Chapter 22: Father Su’s Guilt
After being rebuffed by Chi Xiasheng, the expression on Su Jinfeng’s face instantly soured.
He wanted to retort, but seeing Chi Xiasheng standing a few steps away, having already drawn a clear line between them, he felt a strange sense of blockage in his heart.
Before, Su Jinfeng had been confident that Chi Xiasheng was still coveting the Su family’s wealth and would eventually come back. As his older brother, he had the right to reprimand him. But now, it seemed he had lost that right in every aspect.
As Su Jinfeng was lost in a daze, Chi Xiasheng turned and left.
This birthday party made Chi Xiasheng feel suffocated. He didn’t want to stay for another second.
As he was leaving, a man in black clothes rushed past and bumped into him, then quickly lowered his head and walked away.
Chi Xiasheng found it strange. Why did that man lower his head? he wondered. But it had nothing to do with him, so he continued to walk out the door without a change in pace.
Leaving the banquet hall, he entered a corridor with a thick plush carpet, with colorful oil paintings hanging on both sides. Bright lights shone down from above, illuminating the intricate carvings on the walls.
As soon as he walked out, he saw Su Chengjian leaning against the wall by the door, smoking.
“Xiaosheng, come here.”
Chi Xiasheng didn’t answer, just frowned and walked over silently. Su Chengjian was standing on the only path downstairs, so he couldn’t avoid him.
“Dad is indeed a bit biased. Sigh, it’s also because Little Mian has been in poor health for so many years, and I’ve raised him by my side for so long. In the end, I can’t bear to part with him. It’s right for you to resent me.”
Hearing Su Chengjian’s words of weakness, Chi Xiasheng’s heart was slightly moved.
Su Chengjian was widely recognized as a shrewd and calculating business tycoon, strong-willed, silent, and serious. He had always been the one to call the shots in the Su family. This was the first time Chi Xiasheng had heard him show such weakness. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised.
But even though he was moved, Chi Xiasheng still didn’t say he would return to the Su family.
Su Chengjian sighed a few more times. Perhaps the alcohol he had drunk at the party was starting to take effect, making his heart unusually soft. Moreover, if it weren’t for him, Chi Xiasheng might not have had to wander outside and suffer so much…
Su Chengjian took out a silver card and stuffed it into Chi Xiasheng’s pocket. “Take it. It’s not much money. If you really don’t want to come back, then live outside. Don’t wrong yourself. Just think of it as a little compensation from me as your father. It’s not easy for you to make it on your own outside.”
Hearing this, Chi Xiasheng’s hand, which was about to return the card, paused.
Before he could react, Su Chengjian patted his shoulder and went back into the hall.
Chi Xiasheng touched the card with his fingertips, feeling the lingering warmth on it, and was silent for a long time.
A few months ago, the only birthday gift Chi Xiasheng had received was a cake from Su Chengjian. Everyone had forgotten his birthday, only this “cheap” father had sent a cake over via his secretary.
With a faint sigh, Chi Xiasheng put the card back in his pocket. He would just keep it as a memento.
Chi Xiasheng walked along the U-shaped corridor to the end of the corner and waited quietly for the elevator to arrive.
Unfortunately, the elevator seemed to be out of order today and wouldn’t come.
Fortunately, the floor wasn’t high, so Chi Xiasheng went to the nearby staircase, preparing to walk down.
The staircase was rarely used. As soon as he pushed open the heavy door, he was shocked by the scene inside.
“He’s the Su family’s young master, kidnap him!”
Su Chimian’s usually gentle voice became somewhat shrill. He was gasping for breath, cowering in a corner, his face contorted as he stared at the suddenly appeared Chi Xiasheng.
The two men in masks and hats opposite him immediately looked over at Chi Xiasheng.
Realizing what was happening, Chi Xiasheng turned and ran.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t run two steps before men in security guard uniforms, who had been waiting on both sides of the corridor, chased after him, blocking his path from both front and back.
Chi Xiasheng immediately understood that these “security guards” were with them. He glanced at the banquet hall at the end of the corridor, thinking about how he could run back there.
But these men were skilled and had a vicious air about them. Chi Xiasheng was punched in the stomach, and his body slid down the wall to the ground. He couldn’t even open his mouth to call for help.
“Knock him out quickly. We’ve been delayed for too long. The security guards we lured away will be back soon.”
One of the taller men said in a muffled voice. He turned to look at the hall and, seeing that no one had noticed the situation here, he looked away.
The other man grunted in agreement and, with a powerful chop to Chi Xiasheng’s shoulder, knocked him out completely.
Before he lost consciousness, Chi Xiasheng realized that in front of real kidnappers, he really didn’t even have time to call for help.
When Chi Xiasheng woke up again, his head was throbbing with a dull pain, and his stomach, which had been punched, ached when he breathed in.
A black cloth was tied over his eyes, so he couldn’t tell what time it was. His hearing, however, had become more sensitive. He could clearly hear the sound of a car engine and the whooshing of cars passing by outside.
He guessed he was in a van. The space above his head was very small. He couldn’t even sit up straight and could only curl up, bumping along with the car.
His hands and feet were tied with hemp rope. Even a slight movement made his skin burn with pain. Not to mention taking something out of his pants pocket, his arms were tied in a very awkward position. He even felt that his arm had been dislocated and couldn’t move at all.
He didn’t know how long had passed before the car stopped.
He was violently dragged out of the car. After walking for about two or three minutes, he was thrown against a wall.
“This kid is awake. What about the other one?”
“The other one is probably awake too, just playing dead. Damn it, this guy dared to fool us. Luckily, the third brother has seen the little young master Su, otherwise he would have gotten away!”
“Then why did you bring back another one?”
“This one is also from the Su family. A buy-one-get-one-free deal. We’ve hit the jackpot this time!”
The kidnappers’ voices gradually faded away. Chi Xiasheng heard the sound of an iron gate closing in the distance before he dared to slowly lean against the wall and sit up, taking a slow breath.
“Chi… Chi Xiasheng?”
Su Chimian’s voice came from not far away, as rough as if it had been scraped by gravel, very unpleasant to hear.
Chi Xiasheng didn’t want to talk, afraid that the kidnappers hadn’t gone far.
But in such a quiet space, with both of them blindfolded and unable to see anything, Su Chimian’s mind inevitably began to break down.
Even though the person in front of him was his mortal enemy, Su Chimian still wanted to speak, trying to use his voice to break the crushing silence.
Su Chimian’s voice, mixed with the sound of dripping water from his left, echoed in the small space. “Chi Xiasheng, I know it’s you. You must hate me in your heart.”
If Su Chimian hadn’t shouted in the hallway, the kidnappers, who were only targeting the Su family’s young master, would likely have let Chi Xiasheng go, knocking him out and leaving him aside instead of bringing him along.
Chi Xiasheng didn’t want to bother with him, but he had a feeling that Su Chimian knew more, so he spoke up. “Su Chimian, do you know what those people want? Money, or do they just have a grudge against the Su family and are kidnapping people for revenge?”
This wasn’t something that couldn’t be said. Su Chimian answered, “They probably want money. I heard them in the car saying they were going to ask the Su family for two hundred million.”
Hearing this number, Chi Xiasheng couldn’t help but be shocked by the kidnappers’ exorbitant demand.
In fact, two hundred million was not a difficult amount for the Su family, but they might not be able to produce that much liquid cash at once. After all, the Su family’s company needed funds for its operations at all times, and most of their money was tied up in the company. If the kidnappers were determined to get two hundred million, even if the Su family gritted their teeth and paid, the company would inevitably be taken advantage of, and they would likely suffer a great loss.
At a time like this, it was also a test of how important the children were in the hearts of the Su parents. If Father Su felt they weren’t worth two hundred million…
“No, Dad will definitely pay to save me!”
Although Su Chimian was a little nervous, he still managed to answer.
But Chi Xiasheng felt that relying on his parents was less reliable than relying on his own Little Black.
“Then why did you go to the staircase?”
Chi Xiasheng had gone to the staircase because he was going home, but Su Chimian, as the birthday boy, why would he be in a rarely used staircase? Shouldn’t he be receiving blessings from the guests and enjoying his own birthday party?
Hearing Chi Xiasheng’s question, Su Chimian’s blindfolded eyes darted around a few times, and he ultimately remained silent, not saying anything.
