Jun visibly stiffened. Even though he knew that Ai would never hate him for what happened but thinking back to that incident emerged a sense of crisis in his heart.
"...Yes. I asked Chyou to dig into Zhan Yahui's background and I came to know that I already knew her from before."
She blinked. "From before? But you didn't seem like you recognized her all this time."
He looked away. "That's because we met way back when we were kids."
That took her aback. "Really?"
She hadn't expected that Zhan Yahui, who was hell bent on ruining their lives, was someone Jun already knew from before.
"When did you two meet?"
"It wasn't a happy occasion. I was nine when I was kidnapped by Zhan Yahui's soon-to-be step-father."
If Ai had been standing, she would have stumbled and fallen hard on the floor. Fortunately, she was in bed. She looked into his eyes, incredulous. "Kidnapped? Y-you were kidnapped? Why?"
"Because Ouyang Haitao owed us money or precisely, Dad. He was in debt."
*Flashback*
It was a pleasant day outside but dark and dangerous inside Jinhai's underworld. The outside world and the underworld always had a stark contrast in their atmospheres. And the underworld was where the twins, Jun and Jin frequently visited as kids too.
It was one such day when little Jun, who was nine years old, went to visit his father as he was returning from school. Jinhai had promised to buy him new books and video games in exchange for ratting out the twins' mischievous plans to trouble his special time with Nana.
"Young master!"
The Liu family guards respectfully bowed as Jun came in.
Jun adjusted his spectacles and faced them. "I told you before not to bow before me like this. I am just a nine-year old kid, and you are way too adult to lower your head before a child."
The Liu family underworld guards were tough and ferocious as they had burned themselves through an equally tough and ferocious training. But ever since the five siblings were born, they would lose their rough touch at times.
"Young master…" they burst into emotional tears.
Young master Jun is so kind-hearted!
He definitely has more of Madam Nana's genes!
Sometimes they felt that he was too kind and polite for the underworld. In that sense, the twins were very different. They had already begun to show their ruthless, cunning and commanding side since they were only five years old.
Jun's brows twitched.
Why are they crying?
"Where is Dad?"
The guard named Xuan Hui sniffled and said, "Please come with me, young master. I will take you to Boss."
Xuan Hui was often bullied because he had a womanish sounding name. But his fists were quick to prove that his bloodshed personality had nothing to do with how delicate his name sounded.
Little Jun noticed his obviously starry gaze which strongly gave the impression that Xuan Hui wanted to hold him.
He raised his arms and asked, "Will you hold me?"
Xuan Hui's dam of tears broke. "Young masterrrrr…I will be honored!"
No, you don't have to feel so honored…
He picked Jun in his arms, beaming with joy. The other guards were fuming with jealousy on the other hand.
Damn it Xuan Hui!
We will make you pay for this!
I will hold the young master next time!
Xuan Hui began walking towards the office where Jinhai was working. He was cautious not to squeeze Jun too tightly in his arms and make him uncomfortable.
Jun glanced at him a minute later and said, "You will be a good father one day, Uncle Xuan."
He froze. "Y-yes, young master?"
"I said you will be a good father one day."
Jun stopped at that and looked forward, expressionless.
Xuan Hui was unable to speak or respond for a long time, but his heart was overwhelmed with emotions. "Thank you so much young master…But I don't even know if that day will ever come or not…" his eyes ached.
He and his wife were trying to conceive for quite some time but couldn't. Soon, the couple learned that he had infertility issues and would face problems in having a child.
Jun looked back at him. "Of course that day will come."
"You really think so, young master…?"
"Yes. Mom says that good things come to good people for sure. It requires patience at times, but it definitely does happen. You must never lose hope and never stop trying."
A flood of tears escaped his eyes. "Young masterrrrrrrrr!"
"You will die of dehydration this way, Uncle Xuan," Jun dryly said.
As they reached Jinhai's office, Jun was startled with a voice loudly crying and begging before Jinhai.
"S-sir please give me some more time…! I-I will definitely return the money…"
The door was open with a slight slit and Jun peeked inside.
A man in his thirties was on his knees, who trembled and cried hard before Jinhai. His hands were painfully held back by the guards and was forced to bow before Jinhai as one tightly held onto his neck.
Jinhai's arm was propped on his chair armrest with his chin resting on his palm as he stared at the man kneeling before him with a cold and unfeeling gaze.
"How much is 'some more time' if I may ask?"
His monotonous but sarcastic tone sent shivers down the man's spine.
"N-Next week…for sure…"
"And what are your plans to gather sixty million Yuan within just one week, Ouyang Haitao?"
He stiffened and had no answer. "I-I will definitely…! I beg you, please give me this last chance! I will return all your money!"
Jinhai's hawk-like gaze never left him that made him almost piss his pants. His silence was far more terrifying than when Jinhai spoke.
"Three days."
Ouyang Haitao jerked his head up, but the guard added his lethal pressure to keep his head lowered.
"O-only three days!? T-that's impossible Mr. Liu. How can I gather sixty million in three days…? Please show some mercy…"
"How will you get sixty million in one week then? Not much difference between three and seven days for a person like you," he smiled.
"Sir please-"
"Three days or prepare yourself to get tortured here. Let me see how desperate you can become."
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