Filming: It was him

That voice was so familiar. It belonged to the benefactor who had saved him, his friend, the teacher who had taught him so much, and... Lu Yan.

Mo Hua looked up in disbelief. He had wondered who could possibly have the power to abduct someone from the Lu Family. So that was it. It had been the host himself all along.

The stinging pain in his face was a sharp reminder of what had just happened. He had just taken a beating for Lu Yan.

His attempts to defend him had been so ridiculous. How stupid, Mo Feng. They even used me as a wager.

The other two were still talking.

The man with the scar on his face smiled at Lu Yan. "I have to say, this kid really is loyal. He wouldn't tell me anything about you, no matter what."

"So you lost. Remember our bet."

"Fine. Hand him over to me."

"What for?"

"Have you forgotten how I got this scar? I finally got my hands on that bastard's little brother. Of course I'm going to make him pay."

"And you know, his little brother is pretty good-looking."

A flicker of disgust crossed Lu Yan's eyes. "No. I need him. Pick something else."

"What, Young Master Lu? You won't even do me this little favor?"

Lu Yan chuckled. "A favor? Wang Laosan, the goods you want are still in my hands. Think it through. I don't like letting relationships turn too ugly."

"Fine. I'll let you have your way, Young Master Lu." With that, he left with his men.

The room fell quiet. Lu Yan sat down beside Mo Hua. "I'm sorry."

"You approached me on purpose, because of my brother?"

"I had no choice. Your brother has ruined a lot of things for me. It took a lot of digging to find out he had a little brother like you."

"There's a mole in the police station?"

Lu Yan did not answer, but Mo Hua knew he had guessed correctly. Apart from the basic information required for school, everything else was confidential. Even his teachers did not know what his brother looked like. His brother had no time, so he had arranged for another older brother to take care of Mo Hua's daily needs.

Other than a mole in the police station, he could not think of any way Lu Yan could have learned about him.

"So you're going to use me to threaten my brother?"

"I have no choice. You're both family and a hostage. They're bound to put your safety first."

"Your brother has been pushing us too hard. This deal is very important to us."

Having learned what he wanted to know, Mo Hua said nothing more. Lu Yan, however, could not stand the silence.

"Isn't there anything you want to ask?"

"There's no need. I was a poor judge of character."

Lu Yan offered no explanation. "Just this once. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. After this, I'll go abroad and never come back."

Mo Hua still gave no response.

Lu Yan left. A little while later, a maid came up to apply medicine to Mo Hua's injuries. She was the same one who had brought him food before.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Over the next few days, Lu Yan did not show up again. Mo Hua did, however, meet another member of the Lu Family: Lu Yan's eldest brother.

Perhaps the two did not get along, because his eldest brother said a great deal against Lu Yan.

For instance, the thugs who had harassed Mo Hua had actually been hired by Lu Yan. Their first meeting had been staged by Lu Yan as well, and even the place where Mo Hua worked belonged to him.

In truth, from the moment he learned what had happened, he had known that his meeting with Lu Yan had been planned. He had also suspected that Lu Yan had hired those thugs. After all, his arrival had been far too conveniently timed.

But Lu Yan had constantly pestered him back then, making him overlook how strange his appearance had been. In the end, he had simply been too trusting.

Although he had suspected it, hearing someone say it aloud still hurt terribly. The feelings he had invested had been real. He had never had such a good friend before.

Lu Yan was far too good at pretending! For the first time, Mo Hua hated how powerless he was.

His hands were bound, and he could not break free at all. Over the next few days, however, he discovered that the strips of cloth around his wrists were growing looser and looser. He could even slip his hands out.

But there were guards outside, so he still could not leave, no matter how much he wanted to. Then a note found its way into his hands.

"The young masters have all gone out. There are only two people outside now."

He knew his chance had come. He wanted to jump straight out of the window.

He looked down. Sixth floor.

They really are rich, building a house this tall.

Just as he was hesitating over how to get out, he suddenly heard voices outside. He knew Lu Yan had returned, so he hurried back to lie down and tightened the cloth strips a little.

For some reason, whenever Lu Yan came back, he would come and talk to him at length, though Mo Hua never responded.

Lu Yan did not seem to care. Each time, he simply talked away on his own. Today, however, Mo Hua noticed him say, "I'm leaving."

He knew the police must have agreed to exchange him, but he did not want more people to suffer because of him. Nor did he want all the honor his brother had earned to be destroyed because of him.

So he silently made a decision.

The next time he saw the maid, he asked softly, "Could you give me a small knife?"

He knew the maid had delivered the note. She was the only person who could enter the room, and besides, it had used the words "young masters." It was far too obvious.

All he could do now was be grateful that Lu Yan had not installed a camera in the room. Otherwise, he would have feared for the maid's life.

By their next meeting, Mo Hua had a small knife. As she was leaving, he asked another question. "Why?"

Why was she helping him?

The maid said nothing, so Mo Hua continued, "Leave after I'm gone. It's too dangerous here. Or you could go to my brother."

"My brother is Mo Feng. Tell them his name, and the people at the police station won't give you any trouble." Mo Hua spoke proudly, his expression full of pride in his brother.

The maid kept walking. He thought he would not hear an answer, but just before she left, her words reached his ears. "Because you're the first person to respect me."

Because, in this dark life, you were the only person who gave me respect. The only person who didn't look at me with prejudice.

Perhaps she knew what Mo Hua intended to do. As the door closed, she left him with two final words. "Take care."

She was only a maid. This was all she could do. Beyond that, there was nothing else she could help with.

Mo Hua smiled faintly. He felt that he would not regret his choice. There were still more good people in the world than bad.

On the day of the hostage exchange, the weather was exceptionally fine, without a cloud in the sky.

Throughout the journey, Mo Hua gazed at the scenery outside, as though he could never get enough of it.

"Is the scenery outside really that beautiful?" Lu Yan asked.

"It is. Of course it is. I haven't been able to see it for days."

Lu Yan froze slightly. This was the first time in so long that Mo Hua had spoken to him, and his tone was just as it had always been.

"Are you that happy today?"

"Of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be? I'll be home soon."

"Yes. You'll be home soon."