Shen Tang had a premonition that the van that was approaching was the person coming to pick them up.
Sure enough, the van stopped next to them.
At this time, there were not many people around. Besides Shen Tang and Gu Qingan, there were about ten people scattered around pretending to be passersby but who were actually bodyguards.
The van stopped, and just as Shen Tang was about to speak, a sack was put over her head.
Wait, you guys are so direct? Grabbing people in broad daylight? Don't you have any manners?
Shen Tang did not resist and let them take her onto the van.
Gu Qingan was also very cooperative. She trembled and asked in a crying voice, "What are you going to do? Please let us go, we have money..."
Then, Shen Tang heard a "slap," as if Gu Qingan had been hit.
Shen Tang was so angry she wanted to hit back. But her sister secretly pulled her, which was the signal telling her to keep calm.
Shen Tang adjusted to a more comfortable position. "Um...excuse me, where are you taking us?"
It was quiet, nothing could be heard except the sound of the van.
Shen Tang continued asking, "Things are like this already. Why don't we chat? After all I can't escape."
"You talk too much," a man said hoarsely with contempt.
"Hey, I'm idle anyway. Brother, how many years have you been doing this? Is the pay high for this job? Do you get benefits and social security? How much is your year-end bonus?"
The man fell silent again.
Shen Tang asked again, "Brother? Are you there?"
"Shut up!"
Judging by his voice, Brother was clearly angered with embarrassment.
Shen Tang quickly explained, "Brother, don't get me wrong. I didn't mean anything else. I just wanted to say, the security guards at my home get a base salary of 20,000 yuan per month. They get benefits and social security too. And they often get imported fruits, hairy crabs, all kinds of pastries to eat. After all I can't finish them by myself." After saying that, Shen Tang smacked her lips, seemingly reminiscing about the taste of those foods.
Although Shen Tang couldn't see, she clearly felt the atmosphere in the car become abnormal.
After a moment of silence, Brother asked, "Really that much?"
Another slightly shrill male voice persuaded, "Brother Biao, don't believe what she said. She must be tricking us."
Shen Tang sighed. "Do you know who I am?"
"I know. Aren't you some female celebrity or something?"
"Yes. Then you should know female celebrities are very rich, right?"
"I know. Isn't it 2.08 million a day?"
Shen Tang was silent. She didn't make nearly that much. As a C-list celebrity, making 2.8 million would be good. But even 2.8 million was more than what many people make.
"Yes. So how much are they paying you to kidnap me? I'll pay double. No, if you mend your ways, I'll also provide you jobs and school admissions. Oh right, I almost forgot to ask, do you have kids?"
"...Yes."
"Brother Biao!" The other person sounded a little unpleasant. "Brother Biao, you actually believed her words? She'll send us to prison first thing!"
Shen Tang sighed again. "Then what good would that do for me? That would just make two more enemies. To be honest, no one's hands are clean in this circle. Everyone needs people to do some dirty work. I've never hired people to do that kind of work. Of course I don't do things like murder or arson either. I'm a law-abiding good citizen."
"The school admissions you mentioned..."
"I don't have kids yet and don't plan on having them any time soon. Even if I did, they'd be going to aristocratic schools. And I have several empty houses just sitting there. Might as well give them to people who need them."
These words sounded rather hateful, yet logical and tempting at the same time. It was hard not to be moved.
Even the other person who had been advising caution seemed to hesitate and fell silent.
"I'm telling the truth. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Sometimes opportunities pass in the blink of an eye. Once you leave this village, the shop will be gone."
"I can't let you go." Brother Biao said in a low voice.
Shen Tang's heart sank. Although she didn't actually expect anything, hearing his refusal still inevitably disappointed her.
"But I can help you later."
"Brother Biao!"
"Shou Zi, are you going to advise me some more?"
"No, I wanted to ask if you could bring me too! We do risky work every day for just a few thousand yuan a month. What can we even do with that?"
Listening to Shou Zi's complaints, Shen Tang felt this matter had a high probability of success.
"Alright, then I'll need you to help me with a few things."
...
Time passed. The van had arrived at its destination.
Shen Tang couldn't see the time but guessed that the drive was about an hour judging by the distance.
It was quiet around them without the roar of cars or hawker calls. With two men propping them up, Shen Tang and Gu Qingan got out of the van.
There was still a sack over Shen Tang's head but two small holes were made in it to allow her to see the surroundings clearly.
It was an abandoned factory. No wonder it was so quiet around them.
Because she had successfully swayed the two men earlier, they were gentler with Shen Tang and Gu Qingan now.
The old metal gate was pushed open from inside. A blond haired man sneered, "Yo, Brother Biao, how come you're being so gentle today?"
Brother Biao remained silent. Shou Zi retorted, "None of your damn business!"
He now stood up very straight. After all, they would no longer be of the same social class soon.
"Oh? Shou Zi you've got guts now?"
As Yellow Hair Man rolled up his sleeves about to punch Shou Zi, Brother Biao spoke in time, "Enough. Let's finish the boss's business first."
"Hmph, just you wait!"
Yellow Hair Man left Shou Zi with fierce words before walking over to rudely yank the sack off Shen Tang's head, then squeezed her chin while looking left and right. His eyes showed a trace of obsession. "Tsk, female celebrities sure are good-looking. Her skin's so fair it's whiter than milk."
Brother Biao walked over and pulled his hand away. "Enough. Where's the boss?"
"Inside."
Yellow Hair Man still looked at his fingers yearningly. He licked his lips disgustingly. It almost made Shen Tang yue* right there.
She hadn't seen anyone so greasy in a long time.
He was a hundred times more unpleasant than Zhou Ershao*.
Compared to him, Zhou Ershao almost seemed handsome now.
The group entered the room. Everyone inside immediately put down their cards and looked over.
The man sitting in the middle looked somewhat familiar but Shen Tang couldn't remember who he was.
"Excuse me, sir. May I ask why you called me over?"
The man sitting in the middle coldly laughed and strode over. "Miss Shen really does forget easily. You've already forgotten me?"
Shen Tang racked her brains but just couldn't figure out who he was.
"Excuse me sir, you are..."