Daddy CEO's Beloved Wife-Chapter 589: Underwater

The room was too clean, which was the first thing Ran Xueyi noticed.

The soft golden light softly brightened the room, the thick carpet muted their footsteps as they padded around in it, and the mirror reflected her and the woman.

Ran Xueyu stared at the mirror for a bit longer. For the past few days, she had been kept and starved; her body showed slight changes. Her skin has become paler, the skin under her eyes darker, and her lips drier.

The woman who had bathed her stepped back, eyes cold and professional. She said nothing more after the warning. She did not argue when Ran Xueyi refused to touch the dress, waiting and staring at her as if she had expected this. But she also knew that Ran Xueyi would soon understand that resistance here would not result in anything but punishment and more torment.

The consequences of disobedience were something that the woman would not even dare think of.

She was sure that Ran Xueyi would soon find out why challenging their masters would be a nightmare.

Before another word could be exchanged, the door suddenly opened.

Ran Xueyi's gaze flew to the door instantly.

The sound of a cane tapping against the floor echoed first. Each step was slow and deliberate.

The woman immediately bowed/

Ran Xueyi raised her head.

The man who entered did not look monstrous.

That perhaps was the most terrifying part.

He was tall. Hair streaked with silver, neatly combed back. He looked slightly older than Ran Xueyi. Perhaps, a couple of years. Not too old as she had initially suspected. His eyes were sharp, dark, and unsettlingly calm.

He leaned on his cane, gaze sweeping over the room. He paused slightly at the woman, who bowed her head even lower. Then, at the dress lying untouched and unworn on the bed.

Finally, he settled his eyes on Ran Xueyi.

And when it did—

Ran Xueyi felt it.

Authority.

A man who had authority over others. She had seen and met other men who spoke and acted with the authority they had over people. Her father was one. Her grandfather was another. And Old Patriarch Song showed a stronger sense of authority.

And if these three men had become one person, it would turn out to be the man in front of her.

He demanded authority. He knew it was his. Ownership was natural to him, as if he knew the world belonged to him.

And instinctively, people would show fear and cower before him.

Ran Xueyi's fingers curled into the towel.

Not from fear, but apprehension.

But Ran Xueyi did not know that the reason she didn't feel fear in front of this man was that she had been constantly exposed to another kind of authority. Song Yu Han did not need to exercise his dominance over other people. He was naturally dominating.

"Why is she not dressed yet?" the man asked, his voice low and rough, like gravel.

The woman standing on the side answered, "She refuses to wear it, Your Excellence."

"Oh?" the man uttered in an amused tone.

The man took a few steps closer, stopping just outside her reach. He did not touch her. He just looked.

"You must be wondering why you're here?"

Ran Xueyi said nothing.

She stared back at him.

The man smiled faintly as he said, "Not willing to speak? But you should. After all, things would be slightly better for you if you were a bit amenable."

"I don't see the point," Ran Xueyi replied at last. "Whether I submit or not, you would still do as you have planned for me."

The woman behind him stiffened, not expecting her to talk back.

But the man laughed unexpectedly.

That same amused sound.

"Ah," he said. "You're not wrong. I have splendid plans ahead for your future."

He gestured lazily with his cane. "Put on the dress."

"No."

The word fell instantly.

The man's smile did not disappear from his lips. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Instead, his eyes grew darker.

"You misunderstand," he told her quietly. "That wasn't a request."

Ran Xueyi stubbornly met his gaze, refusing to look away. "Then you misunderstand something, too."

The man stared at her.

"If you wanted obedience," Ran Xueyi continued. "You shouldn't have brought me here alive."

For the first time, something flickered across his expression.

He didn't fly into anger. But he stepped closer. Close enough now that Ran Xueyi could smell the faint hint of tobacco from him.

"You'll have what you want."

He locked his eyes onto hers.

"But for now, don't think you're a person."

He straightened and turned slightly. "I heard you escaped when you were younger. I wonder if you still can escape now that you're a bit older and more beautiful?"

Her jaw tightened.

The door behind them opened again. Footsteps followed as several figures appeared.

Ran Xueyi kept her gaze on the man who had started to walk away.

"The Feast is about to begin," he said pleasantly. "And tonight, you will not attend as a guest."

He turned before the door to look at Ran Xueyi one more time.

His smile became wider this time.

"You're the main event."

…

Song Yu Han moved across the ship without being detected.

However, wherever he went, he still couldn't find where Ran Xueyi was located or where they had taken her.

Time was running out.

Where the hell is she?

Song Yu Han frowned as his heart squeezed with unease.

The radio crackled again at his side at this time.

"Escort the goods to the holding corridor. Auction begins in ten."

He instantly clenched his jaw.

He wanted to speak on the radio to find out exactly where they were holding Ran Xueyi. But that would give him away.

….

Cao Yujin sat stiffly beside her grandfather. Her attention was elsewhere as he spoke on her side. She had been thinking about the figure she saw earlier, wondering if she hadn't seen it wrong. However, lacking any evidence that Song Yu Han was here, Cao Yujin could only give up on her search for him.

Old Patriarch Cao patted her clasped hands and said to the elderly man he had been talking to earlier. "This is my granddaughter, Cao Yujin. She graduated in business administration and studied at one of the Ivy League schools."

"What a beautiful granddaughter you have, Mr. Cao." The elderly man, whom Cao Yujin learned to be Park Daniel, was a huge old tycoon in Korea.

Old Patriarch Cao didn't refuse the compliments and nodded in agreement.

He turned to the left side of Cao Yujin and said, "And this is Percy Voron. He is a member of An Hun and my soon-to-be grandson-in-law."

Hearing the name An Hun, Park Daniel turned to give Percy a careful look.

An Hun was a fearsome force in the Underworld as one of the top three assassin organizations. Old Patriarch Cao did not say any more, but Park Daniel knew that something more must be behind Percy's background for him to be able to get into this place.

Park Daniel greeted Percy amiably. Having a connection with An Hun would be better for him.

Cao Yujin felt uncomfortable being ignored, but what unsettled her more was the fact that Percy was getting more attention than she was.

But Cao Yujin didn't linger on this thought as the lights suddenly dimmed.

The spotlight suddenly focused on the stage, and two people came out with microphones in their hands.

The two greeted everyone and congratulated them on being the chosen guests. After a couple more words, the male MC finally gestured with his hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the host announced. "We'll now start the most-awaited event."