Forced Pampering: Haughty Husband, Please Restrain Yourself

Chapter 697: Chapter 710: Encountered Human Traffickers?

”Ring——” The phone’s ringing pierced through the silent room. Almost instinctively, Xu Hailian grabbed her cellphone. Seeing an unknown number, her pupils contracted. She pressed the answer button and, confirming that the man beside her was not awakened, tiptoed out of the bedroom.

”Brother Dong, what’s the matter so early in the morning?”

Upon hearing the woman’s voice, the person on the other end spoke, ”The job’s done. You can transfer the remaining balance.”

”Really?” Hearing that the job was done, Xu Hailian immediately became spirited.

”When I handle things, what’s there to worry about? The goods are already on the ship, the freighter is about to set sail. I guarantee, from now on, this woman will never appear in front of you again.” Brother Dong promised confidently.

Xu Hailian let out a breath of relief, as if all the pent-up anxiety over the days was exhaled in that sigh.

”That’s good. Three million will be transferred after dawn.”

After hanging up the phone, Xu Hailian clutched the cellphone, her palm drenched in sweat, even trembling slightly.

Only she knew that it was out of excitement.

An Ran, didn’t you go against the Xu Family and the Guo Family? I will show you the consequences of crossing me.

Isn’t your backing strong? Let’s see this time, facing those living on the edge, how strong your backing can be.

”Mom——”

The voice behind her startled Xu Hailian, and her phone fell to the ground. She turned back nervously to see Guo Xinyi standing on the stairs, looking at her.

”You child, what are you doing so early? Sneaking around trying to scare me to death?”

Xu Hailian patted her chest, glanced towards the bedroom, and, seeing that Guo Wenshan was not disturbed, bent down to pick up the phone.

”I wanted to get a glass of water. Mom, what are you doing?” Guo Xinyi said as she walked down the stairs, observing Xu Hailian, noticing her clutching the phone as if she had just finished a call.

Xu Hailian scrutinized her daughter, ensuring she had no doubts, and secretly let out a sigh of relief. ”Nothing much, just drinking a glass of water and sending a message to Mrs. Cao.”

After speaking, she went upstairs, holding the phone tightly.

In the damp, musty ship’s hold, it was dark and gloomy.

An Ran slowly opened her eyes, her nostrils filled with a stench of blood and decay. There were distant sounds of sirens and the churning waters by propellers, as well as suppressed sobs.

Only then did An Ran realize that apart from her, there were many others. Through the light seeping from the deck’s gaps, she saw roughly thirty or forty people in the cabin.

Could this be human traffickers?

Cautiously, An Ran tried to move her body. Her arms were tied behind her, numb from the pressure. After great effort, she managed to sit up.

She observed the people around her, noticing there were both men and women, with men being in the minority, around seven or eight of them, mostly elderly, in their fifties or sixties; the women were of all ages, and there were two holding babies.

These people seemed to have been detained for a long time, each looking dazed and mentally unwell. A few girls appeared somewhat more spirited, crying in suppressed sobs.

At this moment, the sound of chains clinking, and the dull creak of the deck being moved, dawn’s light spilled in. An Ran closed her eyes briefly, and upon opening them again, saw two dark-skinned men descend from the deck.

The leading man had flamboyant silver hair and removed his black sunglasses as he walked down.

The man behind him was bald, wearing sunglasses, and holding a gun in his hands.

Yes, a gun.

Seeing the gun, An Ran’s heart sank. It seemed this wasn’t just an ordinary human trafficker.

In the Empire, even the most rampant human traffickers would not brandish guns. Personal firearm possession in the Empire was illegal.

A middle-aged woman, upon seeing the newcomers, rushed forward, kneeling at the man’s feet, pleading, ”Sir, please let me go. I have children at home. I don’t want to leave them. If you release me, I can give you all my savings.”

The man kicked the woman away in disgust and spat, ”I already said, as long as you cooperate, you will naturally be released. Whether you can see your loved ones again depends on your behavior from now on.”