Chapter 68: Suffocating Despair

It wasn’t that Song Chaoxu was untrustworthy.

Though he had agreed to protect Shen Yi’an, he immediately stood up and left upon learning there was a message that needed to be delivered.

Rather, he understood clearly in his heart that this task could only be accomplished by him.

First, the reason he had rejoined the group was that there were too many children needing sugar pills.

Growing impatient with waiting, he had returned first to apologize to Shen Yi’an.

These two matters were already known to the Female Boss, making them reasonable excuses.

Second, the Female Boss remained unaware that their group was being watched, her mind wholly occupied with how to safely escort Shen Yi’an off the train.

At this moment, without raising suspicion, he was the only one with a legitimate reason to leave.

His wife and daughter had gone to collect free sugar pills, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to check on the situation.

After all, his Xiao Shu was also part of the Female Boss’s plan.

As for why Shen Yi’an couldn’t deliver the message herself—she simply wasn’t suitable.

If she, the easily attainable target, were to disappear, the Female Boss would quickly sense something amiss once she regained her composure.

Even without mobilizing her subordinates, taking any random passenger hostage would pose a problem for Li Beizhao and his team, who were about to launch their arrest operation.

After all, a surprise attack and a prepared confrontation were entirely different scenarios.

It was because he had considered all these factors in such a short time that Song Chaoxu left without hesitation.

He knew full well how crucial the message he needed to deliver was to the success of the arrest operation.

If any of the traffickers escaped, his son, still in their hands, might face unimaginable torture.

Watching Song Chaoxu depart without looking back, pausing midway to speak with someone nearby before striding purposefully out of the carriage, Shen Yi’an knew her message had been safely delivered.

As long as it was delivered, her efforts to eavesdrop using her Space ability for this vital information would not have been in vain.

Four seats.

The Female Boss occupied one row by herself—no surprise, the adjacent seat had likely been purchased along with hers.

After all, she was the boss. Even if she led an underground human trafficking ring, certain appearances had to be maintained.

Because of this, with no one in the Female Boss’s seat and the Female Comrade having stormed off earlier, Shen Yi’an was now alone in the four-seat area.

Free from prying eyes, she took the opportunity to drink a few more sips of Spirit Spring Water.

There was no other choice—who knew what might unfold once the operation began? All she could do was conserve her energy and strength.

Saving energy was for handling unexpected situations, while preserving strength was for the baby in her womb.

Though only the size of a sesame seed at one month, it was still her child, and she had to be cautious.

Time ticked by, and the first to return was the Female Boss, having finished her instructions.

Seeing only Shen Yi’an in the seats, she smiled and offered an explanation.

“Did that male comrade tell you before he left? He went to check if the children received their sugar pills.”

“It’s been a while now—they should have gotten them by now.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an nodded. “He did. He also asked me to watch his seat for him.”

“But I didn’t agree.”

“What if the female comrade who left earlier comes back? I’d be caught in the middle.”

In response, the Female Boss laughed softly, keeping her voice low.

“That makes sense!”

“Maybe she just went out to clear her mind and will return when she’s in a better mood.”

That’s what she said, but it wasn’t what she thought.

The outcome had been sealed the moment that person openly demanded the milk candy from her hands, sulked when denied bananas, and stormed off in a fit of anger.

Provoking her once could be tolerated, but doing it twice or thrice was simply asking for trouble.

If nothing went wrong, that person should already be in the hands of her people by now.

As for their fate, it all depended on luck.

Lucky ones might end up with decent folks; the unlucky could fall into the hands of violent maniacs.

One could only sigh at how fate treats everyone differently, huh!

But the Female Boss had no intention of sharing these thoughts with Shen Yi’an, deeming it unnecessary.

For the rest of the time, the two chatted intermittently.

Mostly, the Female Boss shared anecdotes, while Shen Yi’an provided emotional support.

Overall, they got along reasonably well.

Ten minutes past the agreed time, the carriage, which should have been quiet, suddenly erupted into chaos, followed by noisy, clamoring sounds.

Soon, small groups of people were pinned down in the aisles, on seats, and against small tables by those beside them.

Some resisted on the spot but were subdued again after a brief struggle.

Shen Yi’an was the first to notice the commotion.

Nourished by the Spirit Spring Water, her hearing and eyesight were exceptionally sharp.

The Female Boss quickly sensed something was amiss.

Realizing that those being detained were all her subordinates, she immediately understood their identities had been exposed.

Though unsure how they were exposed, she acted swiftly.

“I originally intended to continue our conversation after we got off the train, but I didn’t expect things to take such a sudden turn.”

“I’d love to go easy on you, but unfortunately, there’s no chance for that now.”

“Sorry, but for my own safety, I have to sacrifice you!”

As she finished speaking, she swiftly closed in, seized Shen Yi’an’s arms, and pulled out a dagger from her sleeve, pressing it against Shen Yi’an’s neck.

“Be good and cooperate with me!”

“If you struggle, this dagger might just slice through your pretty, fair neck—and that wouldn’t be good, would it?”

“Don’t you agree, little beauty?”

Hearing the whisper in her ear, Shen Yi’an couldn’t help but shiver.

It was utterly repulsive!

Being held by a woman who coveted her and called her “little beauty” didn’t just give her goosebumps—it made every hair on her body stand on end!

Despite her discomfort, to buy time and lower the Female Boss’s guard, Shen Yi’an pretended to be panicked and pleaded, “Why are you grabbing me? We were getting along so well earlier!”

“Please let me go! I promise I won’t interfere with your plans!”

“Please! Don’t let that knife cut my neck—I’m really scared of pain!”

Hearing the voice filled with fragility and fear, the Female Boss’s tone carried a hint of amusement.

“In a safe environment, I’d make sure you felt no pain.”

“But not now—those people are after me!”

“For my sake, you’ll have to endure this for a while, little beauty!”

After saying this, she gestured with her head toward the aisle.

“See? Quite the honor, isn’t it?”

“All these soldiers coming for me—shows my life is still quite valuable.”

Forced upright by the Female Boss’s grip, Shen Yi’an saw a row of familiar faces standing less than ten meters away.

At the forefront stood Li Beizhao, his face expressionless. Though silent, his very stillness radiated palpable threat.

Beside him stood Chief Conductor Xu, brows tightly furrowed, his gaze filled with undisguised concern when it swept over the scene.

Further back were Conductor Li, Song Chaoxu, and their group.

Seeing their arrival, Shen Yi’an feigned appropriate surprise. “Why is that comrade with the soldiers? Didn’t he just go to pick up his wife and daughter?”

“You didn’t know?” Hearing this, the Female Boss’s eyes flashed with mockery. “Stop pretending. Did you really think I hadn’t figured it out?”

“Until this moment, I thought controlling you would be easy. Never imagined we’re all such skilled actors.”

“But it doesn’t matter. Once I escape this danger, you’d better prepare yourselves. Every last one of you will experience the most suffocating despair of your lives!”

Likely intending to intimidate those across from her, the Female Boss noticeably raised her voice toward the end.

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an knew the grand performance had reached its finale. She had thought they could maintain the act until the end, but unexpectedly…

Still, it was fine. She needed to trust in her future brother-in-law’s capabilities.

Thinking this, she continued with deliberately vague and misleading words: “What should I know? Seriously, elder sister, I truly didn’t know he was with them. If it weren’t for you—”

“Shut up!” The Female Boss’s voice turned violent before Shen Yi’an could finish. “Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is whether you can get me out of here.”

After this sharp rebuke, her sinister and venomous stare fixed directly on the opposite group.