Zhang Mei stood outside the hospital exit, her mind still distracted by the image of her mother’s frail figure. She had tried to act strong for her mother, but inside she was aching. Her mother’s health had been declining rapidly, and Zhang Mei knew that it was only a matter of time before she lost her.

As she stood there, a black unlicensed car screeched to a halt in front of her. Two men got out and grabbed her, dragging her into the car before she could even react. Zhang Mei screamed and kicked, but the men were too strong. Passer-bys watched in horror as the car sped away.

Inside the car, Zhang Mei continued to struggle, but the men were relentless. One of them injected her with something, and after a few minutes, she felt her strength waning and her eyelids growing heavy. She tried to stay awake, but it was no use. She drifted off into unconsciousness.

When Zhang Mei woke up, she was in a dark, cramped room. Her wrists and ankles were bound, and her head was throbbing. She tried to move, but she couldn’t. She was terrified.

She didn’t know where she was or who had kidnapped her. She thought about her mother, and how worried she must be. Zhang Mei knew that she had to find a way to escape.

She started to struggle against her bonds, but they were too tight. She screamed for help, but no one could hear her.

After a while, Zhang Mei gave up struggling. She was exhausted and the injection must have been some kind of sedative. She drifted off to sleep again.

Zhang Mei opened her eyes to find a man dressed in all black standing over her. The man’s face was hidden in the shadows, but his voice was deep and menacing.

"You’re really beautiful," the man said. "I wish I could touch you."

Zhang Mei felt a wave of fear wash over her. She struggled against her bonds, but they were too tight.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded.

"Your boyfriend laid his hands on someone he shouldn’t have," the man said.

Zhang Mei’s heart sank. She had lied to Cao Heping and told him that Li Chen was her boyfriend. Now she was paying the price.

"Tell Cao Heping that if he doesn’t let me go, it won’t end well for him," she said.

The man chuckled. "You’re quite smart," he said. "But my boss wants more from you, unfortunately. That’s why I can’t touch you."

Zhang Mei’s eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"He wants you to suffer," the man said.

Zhang Mei shook her head in disbelief. "No," she whispered. "He wouldn’t."

"He would, and he will," the man said. "He’s a very powerful man, and he always gets what he wants."

The man turned and walked away, leaving Zhang Mei alone in the dark room. She shivered in fear, wondering what Cao Heping had planned for her.

Zhang Mei felt frustrated, helpless, and terrified. She had gotten Li Chen involved in this mess, and now she didn’t know what to do. She tried to untie herself, but the bonds were too tight.

After an hour of trying, Zhang Mei gave up. She was exhausted and defeated.

Suddenly, the door opened and the man in black walked in, followed by Cao Heping. Cao Heping was an overweight, 40-something man dressed in expensive clothing from head to toe. He had a malicious look in his eyes.

Cao Heping moved slowly towards Zhang Mei. Her heart pounded with fear.

"Don’t be scared," Cao Heping said. "I won’t hurt you. Well, at least not now."

Cao Heping laughed maniacally. "Stay away from me!" Zhang Mei shouted.

"I can’t do that," Cao Heping said. "You see, when a woman acts like you, she arouses me more. The more I want her."

Zhang Mei felt tears welling up in her eyes with anger and fear.

"You’re a monster," she spat.

Cao Heping smiled. "Perhaps," he said. "But I am your monster now."

Cao Heping reached out and touched Zhang Mei’s cheek. She flinched and tried to turn away, but he held her head in place.

"You’re going to be mine," he said. "And there’s nothing you can do to stop me."

Zhang Mei closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle.

Cao Heping patted Zhang Mei’s cheek and said, "Hey, open your eyes and look at me. I want you to call that boyfriend of yours."

Zhang Mei refused. "What do you want with him? It’s me you want. Don’t involve him in this."

Cao Heping smiled. "Oh, dear. I don’t take orders from you. You thought I forgot about that brat punching me? I never forget, sweety."

Zhang Mei’s heart sank. She knew that Cao Heping was serious. He was a powerful and vindictive man.

"Please don’t hurt him," she begged.

Cao Heping leaned closer. "You must really care about him," he whispered. "But listen, I need him here. I just want to see if he’s still going to be man enough to lay his hands on me."

Cao Heping reached into his pocket and took out his phone. "We have to call him now," he said.

"No," Zhang Mei said.

"Don’t test me, Zhang Mei," Cao Heping said. "You don’t want to see how heartless I can be."

"I said don’t involve him in this," Zhang Mei said.

Cao Heping smirked. "I really didn’t want to do this," he said. "But..."

He raised his hand and slapped Zhang Mei across the face.

A loud sound echoed through the empty room. Zhang Mei could taste blood in her mouth and she whimpered. She tried to stop herself from crying, but she didn’t want to show him her weakness. She had to act strong.

"Now, his number," Cao Heping said. "I don’t want to ruin your beautiful face."

Zhang Mei bit her lip. She knew that she had to give him Li Chen’s number. She couldn’t let him hurt her any more.

She slowly took a deep breath and said, "His number is..."

She recited Li Chen’s number to Cao Heping. He nodded and entered it into his phone.

"Thank you," Cao Heping said. "Now, just be a good girl and wait here for your boyfriend."

He turned and walked away, leaving Zhang Mei alone in the room.

Zhang Mei felt numb. She couldn’t believe what was happening. She had been kidnapped, beaten, and forced to give up her boyfriend’s number.

She didn’t know what Cao Heping was planning to do to Li Chen, but she knew that it wouldn’t be good. She had to find a way to warn him and protect him.

But how? She was bound and gagged, and she was being held hostage in a secret location.

Zhang Mei’s heart pounded with fear as she realized the danger she was in. She had been kidnapped by a powerful and vindictive man who was determined to make her suffer. She knew that he would do whatever it took to get his revenge, and she feared for her life.

Zhang Mei also felt helpless. She was bound and gagged, and she was being held hostage in a secret location. She had no way to escape or to call for help. She was completely at Cao Heping’s mercy. She had gotten herself into this mess by lying to Cao Heping and telling him that Li Chen was her boyfriend. She had never intended to involve Li Chen in her problems, but she had been desperate for help.

Now, she feared that she had put Li Chen in danger. She knew that Cao Heping would not hesitate to hurt Li Chen in order to get to her. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhang Mei looked around the room one more time. The door opened again, and this time two men came in. One held her down while the other injected her with the same substance they had used before. She knew that now the worst was coming. As she drifted to unconsciousness, she wondered what Cao Heping would do to her and Li Chen.

After staying for days with Li Chen, she knew he was kindhearted and that he would come rushing after receiving a call from Cao Heping. She just wished he wouldn’t come because she knew one thing for sure: they would both die in this dark, filthy place.

She thought about her mother, wondering who would take care of her sick mother if she died here. Tears streamed involuntarily down her cheeks, and her eyelids shut.

Yes, Zhang Mei was in deep trouble. She was being held captive by a dangerous man who was determined to make her suffer. She had no way to escape or to call for help. Her only hope was a miracle. She hoped that maybe one of the onlookers at the hospital called the police and maybe... just maybe they were looking for her and perhaps they could find her before Li Chen came.