𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

twenty-four ✪

Zhu Xinyi's POV

I opened my eyes and looked at my surroundings. "Shit, where am I?"

I tried moving my hands but they were tied up. Wait, what happened again? My head hurts and I don't remember a thing.

"Oh, you're awake," I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"So Hyun?" I asked. "What the heck are you doing here?"

"Looking after you," She replied, standing up. "Yanchen's out. Probably looking for a decent lawyer to get his parents out of jail."

"So what are you? Their personal assistant?" I hissed.

So Hyun smiled, "I just went by your house earlier and your family's a wreck. I wonder what they'd feel if something does happen to you."

"You bitch," I said, trying to release myself from the grip of the rope. "Let me go!"

She clicked her tongue, "No one's gonna hear you here, idiot. It's not like this place is easy to find anyway."

I flinched as I heard the door open. Yanchen was wearing a coat and walking towards us, looking a little annoyed. "Doesn't Korea have a decent lawyer?"

"Still haven't found anyone?" So Hyun said, moving towards him and removing his coat.

"How can I?!" He growled. "No one wants to take the case since they don't want to lose their jobs."

"That must suck for you," I bluntly said.

Yanchen snapped his head at me, "Well, would you look at that. My wife's awake." He started touching my hair, then my cheeks. "Are you ready for our wedding?"

I suddenly kicked his ankle as he winced in pain, "Fine! Honeymoon it is then!"

"What do you want, Yanchen?" I exclaimed, before his hands could go to where I think they're going.

"You," He honestly answered. "Seriously, why are you making this hard, Xinyi? We could get married, expand the business, be the world's best known company. I already have plans for us."

"Sorry, but I don't want to do them with you."

Yanchen scoffed, "Who do you want to do it with then? That scumbag, Xukun?"

"He's not a scumbag! And he's better looking than you!" I argued. "At least he knows where to put his hands where it belongs."

Yanchen raised his hand and was about to slap me when So Hyun exclaimed, "Yanchen!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw a fist land on Yanchen's face and he rolled on the ground.

"Touch her one more time and that's not all you're gonna get, Zhou Yanchen."

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Cai Xukun's POV

TWO HOURS AGO

"Still no clue?" Ziyi asked Xiao Gui in which the latter shook his head.

"Okay, Zhengting's -" Quanzhe patted, entering the house. "Zhengting's passed out on the yard."

"What happened?" Zeren asked.

Quanzhe sat down on the couch, still trying to catch his breath, "He knocked on all the neighbors' doors, looking for Xinyi."

"It's been almost 24 hours," I muttered, holding a mug in my hand.

Changbin gulped, "If you're planning to throw something again, throw that outside."

I sighed, "I'm going to look for her -"

When I opened the door, Yoojung was standing in front of me preparing to knock, "Come in then."

Yoojung scratched her head and pointed outside, "Why is Zhu Zhengting sleeping outside?"

"He passed out," Changbin replied.

"Okay," She quickly put her bag on the table. I was really about to go out when she called out my name, "Stop. You are not leaving, Cai Xukun."

I clenched my fists, "Xinyi's out there. Waiting for me. If you guys have nothing to give me as a clue, I'm going to find her myself."

"I have a lead," She said, opening her laptop. "Vernon's out with Seungkwan and one of his hyungs today and luckily he spotted Yanchen."

We huddled towards her in a circle. Yoojung opened a video and it was pointed at a building. I just realized it was live.

"Are you seeing this?" We can hear Vernon's voice from the car.

"Who is this guy anyway?" A voice I don't recognize spoke up. Must be the owner of the car.

"A bad guy," Seungkwan replies.

"Wait," Xiao Gui squinted his eyes. "What's Yanchen doing at a law office?"

"Looking for a lawyer, obviously?" Seungkwan said, sarcastically.

"Ssh," Yoojung hushed them before it could get wild.

We saw Yanchen walked out and kicked some rocks. He took out his phone and called someone.

"Lucky for me, Vernon owns a spy listening device," Yoojung said as we hear Vernon search through his bag.

"Why does Vernon own that thing?" Zeren asked, completely dumbfounded.

We saw Vernon point the device at Yanchen.

"Is she awake?"

"Well, I have no business for today so I might be going there a bit early."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll see you soon."

Yanchen ended the call and proceeded to walk ahead.

"Jeonghan-hyung, step on it!" Seungkwan exclaimed, shaking the driver awake.

They slowly followed Yanchen, being careful not to be seen. The video suddenly flipped to Vernon's face, "You coming here or what?"

"We -"

"Not you," Vernon cut off Yoojung before she could say anything. "We'll send the coordinates once we're sure where he's going."

Xiao Gui nods, "I'll alert the police,"

Quanzhe stood up and took a pitcher of water from the fridge, "I'll wake Zhengting up."

I bit my lip and I noticed Vernon looking at me, "What?"

"We're going to find her, okay? She's our friend too."

I nodded as I looked at Yoojung then back at Vernon in the video, "I'll make sure Yoojung doesn't come along."

"Hey!" Yoojung exclaimed, pouting.

"Thanks, man." Vernon smiled a bit. "The last thing I would want is for her to get caught up in this mess."

The video ended. I looked at Yoojung and smirked, "That was one caring boyfriend,"

I saw her blushed and giggled but before she could answer, I reassured her, "I'm not gonna tell anyone, I promise."

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word count: 986 words
3/10/18