Chapter 74

Chapter 74

“Tonk…Tonk…Tonk…” The sound of turning on light switches.  Suddenly, Jian Yao is overwhelmed by hundreds of lights bulbs shining their light onto her.  Her pupils can’t adjust to the sharpness of the light.  She closes her eyes.  

Xie Han is standing not far away from where she is.  He laughs like a mischievous boy.  

After a while, she is able to open her eyes. 

Xie Han looks at her beautiful face, her nice skin complexion, and her dark bright eyes.  There is a stillness and quietness about her.  He walks closer to her cage, and looks at her with interest.   

“Such an exciting moment…. Jenny, I was hoping to see your sweet smile.”  He says softly.

Jian Yao remains quiet, as if she didn’t hear his words.  She takes a look at her surroundings.  

It’s the size of a big warehouse.  There are containers everywhere.  The space in the middle is about the size of a basketball court.  The ceiling is installed with rows of spotlights shining down like a stage.  And her cage is in the middle of the ‘stage’.

About 30 metres in front of her, there’s a set of sofas, a bar cabinet, a book shelf, a TV and a bed.  There are only 2 tones - black and white.  The place is chic, clean and tidy.   On a coffee table, there’s half a glass of unfinished red wine.  A suit jacket lies casually on the sofa.  

This is obviously where he is staying, right next to her cage.

—————

The place is quiet and empty.  There’s only the two of them there. In an unknown place.  

Jian Yao tries to avoid eye contact with him.  But eventually, their eyes meet.  These eyes, are very different from all of the psychopaths she has met before.   

“Killing machine” Sun Yong has a pair of hollow and mocking eyes.  Even when he was arrested, there was no guilt or nervousness in him.  Zhang Cheng, who killed two families under the illusion that they were spies, had a dazed and stubborn look in his eyes. Even Tommy, his gaze is cold and dark… All of them looked like they have no regards or feelings for other people.  

But this man, who is labelled as the cruelest serial killer in this century, the godfather for the Flower Cannibal, looks like a warm and charming young man. 

That is why, when he came face to face with Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao, playing the most unnoticeable roles, was never discovered by Bo Jinyan.  

“You remember me?”  He asks gently.

Jian Yao stares at him.  She keeps silent.  

He was the community police that first arrived at Sun Yong’s house.  He even stood in front of Bo Jinyan to brief him of his findings.

“Like the briefing report Jian Yao sent us, we found a killing machine in the bedroom.”

Xie Han starts to repeats the words he said that day, as if to help her recall their first encounter.

“Professor Bo, I found some words written in blood underneath the bed.”

“We need to examine the whole house.”

…….

Was that it?  Was there a second encounter?  

Jian Yao looks up, and notices that his smile deepens.  

Yes.  More than twice.

Pedestrians that walks past time, a security guard that guards the suburb, the courier man, a community officer some of the cases they were involved in…. it’s so easy for him to pretend to be one of ‘them’.

He’s always been by their side.  But even Bo Jinyan fails to notice. 

If only she can tell the others.  But now…

“OK.  Are you hungry?” His words interrupt her thoughts.  “It’s not polite to keep a lady hungry while having a conversation. Let’s eat and chat at the same time.  Shall we?”

Jian Yao keeps quiet.  

She remembers what Li Xunran said to her.  The reason Xie Han didn’t kill him - 

“I made sure I did everything against his wishes.  He would not get any satisfaction out of me.” 

 He didn’t eat.  He didn’t talk back.  He didn’t react to any of his provocations.  He just pretended Xie Han was not around.

And Bo Jinyan’s comment: “That’s a dumb move, but at least it worked.”

…….

After a short pause, she lifts her hand.  It’s the first time she responds to him: “Good, I am hungry too.”

Xie Han gives a smile. He stares at her with a smile.  

“You are a brave woman indeed…”  He says slowly.

———————-

He has put some gentle and romantic music through the sound system.  There is not a single window in the warehouse.  It’s a complete world of its own.  A world that belongs to him alone.  

Jian Yao is sitting on the sofa.  Her hands and feet still in chains.  There is also a long chain around her neck.  She is being treated like an animal.  The other end of the chains is casually hung onto a coat rack behind Xie Han.  He rolls up his sleeves, and pushes a trolley next to the dining table.

Red wine, candlelight, steak, salad, cheese, dessert… He slowly puts the dishes on the table.  Then he lays the napkin, cutlery and plate before Jian Yao.  She is sitting very still in her seat, just looking at him. She is not showing any expression on her face.

This is the tactic she will use.  To be obedient.  Try not to offend him.  Don’t show any emotions.  

Because Bo Jinyan said before in his evaluation of Xie Han, that his sentiment towards men is to conquer and plunder.  Therefore, when Li Xunran resisted with stubbornness, even though he was tortured, he was not ‘conquered’, and therefore managed to keep his life.  

But it’s different for women. Using Li Xunran’s method would be counterproductive. Even though  he looks and acts like a gentleman right now, there’s a lot of hatred in him.  Any resistance from a woman will arouse his desire to kill.  He doesn’t have any patience when it comes to women.  He could kill her and dump the body in front of Bo Jinyan.  If she makes him angry, he might destroy her straight away.  

So, she has to endure.  

But she knows in her mind, that this courteous gentleman standing in front of her, has prepared to treat her more cruelly than any of his other victims. Because she is Bo Jinyan’s woman.  In his mind, she is a feast that he is ready to taste and sample.

She will buy as much time as she can.  

Before Bo Jinyan finds her, she must keep herself alive.  No matter how much pain she will suffer, she will live to see him again.  

If she is dead…. Bo Jinyan will be alone.  

Someone like him will not enter into another relationship again.  If she dies, he will be living by himself for the rest of his life.  

She can’t let this happen. 

The man she loves… her only lover…. She cannot lose him. 

With these thoughts in her mind, she keeps calm.   A strength from within her rises up to keeps her eyes from swelling up with tears.  A warm sense of peace soothes the fear that is in her. 

She looks at Xie Han.  He’s finished transferring the dishes onto the table.  He sits opposite her, and raises his glass. 

She takes her glass, and elegantly sips the red wine.  

——————

This meal was quiet and long.  Xie Han doesn’t like to speak.  Every now and then, he will introduce the dish that they are eating, which executive five star chef made it… etc etc.  Jian Yao will nod her head.  Sometimes, she makes a brief comment.  

But most of the time, they dine in silence.  At one point in time, Xie Han puts down his cutlery to stare at Jian Yao.  

Jian Yao feels very uncomfortable, but she keeps her head down and pretends he is not there.  

Finally, the meal is finished.  

Xie Han walks over to face her.  Jian Yao’s palms starts to sweat.  He knees down next to her.  Her heart pounds.  They stare silently at each other.  

Suddenly he smiles.  He puts out a drawer from underneath the table.  There’s a syringe with some substance in it.  He holds it up. Then he takes one of Jian Yao’s arms.  His finger are cold.  He puts his arm straight on the table.  Then he injects the substances into her.

“Let the party begin.” He says.