Exhaustion finally struck and Ning Ran fell asleep.
However, she was constantly waking up and falling asleep again.
After repeating this futile action for a while, Ning Ran reckoned that nothing particularly bad was going to happen to
her if she slept. As such, she finally managed to sleep soundly.
When Ning Ran awoke, she realized that it was very quiet. The RV seemed to have stopped as well.
She soon noticed that Ruan Anxi was seated in front of her, his eyes sharp.
Ning Ran was so startled that she jolted awake and folded her arms around her chest defensively.
Ruan Anxi smiled wickedly at this. “You look like a hamster when you're startled.”
“Your mother was a hamster!”
Ning Ran had not slept well, so she felt quite annoyed at having to be awake.
On top of that, Ruan Anxi's eyes were clearly filled with malice and ill-intent. As such, Ning Ran was even more
enraged and chose to take it out on him.
However, Ruan Anxi did not seem to be angered by it. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Continue sleeping. It's not
daylight yet.”
“Where are we?”
This made Ning Ran stop short. Why am I even asking this? Why would Ruan Anxi disclose our current
whereabouts?
To her surprise, Ruan Anxi chose to be truthful. “Gerton. We're refueling at Myerville Rest Area. The driver is going
to rest for a moment before we continue on our journey.”
“Why did you bring me to Gerton?” asked Ning Ran in shock.
“There are only two main passages leading out Livingsfill. One runs south and passes through Springwood which
leads you directly to the border. The other is northwest and passes through Lightspring, leading us to Gerton. Since
you don't want me to take you abroad, I can only bring you around Gerton,” explained Ruan Anxi.
This man is truly strange. He's being very patient and not hiding his intentions.
“Why are you holding me hostage?” asked Ning Ran, enraged.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“I haven't quite decided,” replied Ruan Anxi slowly.
Ning Ran became anxious when she heard this. “Then why on earth are you keeping me captive?”
“Are you captive? I let you drink wine, gave you dinner, and even let you occupy my RV throughout this journey. Is
that what kidnapping is to you? Are you able to move your hands and legs?” retorted Ruan Anxi.
Ning Ran could not answer this. This is preposterous! You're twisting your words!
Ning Ran pointed at Ruan Anxi and replied, “Fine. Since you're not taking me captive, I'm leaving. You're not allowed
to stop me!”
Ruan Anxi merely waved a hand at her, implying that Ning Ran could do as she pleased.
Ning Ran immediately opened the door of the RV and walked out.
Sure enough, she was at a rest area near the expressway. It was currently five in the morning, so it was still dark
outside. There also weren't many vehicles about.
After getting her bearings, Ning Ran made her way toward a nearby supermarket.
She entered the premises and looked for the bathroom. After she left the bathroom, she noticed a phone on the
counter.
“Hello there. Can I please borrow a phone? I've run into some trouble and my phone battery is dead. I need to call
my family,” said Ning Ran to the salesperson.
“This isn't a public phone, ma'am. I can't allow outsiders to use it,” replied the salesperson.
“Please help me out. I'm just going to make one call. I'm really in a bind, here.”
“Fine. Make your call,” said the salesperson, pushing the landline toward her.
In a frenzy, Ning Ran anxiously dialed Nan Chen's number.
Nan Chen picked up immediately. He clearly had not slept at all and was waiting for a call.
“Nan Chen? It's me! Ning Ran!” Ning Ran was so agitated that her voice began to waver as she spoke.
“Don't get so worked up. Speak slowly. Where are you?”
“I'm at Myerville Rest Area in Gerton. I just got off Ruan Anxi's vehicle. He did not do anything to me, but he is
holding me hostage.”
“Yet you've managed to get an opportunity to make a call?” Nan Chen could not help but feel perplexed.
“He doesn't seem to care what I do. He never asked anyone to tail me when I left the car, nor is he bothered by me
making this call. I can't seem to figure out what he's trying to do,” replied Ning Ran.
Nan Chen appeared to be deep in thought. Even he could not figure out what Ruan Anxi was playing at.
What he could be certain of was that Ruan Anxi was definitely not going to let Ning Ran escape. Otherwise, why did
Ruan Anxi bother driving so far away in the dead of night?
“He definitely has a way to control you. Otherwise, he wouldn't let you make a call. After you call me, try and
escape. See what his reaction is,” said Nan Chen.
“However, this is a rest area on the expressway. How will I run? It's even more unsafe if I hitchhike.”
Nan Chen mulled over this for a moment and thought she was right. There was no telling if Ruan Anxi had any
control over the vehicles in the area.
“Forget it, then. I think Ruan Anxi will eventually call me to discuss his terms,” replied Nan Chen.
“Should I call the police?” asked Ning Ran.
“I don't see the need to. Ruan Anxi is not new to this game. Since he clearly gave you the opportunity to make a
call, it shows that he's not afraid of the police. I daresay he'd be able to do something to you before the police
arrive. For now, don't act rashly.”
This made Ning Ran feel devastated. “Does that mean I have to board the RV again with a straight face? Isn't this
cowardly? It's like I'm willingly allowing myself to be trapped once more.”
“He hasn't done anything to you?” asked Nan Chen anxiously.
“Nothing yet. I just don't know what he's planning.”
“Qiao Zhan and some men are going after you guys, but I think Ruan Anxi is a professional at this. It's very unlikely
that Qiao Zhan can extract you from his clutches. On top of that, Ruan Anxi is also very heavy-handed. We dare not
attempt anything rash for fear of affecting your safety. He has had plenty of experience in this, so we have to
proceed with caution.”
Ning Ran was even more devastated at the news. With a bitter expression, she asked, “He has done this many
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmtimes before?”
“Yes. His hostages have never been rescued. He either lets them go of their own volition, or they wind up dead.
However, you needn't be afraid. I think he won't hurt you. Qiao Zhan is also a professional. I believe in his
capabilities.”
Nan Chen furrowed his brows. All he could do was comfort Ning Ran. As things stood, he truly had no other way to
save her.
“Does that mean that I'm dead meat? Or do you mean that the likelihood of me dying is very high?” Ning Ran was
still unable to calm down.
“Of course not. I'll agree to Ruan Anxi's conditions regardless of what he wants. I will ensure your safety. You must
stay calm...”
“Okay, we can go now.”
Suddenly, a soft voice came from behind Ning Ran. Unbeknownst to her, Ruan Anxi had made his way inside.
Ning Ran was so startled that she hung up, looking fearfully at Ruan Anxi.
Nan Chen had already warned her about how this devil of a man had plenty of kidnapping experience. As such,
Ning Ran could not provoke him.
Ning Ran was not ready to die just yet. She still had to raise Dabao and Erbao.
“Someone has been naughty. If you wanted to make a call, why the heck did you need to trouble someone else? I
have a satellite phone on the RV! You could have just asked!”
Is that petulance or doting I hear in his voice? What the heck is going on?
Without missing a beat, Ruan Anxi asked, “How much do I owe you for that call?”
“It's fine. This isn't a payphone so we don't charge. I only let her borrow it,” replied the salesperson.
“Aren't you going to thank them? Naughty girl,” said Ruan Anxi at Ning Ran.
Ning Ran was taken aback. What tricks are you playing? You're a kidnapper and I'm your hostage. Why the hell are
you speaking to me in that tone?
You're a gangster! A demon! Why are you pretending to be the guy next door?
This is preposterous!