Chapter 4 — Buying Back Freedom

The sound of rain tapped softly against the hotel windows.

Inside the luxurious suite, silence lingered heavily between Lin Yue and Song Chen. The black card remained in her trembling hands, its golden edges reflecting the dim afternoon light.

Song Chen stood near her quietly, his sharp gaze fixed on her lowered face.

“But until you tell me the real reason…” he said slowly, “…don’t even think about disappearing from my sight.”

Yue’s heartbeat became uneven.

For a moment, she considered lying.

But somehow, under those dark, unreadable eyes, she felt unable to hide anymore.

She tightened her grip on the card.

“You asked why exactly 2 million…” she whispered.

Song Chen remained silent.

Yue slowly lifted her eyes toward him. Pain flickered inside them like shattered glass.

“Because…” her voice trembled slightly, “…that is the price my adoptive mother put on my head.”

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Even Xu Kai, standing nearby, looked stunned.

“What do you mean?” Song Chen asked quietly.

Yue laughed bitterly, though tears were already gathering in her eyes.

“She wants to sell me to an old man to clear her debts.”

Her words felt painfully calm.

Too calm.

As if she had repeated that nightmare inside her mind countless times already.

“She said…” Yue swallowed hard, “…if I give her 2 million yuan, she’ll let me go forever.”

A dangerous darkness entered Song Chen’s eyes.

Xu Kai cursed under his breath.

“What kind of mother does something like that?!”

Yue lowered her head.

“She’s not my real mother.”

Her voice was soft, but the sadness inside it made the room feel colder.

Song Chen stared at her silently.

For the first time, he understood why she refused the 200 million.

This girl never wanted wealth.

She only wanted freedom.

A freedom that cost exactly 2 million yuan.

Yue forced herself to continue.

“I don’t want revenge. I don’t want luxury.” Her fingers trembled slightly. “I just want to end everything cleanly. Once I pay them back, I never want anything to do with that family again.”

The room became quiet except for the distant sound of thunder.

Song Chen suddenly stepped closer.

“How can you be sure they’ll keep their promise?”

Yue froze.

That question had haunted her all night.

But after years of humiliation and emotional abuse, even a small hope felt worth risking everything for.

“I…” she hesitated softly, “…I don’t know.”

For some reason, hearing that answer made Song Chen strangely angry.

Not at her—

But at the people who had pushed someone this gentle into desperation.

His gaze slowly softened.

“You’re naive.”

Yue blinked slightly.

Song Chen sighed quietly and loosened his tie.

“In business,” he said calmly, “people who trade humans for money rarely keep promises.”

His words struck directly into her heart.

Deep down, Yue already knew it too.

But what other choice did she have?

Suddenly, a warm breeze entered from the half-open balcony doors, causing the curtains to flutter softly around them.

For a brief second, neither of them spoke.

The distance between them felt strangely close now.

Too close.

Yue became painfully aware of how near Song Chen was standing.

She could smell the faint scent of cedarwood on his clothes. His presence was overwhelming, yet oddly comforting at the same time.

Her heartbeat became chaotic.

Song Chen noticed immediately.

A faint smile almost appeared on his lips.

Almost.

“You trust people too easily,” he murmured.

Yue looked away quickly.

“And you trust no one at all.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Xu Kai nearly stopped breathing.

Nobody spoke to President Song like that.

But instead of anger, something unreadable flickered across Song Chen’s eyes.

“You’re bold,” he said quietly.

Yue bit her lip awkwardly.

“I’m just telling the truth.”

For the first time in a long while, Song Chen felt the suffocating pressure around him ease slightly.

This girl was strange.

She looked fragile, yet she faced him without fear.

Outside, lightning flashed across the dark sky.

Yue suddenly remembered something and stepped back nervously.

“I should leave before your enemies find me.”

But Song Chen grabbed her wrist again.

His touch was firm, warm.

Yue’s breath caught instantly.

“You’re staying here tonight,” he said calmly.

“That’s dangerous.”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation. “For them.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

Song Chen released her wrist slowly, but his gaze remained locked onto hers.

“I’ll give you the 2 million,” he said.

Relief instantly flooded Yue’s face.

But before she could thank him—

He added quietly,

“On one condition.”

Yue’s heart skipped.

“What condition?”

Song Chen stepped closer until only a small distance remained between them.

Under the dim light, his deep voice sounded almost dangerous.

“Tomorrow…” he murmured, “…I’m going with you.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***