Ou Yunchen seized the moment when Kave's men were off guard and pulled Su Ruiyi to visit the child miner in the slums.
It was truly a surprise when they went.
The slums were a concentration camp for the poor. People lived almost on ruins, with no clean running water, no sewage system, and even limited electricity.
Anse said, "Follow me."
When Ou Yunchen and Su Ruiyi appeared, the poor people stopped and stared at them unfriendly.
Ou Yunchen held Su Ruiyi a little tighter. They both felt a sense of dread that these hungry people might devour these two well-dressed outsiders.
When Anse led them to a tent made of tarpaulin, the gravely ill child miner lay inside, quietly awaiting death.
Anse said, "Thank you for coming to see him."
Ou Yunchen asked, "Why didn't you see a doctor?"
Anse replied, "Doctors only treat the rich..."
Ou Yunchen touched the child miner's forehead. It was burning hot.
Anse continued, "For poor people like us, when we get sick, we can only wait to die."
Ou Yunchen turned around. At this moment, more poor people were stealthily approaching them from behind.
Anse distributed the money he received from Ou Yunchen to the poor people, so they could buy some food at the market.
***
Returning to the embassy from the slums was like stepping into another world. But that night, Su Ruiyi tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Su Ruiyi said, "I never imagined there was a living hell on earth. If there is, the slums definitely qualify."
Ou Yunchen replied, "Be a good person. In your next life, don't be born here..."
Su Ruiyi continued, "I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see the child miner lying there with his eyes half-open..."
Ou Yunchen said, "Don't think about it. We can barely protect ourselves here."
Su Ruiyi suddenly got out of bed and rummaged through her suitcase.
Ou Yunchen asked, "What are you looking for?"
Su Ruiyi exclaimed, "Medicine! He needs antibiotics!!!"
Ou Yunchen countered, "We don't even know what illness he has."
Su Ruiyi insisted, "These, and these, give them all."
Ou Yunchen tried to reason with her, "Listen to me, we can't help them..."
Su Ruiyi pleaded, "I know this isn't much, but maybe it can save one person. They need medicine to treat their illnesses. They are people too!"
Ou Yunchen murmured, "Yiyi..."
Su Ruiyi urged, "Please, can we send this medicine?"
Ou Yunchen nodded helplessly. He also wanted to save those unfortunate people, but doing so would be an act of great risk, potentially leading to their capture by Kave's men.
***
The next day, as Su Ruiyi was leaving with a large bag, Sasha stopped her.
Sasha said, "Yiyi, what is this..."
Su Ruiyi pleaded, "Pretend you didn't see it, okay? Don't tell Kave."
Sasha asked, "Weren't you going to buy gems?"
Su Ruiyi replied, "I just want to help the people in the slums..."
Sasha exclaimed, "Yiyi, what's wrong with you? They're just commoners, and you're giving them medicine?"
Su Ruiyi asked, "I heard that doctors here only treat the rich, is that true?"
Sasha replied, "Yes, because those poor people will die sooner or later. Do you know how many slums there are? And how many people are in each slum?"
"Do you think they will be grateful if you give them medicine?"
"Let me tell you, I've lived here for a long time. I've seen it all! They are people not worth anyone's help or even a second glance!"
Su Ruiyi retorted, "But they have a right to live!"
Sasha argued, "Did you forget what they were like when you first landed? All they do is rob and steal. All the bad things in this country are done by them!"
Su Ruiyi countered, "That's because this country has abandoned them!!! They have no choice, they do it just to survive!"
Sasha warned, "Su Ruiyi, don't forget why you are here. Don't go to places Kave forbids you to go, or I won't be able to save you if something happens."
Su Ruiyi glanced back at Sasha but was still determined to take the meager medicine with Ou Yunchen to the slums.
However, when they reached the slums, things took a turn for the worse. The child miner's stomach was extremely bloated, like a ball. He lay there moaning in pain.
Su Ruiyi cried out, "How could this happen..."
Anse explained, "It's too late... Many people here reach this state before they die..."
Ou Yunchen said, "We need to take him to the hospital."
Anse replied, "The nearest hospital is over an hour's drive, and the doctors won't treat people from the slums."
Su Ruiyi couldn't bear to see this. She hid behind Ou Yunchen, afraid to look at the child miner.
At this moment, Sasha's voice was heard from outside the slums.
Sasha shouted, "Make way!"
Su Ruiyi turned around, staring in surprise at the group of people pushing their way in.
Su Ruiyi called out, "Sasha..."
A man who looked like a doctor quickly came to the child miner's side to examine him. He was certain the child miner was in very bad condition and needed to be rushed to the hospital to save him.
Sasha commanded, "Contact the hospital and send him for surgery."
The child miner was carried away, and Anse immediately followed.
Su Ruiyi said, "Thank you."
Sasha glanced at Su Ruiyi and then left without looking back.
***
That evening, Sasha did not seem to have told Kave about the day's events.
Sasha asked, "You're back?"
Kave replied, "Why didn't you follow them?"
Sasha explained, "Those two spend all day with those poor people collecting broken stones. I'm not willing to follow anymore. Don't we have bodyguards at home? Just send them to protect them."
Just then, Ou Yunchen and Su Ruiyi also returned.
Without anyone following them, it was exactly what Ou Yunchen wanted. The less they were watched, the easier it would be for him to act.
Sasha asked, "So... are you going tomorrow?"
Ou Yunchen replied, "Yes."
Sasha said, "Then I'll call more bodyguards to accompany you."
Ou Yunchen inquired, "What's wrong?"
Sasha explained, "It's been a bit uneasy lately. The news says there have been several disappearances in our area."
Kave added, "Yes, and a gem hunter was killed and dumped in a mining area."
Sasha exclaimed, "It's too terrifying. I'm really afraid you might be in danger."
Ou Yunchen and Su Ruiyi exchanged glances. The news sent a shiver down their spines.
Ou Yunchen reassured them, "We'll be careful."
Kave urged, "Go back early. Kobutia is becoming more dangerous."
Sasha said, "I originally wanted you to stay with me for a few more days, but these recent disappearances have made the whole city restless. If something happens to you while you're here, I'll never forgive myself."
Su Ruiyi considered, "I'll think about it..."
Kave presented, "This is from the gem dealer. This one is large and good enough. You should be satisfied."
Sasha added, "Yes, I wanted to give you a surprise."
Su Ruiyi commented, "It's really beautiful, but I..."
Ou Yunchen made the decision, "Then we'll take this one."
Su Ruiyi looked up in confusion. Ou Yunchen put his arm around her shoulder and praised the gem's quality to everyone with a smile.
Kave remarked, "Much better than the junk you collect every day."
Sasha exclaimed, "Kave!!!"
Kave defended, "I'm telling the truth."
Sasha insisted, "You still shouldn't say it. Apologize to my friend quickly!"
Kave excused himself, "My apologies, I must take my leave."
Sasha took Su Ruiyi's hand and apologized for Kave's impulsiveness.
Su Ruiyi replied, "It's okay. Perhaps we have been bothering you for too long."
Sasha said, "Don't say that. Kave and I are very happy to have you here. Kave has been busy with a lot of things lately, please don't blame him."
Su Ruiyi also took Sasha's hand. The three of them went upstairs, and Su Ruiyi pulled Sasha into her room.
Sasha marveled, "I didn't expect you to buy so many stones... no, gems..."
Ou Yunchen locked the door again. Now they had something to discuss with Sasha.
***
With a splash, a basin of water was thrown onto K, who was bound to an interrogation chair with chains.
Next to him, also bound to an electric chair, was [character name redacted].
Su Ruiyi demanded, "Where is Ou Yunchen?!"
Sasha remained silent.
Su Ruiyi pressed, "He told you to do this, didn't he? Those people were arranged by Ou Yunchen, right???"
Sasha replied, "I don't know. I just want to get you to the airport and see you leave."
Su Ruiyi questioned, "What did Ou Yunchen say to you privately yesterday???"
Sasha answered, "That's not important. All that matters is that you leave Kobutia safely."
Su Ruiyi pleaded, "Sasha!!! Tell me, or I won't leave!!!"
Sasha gave a look to her subordinate, and Su Ruiyi was dragged out of the car.
Sasha ordered, "Take her to the plane."
The subordinate nodded and, dragging Su Ruiyi along, pulled her towards the airport.
Su Ruiyi shouted in desperation, "Sasha!!! You can't make me leave! Where is Ou Yunchen!!!"
"If you really want me to go, then we are no longer friends!!!"
"I will hate you forever. I swear I will never forgive you!!!"
Sasha rushed forward, grabbed Su Ruiyi, and pulled her aside, then spoke in a low, stern voice.
Sasha exclaimed, "Su Ruiyi, that's enough!!! I trusted you because I considered you a friend!"
Su Ruiyi pleaded, "What did Ou Yunchen tell you? Please, tell me!!!"
Sasha glanced at the subordinates and then, with Su Ruiyi, turned their backs to them. She then quietly began to recount their conversation that day.