Stolen Freedom

The islanders and Xinyi's friends were growing increasingly anxious. Mei was pacing back and forth, her eyes red with worry. She muttered to herself, "It's been almost four hours. We should've found her by now." She clenched her hands, her knuckles white from tension.

One of the islanders, an older man with a kind face, placed a hand on Mei's shoulder. "Young one, it's late. The jungle is thick and dangerous at this hour. It'd be wise to wait until dawn when the light will help us."

"No! I can't just sit around," Mei snapped, her voice breaking. "Xinyi must be out there, scared and alone. I can't… I can't just wait."

Another friend, Li Wei, nodded in agreement. "Please, sir. There must be something we can do. Any place we haven't checked?"

A middle-aged woman, who had been part of the island's rescue team before, added, "There are some caves on the north side, near the cliffs. If she's taken shelter, it might be there. But getting there now… it's dangerous for everyone."

"But we can't just abandon her!" Mei's voice cracked, her desperation clear. "If anything happens to her…"

The older man sighed, understanding their worry. "We'll head to the caves at first light, I promise. For now, gather your strength. She'll need all of you ready to help her."

Mei reluctantly nodded, casting a longing glance toward the dark jungle as if her friend might appear any moment.

****

Meanwhile, Yi Chen's men were scouring every corner of the bustling market, urgently searching for the elusive actress. Yi Chen was sitting in his car, lost in thought, when a sharp knock on the window broke his focus. Rolling down the window, he looked up to see one of his men, his expression tense.

"Boss, this bag belongs to the girl," the man said, handing it over.

Yi Chen opened the bag, inspecting the contents. Inside, he found a Polaroid camera, makeup, a small diary, and a few other personal items. He held up the camera briefly, then set it aside, his fingers lingering over the small diary. Flipping it open, he found snapshots of Xinyi's life. The first page featured a picture of Xinyi with an older woman, likely her mother, taped carefully to the page. Scrawled beside it were the words, "My dear and cute mom."

He continued turning the pages, finding images of Xinyi with friends, at different spots on the island, capturing moments of joy. A strange pang of guilt gnawed at him. This girl had nothing to do with his world. She was innocent, swept up in something far beyond her control.

Yi Chen lowered his glass, his gaze steely as he turned to his man. "Did you find any evidence?" he asked coolly.

The man nodded, though a hint of hesitation shadowed his face. "Boss, I just received an update from our team. They found footage from the market." He paused, almost reluctant to continue. "And… there's something else I need to mention."

Yi Chen's expression sharpened. "Go on. What's the matter?"

Taking a breath, the man explained, "The police officer in this area… he used to be my classmate. I stopped by the station to gather information about the actress, and he agreed to help us. But while I was there, some kids came in to file a missing person report. They were on a trip to the island, and they claimed one of their friends went missing during the festival earlier in the evening. The girl they described is around 18 years old."

Yi Chen's eyes narrowed. "And you're telling me this because…?"

With a heavy sigh, the man took out his phone and held it up, showing Yi Chen a photo of the missing girl. "Boss, this is the same girl we mistakenly brought in."

Yi Chen stared at the picture, zooming in to scrutinize every detail. His brow furrowed as he muttered, "But she had a suitcase…"

The man nodded, his voice measured. "It's possible she's been telling the truth all along."

Yi Chen's jaw tightened, irritation flickering across his face. "We'll find out soon enough," he said coldly. "Let's take a look at that footage and get to the bottom of this mess."

****

In the pitch-black warehouse, Xinyi sat on the cold, hard floor, her body aching from hours of being bound. She felt a deep, gnawing fear as she tried to steady her breathing in the darkness. Her mind drifted back to her childhood, to a time when fear was something her mother, Hua Li, could banish with just her presence.

She remembered being small, curled up in bed, crying because of a storm raging outside. Hua Li had rushed to her side, cradling her in her arms. "Shh, my little one," she had murmured, her voice soothing and warm. "The dark can't hurt you. I'm here."

"But the storm… it's scary, Mama," Xinyi had whispered, her voice trembling.

Hua Li had hugged her tighter, running her fingers through Xinyi's hair. "Then we'll face it together. As long as we're together, no storm or darkness can harm you."

The memory filled Xinyi with both comfort and sorrow. She longed for Hua Li's embrace now more than ever, but all that surrounded her was silence and shadows.

***

Yi Chen's phone buzzed, pulling him momentarily from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen—it was a message from Zihao: "Brother, where are you? Dad was asking about you. I told him you were in a meeting… But you know Dad will find out soon… Please come home before morning. Tomorrow is Grandpa's birthday, otherwise, it will be a big deal."

Checking the time, he saw it was already 2:30 a.m. He sighed, rubbing his forehead. Just then, one of his men approached, holding an ipad. "Boss, here is the footage."

Yi Chen took the ipad, his eyes narrowing as he watched the video. It clearly showed the actress bumping into Xinyi in the crowded market, then hastily leaving the suitcase behind. Realization dawned on him—Xinyi had been telling the truth all along. Because of a twist of bad luck, she had become an innocent victim in someone else's mess.

A pang of guilt crossed his usually stoic expression as he turned to his man. "Let the girl in the warehouse go."

The man hesitated, his face clouding with uncertainty. "But, Boss… she's seen us. If she talks to anyone, it could create complications. We need to make sure there are no loose ends."

Yi Chen's gaze turned icy as he looked at him. "I am not Taijun. I don't harm innocent people for personal gain. Let her go—make sure she gets back safely."

The man swallowed, nodding silently. There was no room for argument when Yi Chen's orders were absolute.

It was cold, dimly lit, and silent in the warehouse where Xinyi sat bound, every ounce of hope beginning to fade. Suddenly, the heavy creak of the gate echoed through the vast space, breaking the silence. She held her breath, desperately calling out, "Is anyone there? Please, help me…" Her voice faltered, heart sinking as the warehouse lights flickered on, revealing the same men who had brought her here.

Yi Chen entered, his face unreadable. He signaled his men to stay by the door as he slowly approached Xinyi. She stared at him, her body tense, her eyes wide with fear. As he came closer, she instinctively shrank back, her voice trembling, "I don't know anything… I swear, I'm not involved with anyone! I don't even know the person with the suitcase." The words tumbled out, desperate and panicked.

Without a word, Yi Chen knelt down, his expression impassive as he began to untie her wrists. His hands worked with practiced ease, his focus seemingly only on the knots. Xinyi flinched slightly, his touch sending a ripple of anxiety through her, but she dared not pull away again.

"Stop moving," he commanded, his voice calm but firm. She froze, glancing up at him, searching for any glimmer of compassion behind his stern gaze.

"Why… why are you letting me go?" she whispered, as though afraid of hearing the answer.

Yi Chen remained silent for a moment, his attention still on loosening the last knot around her wrists. His movements were deliberate, almost detached. But when he finally looked up, there was something in his eyes—a flicker she couldn't place. "You're here because of someone else's mistake. You shouldn't have been dragged into this." His tone was cold, yet there was an undercurrent of something she couldn't ignore.

Once freed, Xinyi tried to stand quickly, but her legs, unsteady from being bound for so long, wobbled. She stumbled forward, her balance lost. Instinctively, Yi Chen's hand shot out, gripping her arm just before she fell. His hold was firm, strong, but void of any warmth. Their eyes met briefly, an unspoken tension between them.

"Careful," he murmured, his voice low, almost restrained. He released her arm as soon as she regained her footing, as if the touch had lingered a second too long.

Steadying herself, Xinyi pulled away, a mix of anger and relief crossing her face. Yi Chen stepped back, gesturing to his men. "Take her to her friends," he ordered. "Make sure she gets back safely. Unharmed."

One of his men stepped forward, looking sheepish. "Miss, we're… we're really sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through this. We'll make sure you're returned to your friends safely."

Yi Chen shot his men a sharp look, and they immediately fell silent. He turned back to Xinyi, his face impassive. "This was a mistake. But remember, you never saw us, and you know nothing about tonight. Keep it that way."

Xinyi's anger flared as she looked at him, her eyes filled with both fury and pain. "You think you can just let me go and pretend nothing happened?" Her voice was hoarse, yet defiant. "You turned my life upside down for no reason."

Yi Chen's expression didn't change, though a muscle in his jaw tightened. He stood up, turning to his men. "Take her outside."

***

As they led her to the exit, Xinyi looked over her shoulder, meeting Yi Chen's gaze one last time. Her eyes were full of hurt and blame, and he could feel the weight of her silent accusation. He held her gaze, his own expression unreadable, until she was led away.

Outside the warehouse, a police officer waited, his presence a small comfort. When Xinyi spotted him, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.The officer approached her, his expression kind but serious. "Miss Xinyi, you're safe now. These people provided your location." He gestured toward the police car waiting nearby. "Let's get you back to your friends."

Xinyi's gaze shifted back to Yi Chen. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, she let her pain and anger show, her eyes red from crying, her face set in an expression of raw accusation. Yi Chen held her gaze, saying nothing, the shadow of guilt flickering in his eyes. He didn't attempt to justify his actions, letting the distance grow between them as she climbed into the police car, leaving him behind.

At the police station, the officer who had escorted her looked at her with a mixture of concern and caution. "Miss Xinyi, I need to ask you for something," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "For your own safety, it's best if you don't speak about this incident. These people are powerful, with reach that goes well beyond the law."

Xinyi's fists clenched, her frustration barely contained. "So you're telling me to just forget they kidnapped me? That they treated me like a criminal for no reason?"

The officer sighed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Please, Miss Xinyi, this is for your protection. These people aren't ordinary criminals. Any attempt to expose them could put you and others in more danger than you can imagine."

She bit her lip, suppressing the anger that burned inside her. After a tense silence, she nodded, her voice a quiet murmur of defiance. "Fine. But remember this—I won't forget it. They'll pay for what they've done, one way or another."

...

Hours passed, and finally, at 4:00 AM, the door of the station opened, and her friends burst in, visibly shaken and exhausted. Mei ran toward her, wrapping her arms around Xinyi in a tight hug. "We were so worried! Where were you?" Mei's voice cracked, her concern etched deeply into her face.

Xinyi forced a small smile, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I just… got lost. It was nothing serious. I'm fine now," she replied softly, though the simmering storm of emotions in her eyes told a different story.

As she and her friends left the station, Xinyi cast one final glance back, her heart filled with a quiet, steely resolve. Every moment of this night was etched in her mind, and no amount of caution or pleading would make her forget.