THE CEO's LOVE 108 You Must Learn To Speak

She watched as the masked men started moving the villagers, the kids running after their parents and the masked men pus.h.i.+ng them back.

She struggled to pull her hands out of the ropes, but it was tied too tight. And peeling her skin the more she struggled. 

Moments later she stopped. 

The children cries was all over the place. She closed her eyes, maybe it would all stop. The cries might stop, the black masked men vanished into thin air and the whole village, returned back to their peaceful sleep.

It didn't stop though, it only increased. Tears welled up in her eyes but she quickly looked up, she didn't want them dropping and didn't want the bandits seeing it. If she cried, she'd be seen as a weakling... No way!

Master Su came to stand beside her, "Are you that sad watching your people mistreated?" He asked, his mouth curved. "You can always beg. Beg for them. I might as well take the children along if you beg. Begging for something you need, isn't that bad. Just beg," his smile broadened. "I'll prove to you that I'm not just a dog." He chuckled and moved forward, with his hands behind his back.

"Good, good!" The producer yelled, he then turned to the director. "We always get a clean cut, her emotions are so real! One hundred percent... I wonder what this talent has been doing all these while, away from the entertainment circle." He whispered to the director. 

The director only laughed. "She's really good, I agree with you."

Immediately the camera was paused, Xueyan took quick strides to their car, she picked her phone to call Yuxi.

When the call connected, she heard the excited voice of her daughter in the background.

"Yuxi?"

"Here, have it." Yuxi pa.s.sed the phone to Qingran.

"h.e.l.lo mummy," Qingran excited voice brought a big smile to Xueyan's face. And she sighed in relief. 

"How are you my darling?"

"Fine, and how about you? Hope you didn't catch a cold out there. And remain heavily clothed, please. Have you had anything to eat? You need to eat before working, I don't want you gasping for air." Qingran went on and on.

She must have been recharged after her fever last night. "Mommy is good. I promise to remain heavily clothed and not to dare catch a cold."

"Hahaha," Qingran chortled. "That's good."

"How's your body now?" Xueyan asked. 

"Fine. Better. Granny prepared me for school and aunt is ready to leave. I'll go now. I don't want to be late." Not waiting for Xueyan to say another word she said. "Bye..."

"No, no Ran'er." Xueyan waved her hand, like the little girl could see it. "Take a picture for me, just one, please and tell aunty to send it."

"Okay, bye." After she hung up, she turned to Yuxi. "Mama, said she wants a pic. Take one please and send to her." She turned on the camera and gave to Yuxi.

The camera clicked and snapped. 

Qingran had two fingers close to her face and was smiling brightly. 

When Xueyan saw the picture her heart warmed up. Why is she being so cute all of a sudden? Oh my little girl. My little princess. Little Xue. 

"The director is ready to continue," Mei Han said from behind. 

"I will be right there," she said and after staring at the picture for a while she pressed the power b.u.t.ton and the screen went black.

She saw her own reflection. Her hollow eyes. Her sudden blank expression.

She then went back and continued shooting. Finally, Ruqin had pleaded. She had begged and begged but the master wanted to see her tear up. 

She ended up doing it too, and after, the children was allowed to follow them. It was her first time stooping that low, but she didn't regret it. At least she achieved something great by doing it.

 The children were pushed into two carriages, some stepping on the others. It was painful to the eyes. A hurtful sight. But they had to endure. Endure it, or abandoned here.

"It's a matter of fifteen days journey. We move." 

Horses neighed and carriages creaked. The bandits took with them all the food in the village and meats. And the village set alight. Only ashes would be left when they return.

Five days later, they had been travelling without stop. At night they only rested for two hours and then continued. The villagers were tired. They were hungry too. They only got to receive one spoon of rice each. 

Little veins were beginning to appear on their eyes.

Their legs sometimes gave out on them and they were beaten to get back on their feet.

The black men had fun in poking on the villagers injuries and watching them hurry away to safety.

Ruqin closed her eyes. Why so much hurt? On harmless people. And where was her father? Hadn't he returned just yet? Why was it taking forever to come save them?

Water. Water. Water. She was thirsty. She opened her eyes to search for the master, he had rode away on his horse two days ago then returned the day before. He had gone hunting saying he missed eating meat. 

What barbaric idea. Barbarians.

"I want water!" She yelled out. The masked men pacing about, giving drops of water all stopped to look at her direction.

The master took good care of that woman. She was under a shade and them? Under the sun serving her people. Their own slaves.

One of the black men angrily threw the water pack away and strode up to her. 

He spat to the side and Ruqin watched his throat bob. It would be a good to have a dagger slit through that throat. To cut it off and have him stop breathing. He had removed his mask.

"What in the world is your problem woman? You keep commanding us, you think we're in your little village, where you rule as a monarch even if you don't have a royal blood running through you!" He spat out again. 

Ruqin smirked. "You should listen to whatever I say! Do not forget your place!" Her eyes glinted in the suns.h.i.+ne. "You're still a low born!" 

The word "low born" irritated the man as he spat out the third time and angrily took two steps forward, raised a hand and ready to strike when a hand caught him midway.

The man struggled a bit before he was thrown back. Creating a big distance between him and Ruqin.

Ruqin looked up and saw the person, it was the big man. 

He grinned at her. "You sure have guts," 

Her heart rose and fell. 

He then turned to the crowd. "You heard the boss lady, don't forget we're all low born! We must respect her!"

And everyone of the bandits started chuckling. Loud enough for a deaf man to hear.

The big man took out his water pack and gave to Ruqin. "Here, drink until you thirst no more."

The water pack was there right in front of her but it was hard for her to grab onto it. When she finally did, she removed the cover and gulped down mouthfuls. 

"You might save some for later..." He smirked. 

After she drank to her fill, she buckled the bottle close to her sword. Master Su had allowed her keep it, saying he'd spar with her anytime he got tired.

"You drank it without hesitation, what if I had poisoned it?"

"You're big! Looks horrifying but believe me, you don't have the guts to do that..." She paused, looked up to smirk at him.

"Hahaha," the man cackled. "So gutsy! Your father must be proud of you."

"Yes, unlike you. A b.a.s.t.a.r.d, born out of wedlock." She refuted. And the man laughed more.

"You're sure the astute one. Too bad, I'm standing but you're on your knees, because you're too weak to stand." He snorted.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Get away!"

"Oh! Oh! A lady of n.o.ble birth... You must learn to speak first!" He finished and strolled away. She was kinda fun. He needed to know why the master kept agreeing with her. And now? He couldn't agree any less. She was one of a kind. She tickled his fancy.

The cameras paused again.

Xiujun had arrived. He had a fresh cut. It was so obvious as he kept grinning from ear to ear.

"Good morning," he greeted when he got close.

"Good morning Nations Prince Charming," Mei Han chimed in.

And Xueyan chuckled. "Good morning," 

"I ran away last night, I apologize for leaving you here all alone." Xiujun looked apologetic.

"It's okay, you've business to attend to." Mei Han cut in. Xiujun had obviously been apologizing to Xueyan but seeing Mei Han cut in... He didn't know how to react.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Xiujun asked, taking a look at his watch.

"Instant noodles. We will order a breathtaking breakfast when the day brightens more." Mei Han cut in again.

Xueyan nudged her shoulders signalling her to be quiet. 

"Miss Mei, please do come with me." Jingtang said and tugged Mei Han along when she refused to move. 

"Tell me what you'd like to eat, and from which restaurant... Too bad, Fu restaurant don't open early." He casted the side of his lips down. 

Xueyan only smiled. 'That smile, that burned him.'

"It's okay." She said, still smiling. "We can order somewhere else,"

"Yeah. Sure. Just that it won't be as tasty as the food from Fu."

"You must really love the Fu restaurant, why?"

"Uhm... She's way too good. You know she started managing the restaurant when she was fifteen—had her first and only child at nineteen. She's a strong woman. She's still managing it, until now. She's the number one truest chef in the whole of Shanghai." 

Xueyan chuckled. "So much praises for a chef and..."

"A strong woman." He grinned. "She's so good that she gave birth to an equal great child. Xing Zhaolin."

The smile on Xueyan's face disappeared and reappeared again. It was a swift one, but he had seen it.

"Anything the matter?" He asked, concern in his tone. 

"No, not at all." Xueyan shook her head. 

"Ok," he said. "Let's head over to the director's area and see what marvelous work you did." He praised, obviously pleased.

Xueyan gave a light smile, lifted her clothes so she wouldn't trip. He grabbed onto her wrist and they both strutted forward.

The director was busy studying the scripts along with the producer.

"The emperor's appearance would take long... Why do you think Xiujun keeps coming?" Producer Fang asked. 

"Isn't it obvious? He personally chose Xueyan. And disappeared when she didn't want to sign the doc.u.ments. Madam Anhao had to personally go and plead with Xueyan to agree." Director Ye said.

"Argh! That's bad... Or should I say good? Madam Anhao had to plead herself?" The man tsked. "So do you think its...?"

"No, I don't think so." Director Ye frowned. "But no matter what, we need to give her all the respect she deserves—at least you can see she's good too. She didn't even go to university. She's naturally talented. I would love to protect her too! I don't want to see any harm come to her." Director Ye sighed. 

Director Ye felt a presence and turned to have a look. "Xiu... Xiujun,"

"Why are you stuttering? Stuttering is for someone that has done something wrong..." He arched a brow.

Director Ye swallowed. Producer Fang chuckled. Xiujun was teasing them. It was as clear as day. 

"So what do we have here?" He clicked on the computer, dusted a chair for Xueyan. They both sat down and started watching.

The director briefed the two on the next scene as they all got ready for the next scene.

*****

Four Wheels corporation,

Zhaolin's face was devoid off colours. The air swirling around him was dark and dangerous. 

Secretary Jiang Zhiyang stood with his head bowed. He couldn't tell the reason why his master was angry. 

A light knock on the door, had Zhiyang wondering if the person would brighten his master's mood.

"Hmm,"

The door opened to reveal Riuwen. He had a brown envelope in his hand.

Riuwen dropped it on the table, "I have investigated it. Their relations.h.i.+p is that of an actor and actress. It's mutual,"

Zhaolin quickly tore the envelope open. He had received pictures of Xueyan and Xiujun earlier. She was happy, smiling at him. They laughed together. Xiujun had draped a blazer over her, he had repeated the action twice. He also, purposely allowed the tea to scald his jaw and she applied penicillin for him. 

Zhaolin wondered how long the two had known each other for them to be that close. Smiling and chatting away happily. 

He looked up at Riuwen. "How long now?"

"The shooting started on Monday," Riuwen replied. 

"Just a day? And she's already acquainted with him?"

Riuwen's jaw dropped. "According to my information, they had been studying the script, together, for over a week. She is still knew, so he was helping..."

"Together? A week?" Displeasure in his tone.

He only heard the together part and a week... Zhiyang looked up at the sky, but was met with the ceiling instead.

"You never reported that to me," Zhaolin voice rising. "I never knew about them studying together."

Riuwen swallowed, sure he couldn't have reported that to him. Zhaolin had personally told him not to interfere with whatever Xueyan was doing for now. So he kept mute even when he received the news, if he had told Zhaolin... He didn't think that Xueyan would enjoy acting again. She'd worry always, waiting for him to appear.

Zhaolin was really weird. He made him put a mic chip on Xueyan the very first day she started working in the hotel. A b.u.t.ton camera, she herself couldn't detect. 

Zhaolin watched her every move, the time she spent in a room. What she ate, who she talked to and especially... That men didn't try courting her.

"I apologize—"

"Save them for the dogs. Anything else I don't know about?" Zhaolin continued looking at the pictures. She was happy... Happy with a man she barely know. 

Riuwen hesitated. "That Miss s.h.i.+ya is trying to track Miss Xueyan."

Zhaolin head snapped towards Zhiyang. And the man straightened.

Zhiyang felt those eyes on him. It felt like he was naked and Zhaolin could see right throw him. 

"She doesn't have any lead on her..."

"How sure?" Zhaolin interrupted.

Secretary Jiang swallowed. "She sent "him" to do her bidding, he found out Xueyan works in the hotel and nothing more."

Zhaolin wasn't surprised. "Just make sure she's safe all the time." He then turned to Riuwen. "We're going over after the afternoon meeting." 

And that was it. Final. Stamped.

Zhiyang wanted to cry... Why would he want to go to the shooting location? 

No one knew Zhaolin had invested in the drama—with them going there... It meant only one thing. Trouble.

He prayed Miss Fangxi wouldn't be there.

It was noon when the next scene commenced. 

The journey had been completed, they had crossed three rivers to get here. The horses were flogged and forced to enter the rivers.

An elderly woman had been left to die in the river after she cried for food.

They had arrived Kingdom Han. A kingdom she had heard a lot about. It normally belonged to the Han family until they were thrown out of power. And the Jin brothers took over.

The two Princes wanted a kingdom to rule. Their brother the Emperor threw them out of the palace and gave them a fortress. 

Jin Zuan the third Prince travelled from the fortress, to Kingdom Han. In search of a beauty he had heard worked in a brothel. He caused a war after he killed the King's heir. 

It was chaotic as the whole kingdom wanted his neck... And the king was forced by his queen to capture the empire third prince and have him hanged.

News reached the second Prince as he set out with twenty thousand soldiers. He found his little brother, beaten all over. Purple marks all over his white skin and anger took over him, he sent an arrow through the Queen's head and a sword through the King's second son heart.

After the war, he made the king serve him for some months before beheading him.

The Emperor had praised him and gave him power and might. To rule the Han Kingdom without mercy. Anyone who tried to disobey was considered a traitor and beheaded.

Ruqin stood still, looking up at the tall walls. The bold Chinese writing and two tigers drawn at the sides to signify the ruling King. Jin Yuan, was considered a tiger. And he kept proving them right by the numerous wars he had won. 

"Tsk tsk," Master Su came to stand beside her on a white horse.

She turned to look the horse in the eye. It was her horse, gifted to her by her father. The horse whimpered.

"Oi, oi. You sure know your owner, don't you?" The man cackled. "Sorry. She can't have you back. And you, that tiger up there is your leader! Your king! You should bow to it! Make sure when you see him from afar, you bow your head in respect!" After saying that, he kicked the horse on its stomach and it sprinted away.

The pa.s.sed through the rural area. Women and men both young and old gathered to watch them. They stood on the two sides of the road.

"Make way!" The big man shouted from his horse. Roads were cleared for them.

Ruqin used her eyes to study the environment. Every little detail was noted. She didn't want to miss her way, if she gets to escape. 

It took them one complete hour to arrive to a very big open field. Then there was another tall wall. 

On the wall was written Master Su Fortress. And in small letters the word "playground" was written.

She laughed. Is this a joke or what? A fortress with such tall walls was considered a playground? They didn't have such in their village. If they did, then they wouldn't have been captured easily. Her father had taken the little soldiers they had down south. Five thousand soldiers. To fight Jing Xin village. He also took the ten best warriors they could train.