“What about pancakes, American style? I know a place and I have such a craving for crispy bacon and maple syrup!” Linlin was bright and energetic this morning. Finally getting some quality alone time with TangShi now that YuZhi was back at work and life was calming down enough to resume a normal routine. TangShi was getting to grips with her morning sickness thanks to some herbal medications from Doctor Huang and she seemed to be doing better emotionally too.
“Hmmm. Nothing too strong tasting. I can only eat bland right now. And nothing smelly.” TangShi slid into Linlin’s car, checking her phone and smiling at yet another text message from YuZhi asking her if she was okay. He had been checking in hourly for the last few days whenever he had to go to work, remorseful for not being able to keep accompanying her at home. Acting like the world’s most overprotective boyfriend who would have her wrapped in cotton wool and kept in a glass cabinet
“I don’t know what to do. I love him and I never thought I would find myself in this place with any guy. I didn’t think I would ever fall for someone and want exclusivity. It just kills me that I fell for someone just like me and maybe he isn’t there with me and ready to commit. That maybe he’s already looking elsewhere.” This recent lack of confidence and spike in insecurity was a hundred percent worse since they broke up for that few weeks that YuZhi and TangShi had, and it had her doubting everything.“You have to communicate with him and talk it out properly. ZhengLi isn’t the type to lie. He’s very blunt and if he was dating someone else he would just tell you. Maybe she is family? Maybe it really is something he had to sort out with her.” TangShi stroked Linlin’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. Wanting to believe in their love and not take it at face value. Linlin pushed her sat nav screen and prod
“I’m stuffed. What’s the plan now? Do you want to go home or go walk this food off and get some fresh air?” Linlin yawned, dabbing her mouth with her napkin and leaned back in her chair to stretch out. TangShi rubbed her now full belly and turned to look at the weather outside the huge glass window of the café. The rain had dried up, and although it was still overcast, it wasn’t as grey or cold and the sun was pushing through with hopes of a nicer day.It had been a pleasant quiet late breakfast, with small talk and happy vibes. Feeling a little more normal and how they used to be before this whole mess.“I don’t feel like dealing with people, so anywhere that people are not.” TangShi sighed, relaxing now she was fed and a little tired. Between morning sickness and fatigue it had limited her ability to do much.“How about driving to Jinshan city beach? It’s a little over an hour to get there. We
“She’s right back there, Tang.” TangShi had stepped only three feet away from him, facing away towards the rear but her body stopped short, stilling, and she swallowed hard. His voice echoed around her head and the familiar name kicked recognition into touch. She didn’t have time to react, to run, scream, or do anything, before a hand covered her face and her body was gripped cruelly. TangShi gasped, lifting her face away from the palm trying to muffle her. She twisted and managed to dodge her mouth being covered at all as he caught her under the chin instead. Putting up a fight and lashing out, throwing her feet back at him so he struggled to control her. TangShi had always been a girl who appeared weaker and gentler than she actually was and had a fire inside of her and a strength that only came out when she needed it. Survival instincts kicking in. Even though he was bigger, stronger, TangShi was functioning on pure adrenaline and found superhuman strength from somewhere
“Mr. Leng, Mr. Kim, the board members are all getting seated. This way.” The young secretary showed the men to the door of the long hallway of the room that was assigned for today’s meeting and yet ZhengLi held back. They had arrived at MinXo Corp to discuss a plan that had been in the works for a year and taken a half hour to get here.“Yo, hold up a second. I have a really weird feeling that I should drop Linny a message. Something feels off.” ZhengLi pulled out his cell phone, not caring that they were seconds from their appointment because it felt urgent suddenly and he couldn’t logically explain why. Wandering off to the side while YuZhi waited for him, checking his watch and feeling for his own phone to scan his messages. TangShi had left him a good luck text for his meeting and he smiled, happy at seeing her name, as he slid it back in his inside pocket. In no rush to get inside that room just yet.ZhengLi walked back to him s
“Nope. I have a lunch with them next weekend but right now I am in London again. Busy working, what’s up?” Rhea was in the process of having her hair styled for a fashion shoot, sat with her feet propped up in a studio while being tended to by various assistants.“Shit. It’s nothing. I just can’t get hold of them and need to. Don’t worry about it.” He looked up at the ceiling and pinched his nose, trying to curb his growing angst. A headache forming right at his temples.“You sound stressed, what is it? Why do you need them? What’s going on?” Rhea’s own concern peaked, aware that ZhengLi sounded emotional which was weird for him and knowing of the two girls, TangShi would always answer. She had never been one to monitor or ignore calls. Rhea had always found her to be a fast answer or text responder in their days of hanging out.“It’s nothing. I’m in a meeting and they went
TangShi stilled in the now motionless car. Listening intently for noise and trying to make out what Rong Cai was doing. Closing her eyes to improve her senses while still gripping the tire iron with both hands and poised to attack. Her heartrate raising and body clammy with fear but she tried to stay focused and calm although it felt like they had driven for an age and she had no idea where they were now.He had stopped them somewhere finally, pulled Linlin out already, of that TangShi was sure as she had heard the dragging and muffled groans of her on the other side of the seat. Straining to listen and see if she was conscious while he lifted her and pulled her away from the car.His footsteps came back towards her on a hard gritty surface, seeming like he hadn’t walked far to deposit Linlin and TangShi knew she was next. She gripped harder, her breathing getting shallow as her nerves elevated, her face damp with sweat as anticipation clawed at her, churning her
TangShi didn’t respond, her heartbeat racing and her palms clammy which was making the bar hard to grip, but instead kept on with her steady backwards sliding. Until she came level with Linlin and pushed Linlin’s outstretched leg gently with her foot to rouse her.“Linlin, are you awake, can you hear me? Please say something.” TangShi so desperately needed to hear her, even if it was just a groan to signal she was still alive. She looked completely lifeless and it was scaring her that he had done something awful.“Mmmmm.” A soft mumbling moan came from behind Linlin’s duct taped mouth covering and TangShi exhaled in sagging relief. Her head swimming with dizziness at hearing her respond and thanking god that she was conscious and breathing still. It made her less alone in this predicament and gave her hope that Linlin could still recover.“Did you think I killed her?” Rong started laughing, a cackling and man
“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after
“Take it easy, watch the step.” YuZhi slid his arms around TangShi and guided her down the steps from the back patio into the decorated garden. Carefully holding her weight and concentrating on getting her down safely.“I’m pregnant, not disabled.” TangShi smiled at him wistfully, more in love with him every single day as he seemed to become more and more attentive to her needs and never failed to anticipate them. Taking his arm and obediently walking slowly down the steps into the sunshine, enjoying the gentle breeze on her skin of a pleasant day.“Come on you two, I was starting to worry. You were an age!” Linlin appeared, smiling brightly but with a tern stone of an unimpressed mother hen. She was looking ethereal in white today, a flowy sheer gown over a mini dress that was much like TangShi’s, although tang’s wasn’t a short underlayer but a long flowy skirt. “With you being this close you can&
“How about I marry a girl I love and you can cut me off and disown me from the Kim family, so I don’t tarnish it’s perfect name. I’m not doing this today, mom. So have a nice lunch and I’ll talk to you in a few days. I’m busy here.” ZhengLi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, his head aching already and knew she was only just getting started. He had no doubts if they figured out he had a girlfriend, a serious one, they probably did a background check on her.“Love? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a passing fleeting feeling and doesn’t always guarantee a long and happy marriage. This is pure and simple lust because a wild playmate is currently fun, but her loose behaviors will be the end of you. A good pairing is the most important thing. A woman who matches you in every way.”“Well, I guess I’m lucky I found one. Who matches me in every way and is
ZhengLi stroked back Linlin’s hair as he watched her toss and turn on the bed, unable to get comfy because of her pain. Her body bruised and sore and still not herself even after being treated for mild chloroform poisoning. Nausea plaguing her and an infernal headache that was adding to her distress.“I can ask them for more pain meds.” ZhengLi was perched on her bed to one side, staying close and watching her like a hawk, being his usual cool self even though internally he was chaotic. So many emotions about today and seeing his girlfriend bruised and sick and suffering from a concussion. He had the urge to find that motherfucker and beat seven shades of shit out of him for every tiny mark on her body.ZhengLi wasn’t one who normally showed a lot on the surface, always preferring the smooth wise guy persona but this was proving difficult. When it came to Linin, he became irrational and over protective. He wanted to take away her pain and wipe e
“YuZhi? I’m here.” She called out to him, straining an already raw throat as the suited figure of her handsome man came sliding in the open doorway with fumbling steps. Rushing and looking ruffled and distraught. His tie was loose, his jacket open, hair disheveled and his normally pulled together façade was rumpled and wrinkled as was his shirt. He looked like hell.“Oh my god. I’m here, baby. I’m here. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He flew to her side, cupping her hand in his and bent down smothering her face as he tried a hug in an awkward position and somehow squashed her nose against his chest and yet still managed to get his arms under her and squeeze her. YuZhi’s emotions on full display as he sniffed back the worried tears he had been keeping at bay. His body trembling with both adrenaline and fear at not knowing how hurt she was or
TangShi blinked open her eyes, her head throbbing from the impact, her eyes blurry as they rolled around inside her skull and she slowly came to. Aware of her body being heavy and still, warm and somehow relaxed, as nausea swirled and her head thumped so painfully she couldn’t move properly.“Linlin?” She mumbled with effort, woozy and disorientated and reaching out to feel out her friend beside her. “Are you okay?” Knowing the crash would have hurt her too. Only she found she wasn’t sitting forward at all but lying down and flat on her back and there was a hum of noise gently pulsating around her while her hand paused in midair finding nothing close. Confusion rising as she turned her head and forced her eyes open properly.“It’s okay Miss. Lei. It’s okay. Just relax and stay still whil
TangShi flicked her glance back in horror, seeing him come to and hurried Linlin towards their escape.“You can’t drive. It has to be me.” Linlin pointed out as TangShi tried to lever her into the open passenger door.“Look at you. How can you drive like this? We don’t need to go far, just away from here while you call the cops and we find out where we are. I can do that. I can try.” TangShi pushed Linlin in without further argument, having learned the basics of driving as a teen even though she never went onto pass her test. Linlin relented, slumping in and TangShi closed the door after handing her the phone and ran around the other side. One eye on him as she dashed as fast as she could.The keys were still in the ignition, much to her relief and she started it quickly. Her hands shaking, her vision blurry and she took a long calming breath to get her brain to work on the mechanics of getting going. Pulling up her lessons fo
“What are you doing?” Rong barked at her, sliding her body with him as he dragged her out of the car and dumped her at his feet in a careless manner. TangShi crumbling like an empty sack. Not able to keep a grip with the way he had to crawl backwards out of the car.“HELP…SOMEONE HELP, I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED. HELP ME!!” TangShi screamed at the top of her voice, hurting her throat in the process, aiming at the car’s open door knowing she left the call connected to emergency services and praying they would have some way to track the cellphone. That if they could hear her then they would have some procedure in place to find them.Rong’s eyes followed her line of vision, confused with her erratic behavior once more, peering inside the car and spotted the illuminated cell on the floor. Rong lost his temper in instant fury, betrayed that this bitch would try and call for help and slapped TangShi hard across the face to shut her u
“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after
TangShi didn’t respond, her heartbeat racing and her palms clammy which was making the bar hard to grip, but instead kept on with her steady backwards sliding. Until she came level with Linlin and pushed Linlin’s outstretched leg gently with her foot to rouse her.“Linlin, are you awake, can you hear me? Please say something.” TangShi so desperately needed to hear her, even if it was just a groan to signal she was still alive. She looked completely lifeless and it was scaring her that he had done something awful.“Mmmmm.” A soft mumbling moan came from behind Linlin’s duct taped mouth covering and TangShi exhaled in sagging relief. Her head swimming with dizziness at hearing her respond and thanking god that she was conscious and breathing still. It made her less alone in this predicament and gave her hope that Linlin could still recover.“Did you think I killed her?” Rong started laughing, a cackling and man