chongze visited several times a month — Chen Shuhui had been there too. And she couldn't have just dropped by briefly, or the scent wouldn't still cling to her in this chaos.

So maybe one thing finally made sense — why the Wen Family knew Gu Yunchi's medical condition so well. The body data used to develop the high-compatibility Pheromone should've been the Gu Family's top secret, but Gu Chongze had leaked it to Chen Shuhui.

If that guess held up, the goal wasn't just some simple marriage alliance. Gu Chongze wouldn't hand Chen Shuhui something like that for nothing. They'd made some kind of deal, long ago.

Cold crept up his spine like a thin snake. Wen Ran felt a fear worse than being kidnapped.

Bang — the car door shut. He jumped, then realized Gu Yunchi was already in the car.

His palm was bandaged. Wen Ran took off his Backpack. The zipper was undone, the bag gaping open like a frog's mouth. The test papers inside were crumpled into a ball — barely hadn't fallen out. He tried to smooth them flat.

'Stop fussing with them.' Gu Yunchi said. 'We'll have the housekeeper iron them when we get back.'

'Good idea.' Out of danger, exhaustion and fever and dizziness all crashed into him at once. Wen Ran smiled tiredly. 'Lucky they thought I was just some dumb student. If they'd searched my bag properly, the phone and tool kit would've been found.'

He carefully put the bloody folding knife and screwdriver back in the kit. 'This was really useful. Otherwise I couldn't have gotten the box open. If I hadn't escaped and hidden fast, I'd probably be a hostage right now. That guy had a gun.'

Gu Yunchi watched quietly as Wen Ran put everything away. Wen Ran even straightened his wrinkled collar — he'd been dragged around all night — wiped his eyes and face with the back of his hand, then sat up properly and turned to him. 'Can I hug you now?'

No answer. Gu Yunchi pressed Wen Ran's back and pulled him into his arms.

Wen Ran wrapped his arms around Gu Yunchi's waist, face buried in his chest, forehead against his heartbeat. His tense body finally let go, like coming home to his own safe place.

But he felt guilty, and sad. Why did it have to take a web of sinister plots to push him into this safe place?

If only it hadn't.