Beta Chapter 75: Ransom

Chapter 75: Ransom

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Jiang Yi drove the car and felt the probing gaze from the passenger seat. He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Why keep staring at me? If President Duan finds out, he’ll be jealous.”

“So, are you acting as my driver now to make up for what happened with Duan Yizhou?” Luo Songran said, perhaps feeling a bit uncomfortable sitting like this. He adjusted the seat slightly, but still felt uncomfortable.

“Maybe. Anyway, President Duan brought me back and mentioned your plan to go abroad, so he asked me to accompany you the whole way.” Jiang Yi glanced at Luo Songran’s movement and asked, “Uncomfortable?”

Luo Songran responded with an ‘uh,’ “Sitting straight like this makes my waist uncomfortable. This car doesn’t have lumbar support.”

“Want to borrow my coat to cushion it?” Jiang Yi asked while steering.

“It’s no use. It’s not soft.” Luo Songran still felt uncomfortable and could only sit up again, bending down to massage his lower back. Just as he bent down, the car suddenly stopped abruptly, causing him to lurch forward due to inertia.

At that moment, a surge of nausea rose in his throat.

Jiang Yi immediately turned on the hazard lights upon realizing the car malfunction and saw Luo Songran lurching forward. Swiftly, he reached out and caught him by the dashboard, preventing him from hitting his head, “Are you alright?”

Luo Songran felt his forehead hit something soft, not fully reacting yet. He slowly raised his head, only then realizing that Jiang Yi’s hand had protected his forehead, preventing him from hitting it directly.

“I’m okay. Is the car malfunctioning?” he asked in surprise.

“It seems to have broken down. I’ll park the car on the emergency lane first. I’ll call someone to fix it.” Jiang Yi noticed his slightly unpleasant expression. “Sure you’re okay?”

Luo Songran leaned back in his seat, looking frustrated. He touched his stomach and then looked at Jiang Yi. “I feel a bit uncomfortable again, like I want to vomit.”

Jiang Yi immediately parked the car properly. “Get out of the car first.”

Now he had a chance to make amends. He couldn’t let Duan Yizhou’s little scion have another mishap while with him. It was indeed unfortunate that even the Porsche broke down!

The afternoon sun was scorching, and Luo Songran felt sweat on his back after standing by the roadside for two minutes. He squinted his eyes, feeling a bit dizzy. Then he saw Jiang Yi placing a warning sign not far away as a reminder.

“The insurance company and the rescue car should be here soon.” Jiang Yi walked back to Luo Songran’s side, seeing his face reddened by the sun, his forehead covered in sweat. Out of concern, he positioned Luo Songran’s body slightly sideways to block the sunlight and then handed him a tissue. “If you’re uncomfortable, speak up, especially since you’re pregnant now.”

Accepting the tissue, Luo Songran seemed to realize something. “No wonder Duan Yizhou likes you so much. You’re really good at taking care of people.”

This statement caught Jiang Yi off guard. “Don’t misunderstand. My relationship with President Duan may be more relaxed than with other superiors, but it’s just a mentorship. I’ve been following him since graduation, and back then, both of us were somewhat socially anxious.”

Luo Songran was half-believing and half-doubting as he looked at Jiang Yi. “You, socially anxious? Duan Yizhou, socially anxious?”

That was the funniest joke he heard today.

Jiang Yi chuckled. “Yeah.”

Luo Songran didn’t know what to say, so he just chuckled and gave a thumbs up. It might also be because it was too hot, making him feel nauseous again. His face turned pale, and he turned to lean against a nearby tree, bending over to dry heave.

Jiang Yi’s expression suddenly darkened. He quickly patted the back of his little scion, only to find that Luo Songran’s clothes were soaked with sweat on his back. “What’s wrong? Morning sickness? Or is it too hot?”

“…A bit of both.” Luo Songran dry heaved a few times, then weakly replied after catching his breath.

At that moment, they heard the sound of a vehicle stopping behind them, along with a familiar voice, “Little Luo, need any help?”

Jiang Yi turned his head and saw the alpha he had seen at the company gate earlier. Instinctively, he wanted to refuse the help, but seeing that Luo Songran seemed genuinely unwell and the requested car hadn’t arrived yet, he thought that with him around, this alpha wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway.

“We need help. Our car broke down. Could you take us to Langqing Bay?” 

The owner of the car parked beside them was the plain-looking man. He immediately got out of the car and walked over to them, looking worried. “Then let’s get in the car quickly. What’s wrong with Little Luo? Heatstroke?”

Luo Songran thought it might be because he had eaten too much for lunch, feeling a bit nauseous. He straightened up and waved his hand, “No big problem. Let’s trouble you for a ride.”

The plain-looking man seemed very humble. “No problem, this is what I should do. Let’s get in the car first.”

After Luo Songran and Jiang Yi got into the back seat of the car, Luo Songran felt even more nauseous from the strong scent of perfume in the car. The nausea rising from his stomach was even stronger than before, his head pounding. He leaned back, breathing deeply, feeling like he couldn’t bear it.

But Duan Yizhou wasn’t here, and he didn’t know how to alleviate the discomfort at this moment. He could only endure it silently, silently chanting for them to get home faster. Then, as if remembering something, he touched the watch on his wrist and pressed the third dot on the side of the watch.

—Pressing the third dot means conveying that you’re thinking of me, wanting to see me.

He really needed Duan Yizhou now.

Just then, Jiang Yi, sitting silently beside him, looked at the road ahead. “Why are we heading to the outskirts? Isn’t this the way back to Langqing Bay?”

Only then did Luo Songran look out the window and realize that it was indeed not the road back to Langqing Bay.

The honest man driving the car looked innocent. “Huh? Isn’t this the right road? It seems I’ve taken the wrong turn.” But he still showed no intention of turning back, continuing to drive forward.

They had already left the city and were heading towards the outskirts. The atmosphere in the car changed instantly.

Luo Songran frowned, subconsciously looking at Jiang Yi, only to see Jiang Yi shaking his head slightly, as if telling him to stay calm. He didn’t speak, wondering what was going on.

“My spouse passed away. I don’t know if you’ve heard about it. A few days ago, I spent all my savings to buy a good spot in the cemetery for them, and I buried them properly. Then I brought their ashes back home. I always feel like they’re still with me, not gone.”

Upon hearing the man’s words, Jiang Yi and Luo Songran exchanged a knowing glance, understanding what was going on. Jiang Yi suddenly felt fortunate that he arrived in time. Otherwise, it could have been risky for the pregnant little ancestor to face such an alpha alone. It seemed this person was the relative of the deceased lover who died unexpectedly as a volunteer for the experimental drug.

“I know,” Jiang Yi said.

The honest man glanced at the rearview mirror, his gaze falling on the handsome young man sitting on the left. A dark and hateful expression appeared in his eyes. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, he said, “What do you know? For people like you, volunteers are nothing but guinea pigs, stepping stones for your fame and fortune. My spouse and I were already planning to have a baby, but then they got it into their head to become a volunteer. It was the Galaxy Group that killed my lover. So, I’ll make Yan Nanchen lose someone he cares about.”

Jiang Yi’s face darkened suddenly. This was bad; this person was here for revenge, not because, as he claimed, Yan Nanchen arranged for him to be Luo Songran’s driver. Just as he was about to take out his phone, his hand was stopped by a consistently cool touch, and he looked bewilderedly at Luo Songran beside him.

“Volunteers sign a volunteer agreement; it’s not coercion,” Luo Songran withdrew his hand. Despite his somewhat pale complexion, his eyes were clear as he leaned back in his seat, staring at the man in the driver’s seat. “Sir, your spouse was a researcher at the Galaxy Institute. Although they couldn’t confirm the safety of the drug, they chose to be a volunteer because they believed more in the safety of this drug than others. They believed the special drug could stabilize the effects of pheromone disorder on them, just like my father. He was also one of the first volunteers for the special drug. Becoming a volunteer and getting injected wasn’t for nothing; to a large extent, it was done for their loved ones. I think your spouse did it for you too. They wouldn’t want you to do anything reckless and ruin yourself for them.”

The car headed towards the increasingly desolate outskirts, toward a remote and sparsely populated village. Jiang Yi was texting when suddenly the car made a sharp turn and slammed on the brakes. The phone fell onto the carpet due to inertia and slid forward.

“Ugh—” Luo Songran was thrown against the car door by the violent turn, letting out a pained cry. His face turned even paler. It wasn’t so much the impact that hurt; it was the force of it, which hit his stomach. His stomach suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“Are you okay? Where did it hit you?!” Jiang Yi immediately sat up upon hearing the commotion, forgetting about the message he hadn’t sent yet, and rushed to support Luo Songran. Seeing his complexion even paler than before, Jiang Yi glared angrily at the man driving the car.

Luo Songran gritted his teeth, enduring it. “…I’m fine, luckily.”

Just as Jiang Yi was about to explode, he heard the sound of the engine starting again. He felt something was wrong; this alpha wouldn’t be so heartless as to intentionally do this, right? Worriedly, he glanced at Luo Songran. He was a pregnant husband; he couldn’t bear such rough handling.

“Since my spouse is gone, there’s nothing left for me to live for. But I can’t let this go. Yan Nanchen hasn’t given me a satisfactory answer, so I won’t let him off easily.” The man in the driver’s seat suddenly stepped on the gas and headed straight for the shabby self-built house not far away.

Jiang Yi’s eyes darkened, and he quickly grabbed the seat next to him, then shouted at Luo Songran, “Hold on tight!” 

He then leaped into the passenger seat, grabbing for the man’s steering wheel. This action startled the man. The two began to struggle for control of the steering wheel. The moment the steering wheel was wrested away, the car’s center of gravity tilted sharply. The tires rubbed frantically against the sparsely vegetated, mostly muddy ground. 

Luo Songran clenched the handrail above his head, his face even paler, feeling like he was about to vomit. He saw Jiang Yi struggling with the man for the steering wheel, his expression changing instantly. “Jiang Yi!”

“Are you freaking insane?! Can’t we talk things out properly? Do you think you can escape the ultimate punishment by doing this?!” Jiang Yi exerted all his strength to control the steering wheel, trying to wrestle it away from the man.

Because of the slight bulging of veins on his neck, which seemed strained, he still appeared somewhat weak, mainly because the man was determined to drive towards the self-built house despite Jiang Yi’s efforts. If they really crashed into it, they would definitely be in trouble, so he was willing to take the risk.

“This is the only way I can make my demands clear. If I don’t cause such a stir, how would a small fry like me matter to the Galaxy Group? The powerful and wealthy can cover up everything, not to mention a single life!!” The man’s face flushed as he fought with Jiang Yi for the steering wheel, stepping on the gas pedal to the max.

In the fierce struggle for control of the steering wheel, the car crashed into a nearby tree, providing a slight buffer to the speed but still causing a significant impact on everyone inside.

With this impact, Luo Songran’s hand, originally holding onto the handrail above his head, was suddenly released. His back hit the seatback abruptly, freezing his expression. The next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, his face completely drained of color. He opened his mouth, unable to articulate properly due to the pain, bending over in agony and collapsing onto the seat, clutching his stomach.

“…My stomach… hurts so much.”

Jiang Yi suddenly turned his head, looking at Luo Songran who had fallen in the back seat. His pupils contracted, unable to contain the rising anger any longer. He lunged onto the driver’s seat, suppressing the alpha, and his elbow swiftly struck out towards him, the force and speed both aggressive.

Caught off guard, the man was struck by Jiang Yi’s elbow on his face, the impact strong enough to redden his mouth. Perhaps this blow fueled his rage further; he reached for something nearby and viciously jabbed it into Jiang Yi’s shoulder.

Jiang Yi didn’t know what the man had jabbed him with until he looked down and found a syringe embedded in his shoulder. Perhaps due to the speed, he hadn’t felt any pain yet. He quickly grabbed the man’s hand to remove the syringe, but it was too late.

“Here’s the second differentiation drug for you guys.” The man injected all the contents of the syringe into Jiang Yi’s shoulder, then pulled the needle out and threw it out the window, laughing arrogantly. “I don’t know if you’ll live or die, but since my spouse is gone, I fear nothing now.”

Then he sat and watched Jiang Yi on the passenger seat as if expecting something.

In the backseat, Luo Songran heard that Jiang Yi had been injected with the second differentiation drug. Enduring the pain in his abdomen, he suddenly remembered his watch and quickly pressed the first dot.

At first, Jiang Yi in the passenger seat didn’t feel anything. He was trying to restrain the man, but after about a dozen seconds, his face turned pale instantly. His glands began to ache violently, almost to the point of bursting, causing him to lose strength instantly. His heart raced rapidly, as if it would burst his eardrums, and the chill caused by the reverse flow of blood throughout his body made him unbearably miserable.

Trembling, he let go of the man’s hand, his face losing color in an instant. He clutched his neck and collapsed back into the seat, completely losing his rationality and movement. The pain was almost taking his breath away. Why did his glands hurt so much…

“Jiang Yi!!!” Luo Songran shouted, eyes widened. But just as he was about to open the car door and get out, the man in the driver’s seat was quicker, opening the passenger door and violently kicking the immobilized Jiang Yi out, then swiftly closing the door.

With a click, the door was locked.

Luo Songran hurriedly tried to open the car door, but it was locked. Seeing that he couldn’t open it, he attempted to lower the window, but the next second, the window slowly rolled up, and just as it was about to close, he dismantled his watch and threw it out. The watch landed right at Jiang Yi’s feet.

Now he could only watch helplessly as Jiang Yi, who had been kicked out, lay on the ground, his face twisted in pain, gritting his teeth in anger. Then he grasped the door handle tightly, slowly raising his gaze, meeting the excited gaze of the man in the driver’s seat.

“Young master, if I demand a 2 billion ransom from the Galaxy Group using you as leverage, will they give it to me?” Luo Songran clenched his already pale lips, his gaze falling on Jiang Yi outside, curled up in pain on the ground. 

Jiang Yi was injected with the second differentiation drug to protect him. He was an alpha; he wouldn’t be able to withstand such pain as a second differentiator. He hoped Duan Yizhou could find Jiang Yi quickly. If… if he was delayed because of him, then it would be disastrous.

With this thought, his hand gripping the door handle tightened, the bones turning white with force. The pain in his stomach seemed to match the intensity of his anger at this moment. His face was pale, disdainfully looking back at the man’s face, as if he was looking at garbage, then he chuckled lightly, “I’m not worth 2 billion, but are you worthy of 2 billion?”

 

 

 

 

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