Chapter 80 - Truth Uncovered

Shi Lian's face is covered with bruises. There is a cut on her lower lip, a handprint completely shown on her left cheek, and another cut near her eyebrows. Her dress is covered with mud, dirt and is reeking with the smell of her sweat and iron ores. Her feet are badly bruised because of running in bare feet. Her skirt is torn slightly from the hem. She looks like a complete mess. If she goes on like this, her parents will suspect it in a second that something bad has happened to her. the lights on the Mo mansion are off but the outer lights are always on. She prays not to get caught by her parents like this. Gui is anxious as well. If Mo Zheng Yuan gets to know about today's situation, he will fire him right away. 

Taking in a deep breath Shi Lian steps out of the car, her bare bruised feet landing on the cold concrete ground. The sprain on her ankle is still in effect so she cannot walk properly like she used to. "Take care of yourself, Gui. Rest well" she says to the driver who is anxiously looking at her, to try to help her but Shi Lian told him before she will manage it. 

"You too, Young Miss," she says in return with a smile and starts the car again. The car exits through the gate and Shi Lian is now left alone to head inside. The pain in her ankle is getting worse the more she tries to walk. Somehow limping, she manages to reach the front door. She has been late like this before so she told her mother and Nanny Zhang to not wait for her and just left the door open. She only hopes they went to sleep so she can easily sneak into her room without gaining any attention. She pushes the door, the door making a shallow creak sound, she steps in and closes it from behind. The hall lights are still on but she notices no one is there. She releases a sigh of relief and heads straight to her room limping. When she steps on the first stair, the pain shoots up. She cries out a little controlling herself to not make any sound but the pain is too hard to ignore. She reaches the tenth stair somehow dragging herself but she cannot move any further now. Her ankle is aching too bad and she does not have much strength left in her to pull herself. She hasn't eaten anything since morning. She skipped lunch, she does this often, because of work. 

She gets up again and drags herself to the last three stairs to pass and then she will reach her room. Blood prickle from the cuts under her feet but she cannot care about that now. The red carpet soaked the blood and she is glad the carpet is red. She then turns to her left, where the direction of her room is, opposite to her parents, and walks towards it with her limping leg. 

Turning on the knob of her room's door she steps inside and closes the door hurriedly. She let herself fall on the ground and catch a breath for a while. The room is dark but not that dark, she can see the things in her room slightly. She sits on the ground for a while, thinking about the events that happened today. So many emotions in one day, it is hard to believe it. she closes her eyes but instantly opens them. All she sees can is the dark warehouse and the sneer on those creepy kidnappers. She gets up and the pain shoots up again. "Ahh!" she cries out. Switching on the light, she notices that her ankle is swollen. She bends down to touch that spot and when she does, the pain rises again. God, how will she go to the company tomorrow? And most importantly how will she face her parent like this? the situation is so fucked up now. 

Getting out of the shower she goes to find the first aid kit. She sits on the small chair slowly and takes out the supplies she needs to put right now. She cleaned herself, applying three layers of body wash, her hair is shampooed as well and her face looks less pathetic. Soaking the cotton bud with the antiseptic, she dabs it on the cuts, facing the mirror. She then applies cream on them, now, focusing on the ankle. Taking out the hot patch she places it on the ankle. She groans as the heat makes the pain rise but it feels good. 

After a while, she changes into her pajamas. It isn't easy to wear it given with a swollen ankle and bruises but she cannot ask for help as well. taking out her phone from her bag which Gui gave to her in the car, she turns on the phone. it is 12:43 right now. Gosh, she is so late. She does not bother to dry her hair and just sleeps in it. she is too tired. Now to think of it, she is way too strong to hold herself up even after so much happened to her. a normal person couldn't bear to do it all alone and soak it all by themselves, but she is different, she is strong and brave. Her concern wasn't about herself but for the people, she cares about. She didn't care about whether she will die or not but the moment Zichen was involved her heart couldn't stop worrying. Tomorrow will be a new day and she will have to face new challenges. 

**

"Oh my God!" Sha Sha cries, her hands reaching her open mouth. Yes, she knew it. Even after applying makeup to hide the bruises, she notices them. and Shi Lian's limping leg is all too clear that she gt hurt yesterday. "What happened to you, dear?"

Her mother's, her father's, and Nanny Zhang's eyes are all on her and she wants to hide somewhere. What cannot decide what she should do? Should she tell them the truth? But they will be too worried for her which she does not want. But they will eventually know so it's better to come clean now. Clearing her throat, she explains, "Yesterday, someone ambushed me" she looks up to meet their eyes, and her mother's is already pooled with tears. "I was held captive there. Gui was knocked down as well when they took m with me. they locked in an abandoned warehouse" she pauses as the hurt look on her mother's is aching her as well. she continues, "Zich- I mean Mr. Fu came to save me somehow. He fought with those guys and we were safe."

A loud slam on the table making her startle. She turns her eyes to the source and finds her father in a rage. "Who dares to do such act!" he bellows and it's the first time she has seen him this angry. Her father is usually very sweet and calm when he is with them, he never gets angry and she loves that about him. 

"Father.." she reaches to hold his hands but he gets and starts pacing around the room to calm his rage. She sighs feeling guilty to ruin their morning but also relieved to tell them. Her mother asks the servants to call the doctor as soon as possible. Shi Lian protests but her mother will not listen to her now. 

"You will not go to the company, understand? Stay in your room and rest. God! What happened to you?" her mother cries again. Shi Lian assures her she is fine, give her a curt smile. Nanny Zhang looks upset as well. she brings some medicines and applies them to her ankle to help release some pain. 

"Daughter, how did Fu Zichen found you?" her father asks, standing right to her. 

"I had my digital watch with me and I randomly dialed a number and it turned out to be Zichen's" she explains. 

"Bless that boy for helping you. I cannot thank him enough" her mother whimper holding her hands tightly. Shi Lian smiles, she suddenly feels fluttering in her heart at the mention of his name and her mother praising him. She wanted to tell her parents about him but the time isn't too well right now. 

"I'll call the police," Mo Zheng Yuan says and starts dialing the number but Shi Lian stops him. He raises his eyebrows, questioningly. 

"It won't do any good, father. The police will need faces which I do not know because they covered their faces in masks. And if somehow this news gets out, the company will be in danger."

Her father stops and ponders over what she said. It's reasonable. This will not do any good and it will harm them instead. He sighs and sits on the chair next to her. "Shi…if something were to happen to you….I.." he quivers, his body shakes and a drop of tears falls on the table. 

"Father," she says, "I am right here. Your daughter is right in front of you. Nothing happened to me." she places her hand on her father's, assuring her with her words. 'I cannot cry. No!No!' she controls her emotions because if she has begun to cry, they will break as well.