Chapter 106: Imprisonment

Chapter 106: Imprisonment

The security captain, who had been out on a stroll and was unaware of the earlier commotion, returned just as the car sped through the entrance. Seeing his subordinate let the vehicle pass so easily, he flew into a rage and scolded the guard on the spot.

The guard, feeling aggrieved, hurried to explain.

His explanation only made the captain angrier. "Did you even check his credentials?!"

"No."

"What if it's fake? Who’s going to take the responsibility? He didn't just take the bag; he drove off with the car!" The captain was speechless at having such a simpleton on his team. In this day and age, it wasn't unheard of for thieves to pose as police to commit crimes.

...

Xu Yun was fortunate to have slipped away early. Fearing an encounter with a stickler for the rules, and lacking a specific destination, he could only follow the direction in which the car had turned according to the surveillance footage. When he reached the intersection, having no further leads, he had to rely on his intuition to guess the route.

Fortunately, Qin Wan'er’s investigation was swift. As Su Xiaoran was her friend, she was deeply concerned and quickly pulled up the surveillance footage along the way.

"The tracking confirms the car entered a secluded villa area in the eastern suburbs. There are about thirty private residences, so we can't pinpoint the exact one," Qin Wan'er said, her tone urgent. "Come pick me up at the station immediately. I’ll go with you. Don't worry about speeding or traffic violations; I’ll explain the situation to the traffic department."

Xu Yun didn't hesitate. He agreed immediately; he didn't view her as a burden at this moment. Forcibly entering a villa complex like that would be far easier with a police officer by his side.

At the very least, they could conduct their search openly without drawing suspicious glares from property management or security. Moreover, the Wenhui District police station, where Qin Wan'er worked, was not out of his way.

He slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the car, affectionately dubbed the "Steel Cannon," shot forward beautifully. Since Qin Wan'er would clear any speeding tickets under the guise of assisting a police investigation, Xu Yun saw no reason to dawdle. Every minute saved meant Su Xiaoran was a minute closer to safety.

Five minutes later, Xu Yun arrived at the Wenhui District police station. Qin Wan'er was already waiting at the entrance. Before she had even settled into her seat, Xu Yun had already floored the accelerator.

Qin Wan'er trusted Xu Yun’s driving skills, largely due to the time he had chased down a Mercedes in a humble Shenlong Fukang, pushing the engine until it blew. This guy was practically a professional racer.

Xu Yun drove at breakneck speed, and Qin Wan'er, fearing she might distract him, didn't ask how he had arrived at his conclusions. Traveling at an average of 150 to 160 kilometers per hour was no small feat, and Qin Wan'er’s heart was in her throat.

...

After Liu Tianyi brought Su Xiaoran home, he quickly tied her hands behind her back to a chair. He was in no hurry to make a move; he poured himself a glass of whiskey, sat on the sofa, and waited quietly for her to wake up.

Conquering a woman while she was unconscious held no appeal for Liu Tianyi. When it came to his idols, he admired the kind who let the girls come to them willingly for photos, and he despised those who relied on drugs to knock someone out before having their way.

Liu Tianyi didn't want to be the latter, so he waited—even though, in essence, his behavior was already that of a pathetic, spineless coward.

"..." After an hour of unconsciousness, Su Xiaoran finally regained consciousness. She opened her eyes weakly and looked around, confused. "Where am I?"

Suddenly, a voice with a smirk from behind gave her a start. "Xiaoran, you're awake? Don't be afraid. This is my home."

Liu Tianyi's voice sent a chill down Su Xiaoran's spine. Her mind raced with thoughts of escape, but as she struggled, she felt the painful bite of the ropes on her wrists. Only then did she realize she was firmly bound to a chair, from her hands to her feet, unable to move an inch.

"Help—!!" Upon realizing her predicament, her first instinct was to scream. "Is anyone there? Help!"

Liu Tianyi watched her struggle in terror, his smile turning twisted. Su Xiaoran’s screams made him feel like that bottom-tier loser he despised, and the shame of that thought made him feel as if his idol were mocking him with a camera.

"Scream! Scream as loud as you want! Even if you scream your lungs out, no one is coming to save you!" Liu Tianyi’s distorted psyche was taking shape. "Let me tell you, every room here is soundproofed. You could fire a gun, and no one outside would hear a thing! Even if someone did hear, no one would dare stick their nose into someone else's business."

Su Xiaoran looked around nervously. The dim light made it impossible for her to see what was around her.

"This is my family’s underground secret chamber. Heh, no one comes here but me!" Liu Tianyi’s voice was sinister. "Xiaoran, I’m sincere about you. Why won't you accept me?"

"Teacher Liu, don't do this. This is against the law!" Su Xiaoran said anxiously. The mere thought of an "underground secret chamber" made her tremble.

Liu Tianyi sneered. "Against the law? I have no choice. I love you too much; if I'm breaking the law, it’s for love. Besides, no one knows about this place. Even if I kept you locked here for a hundred years, no one would ever know!"

A chill ran through Su Xiaoran’s heart. *Imprisonment?* The word drilled into her eardrums with agonizing sharpness. She had seen news reports about perverts in foreign countries who locked people away for their own amusement, and she had always thought them pathetic. The horror of a life without freedom was something she couldn't even bear to imagine.

And now, Liu Tianyi was saying he would lock her up!

"You can't do this, Teacher Liu, let me go!" Su Xiaoran began to struggle, ignoring the burning pain in her wrists.

Liu Tianyi began to chuckle, the sound growing louder and more shrill. "Heh, heh, heh, hahahaha!"

Su Xiaoran felt true, visceral terror. She couldn't believe what was happening. If she were truly imprisoned here to spend the rest of her days in darkness, it would be worse than death!

"Please, I beg you, don't do this!" Her struggle turned into a plea.

Liu Tianyi knew he had achieved his goal. To make someone submit, you must show them the meaning of fear. Once a person’s fear is fully ignited, they will agree to anything.

"Xiaoran, I don't want this either. If I keep you here, your family will search everywhere for you, and I’ll feel uneasy. The only way to find peace is to send them all to the other side." Liu Tianyi stepped in front of her and whispered with a smile, "What do you think?"

Su Xiaoran felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her mind went black. She never imagined Liu Tianyi’s mind could be this twisted—that he would threaten the lives of her family. "No... no... please... I beg you, don't do this..."

Overwhelmed by intense panic, her mind began to wander, her mouth murmuring "no" over and over.

Liu Tianyi crouched in front of her, sneering. "Of course, you can change all this, Xiaoran. Be my girlfriend. How could I imprison my own girlfriend? How could I harm my girlfriend’s family? What do you say?"

"No... I don't want to... don't force me, please, let me go, let my family go..." Su Xiaoran still refused.

Liu Tianyi felt a pang of frustration. He didn't understand what he lacked! Why did she refuse him again and again, even when backed into a corner?

He had money! There was no one wealthier in Hedong City than his family.

As for looks? He had those too. Inheriting his mother's features, he was handsome, and he kept his physique in peak condition through constant gym training.

"What exactly is not good enough about me?" Liu Tianyi roared.

Su Xiaoran trembled, unable to say anything other than begging for mercy. "Please... let me go..."

"Impossible! I will keep you locked up forever! You will live in this basement for the rest of your life, forever! You heard me!" Liu Tianyi shouted. "Unless you agree to my terms, I will never let you go! And I won't let your family go either!"

"Help—!!" Su Xiaoran was nearly hysterical, but she could only feel the despair of her voice being swallowed by the walls.

Liu Tianyi was frantic with madness. "Scream! Scream! Once you’re tired, I’ll show you what it really means to be a prisoner!"

Su Xiaoran glared at him with furious eyes. "I will never let you succeed! Even if it means death!"

She had already prepared for the worst. If the price of survival was submission, she would rather die.

"Hahaha, come, Xiaoran, have some water, or you won't have the strength to scream." Liu Tianyi took a bottle of mineral water, opened it, and held it to her lips.

Su Xiaoran turned her head away. She would refuse food and water. Three or five days was enough for a person to die. If she couldn't escape, she would choose death.

Liu Tianyi’s eyes turned cold. "You think you can just die by refusing food and water? Hmph, let me tell you, Su Xiaoran, if I dare to kidnap you, I dare to imprison your family! You’d better behave, or tomorrow, it will be your loved ones who suffer!"

"No!" Su Xiaoran let out a heart-wrenching scream.

Liu Tianyi flashed a victorious smile. "Then be a good girl, drink the water. Heh, I don't just like your body; I like your silver-bell voice. If you lose your voice, I’ll be heartbroken. Come on, drink it. Once you drink, I won't touch your family."

Su Xiaoran could no longer hold back her tears of humiliation. She drank the water he offered while weeping uncontrollably.

*CRASH!*

The iron door of the basement was suddenly thrown open by a powerful impact, flying down the stairs and slamming heavily onto the floor.

Liu Tianyi’s hand shook, spilling the entire bottle of water. He stared in panic toward the doorway. Su Xiaoran felt a sudden sense of rebirth; the excitement and surge of hope were indescribable.