Additional Inheritance - Chap 91
Chapter 91
Chang Xing took out a mobile phone and tossed it to Wen Xiaohui. Wen Xiaohui looked at the phone and recognised it as his own.
“Call Luo Yi.” Chang Xing said, “Tell him you’re at Nanfang Hotel 8801 and that he has to come and pick you up at 3pm.”
Wen Xiaohui gripped the phone tightly. “What do you want to do to him?”
“It’s none of your concern. Call him.” Chang Xing stared at Wen Xiaohui. “I don’t want to hurt you, but my patience is running out.”
Wen Xiaohui nibbled on his lower lip. He trembled with fear after seeing Chang Xing’s sinister expression. He feared pain and death, but at the same time, he was also worried Luo Yi would be in dire straits because of his call. He couldn’t distinguish which type of suffering was worse, and he wished that he’d been knocked unconscious in the car crash.
Chang Xing snuffed out his cigarette. “I’m going to warn you one last time…”
Wen Xiaohui’s head nearly drooped as low as his chest. In a flash, he suddenly remembered how Luo Yi had a habit of tracking his mobile phone. He’d protested many times, but it was no use. Perhaps Luo Yi already knew his location, and at the very least, the phone call would let Luo Yi know that he was safe.
He raised his head to glance at Chang Xing, and dialled the number. The call connected before the end of the first ring, as if someone had been staring at their phone, waiting for it to ring. Wen Xiaohui’s heart clenched, and he breathed out deeply.
“Xiaohui-ge.” Luo Yi’s gloomy and croaky voice came from the other end.
“Yeah, it’s me.” His heart that felt it though it was hanging mid-air was finally soothed by Luo Yi’s voice. Wen Xiaohui compelled himself to calm down. Luo Yi was his only hope if he wanted to live.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m concussed, but I’m still conscious at the moment.” Wen Xiaohui glanced at Chang Xing and prompted by his look, he continued, “I’m at Nanfang Hotel 8801… Pick me up at 3pm.”
“Okay.”
“Come alone,” added Chang Xing.
Wen Xiaohui could tell Luo Yi’s breathing had become strained on the other end of the line as soon as he heard Chang Xing. Luo Yi replied in a deep voice, “Okay.”
“Bring everything I asked for.” Chang Xing took a drag of his cigarette and smiled slightly at Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui was a little worried that Luo Yi wouldn’t go alone. Luo Yi must have been aware of Wen Xiaohui’s location for a while and could show up to rescue him when people least expected. If Luo Yi was alone and ended up in Chang Xing’s hands…
“Do as I say,” urged Chang Xing when he saw Wen Xiaohui remaining silent.
“Bring the items Chang Xing asked for…” Wen Xiaohui became more uneasy the more he spoke. He didn’t dare to provoke Chang Xing.
“I understand.” Luo Yi whispered, “Darling, I won’t let anything happen to you. Try not to be scared, okay?”
Wen Xiaohui’s heart ached. “What’s the point in saying that? Who do you think is responsible for this?”
“I’m sorry.” Luo Yi said in a rough voice, “You could have had a great life if it wasn’t for me.”
Wen Xiaohui shut his eyes; his eyelashes felt moist. Hearing the sorrow in Luo Yi’s voice, he suddenly didn’t want to criticise him any more because this might be the last chance to hear his voice. Nevertheless, this was someone he once loved, and although one of his strongest attributes was his sharp tongue, it was pointless to say these words at this stage. He sighed. “You should be careful.”
“Okay.” Luo Yi hung up first.
With bloodshot eyes, Wen Xiaohui stared at Chang Xing. “Is that sufficient?”
“Give me the mobile phone.”
Wen Xiaohui handed the phone over. Chang Xing grabbed it and flung it against the wall outside the room. The phone broke into pieces. Wen Xiaohui’s heart trembled. He felt as though those cracks had appeared in his heart.
Chang Xing said, “Sit tight. You’ll be able to see him soon.” He smiled. “It’ll be the last time.”
Wen Xiaohui wanted to stab Chang Xing to death. He wished it were just a nightmare, but there was no indication he was going to wake up from it anytime soon.
After Chang Xing left, Wen Xiaohui had the longest wait of his life. He wished that time would go by in a flash, but he also wished that time would stand still. He thought he was going mad. He kept imagining the end result – regardless of whether something happened to him or Luo Yi, it still made him tremble with fear the more he thought about it.
He recalled what Luo Yi said last time. Luo Yi had asked if Wen Xiaohui would care if he suddenly disappeared. He’d refused to dwell on it at the time, because he couldn’t cope. He couldn’t avoid thinking about it now. If Luo Yi really… How would he react?
Wen Xiaohui imagined a world without Luo Yi where he wouldn’t hear his voice, see his face, touch the collar of his shirt or breathe in his scent any more, where he had completely and utterly disappeared without a trace, as if he’d never existed. He didn’t even have anyone who could help him find Luo Yi. He would disappear forever…
It would be hell. Luo Yi’s disappearance would be unbearable. Even if he hated and resented him, he once loved him wholeheartedly. Luo Yi was one of the most important people in his life regardless of the criteria.
Who could save him or save them both? Why was their departure destined to be filled with suffering? If it weren’t for Chang Xing or any of this, he and Luo Yi would have been so…
Wen Xiaohui couldn’t stop the tears following down his face. The sound of his muffled sobbing echoed in the dim and dilapidated warehouse that reeked of mould.
He felt tormented by the passing of every second and every minute. The room became darker as the sun set, Wen Xiaohui’s heart also sank with it.
It was past 7pm and the sky was already dark. Chang Xing didn’t come to make things difficult for him nor did Luo Yi appear to rescue him, which must have meant Luo Yi went to the hotel. Did Luo Yi fall into Chang Xing’s hands? Was he safe? What would Chang Xing do to him? Wen Xiaohui felt tortured by these questions to the point of going mad.
It was especially quiet all around. Wen Xiaohui’s ears were filled with the sounds of waves in the distance and his own heartbeat. His sense of hopelessness grew steadily.
All of a sudden, footsteps reverberated in the corridor again.
Wen Xiaohui immediately hopped off the bed, and because he’d been in the same position for too long, his muscles felt stiff and he fell to his knees with a thud. Now wasn’t the time to think about the pain. He scrambled back up and ran out the door.
When the warehouse door opened, the man who had been delivering him food for the past few days went inside first, pushing Wen Xiaohui further from the door. “Why are you in such a rush? Some things you can’t avoid.”
Wen Xiaohui gulped, looking at the rope in the man’s hands and the two henchmen behind him. “What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to take you somewhere.” The man drew closer and tied Wen Xiaohui up.
Wen Xiaohui didn’t try to resist, as he had a feeling he’d see Luo Yi soon.
Dragged out with his hands tied and blindfolded, he walked down a creaky wooden corridor and was pushed onto a boat that was rocked by the waves. The pungent and salty sea breeze blew in his face. The smell of the fishing harbour was very unpleasant.
In the end, he was shoved into a cabin and the black cloth blindfold came off.
There were a few people in the cabin – Chang Xing and his men and also, Luo Yi, who was tied up and placed into a corner.
“Luo Yi…” Wen Xiaohui’s eyes reddened immediately.
Chang Xing sneered as he glanced at Wen Xiaohui, “Did you think I’d fall for the trick in your mobile phone again?”
Wen Xiaohui felt as though one of the nerves in his brain had snapped, he shouted at Chang Xing, “Is there a shred of humanity left in you?! Luo Yaya. Luo Yi. How many more family members’ deaths will you be responsible for?”
Chang Xing’s expression changed slightly. “I didn’t treat them well, so they betrayed me one after another. Why don’t I put an end to it instead?”
Luo Yi whispered, “Xiaohui-ge, you don’t have to say anything.”
Wen Xiaohui’s eyes looked bloodshot as he glared at Chang Xing. He was like a little beast that had been forced into a path of no return and completely cast aside any reservations. “You’re the devil, no one dares to stay by your side. You forced my sister to her death, and now you’re trying to kill your own son too. People like you are destined to have a gruesome death.”
Chang Xing narrowed his eyes and replied, “Wen Xiaohui, you’ve got guts.”
“Why does being brave or timid matter? Chang Xing, you’ll pay for what you’ve done.”
“I’ve already paid for it.” Chang Xing’s smile was creepy and cold. “I’m going to play the final game with you two.”
Luo Yi gazed deeply at Wen Xiaohui, then smiled gently, like he was trying to comfort him. The smile made Wen Xiaohui’s eyes moist again. Wen Xiaohui’s only wish was for both of them to survive – he could compromise on anything, as long as they stayed alive.
Chang Xing waved to his henchmen. Afterwards, two people came in with a box.
Wen Xiaohui glanced at the dark metal box. He was terrified.
Chang Xing opened the box, exposing a device that was clearly a bomb. He admired the bomb as he stroked it gently, then turned to look at Luo Yi and Wen Xiaohui. “It’s very impressive. Manufactured last year by the US military. I only got it recently as a toy and found someone to reconfigure it to make it more interesting.”
Wen Xiaohui’s heart quivered, and his complexion turned deathly pale.
“This is how you play.” Chang Xing took two disks out of the box, placing them on either side of the bomb. He pushed a button and a green light appeared on the outer rim of each device. “These are weight sensors. You’ll sit on one of them soon. The program will commence automatically once both of you have sat down. You can leave at any time, and the bomb will start counting down from 100 seconds. If both of you decide to leave at the same time, the bomb will explode immediately.” Chang Xing narrowed his eyes and laughed. “Isn’t it fun?”
“Chang Xing!” Wen Xiaohui shouted and wanted to throw himself on Chang Xing, however, he was punched to the ground by the man who brought him food.
“How dare you touch him!” Luo Yi glared at him, and when the man saw the ruthlessness in Luo Yi’s eyes, he cowered slightly.
Chang Xing waved his hands. He helped Wen Xiaohui up from the floor, untied the rope around him, and took him to stand in front of the bomb. He smiled as he said, “Sit down.”
Wen Xiaohui looked at Luo Yi in desperation. The determination in Luo Yi’s eyes was firm – firm and unyielding.
Closing his eyes to sit down, the green light flashed on Wen Xiaohui’s disk.
Chang Xing glanced back to look at his own son. “Come here, Luo Yi.”
Luo Yi slowly walked over.
