Dangerous Liaisons - Chapter 18

Chuyu was taken to Yunnan and then secretly smuggled out of the country. To her surprise, they weren’t heading to Thailand but to Myanmar.

Since getting involved with Lu Zimo, being kidnapped wasn’t exactly a new experience for her. But this time, Chuyu felt a particularly deep sense of unease.

Even when Renault’s men had acted within China, they had been discreet. This time, however, the group that kidnapped her had brazenly snatched her off the street in broad daylight. Their plans were meticulously executed, quickly moving her across borders and evading the police with ease.

The journey was relentless, day and night. Once they crossed into Myanmar, the group’s attitude became even more arrogant. They no longer seemed in a hurry to escape pursuit, and the way they looked at Chuyu grew increasingly sinister with each passing day.

In Myanmar, they switched to an open-top jeep, taking remote mountain paths. When they stopped at roadside shops, they never paid for anything. If the shopkeepers dared to protest, they were met with violence.

Chuyu was bound hand and foot and placed in the back seat of the jeep. No matter who left, someone always stayed behind to guard her. Escape was impossible. Even if she managed to free herself, she didn’t speak the local language. The villagers, seeing her tied up and helpless, didn’t dare intervene.

After a week of this, they finally reached their destination: Mong Kung, a special administrative region within the Kachin State.

It was the rainy season, and the Kachin State was in the midst of its flood period. The rivers were swollen, and the lush vegetation along the roads seemed to glisten under the heavy rains. The group arrived at a riverside village bustling with activity. Strong men were busy reinforcing the riverbanks to prevent flooding.

The jeep rattled into the village. The village was simple in structure—a cluster of wooden houses surrounding a central dirt yard, enclosed by thick wooden walls. To protect against floods and insects, the houses were raised about three meters off the ground, with platforms extending out in front. The jeep stopped at one such platform, and the men dragged Chuyu out, hauling her upstairs.

After seven days of torment, Chuyu was a mess. Her clothes were filthy, her hair disheveled, and her white shirt had turned a grimy gray. The men pushed her into a room and suddenly switched to English, calling out, “Sophie, we’ve brought her.”

The transition from the bright sunlight outside to the dim interior left Chuyu momentarily blinded. As her eyes adjusted, she saw a young woman sitting on a large sofa.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a wild, untamed aura. Her eyes were captivating, filled with a thousand emotions. She lounged casually on the sofa, her posture accentuating her curvaceous figure. She wore traditional Burmese clothing, the vibrant colors enhancing her striking beauty.

As Chuyu studied her, the woman did the same, her expression gradually shifting to one of disdain. Sophie looked up at the men behind Chuyu. “Is this really the woman doctor?”

“Yes, Miss Sophie,” one of the men replied respectfully.

Sophie stood slowly. She was tall, and her traditional attire emphasized her perfect proportions. She circled Chuyu, her gaze critical. “I don’t understand why they say Lu treasures this woman. She’s so ordinary. Aren’t there thousands like her on the streets?”

The men around them burst into laughter. Sophie reached out, her slender fingers tracing Chuyu’s jaw. Her eyes were cold and calculating. “Woman, Lu says you’re just his savior. Is that true?”

Chuyu met Sophie’s gaze. The woman was beautiful, but the longer Chuyu looked at her, the more she sensed a hidden venom beneath the surface. Being stared at by Sophie felt like being watched by a brightly colored but deadly snake. Chuyu smiled faintly and replied calmly, “Are you talking about the Lu Zimo I picked up in a bar?”

Sophie’s eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly masked it with a smile. “Hmm, it seems there was no need to go through all the trouble of bringing you here from China. I expected a stunning beauty. This is… underwhelming.” She paused, then feigned surprise as she turned to the men. “Didn’t you hear? She’s my guest. Why is she still tied up?”

One of the men stepped forward and untied Chuyu. After seven days of being bound, the ropes finally came off. Chuyu rubbed her sore wrists, which were marked with deep, purple bruises. Sophie smiled sweetly. “Rain, you’ll forgive me, won’t you? I’m just a woman, and before marriage, I wanted to know what kind of woman could capture my husband’s heart. Since you’re here, why not stay as my guest for a few days? Consider it my apology. Then I’ll have someone take you back to China. How does that sound?”

“It’s fine. I understand,” Chuyu replied, massaging her wrists to ease the numbness.

Sophie clapped her hands like a child. “Where’s Lu? Tell him Rain is here. He should come back immediately.”

So, bringing her here had been with Lu Zimo’s knowledge. Chuyu lowered her eyes, hiding her thoughts.

Sophie led her out to the platform, where two chairs were set up. They sat, and coffee was served. Sophie smiled at her. “It’s so nice to have you here. This place is so big, and there’s hardly anyone I can talk to. The local women don’t speak English—oh, I forgot to mention, I grew up in England.”

Chuyu didn’t respond. Sophie gazed into the distance. “Meeting Lu was like a dream. I thought he wasn’t interested in me, but when we went to Thailand, he proposed to me. He didn’t even object when I suggested bringing his former woman here… I’m so happy.”

Was this what happened when girls like Sophie were raised as princesses, their minds warped by privilege? Did she spare Chuyu because she saw her as no threat? What would have happened if she had?

Chuyu shuddered, unable to feel any warmth toward the woman.

“Ah, Lu’s back!”

Sophie suddenly stood, her colorful skirts swirling as she ran down the stairs. Chuyu slowly rose to her feet. At the village gate, a jeep kicked up a cloud of dust as it sped in. Even from this distance, she could see the man in the passenger seat. Sophie, a blur of color, threw herself into Lu Zimo’s arms the moment the jeep stopped, pulling him into a passionate kiss.

Chuyu’s breath caught. She gripped the wooden railing of the platform, the rough texture digging into her palms until the pain distracted her from the ache in her chest. Sophie finally released Lu Zimo, pointing toward the platform and saying something to him. Lu Zimo looked up, his eyes meeting Chuyu’s. Despite the distance, she could see every detail of his expression—cold and detached, as if she were a stranger.

Sophie linked her arm with Lu Zimo’s, and they walked toward the platform, their laughter growing louder as they approached. Chuyu’s heart, which had felt like it was being squeezed, finally relaxed. Lu Zimo’s hand rested casually on Sophie’s waist, her curves perfectly complementing his tall frame. The sight stung Chuyu’s eyes.

They reached the platform, and Lu Zimo nodded at Chuyu. “I’m sorry, Dr. Deng. My fiancée is quite mischievous. It was wrong of me to indulge her. You’ve been through a lot.”

“Miss Sophie is lucky to have someone like you who cares for her so much,” Chuyu replied.

She had expected to freeze, but instead, her heart settled into a strange calm, retreating to a place where she couldn’t feel the pain or sadness.

“I’ll have someone take you back to China. You don’t need to worry,” Lu Zimo said.

Sophie tugged at his arm. “Lu, let Rain stay with me for a few days, okay? It’s so rare to have someone who speaks English here. I get so lonely. And Rain already agreed, didn’t she?” Sophie turned to Chuyu, her smile dazzling. “Right, Rain?”

“You agreed?” Lu Zimo looked down at her, his gaze steady.

Chuyu hesitated, avoiding his eyes. “Miss Sophie was so insistent. It was hard to refuse.”

Lu Zimo thought for a moment, then surprisingly didn’t insist on sending her away. “Alright. Sophie gets lonely. It’s good for her to have company. In a few days, when the jewelers come, I’ll have them take you out.”

Chuyu didn’t respond. Sophie released Lu Zimo and took Chuyu’s arm. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room. Let’s go, hmm?”

Chuyu didn’t resist, letting Sophie lead her downstairs. As they reached the courtyard, she couldn’t help but glance back. Lu Zimo was already turned away, speaking to someone else.

His attention was no longer on her.

Perhaps now, his heart belonged only to Sophie—beautiful, powerful Sophie, who could offer him so much.

Sophie arranged for Chuyu to stay in a room at the southwest corner of the village, overlooking the turbulent Mong Kung River. The men in the village worked tirelessly on the riverbanks, finally stopping as the sun set. After bathing and changing into the traditional Burmese clothes Sophie had provided, Chuyu stood on the platform, gazing out at the river. The setting sun bathed the water in golden light, the waves surging with a life of their own. The vast sky stretched endlessly above, the scene both breathtaking and humbling.