For our Lunar New Year trip, my girlfriend, Sarah, booked us on an international tour. As soon as the plane touched down, she coaxed me onto a shuttle bus. We drove for two days and two nights. As the scenery became eerily familiar, my body started to tremble uncontrollably. This was the very hellhole I had escaped from four years ago. Sensing my panic, Sarah finally dropped the act. Her face twisted into a mask of cruelty as she told me she was selling me to a black-market factory run entirely by women. And the "Boss" she spoke of with such reverence? That was the head of the operation. My biological sister. I had spent twenty years planning my fake death to escape her clutches. I never imagined Sarah would be the one to drag me back. 1 Seeing me shake like a leaf, Sarah smiled—a gentle, terrifying smile. "Babe, didn't you say you loved me? I owe a huge gambling debt. Just help me out, okay?" The thought of falling back into my sister's hands made my voice quake. "Please... take me back. If you need money, I can give it to you! I'll work, I'll do anything to support you for the rest of my life!" Sarah's expression darkened instantly. She spat out her words. "Do you think I have time to wait? I owe a fortune. If I don't pay up in three days, they'll kill me!" "I've supported you, you useless loser, for two years. It's time you paid me back with interest!" Hearing her call me "useless" sent a fresh wave of terror through me. Years ago, one of my sister's subordinates had called me useless behind my back because I wouldn't crush an ant. My sister buried him in the dirt up to his neck, poured honey over his head, and let the ants eat him alive. If she heard Sarah talk to me like this, what would she do to her? Fear clawed at my throat as I looked at the woman I had loved for two years. Tears streamed down my face, unbidden. "You said we were going to build a home together. You said I was your favorite family..." Sarah’s warm hand caressed my cheek. Her words, however, were ice cold. "Exactly. Family helps family, right? So help me, babe." I bit my lip and shook my head violently. A flicker of pity crossed Sarah's eyes. "You know, you look so pathetic when you cry. It tugs at my heartstrings." "You're the most handsome boyfriend I've ever had. And the most naive." "If I wasn't so desperate for cash, I'd almost hate to sell you." Her gaze hardened suddenly. "But you're mine. I can't stand the thought of other women touching you like that!" She lunged, pinning me to the floor of the bus. She pulled out a rope and bound my hands behind my back. Then, she drew a dagger from her pocket and waved it in front of my face. "Babe, you don't want to be used by other women, do you? Let me help you with that." The blade glinted. A line of fire seared across my cheek. "No!" I screamed in despair. My face... my sister was obsessed with my face! When I was a child, I knocked over boiling water and scalded my cheek. When the doctor said it might scar, my sister had the maid’s hands chopped off and threw her into a crocodile pit. She threatened to peel the doctor's face off if he didn't fix mine. She said I looked just like our dead father. My face was sacrosanct. Sarah had cut me. If my sister found out... I couldn't think about it. I ignored the stinging pain. "Please! Don't ruin my face!" Sarah laughed. "I already asked Red. She said men in the factory don't need looks. As long as the machinery works, they're good." 2 Red? Could it be the same Red who joined the factory four years ago? Before I could process this, Sarah slashed my face again. Agony stole my voice. Blood ran into my eyes, turning the world red. "I know Red! Take me to her, please!" If Red saw me, she would force Sarah to take me back. She knew the consequences. Sarah paused, digging the knife deeper. "So you really weren't loyal to me? You want to hook up with Red now?" "I'll destroy this face. Let's see you seduce anyone then!" I screamed until darkness took me. When I woke up, I was dumped at the factory gates. Sarah was talking to someone. It was Red! "Red!" I croaked her name through a ruined throat. Red looked surprised and turned to me. "How does he know my name?" Sarah’s face paled. She stomped on my mouth hard. "He probably heard me on the phone in the car. Don't worry, knowing it won't save him now." Red pulled a cigarette from her pack and lit it. "Is that so? You wouldn't dare play games. Is this the seventh one?" Sarah ground her heel into my lips before trotting over to light Red's cigarette. "Seventh. Don't worry, I know the rules." "This kid is an orphan, no family. He's the only one on his household registry. And he was a virgin when I got him!" Red squatted down, blew smoke in my face, and scrutinized me. A spark of hope ignited in my chest. She knows me. If she recognizes me, she'll make Sarah take me away. If my sister finds out her subordinate kidnapped me, they’re all dead. "Tsk. Why did you mess up his face like that? He's hideous." Red looked disgusted and stood up. My heart sank. She didn't recognize me! Did Sarah disfigure me beyond recognition? Grief overwhelmed me. I wanted to wail, but my throat felt stuffed with cotton. "He wouldn't sit still. I was worried he'd use his looks to charm someone into helping him escape. So I ruined it. Doesn't matter anyway, right?" Sarah crouched by my ear and whispered with a dark chuckle: "See? Give up on seducing Red. She thinks you're ugly." I used every ounce of strength to force words through my teeth. "You... will... die..." Red's eyebrows shot up. She kicked Sarah aside and squatted in front of me, grinning. "Did this kid just curse us?" Looking at her sinister smile, I shook my head in terror. No! I meant you need to send me away! Or you'll all die! "Ahhh—!" Red pinched my jaw open and jammed the lit cigarette into my mouth. The pain on my tongue was excruciating. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as I screamed. "Ugly freak. Dying and still trying to threaten us. Pah!" Red hawked a thick loogie onto my face. Sarah picked up a wooden stick from the ground and started stabbing into my mouth. "How dare you offend Red! Scream all you want!" Blood filled my mouth, mixing with splinters and choking me. I felt like I was drowning. Tears poured down my face like a waterfall. Is this it? Am I going to die here? "Enough. Teach him a lesson, but don't kill him or I don't get paid." Red stopped her. Sarah dropped the bloody stick immediately. 3 "Right. Shall we go inside, sign the contract, and get the money?" Two massive guards hauled me up and dragged me toward the factory. A black sedan drove toward us. It was my sister's car! I struggled frantically, throwing myself toward the wheels. The car stopped. My sister stepped out from the back seat. She looked down at me, brow furrowed. Sister, it's me! It's your brother! I tried to look up at her, begging silently. Red grabbed me by the hair and slapped me across the face. "Damn brat! How dare you startle the Boss!" The slap blinded me for a second. I spat blood. It landed on my sister's high heels. Red turned white. She fell to her knees and started wiping the shoes with her sleeve. "I'm so sorry, Boss! The new guy is feisty. I'll clean it right up!" Sarah knelt too, helping to wipe. My sister squinted at me lying on the ground. "Oh? Fresh meat?" "Yes. He's unruly. To avoid trouble, we messed up his face. He even cursed us earlier!" Red answered carefully. My sister seemed amused. "Heh. First time anyone's had the guts to talk trash here. Is he a college boy?" "Yes! Graduated this year. Top of his class!" Sarah interjected quickly. My sister looked thoughtful. She glanced at me and sighed. "If Dragon were still here, he'd be about graduating age too..." Hearing her use my childhood nickname, I started thrashing and wailing. Sis, it's me! I'm Dragon! "Hey! Stay down!" Red kicked me hard, right in the face. The wounds split open again, blood oozing out. My mouth and tongue were pulp. I couldn't speak, only make guttural noises of pain. "Hm?" My sister paused, squatting down to look closer. I was ecstatic. I tried to open my mouth to call her, but a cough racked my body and I sprayed blood. Right onto her face. Red and Sarah looked like they were about to have heart attacks. One pulled out tissues to wipe my sister's face, the other dragged me away. Red saw a barrel of dirty water nearby. She hoisted me up. The next second, she shoved my head into the filth. Sludge filled my nose and mouth. I choked, my lungs burning. Just as I thought I was dead, she yanked me up by my hair. "You have a death wish, kid?! Disrespecting the Boss like that!" "I'm going to kill you right now as an apology!" I gasped for air for a few seconds before being plunged back under. After a few rounds, I was limp, unable to make a sound. Red threw me on the ground and ran to my sister, bowing repeatedly. "Boss, since he offended you, he's useless. How should we dispose of him?" "Rip out his fingernails first. Then give him the 'Bubble Tea' treatment." My blood ran cold. "Bubble Tea." I had seen them use that torture on men before. It involved boiling water and a funnel. I never thought it would be my turn. Fine. Sister, you've committed so many sins. Retribution falling on me isn't unjust. I calmed down. My sister wiped the blood from her face and glared at me. Then she froze. I closed my eyes, waiting for death. The thought of seeing Mom and Dad again made me smile. 4 "Is he... smiling?" My sister's hesitant voice reached my ears. "What the hell? This little shit still has the nerve to smile!" Red couldn't believe it. She grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. The dirty water had washed away the blood. My sister stared at my face, shocked. "Why does he have so many scars?" I saw my reflection in her eyes. A web of ugly, worm-like scars covered every inch of skin. It was horrifying. Disgusting. It was laughable that I thought she'd recognize me. I barely recognized myself. "We did it. To keep him from seducing the female staff and running away." Red answered quickly. Sarah nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's a pretty boy. If we left his face alone, there'd be trouble eventually!" My sister nodded slowly. "Fair point. Pity, though. We could have sent him to the casino to entertain the rich ladies. Would've made more money that way." A look of regret crossed Sarah's face. "Ugh, my bad! Next time I'll know better. I'll find another handsome, innocent one!" Red sighed too. "Exactly. The ones you brought before were trash. Finally got a looker, and you ruined him..." "You said he looked like a pretty boy? Let me see a picture!" Red pestered Sarah for a photo. Sarah smiled wryly. "You confiscated my phone, remember?" Then her eyes lit up. She patted her pocket. "I have his ID and his diploma! You can check those!" Red got excited and told her to hand them over. Sarah pulled out my documents. Red leaned in eagerly. "Damn, nice! Look at that face. Like a puppy, but those pecs? Killer!" "You have good taste. If his face wasn't ruined, he could have made a fortune as a gigolo!" My sister finished washing her face and walked over, drying herself with a towel. "Flying Fish? Weird name. Like me, belongs in the sky." Red immediately started sucking up. "How can this brat compare to you, Boss!" "You're a phoenix in the heavens. He's just a dead fish that can't fly. What's the saying..." "A sparrow cannot understand the ambition of a swan!" My sister laughed and threw the towel at her. "Get out of here. A high school dropout reciting poetry?" Red peeled the towel off her face, grinning. "Just learning from the best! You're the only college grad running a park like this!" "I remember what you told the Young Master. To succeed, you have to study hard..." Hearing my title, my sister's face fell. She took my diploma from Sarah. Tracing the gold lettering, she sighed. "If Dragon were still alive, he'd be graduating college this year too..." She opened the diploma. Her eyes locked onto the photo. Her face went white. "Song Ningchen?" She said my full name with a trembling voice. She looked up at Red and Sarah. "Yeah. The kid told me he was an orphan when we met. Said he named himself."
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