Chapter 130: Ge will come to find you soon, okay?
At night, Gabriel’s nightclub was as lively as ever, full of vibrancy and sensuality.
As usual, Lucy was on duty at the door. Today, she wasn’t wearing nail polish. Instead, she was sitting by the window, watching a mindless comedy livestream, and laughing heartily. During a break, she glanced up and saw two familiar tall figures.
She turned off the livestream and pushed the window open. “You two again. Here to see Gabriel?”
An Wujiu nodded.
Lucy, a seasoned veteran of the nightlife scene, immediately noticed something was off about An Wujiu’s expression. She quickly stood up with a smile, opened the door for him and Shen Ti, and then sat back down to call Gabriel in advance.
As expected, their visit was unannounced, but Gabriel didn’t seem to mind when he heard from her. He said, “Guests are always welcome.”
Not long after hanging up, the two of them entered Gabriel’s office. Gabriel stood up and greeted them with a smile, “Long time no see.”
He pulled out a bottle of wine from a whole row of liquor cabinets behind him, intending to open it. “I knew I had good taste; you two are definitely survivors.”
“No need for the wine, Gabriel.”
Hearing this from An Wujiu, Gabriel’s hand paused. He looked up and sensed something was wrong. He put the bottle down, gestured for An Wujiu and Shen Ti to sit on the opposite sofa, and sat down himself. “What’s wrong? You came to see me; there must be something urgent.”
An Wujiu got straight to the point. “It’s about my sister. She’s been missing for many years. I’m looking for her. Now there’s a girl who might be her. They said her last registered address was here, at your place.”
Gabriel’s first reaction was to frown upon hearing this.
“Here…”
Seeing his expression, An Wujiu figured that, as he suspected, Gabriel didn’t know anything either.
He recounted what the girl had told him over the phone. Gabriel listened and was silent for a moment.
“Wujiu.”
He spoke heavily, “So, she might be one of my… s*x dolls, right?”
The term “s*x doll” felt like a knife stabbing into An Wujiu’s heart. Shen Ti could feel that just this term alone could make An Wujiu think of countless unspeakable torments, each one seeming to punish him personally.
An Wujiu lowered his eyes. “It seems so. So I want to…”
Before he could finish, Gabriel stood up. “Let’s go. No need to say more.” He pursed his lips, pulled out an expensive pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and took one. “Let’s go see. They should all be in the dormitory now. We’ll ask each one.”
“Thank you,” An Wujiu’s voice was hoarse.
Gabriel, with a cigarette in his mouth, patted An Wujiu’s shoulder without saying anything and led them to the second basement level.
Before this, An Wujiu didn’t know that there was a collective dormitory for the s*x dolls here. The environment wasn’t great, but not too bad either. The space was small but clean and tidy, just very dark. The blue-purple light made it seem like a huge ultraviolet disinfection box, with no sunlight or fresh air.
Most of the s*x dolls were female. When they weren’t working, they rested here or did things they liked, but they couldn’t leave.
Gabriel wasn’t the initiator of the s*x doll trade, but he was well aware that he was a beneficiary, making money by trampling on their rights, so he remained silent.
It was the “agent” who was patrolling that started talking. Seeing Gabriel and the two imposing men with him, he thought they were important potential clients, so he eagerly introduced the s*x dolls to them—these tragic women, tragic commodities.
Like a selectable service project, the dolls had to have enough versatility to make every client “satisfied.” Almost all s*x dolls were forcibly implanted with brainwashing chips, ensuring they wouldn’t resist during service. Clients could even choose to implant any personality they wanted, like a customized doll.
“After our adjustments, they are 100% obedient. All our previous clients have been highly satisfied.”
An Wujiu’s hand clenched into a fist. For a moment, he wanted to punch the man talking non-stop in front of him. But he knew all too well that it wasn’t just this one person devouring these girls.
It wasn’t a small group but a large societal system, a system used to sacrificing them.
And his sister was just one of these countless sacrifices, a small one.
They were stripped of their humanity, turned into complete appendages, losing their selves, losing their so-called lives, sacrificed in a world controlled by commodity fetishism.
Shen Ti refused the man’s sales pitch, “No need to say more. We just want to ask some questions.”
Then he led the dazed An Wujiu to these girls.
There was probably no more brutal torture than this in the world.
Shen Ti knew this, so he asked all the questions himself.
The first girl seemed completely lucid, as did the second, but they both denied having a brother.
They didn’t have a brother.
The third even smiled and told them, “It was my brother who sold me here.”
The fourth girl had a severe drug addiction, making it difficult for her to speak. Gabriel explained, “She was transferred from another agent. We didn’t know at first, but later we found out that the previous agent controlled them by injecting drugs.”
As he spoke, the girl suddenly lunged forward, her bony hands grabbing An Wujiu’s leg, begging him to give her a “shot.”
An Wujiu didn’t know what to say. He felt another extreme, dark value system reviving inside him.
This world indeed doesn’t need a savior because it’s already rotten to the core.
Shen Ti bent down, helped the girl up, and asked Gabriel, “Can’t cases like hers be sent to the relevant institutions?”
“She can’t afford it,” Gabriel stated a harsh reality. “I’m not a charity. All I can do is keep her fed and clothed.”
No one in the flesh trade would send their s*x dolls to detox and reform. Just talking about it sounds like dark humor.
“I’ll pay,” An Wujiu said. “I’ll give you the money, and you help me find a place.”
Gabriel sighed. After what happened last time, he already knew what kind of person An Wujiu was, and persuading him was impossible.
“Alright, I’ll find a place for you.”
As they walked towards the next girl, Gabriel grabbed An Wujiu.
“Listen to me,” he said, taking out his cigarette. “I have over fifty girls here, and you’ve only asked four so far. Are you sure you can handle this?”
An Wujiu looked up, the blue light casting a grim shadow over his features. “I can.”
Shen Ti grabbed his hand. “No, you can’t.” He exchanged a glance with Gabriel. “He’s right. You need to rest. I know everything about your situation; let me handle the questioning.”
“Do you think I can rest now?” An Wujiu looked at Shen Ti.
“Then wait for me outside,” Shen Ti said firmly. “Just outside the door.”
Their stare-down didn’t last long before An Wujiu lowered his eyes. He was always soft-hearted towards Shen Ti.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you outside. If anything happens, call me.”
“Okay.” Shen Ti hugged him, patting his back. “Don’t worry. Trust me, alright?”
An Wujiu nodded in his arms and turned to leave.
He didn’t go far, just stood outside the closed door. It was very dark there, with only a staircase. There was light above the stairs, white, looking much like sunlight. An Wujiu sat on the ground, leaning against the door, staring at the beam of light, feeling engulfed by immense fear.
At that moment, his sister seemed to merge with him in one body, and he felt the pain she must have experienced back then.
Did she also look at the light above the stairs, hoping to escape one day and see the sun again?
Regret tormented An Wujiu’s nerves. He didn’t know if the choices he made back then were right or wrong.
The two choices he faced at that time were both hell.
And now, in his mind, he still saw his sister’s young, tearful face as she crawled through the ventilation duct. She covered her mouth, trying hard not to cry out loud.
Back then, An Wujiu was also very young, with no better way, repeatedly telling his sister:
[Don’t cry. Crawl out, keep crawling to a place with no people, find a house with the word Police on it, and ask the police officers in dark blue uniforms for help. Don’t trust anyone easily…]
His sister refused to leave alone, softly calling out “Ge.”
[Ge will come to find you very soon, alright?]
When she finally gathered the courage to leave, An Wujiu looked up. At that moment, he guessed he might not be able to get out, and he was scared, scared that his sister wouldn’t survive.
[No matter what happens, you must try to survive.]
[Nan, wait for me.]
Shen Nan, his sister’s name.
The siblings’ surnames came from their father, while their names were chosen by their mother.
An Wujiu finally remembered that the more deeply ingrained the memory was, the more deliberately he buried it.
Their father was a man who wasn’t good at making a fuss over names. He loved their mother, so no matter how many suitable options there were, he always thought their mother’s name was the best.
Shen Nan also sounded like “better than a boy,” because he believed from the bottom of his heart that his precious daughter would be better than any boy.
Fate is cruel.
The door opened from inside, and Shen Ti saw the despondent An Wujiu. It pained him deeply, as if something was squeezing his chest, making it hard to breathe.
An Wujiu, realizing they had come out, stood up. “How is it?”
Seeing the hope in his eyes, Shen Ti couldn’t bear it.
Gabriel told him, “None of them here are your sister.”
An Wujiu instinctively took a step back, as if trying to escape reality, but the next second, he lifted his head again.
Shen Ti knew what he wanted to say. “Wujiu, if the information that girl provided is correct, then your sister might be the girl you once saved, Lilith.”
Gabriel nodded repeatedly. “It’s possible, it could be her.” He felt a bit relieved and quickly told An Wujiu, “I gave her the money you gave me last time, but as you know, people here are very vengeful, so I had someone keep an eye on her for a while.”
“She stayed in the eastern district of City F for a while, but now she seems to have moved to a slum in the western outskirts. I’ll send you the address.”
Although he said he would just send the address, Gabriel still piloted the aircraft himself and took the two men along.
In the aircraft, An Wujiu was anxious. He watched the light gradually fade outside the window as the aircraft headed toward the dark, dilapidated buildings.
On the way, Gabriel asked about the implant behind An Wujiu’s ear, “Did you buy a citizen chip?”
An Wujiu said yes, “It’s too inconvenient without a chip.”
“Well, you should also check the background of the chip provider. Usually, those are from people who have been in trouble.” Gabriel rummaged around in the aircraft, seemingly not finding what he was looking for, and cursed under his breath, “I should have scanned it back at the club. Here, give me the serial number, and I’ll have someone I know check it out.”
An Wujiu did as he was told, “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Gabriel looked ahead at the gray night sky and the hovering map navigation, hesitating for a moment. “I’m very sorry.”
“This isn’t your fault,” An Wujiu said softly.
Gabriel had never encountered such a coincidental and frustrating situation. For the first time, he felt regret.
“Gabriel.”
Hearing An Wujiu call his name, Gabriel responded, “We’re almost there. What is it?”
An Wujiu thought for a moment, “Did your sister have her surgery?”
“Not yet,” Gabriel replied. “The doctor scheduled it for the week after next.”
“Don’t go through with the transplant,” An Wujiu said, almost demanding. “I know you’ve probably waited a long time for this opportunity, but don’t do it now.”
“Are you worried about the recent nanobot contamination incidents?” Gabriel said nonchalantly. “I’ve checked into it. Those defective units have already been destroyed. They won’t be used in the transplant.”
An Wujiu didn’t know how to explain it to him since he didn’t have very reliable evidence, mostly just speculation. “Trust me this once. Wait a bit longer. Now is not a good time for a transplant; too many things can go wrong.”
Shen Ti also chimed in, “Yes, look at those people who went mad. If something goes wrong, you’ll regret it.”
Gabriel hesitated, sighing, “I’ve waited too long already.”
He regretted most not having personally killed that bastard Maguire.
“From what I know, the contaminated are not only those who used nanobots but also those who replaced parts with second-hand prosthetics. The source is hard to trace. The only thing that is certain,” An Wujiu thought for a moment before deciding to tell him, “is that all this is likely related to Sha Wen.”
Gabriel was indeed stunned.
Shen Ti asked him, “Can you guarantee that the hospital performing your sister’s transplant has nothing to do with Sha Wen?”
Of course, he couldn’t.
Gabriel himself was from Sha Wen. Many of his connections came from this business empire. Hospitals under Sha Wen represented the most advanced medical technology and the best treatment results, so he couldn’t avoid choosing them.
“What I’m saying might be hard for you to process right now. That’s fine, just consider what I said.”
Gabriel responded with a nod and said nothing more.
They landed at 10:32 PM, walking from the landing site into the slum. Unlike the bustling city, this place was filled with dead silence and darkness. Even the much-criticized light pollution avoided this area due to its poverty.
Following the navigation, Gabriel led them to an old building crowded with many destitute people. The densely packed windows alone were enough to unsettle anyone.
“Let’s go up.”
The elevator was in poor condition, with flickering lights and unstable voltage. They reached the 13th floor, following Gabriel out and around two corners to a door.
The door had a peephole, but it was blocked, and the window was dark as if no one was home.
Gabriel knocked a few times, but there was no response.
“Could she have moved again?” he said irritably, knocking a few more times but still getting no response.
The three stood at the door for a while. Just as An Wujiu was about to ask the neighbors, he noticed a slender figure walking down the dark hallway. The person was wearing a loose black hooded coat, with the hood up and a mask on, revealing only a pair of eyes.
She was carrying a bag that seemed to contain some food. She appeared somewhat dazed. Upon seeing the three of them from a distance, her first reaction was to turn and leave.
An Wujiu knew it was her. He chased after her and grabbed her arm.
Lilith’s eyes were filled with terror.
At such a close distance, An Wujiu noticed that her right eye had been replaced with a prosthetic one, different from her natural eye, emitting a faint purple glow in the moonlight. It was unfamiliar, not the same.
Shen Ti quickly recalled what this girl looked like the first time he saw her. At that time, she had just finished her brainwashing and was not in a clear state of mind, probably not remembering who saved her.
Judging by her facial features alone, she did not resemble An Wujiu.
“Don’t be afraid,” An Wujiu said gently. “Do you remember me? Last time at…”
“Let go of me,” Lilith interrupted him, pulling her hand back and retreating a step into the darkness.
Gabriel quickly explained, “Lilith, you remember me, right? He’s the one who redeemed you last time. Didn’t I tell you? Don’t be afraid. We’re just here to ask you some questions, not to take you back.”
Lilith avoided their gaze, her head slightly lowered. She gripped the bag tightly, her knuckles white, the plastic rustling softly.
“So, shall we start asking?” Gabriel looked at An Wujiu, giving him a hint with his eyes.
An Wujiu never took his eyes off Lilith. He didn’t try to get closer, maintaining a safe distance for her. “Can you tell me, do you remember your family?”
He carefully chose his words, afraid of upsetting her. “For example, do you have any siblings? Is Lilith your real name?”
As he asked these questions, the air seemed to solidify, making it hard for him to breathe.
Lilith was silent for a while before raising her head and telling him, “Lilith is my real name, Lilith Jin. I don’t have any siblings. I’m an only child.”
Her gaze was direct and empty, piercing An Wujiu’s heart like a thorn.
“Are you sure?” Gabriel moved closer, trying to make her think again. “You should be clear-headed now. Think again. Really no brother? You were the girl always looking for her brother, right?”
Lilith shook her head and firmly told them, “No, I don’t have a brother.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back now.” After saying this, Lilith looked at Gabriel again, “Please don’t have anyone follow me anymore.”
Gabriel seemed to be pricked as well, standing there in a daze.
“I was actually trying to help…”
But before he could finish, Lilith walked away silently, brushing past An Wujiu.
Shen Ti lifted his head, watching her retreating figure as she opened the door and went back into her small apartment.
Gabriel, feeling agitated, said, “What now? She’s not the one either.” He glanced at An Wujiu. “How about you come back with me and rest at my place for the night? We can look again tomorrow and think of other ways.”
“What do you think?” Shen Ti asked An Wujiu.
After a moment of silence, An Wujiu agreed to Gabriel’s proposal.
Shen Ti held his wrist, almost leading him along.
In fact, An Wujiu seemed fine, but it was this too calm and stable demeanor that worried Shen Ti.
Leaving the building, the cold night air enveloped An Wujiu.
Suddenly, he felt something was off. His sharp intuition made him turn and look in a certain direction.
“I’ll go bring the aircraft over,” Gabriel said.
Shen Ti suddenly spoke up, “Although she doesn’t look much like you.” He turned to An Wujiu and said, “But I feel it’s her.”
That fragile yet cold look in her eyes was exactly the same.
“Maybe she has reasons she can’t talk about…”
Shen Ti’s intuition was very strong, a powerful feeling told him that she was the child related to An Wujiu by blood.
“Let’s go up and try once more.”
They’ve finally found her 🥳
Waaaa such an unexpected connection. The sister first appearing chapters ago too OwO