Then the man on his left took out a painting and unfurled it in front of Xu Qingqing. The painting had lost much of its color, and there were obvious marks of rat bites.
"So, Miss Xu, can you restore this painting?"
Although the man was asking a question, his eyes were sharp. Qingqing could clearly sense that if she said she couldn't restore it, she might be raped and then killed by these three men.
"I can restore this painting, but it will take some time. I need to choose materials like the fabric and oil - paint that are as close as possible to those of the original painting. You guys need to help me get these materials."
Xu Qingqing tried to look professional and was stalling for time.
The leader asked her, "How long will it take you to restore this painting?"
Xu Qingqing pondered for a moment. "Seven days."
The second - in - command immediately shouted, "No way, boss. Seven days is too long. By then, we'll surely be discovered. I say we just take this woman away."
The leader glared at him. "What do you know?"
He took out a dagger and waved it in front of Xu Qingqing. "Beauty, I'm sure you're not stupid. You should be able to tell that we three are short on time. Tell me, what's the shortest time?"
Xu Qingqing was worried. Her car was parked in front of Lu Qi's shop. Lu Qi would surely call the police, and it should take the police about three days to track them down.
"The shortest is three days. I can't do it any faster. I'll have to work day and night for these three days."
Xu Qingqing made herself look serious, and the three men believed her.
"Okay, the third one, take her to a room. Buy whatever materials she asks for."
The third one rubbed his hands and leered at Xu Qingqing with a greasy look. "Sure thing."
After taking Xu Qingqing into the room, the third one stared at her good figure and drooled.
"Beauty, you must be so lonely here all by yourself. Do you want me to keep you company?"
Even though the third one was the smallest among the three, Xu Qingqing was no match for him.
He pinned Xu Qingqing against the wall, and his greasy mouth was about to approach her.
Xu Qingqing struggled desperately, closed her eyes tightly, and turned her head to avoid being touched by this man. At this moment, she was extremely desperate and wished she could just die on the spot.
"Stop!"
The leader came over at this moment and yanked the third one away.
The leader glared at him. "I told you to come here to help her buy things. What are you doing? Get out with me!"
The leader dragged the third one out and locked the door again. Xu Qingqing's heart was pounding so fast that her legs were shaking. But she still crept closer and eavesdropped on what the two were saying.
The third one said aggrievedly, "Boss, since we came here, it's been so long since we've touched a woman. Look how good - looking this woman is and how nice her figure is. And she already has kids. What's wrong with touching her?"
"What do you know? She's the daughter of the Xu family. If you touch her now, she might commit suicide. It doesn't matter if she dies, but can you restore this painting? If this painting isn't restored well, we three will all be dead. Even if you want to touch her, you have to wait until this painting is restored!"
"If you're really that desperate, go find a prostitute on your own."
After being scolded by the leader like this, the third one finally behaved a bit.
"Okay, okay, boss. I'll listen to you."
Xu Qingqing leaned against the wall, and tears streamed down her face.
Thinking of her two kids, Xu Qingqing felt that she couldn't die. If she died, how sad her two kids would be.
She pulled herself together. After the third one bought the things she wanted, Xu Qingqing ignored him. Her expression was always cold, like an ice - cold person.
Except when getting the things she needed, she didn't talk to the three men at all. Her daily food and drinks were passed in through a small window in the door.
One day, Xu Qingqing sensed some movement while sleeping.
She opened her eyes in a panic and saw that the second - in - command was groping her thigh.
Xu Qingqing kicked the second - in - command away.
She panicked and ran to the window, looking terrified. "Don't come any closer. If you come closer, I'll jump out of here!"
The second - in - command saw the determination in Xu Qingqing's eyes. Remembering the leader's instructions, he immediately raised his hands in surrender and said with a smile, "What are you doing? I was just joking with you. You're too tense. There's no need for this."
"Actually, I just came to check on your progress."
Xu Qingqing glared at him and said in a low voice, "Get out."
The second - in - command rolled his eyes and swaggered out.
Hearing the door close, Xu Qingqing slid down the wall and sat on the ground.
She looked out of the window.
She had completed half of the painting. Tomorrow was the last day. If she didn't finish it, these three brothers probably wouldn't hold back anymore.
This was the third floor. Even if she didn't die from jumping, she would surely lose her ability to move.
Xu Qingqing closed her eyes in despair. At this moment, she didn't know what to do. She longed for someone to save her, and at this time, Lu Chuanbai's face came into her mind.
On the third day.
Xu Qingqing had restored most of the ancient painting. Only a small part in the corner was left.
The three brothers stared at her like hungry jackals eyeing their prey.
Xu Qingqing's hands were trembling.
"Don't stare at me like this. I won't be able to do it well."
She gave them a warning look.
The leader motioned to them, and the three turned their heads away, but they were all imagining in their minds how they would teach Xu Qingqing a good lesson later.
They had endured for too long these three days.
Finally, Xu Qingqing finished restoring the painting and handed it to the leader. After the leader took the painting, the second - in - command and the third one were about to pounce on her.
"Bang!"
The iron gate of the factory was suddenly broken open with great force. A group of people led by Lu Chuanbai rushed in in a hurry.
A dagger quickly landed on the second - in - command's arm, preventing him from touching Xu Qingqing. Lu Chuanbai rushed over in a hurry and pulled Xu Qingqing into his arms. The dagger was thrown by him.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here." Lu Chuanbai hugged her tightly.
Feeling Lu Chuanbai's warmth, Xu Qingqing shed silent tears. She whispered, "Why did you come so late?"
She was just a little bit away from being defiled by these three men.
In Lu Chuanbai's arms, Xu Qingqing felt so familiar, just like when he saved her five years ago.
This warmth only lasted for half a minute, and then Xu Qingqing struggled out of his arms. "I'm okay. Let go of me."
Watching Xu Qingqing get out of his arms, Lu Chuanbai felt a sense of loss.
Lu Chuanbai put his coat on her, and the ancient painting in the hands of the three men was taken away by the police.
In the car, Xu Qingqing sat in the back seat and stared blankly at the sky outside the window.