Chapter 27: The Fake Heiress of the Wealthy Family (Part 27) Part 2

Shen Ke’s breathing stopped. She opened her mouth to scream, but the man’s movements were faster. A white cloth was pressed over her face.

Shen Ke fainted, her body softly collapsing to the ground.

At that moment, a teenage girl walked out from behind the man. The girl had a rather pretty face, but her eyes were full of malice. She went over and crouched down, originally planning to drag Shen Ke away, but upon seeing Shen Ke’s beautiful face, the girl picked her up instead.

Then she looked at the man. “Dad, is catching her really useful?”

The middle-aged man sneered. “It will be useful. We need to hurry and leave. Shen Yi has probably already started looking for people.”

Shen Yi prepared food and came to Shen Ke’s room, only to find the door open.

In an instant, Shen Yi’s face turned cold. She shouldn’t have spared Shen Ke out of pity for the swollen areas on her body.

She should have ruthlessly pinned Shen Ke to the bed and ravished her until her legs wouldn’t close, her eyes couldn’t open, and she was completely unable to move.

She closed her eyes, pushed open the door, placed the food on the table, picked up the iron ring from the floor, and slowly gripped it tight. She kissed it with her lips. “Who helped you?”

“I’ll find out and chop off her fingers.”

Shen Ke woke up again, with no idea what time it was.

Her wrists and ankles were bound tight, impossible to break free from. Shen Ke struggled to sit up. She stared at the dim yellow ceiling lamp and the dark, unfamiliar surroundings. Fear welled up in her heart, and she couldn’t help but cry.

It felt like she’d been crying nonstop. She wasn’t happy at all.

The girl came in carrying food. She saw the pretty girl sitting obediently on the bed, tears streaming silently down her face. Her fair cheeks were flushed red, and her black grape-like eyes were watery and sparkling.

Her face and body were filthy, and the ill-fitting clothes made her look even more frail and thin.

Her upturned eye corners and delicate, cute nose made her look just like a kitten.

Sitting there, she was like a dirty little cat.

Shen Ke saw it was a pretty girl and couldn’t help but sniffle. She blinked away her tears, and her round toes curled up a little. She wasn’t quite so scared anymore. Then her temper flared. She pretended to look fierce and shouted, “You—you stay away from me!” But the tremble in her voice gave her away.

The girl curved her eyes in a smile. She walked over, set the food down on a rickety stool nearby, and sat next to Shen Ke. She grinned and asked, “Why didn’t you scream?”

Shen Ke turned her head away, her cheeks puffing out. “I’m not going to scream. You didn’t seal my mouth, which means even if I did, no one would hear me anyway.”

The girl pretended to be shocked and opened her mouth wide. “Wow, you’re so smart.”

Shen Ke frowned at that and turned back, annoyed. “Are you mocking me?!”

The girl shook her head. “No.” She changed the subject. “By the way, don’t you want to know why my dad and I kidnapped you?”

Shen Ke’s attention shifted easily. She pursed her lips. “If I ask, will you tell me?”

The girl smiled. “No. But I can tell you I won’t hurt you.”

“As for the reason… well, I guess it’s because I really like small animals.”

The girl’s kindness didn’t seem fake. Shen Ke huffed and muttered, “Who knows if you’re telling the truth.”

The girl picked up the bowl and scooped up a spoonful, holding it to Shen Ke’s lips. “You must be starving. Let me feed you.”

Shen Ke glanced at it—big shrimp. She turned her head away, acting all dainty. “I don’t want it. You didn’t peel the shells!”

The girl froze for a second, then burst out laughing. “You’re so cute. I’ve never seen anyone stay this calm and composed after being kidnapped.”

Shen Ke blinked and furrowed her brow. She stared straight at the girl. “I believe you when you say you won’t hurt me.”

The girl’s smile vanished. She stood up, her face darkening. “I lied.” With that, she turned and left.

Shen Ke pouted and grumbled, “Liar.”

A little while later, the girl came back. This time, she carried a bowl of shrimp meat that had been perfectly peeled clean.

Her face was expressionless now, a bit gloomy. She scooped up a spoonful and held it to Shen Ke’s mouth, just like before. “Eat.”

Shen Ke snorted. “Liar!” But she parted her lips and ate it in small bites.

Seeing Shen Ke eat so obediently made the girl curve her eyes in a smile again. She caught herself and quickly schooled her expression.

The girl left, leaving Shen Ke alone.

Shen Ke let out a tiny yawn and lay down on the bed. With her hands and feet bound, it was uncomfortable, but she was exhausted. She fell asleep in no time.

Shen Ke had a big heart—she slept soundly, completely unaware that someone was going insane trying to find her.

The city at night was ablaze with light. Neon signs flashed brilliantly, proclaiming its prosperity.

Shen Yi’s eyes were bloodshot. She had one last place to check: Shen Ke’s rental apartment.

When she arrived, the door was ajar. Shen Yi gripped the handle and shoved it open.

Feng Jian stood in the living room.

She turned slowly. The lights were off, and moonlight filtered in through the window, casting flickering, ethereal shadows over her.

Feng Jian’s pupils were pitch black, not vacant, but her whole body radiated a deathly stillness.

She blinked slowly, and tears slid from the corner of her eye. Her voice was hoarse and halting. “Why… why did you… let her… get lost?”

Her influence had grown. She’d gotten the news right away when Shen Yi mobilized her connections to search for Shen Ke.

“Shen Yi… you deserve to die.” Feng Jian said it woodenly.

Her bangs had grown out again, half-covering her eyes. A chilling aura rolled off her.

Shen Yi covered her face and raked her hands through her hair, pulling it back. Her narrow eyes were ice-cold. She had no time for Feng Jian—every second was precious.

Shen Yi turned to leave.

“Give me your shares. I’ll mobilize… the entire Shen Family forces.”

“I have… Shen Madam’s—Shen Mister’s… and Shen Yu’s.”

Shen Yi stopped and glanced back slightly. “Fine.” She truly couldn’t touch the Shen Family’s power anymore—not since she’d been exiled abroad.

She didn’t care about the money. She only cared about Shen Ke.

The sooner they found Shen Ke, the safer she’d be.

The wild emotions in her heart were buried under worry. She was going mad. If she didn’t see Shen Ke soon, she really wouldn’t be able to control herself.

It all happened at breakneck speed: share transfers, board meetings, and more—all wrapped up before dawn the next day.

The Shen Corporation underwent a massive shake-up.

And Feng Jian’s first order of business upon taking over? Mobilize every connection to find Shen Ke.

In the hospital, Shi Xu slowly opened her eyes. As soon as her awareness returned, she yanked the IV tube from the back of her hand and scrambled out of bed in a panic. Her body was too weak, though, and the moment her feet hit the floor, she collapsed with a loud thud.

“Baby, wait for me. I’ll come find you.” Her hoarse voice was barely intelligible.

Shi Xu braced her palms on the ground and crawled back up. “Baby, don’t be scared. I’ll come find you soon.”

Baby had been taken away—by that old woman. She had to go get her back.

Bang! Another crash. This time, she’d tripped over a chair leg. The chair toppled with her.

A nurse rushed in and hurried to help her up, trying to get her back into bed. But Shi Xu struggled fiercely. “Let me go! Baby’s waiting for me!”

Shi Xu’s eyes were red, blood trickling from her arm. Her disheveled state made the nurse frown. “Miss, no matter what you want to do, you need to take care of your body first!”

Shi Xu acted like she couldn’t hear. She kept thrashing. “I have to go find Baby! She must be so scared! Let me go! Let me go right now!” What if that person hurt Baby out of jealousy? Why had she passed out? If only she’d been stronger…

Shi Xu was delirious. The nurse’s brow furrowed. “Miss, get back in bed. We’ll check you over again.”

Another nurse arrived to help restrain her. Together, they wrestled Shi Xu onto the bed.

But Shi Xu wouldn’t settle. She thrashed wildly, calling for Baby over and over.

The two nurses exchanged a glance. “Call Dr. Li. The patient’s lost it.”

Shen Ke was jolted awake by the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. She blinked her eyes groggily and looked toward the noise. A person lay sprawled there.

Her vision focused bit by bit. When she finally made out who it was, her eyes flew wide. “M-Mama.”

Shen Mother whipped her head around at the sound, her gaze sharpening. She saw Shen Ke, hands and feet bound.

She frowned and rasped, “Shen Ke, how did you end up kidnapped?”

Shen Ke had rested overnight and had more energy now. She struggled off the bed and hopped over to Shen Mother’s side. “I woke up here.”

Shen Mother’s face was stern. She was dirty and disheveled all over, but it did nothing to diminish her imposing presence.

“What are they after? Kidnapping you too.” She’d been so furious she’d ended up in the hospital.

When she woke to news about the Shen Corporation, she’d spat up blood.

Her husband was capable but not enough. Shen Yi was a lunatic she couldn’t count on. Shen Yu knew nothing about business. And now she was laid up in the hospital.

If she couldn’t handle it quickly, the other shareholders would use it to oust her.

That’s when Feng Jian showed up and promised to take care of everything—with one condition. She and her husband had to hand over their shares.

Shen Mother nodded. If Feng Jian could fix it that fast, she had what it took for the position.

Then overnight, the Shen Corporation’s stock rebounded. Shen Mother had no idea how Feng Jian pulled it off, but she had to keep her word.

Relieved, she’d focused on recovering in the hospital. While walking in the garden, someone ambushed her. She woke up here.

The sound of a door opening cut through Shen Mother’s thoughts.

She turned to look. A weathered middle-aged man stood in the doorway.

Shen Mother’s brows knitted tight. “You!”

The middle-aged man chuckled. “Me.” He stepped forward, closing in on them.

Shen Ke was terrified of the man. The difference in size and strength was too vast.

But seeing Shen Mother in her hospital gown, fine lines at the corners of her eyes, Shen Ke gritted her teeth. She hopped forward to block her and bared her teeth at the man. “You stay back!”

Her two little tiger teeth were sharp, but they made her look cute, not fierce.

Shen Ke didn’t realize it. She thought she looked scary, especially since the man had stopped moving.

She growled menacingly. “If you come any closer, I’ll bite you to death!” It was ridiculous, but it was the only “attack” she could think of right now.

Shen Mother stared at the slender back in front of her, her heart aching. She’d never been good to Shen Ke—in fact, she’d been downright awful. Yet here, Shen Ke bravely stood guard over her.

Even her hands trembled behind her back.

Shen Ke was scared too.

Shen Mother’s heart trembled. Maybe she’d gotten it wrong from the very start.

【Ding! Congratulations, Tasker 56417. Newbie World Mission completed. Detach from this world? Yes or no.】

The mission completion chime rang suddenly in Shen Ke’s mind. She was surprised—it had finished out of nowhere. The System hadn’t lied; if she just waited, tasks completed themselves.

But this wasn’t a good time. Shen Ke frowned in distress.

She wanted to leave right away, but Shen Mother was still here. The woman hadn’t been kind to her, but she was a life all the same.

Ugh, so annoying!

In the end, Shen Ke selected no.

【Ding! Tasker 56417 has refused. Next detachment prompt in three days. Please stay alert.】

Her mind was a mess. Shen Ke closed her eyes, puffed out her chest bravely, and threatened, “I’m warning you! She’s the CEO of the Shen Group! You better let her go right now! Otherwise, when her daughters show up, you won’t be able to run!”

The middle-aged man sneered repeatedly. “I never planned to run. I want her kids to watch while I take their mom to her death.”