18 Chapter 18
In the hovercar, Ningjui looked at Lixue who was watching the scenery outside. This man suddenly appeared in the casino, suddenly told him to play, suddenly brought him out from the casino, and suddenly took him away after telling him to change.
Everything was too sudden and advancing too fast that he couldn't wrap his head around it. He was still blank from playing that high stake game and now he was practically turned dumb and could only wait for this mysterious man to explain. Heck, he didn't even know the man's name.
But seriously, the man was too beautiful that he could stare at him all day without complaint.
He was sitting on the seat earlier with this man standing behind him. Not to be narcissistic, but he was confident about his own face. After all, if his face wasn't up to standard, he wouldn't be asked to be an escort in the first place.
But earlier, it was the first time for him to be completely ignored except when the man introduced him as the player. The guests' eyes were always looking up at the person standing behind him.
Honestly, he kind of understand why Miss Guang personally attacked the man in front of him. He remembered clearly that lady was a regular in the casino. She often shuffled her partner and was quite popular because of her beauty. Because of that, her attitude was somewhat arrogant and high because of all the attention she was receiving. For someone like her to lose her spotlight, it would be certainly unpleasant for her.
What he didn't understand was why all the guests would side with the man that fast. Although Miss Guang quite often offend people, normally, wouldn't people defend someone more familiar to them? In addition, the other man was a stranger who strangely kept winning with the lowest probability and highest return and most probably a cheater. Though it was proven that the man wasn't one, even he thought it was still very weird how he won those 2 games. Moreover after hearing the initial case about why Miss Guang called the man a cheater. The total amount of credit the man gained was enough to pay off his debt with a lot of leftovers.
What was stranger was the man who came when Miss Guang was about to be taken away. If he recalled correctly, his name was He Kang. At first, Mr. He looked pissed and offended when he saw Miss Guang was about to be taken away. Everybody thought that Mr. He was going to save Miss Guang, but after the man whispered a few words to him, he suddenly changed his mind and even paid some additional compensation money to the man before hurriedly leaving the casino as if his house was on fire. He didn't forget to declare that he didn't know Miss Guang and didn't have any relationship with her.
"I would appreciate it if you can stop looking at me."
Ningjui snapped out of his thought from Lixue's voice and quickly averted his gaze down, "I'm sorry."
Lixue looked away from the window to Ningjui. This person was his only friend in the 'training' facility. Then both he and Ningjui was bought by the same person. He guessed at that time that the traffickers probably sold them as a pair to increase their price.
Ningjui was an innately pure boy but mature at the same time. In the training facility, he did everything he was told obediently and never caused trouble. His body was relatively cleaner and healthier because the trainer never had the opportunity to discipline him. He was also entrusted the role of the unofficial big brother by the trainer to manage the other product because of his capability. The reason why most of the products didn't entirely go insane was probably because of the small light and warmth Ningjui provided them.
He treated their wounds, took care of their health, accompanied them when they're on the verge of breaking down, and covered most of their mistake. They were the same age and soon clicked. He often helped Ningjui on the stricter side because Ningjui couldn't be harsh beyond certain lines. The older ones also often made trouble and he was the one who cleaned them up. He was beaten every day in his time in the palace, so his body was relatively sturdy although in terms of strength he wasn't that much.
When Lixue saw those eyes today, he could immediately tell the difference from when he saw Ningjui the first time in the facility. Although both shone like starlight, Ningjui's eyes in his previous life were more firm, unwavering, and assuring. The one in front of him right now was purer, warmer, with a bit of childlike innocence inside.
He remembered clearly that night when Ningjui told him how he came to be in the trafficker's den.
Ningjui has a little sister who was 3 years younger than him. She has a weak heart and in the best-case scenario, she could only live until 10 years old. Although artificial heart has existed, it wasn't a permanent solution and could only operate for several years. Not to mention, it was only compatible for some people and unfortunately, her sister wasn't one of them. Her blood type was also very rare, AB negative. It was as if God especially put these circumstances to take her away. Even until his sister was 7 years old, they still couldn't find any matching heart.
The price of her little sister's medication and checkup was already very heavy on the family. His mother died from overwork and his father also has symptoms of depression. When the news about the advanced artificial heart appeared, which was universal and permanent, Ningjui and his father were ecstatic but depressed at the same time. They didn't have enough credit to buy another year's worth of medication, let alone an artificial heart.
But seeing this chance, his father didn't want to let it go and eventually borrowed credit from his friend who dabbled in the underworld. They were close friends in their youth but became apart because both of them got married and became busy. His friend helped him with only 5% of interest out of pity and old-time sake.
The operation was successful, and all that was left was for Ningjui's father to pay off his debt. They often got in touch in this period of time and Ningjui's father's friend also invite him to meals regularly where Ningjui was also brought along. So Ningjui got acquainted with his father's friend and called him Uncle Lei.
They were both respectful people. Ningjui's father never thought of running away from his responsibility and paid in installments every month. Uncle Lei also trusted him and never forcefully extorted money from Ningjui's father.
But one day, when they were eating a meal together, a group of people was sent to kill Uncle Lei. Unfortunately, Ningjui's father got dragged into it and was killed in the crossfire. Uncle Lei felt very guilty but because the credit Ningjui's father borrowed was too much, he also couldn't afford to lose them. Ningjui understood this and promised to continue paying back his family's debt in his father's stead.
Uncle Lei found him the job in the casino through his connection. It was a secure job with high salary. Initially, he was given a job as a waiter, but his face attracted many guests and some of them asked him for escort.
He refused at first. But after several requests, the casino finally offered him to be an escort with payment several times larger than his salary as a waiter and after they explained an escort job, Ningjui finally agreed. What made him agreed, in the end, was because Uncle Lei reassured him that he would warn the casino that Ningjui wasn't available for sexual activity, only pure accompaniment, after Ningjui told the situation to Uncle Lei.
If everything went smoothly, Ningjui would be able to pay back the credit in two years' time.
But unfortunately, he attracted a dangerous man with more power than Uncle Lei. He was the man behind the trafficking group. He first acted just like a normal guest and pretended to be drunk. Ningjui helped him to his room under his manager's order but after arriving at the room he was drugged and raped.
After being raped, the man didn't finish there and kidnapped Ningjui. He locked Ningjui in his residence to be played with for several weeks until he got bored. Then, he tossed Ningjui to the traffickers to be sold off.
"At that time, the only thing keeping me alive was the thought of my little sister and the hope that Uncle Lei would save me," Ningjui said at that time, "But then, I realized, nobody will come. I won't be saved."
Lixue remembered asking, "Then how?"
With a soft smile, Ningjui gazed up the stars in the sky which was reflected in his eyes, "Because there was a sun who led me the way," he reached out his hand as if trying to grab the stars, "A dying sun whose light is only enough to light one short path for one person. Yet, it was more than enough for me."
