Chapter 9: Re-tagging

The car door slammed shut with a heavy thud, producing a muffled sound. I looked around in panic, feeling as if a wild beast had just closed the cage holding its prey.

Fu Shuhua sat on the leather seat, one hand loosening his tie, the other casually resting on the steering wheel, his long fingers tapping lightly one after another.

I heard his quiet laugh, tinged with irritation and disdain, yet carrying an air of confidence.

In the dim light inside the car, his sharply defined face looked even colder; his thin lips pressed tightly together, and his slightly furrowed brows revealed his displeasure.

Outside the window, Gu Yan caught up, urgently knocking on the glass. His brow was etched with anxiety, but he could not hide his chiseled features and deep, intense gaze.

“Tiantian! Are you okay? Fu Shuhua, let her out!”

I grew desperate, pounding the window with all my strength, my hair disheveled, my delicate makeup smeared.

“Let me out! Fu Shuhua, are you crazy?! Let me out!”

Gu Yan made eye contact with me through the glass, his expression full of worry.

I shook my head frantically at him, silently mouthing, “Save me! Gu Yan, save me!”

With a sudden “whoosh,” the car shot forward.

Fu Shuhua slammed on the accelerator, the roar of the engine drowning out Gu Yan’s voice.

The car sped off like an arrow from a bow, Gu Yan’s figure quickly shrinking behind us until he vanished from my sight.

I collapsed onto the seat in despair, trembling all over.

“Heh, quite popular, huh,” Fu Shuhua sneered, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “Jiang Tian, how long has it been? Is it really that hard for you to be without a man by your side?”

I saw the raging fire of madness in his eyes and forced myself to stay calm.

“Mr. Fu, I don’t think we know each other that well. What exactly do you want? If you want to find me, you should go through my agent, not… kidnap me like this.”

I suppressed the fear inside me, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh? Not very familiar? Not very familiar, huh?” He suddenly turned his head, his gaze dark and menacing.

I looked away in disgust, unwilling to meet that sickening face.

Suddenly, Fu Shuhua slammed on the brakes; the car stopped abruptly, and inertia made me lurch forward.

The car halted by the roadside, and before I could react, the door opened. His tall silhouette blocked all the light.

“What do you want? You ask what I want? Jiang Tian, do you really think I, Fu Shuhua, am someone you can just take or leave at will?”

“Not very familiar? Just a few days after climbing out of my bed, you dare say we’re not familiar?”

I heard the sound of a belt being undone, my long skirt roughly lifted by his coarse hand.

Fu Shuhua suddenly pulled down sharply, then pressed down on me violently, one hand clamping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Jiang Tian, you really are a heartless bitch, aren’t you?”

His hot breath sprayed across my face, stirring nausea and fear.

I kicked him hard with both legs, but the cramped space inside the car rendered it useless.

My slender arms were raised above my head, pinned to the driver's seat. The scarf Gu Yan had given me was thrown out of the car.

I remembered the last time, the tearing pain just a few days ago, and knew what torment awaited me again.

I closed my eyes tightly, biting my lip, turning my head to refuse his advances.

“What? Afraid now? Where were you before? Hm? T-Tian…”

He gritted his teeth, pressing close to my ear, his warm breath blowing into my ear canal.

He roughly tore at my clothes; the cold air stung my skin as his hand wandered down my neck, lingering on my chest with aggressive intent.

I suddenly opened my eyes, glaring fiercely at him.

“Fu Shuhua, don’t touch me! If you dare…”

“Dare what?” he taunted, his eyes filled with wickedness.

“Do you still want to see the palm of my hand? Jiang Tian, I’m telling you, you’ll be mine for life!”

I struggled desperately but was held tightly in his embrace. My voice sounded weak in the confined space.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. Fu Shuhua paused, his cold voice whispering in my ear.

“Jiang Tian, tell me, where has that man touched you? I want to mark you again as mine.”

“N-No… nothing happened between Gu Yan and me.” I knew it was useless to lie now.

The anticipated pain never came.

I opened my eyes and saw Fu Shuhua had stopped moving.

He looked down at me, his expression complex.

“Tiantian, if you’d been this obedient from the start, you wouldn’t have suffered so much.”

His voice was hoarse; he sneered, fastened his seatbelt again, and started the car.

I remained still, holding the same position.

Fu Shuhua adjusted my skirt and buckled my seatbelt.

I glanced at him sideways.

The still-looming presence made me afraid to utter another word.

The car sped along until it finally stopped at the hotel entrance.

Fu Shuhua opened the door and got out without a word.

“We’re here, Jiang Tian.”

He really brought me back...

I was surprised but dared not linger. I grabbed my bag and hurried into the hotel lobby like a fleeting shadow.

—

Leaning against the car door, Fu Shuhua’s deep gaze fixed on Jiang Tian’s hurried retreat, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Although Jiang Tian resisted him somewhat, she was still more interesting than the many frivolous women outside.

He didn’t mind indulging her a little more.

Fu Shuhua pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Help me track someone. I want to know all his recent movements…”

His voice was low, carrying a subtle chill.

A respectful reply came from the other end: “Yes, Mr. Fu.”

Fu Shuhua hung up and looked up at the brightly lit hotel, his eyes dark and unreadable.

His fingers twirled, as if still savoring the delicate touch of Jiang Tian’s skin.

—

I kept looking back nervously as I rode the elevator back to the floor where my hotel room was.

The corridor was empty, only the motion-sensor lights flickering with my footsteps.

Perhaps because of my anxiety, I felt an illusion of being watched. I clutched my phone, intending to call Gu Yan as soon as I entered the room.

The room card beeped softly at the sensor, and the lock clicked open.

Just as I was about to push the door open, a hand suddenly covered my mouth from behind.

“Ah—”

A strong, foul odor hit me. I opened my eyes wide in terror, trying to scream, but no sound came out.

The hand covering my mouth was rough and powerful. I struggled desperately, but the strength was like iron grips.

Before I could react, I was forcefully dragged into the next room.

A dull pain struck the back of my head, stars exploded in my vision, and before I could see who had grabbed me, I fainted.