Huang De Han thought Yi Bing made a valid point and said, "Don't think about running away. Just listen to me obediently. I won't harm you."
Yi Bing helplessly replied, "Even if I wanted to run, I can't while you're here."
Satisfied that Yi Bing wasn't crying or causing a scene, Huang De Han untied her hands and feet.
Yi Bing rubbed her sore hands and feet. She had struggled too hard earlier, and her wrists and ankles were scraped and bleeding, displaying bruises.
Huang De Han noticed and said, "I'll go out and get some medicine for you."
Yi Bing didn't respond or thank him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, "I'm hungry."
Huang De Han placed the packed congee on the bed, uncovered it, and pushed it towards her, saying, "Eat quickly."
Yi Bing picked up the congee and began to eat.
She didn't want to die. She needed to eat enough to gather strength for an escape.
Seeing Yi Bing cooperating like this, Huang De Han inexplicably felt a pang of sympathy. He softly said, "I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Yi Bing nearly blurted out, "Go to hell! I'll never forgive you in my lifetime!"
But she managed to hold back and instead said, "How can I forgive you when you're keeping me confined here?"
Huang De Han said, "I'm afraid you'll report me to the police."
A glimmer of hope suddenly surged in Yi Bing's heart as she said, "Don't worry, I promise I won't go to the police. I'm also afraid of embarrassment. They even took nude photos of me. How could I dare to report them?"
Although Yi Bing said this, Huang De Han still had no intention of letting her go.
He said, "Just stay here for a few days until I sell the inn. Then I'll let you go."
Yi Bing was stunned. "You want to sell the inn?"
Huang De Han nodded, his face filled with pain. "I lost Brother Li's goods, and he wants me to compensate him with five million. If I don't sell the inn, where will I get the money to pay him back?"
Yi Bing furrowed her brows involuntarily and asked, "What goods did you lose for Brother Li?"
Huang De Han thought there was no harm in telling Yi Bing since he would be leaving anyway. He said, "Cocaine."
Yi Bing's mouth dropped open in astonishment. She couldn't believe it and asked, "You, you're involved in drug trafficking?"
Huang De Han smiled bitterly and said, "If I don't get involved in drug trafficking, how would I have the money to buy you a house? You've spent all my money."
Yi Bing was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and didn't know what to say.
She silently drank the congee, no longer speaking.
Regret gnawed at her intestines. If she hadn't forced Huang De Han to buy her a house, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
This was karma!
Huang De Han continued, "But it's not your fault. I'm useless. I lost the goods myself and ended up dragging you into this mess."
Yi Bing felt unbearably miserable. She mechanically held the spoon, delivering the tasteless congee into her mouth.
Huang De Han went on, "I'm sorry. I really didn't intend to harm you. Once I repay Li, I'll let you go. As long as you behave and listen to me, I won't harm you, I promise."
Yi Bing suddenly thought of her parents and brother-in-law who were still at the inn. She wondered if they had noticed her disappearance.
"You've been keeping me confined here. Aren't you afraid that my parents will find out? How are you going to explain it to them?" she asked.
Huang De Han pursed his lips and replied, "I told them they had won a guided tour package, and they have already gone on the trip."
Yi Bing asked in surprise, "When did you book the tour for them? Why wasn't I aware of it?"
