Inside the captives' room in the old apartment…
"Sister Xe, it's so noisy outside," said the short-nosed young woman, worry etched on her face.
"Sister Hui, maybe someone we know reported to the police and they've finally come to rescue us from this hell," Sister Xe replied, her eyes bright with hope.
Another young woman nearby shook her head, a helpless, self-mocking expression on her face. "Stop being delusional. If any of our acquaintances cared, they would have reported us long ago. We'd have been rescued before they dragged that sister away to be sold."
Although they suffered in that room every day—harassed and beaten by thugs—they never dared harm the faces that earned them money. Still, they felt sick watching one of the young women dragged out, beaten senseless.
Her words were like a bucket of cold water; the women fell into a deathly silence. A woman in tattered clothes shuffled closer, the scrape of fabric against the floor announcing her approach. All heads turned as she trembled toward them; their faces darkened. A few women rose and kicked her mercilessly. She endured the blows, covering her face, until several of them seized her hair and hauled her upright. "Ahh…" she shrieked, curling into herself as they beat her while she covered her face.
Fear was carved into her features. She only wanted a moment of comfort among them, but instead became an outlet for their fear, anger, and pressure. Wronged and terrified, she cried, "Don't beat me! I didn't do anything. I'll go—I'll stay away from you."
It wasn't her fault she was a beggar. Her life had been fine until her husband was fired for embezzlement. After that he drank, grew addicted, and brought other women home to their bedroom. She turned to drinking as well, but seeing him with another woman enraged her. She argued, was beaten, and thrown out with her children. Her parents had died young from illness, leaving her with no one to rely on. With no education, begging on the street was easier than finding work.
They pulled her hair and shoved her toward the door, but it burst open. A young man entered, dragging behind him a thug with a miserable look on his face. The woman in tattered clothes nearly collapsed into the doorway; he threw the thug aside and gently caught her. Her body trembled, covered in fresh bruises. She struggled against Chaithanya—fearing him as just another thug—but he held her tightly and patted her back. "It's okay. I'm not a bad guy. I'm here to rescue you from these thugs," he said. His warm embrace and calm voice soothed her tense nerves; her trembling slowed and tears ran down his shirt, soaking his chest.
He didn't mind. He stood quietly, letting her cry and holding her close to his heartbeat.
Silence filled the room.
One woman, steadier than the rest, stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "You're the actor Junhao, right? What… what are you doing here? Where are the thugs? Have the police come to rescue us?"
Chaithanya did not answer directly. He scanned the women in the room and asked, "Why did you beat her? What did she do?"
His question stunned them; they exchanged awkward, embarrassed glances, unsure how to respond. Before anyone could speak, he gently pushed the trembling woman forward and took her battered hand in his.
"Whoever laid hands on her, step forward," Chaithanya said, pointing at the woman in tattered clothes.
When no one stepped forward, he raised an eyebrow, clenched his fist, and punched the wall. The impact made the wall tremble and cracks spider out across it. The women stared at him and the damaged wall in disbelief.
"Monster," the thug groaned inwardly and feigned unconsciousness on the floor.
Those who had beaten the woman shuddered and instinctively took a step back. Chaithanya relaxed slightly and turned to the woman in rags. In a stern voice he ordered, "Go—beat them until you feel you've vented all the injustice you've suffered here."
The woman hesitated.
Chaithanya's brow furrowed and his tone hardened. "I won't repeat myself."
Months of begging had left her timid and frail, but the lingering warmth of his embrace stirred a new courage in her. She touched her chest where that warmth remained and felt something she had never known before. Her fingers curled into a fist, fury and hurt flashing in her reddened eyes. She charged the women who had beaten her and began to strike them, madness and anguish driving her blows.
Suddenly—
"Stop. What are you doing?" a voice rang out behind Chaithanya, full of authority. He turned lazily to see Section Chief Fang and her companion, Yan Mei, followed by young officers watching curiously.
"You are?" Chaithanya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Section Chief Fang scowled inwardly, displeased by his attitude despite his attraction. Before she could reply, Yan Mei stepped forward and introduced herself in a gentle voice. "I'm Yan Mei, a reporter for Shanghai Daily. This is Section Chief Fang of the Crime Investigation Department of Shanghai." She nodded toward the officers; introductions for them were unnecessary.
The officers exchanged awkward looks, uncertain whether to introduce themselves.
"Oh," Chaithanya said, then glanced back at the woman in rags who had stopped fighting at Fang's command. In a casual, deep tone he added, "Continue—beat them senseless until you're exhausted."
"This bastard… does he think he's an S-list actor?" Section Chief Fang cursed through clenched teeth in anger and stepped forward to slap him.
Her friend Yan Mei, standing beside her, immediately reached out and held her back. In a hushed voice, she said, "Calm down. Regardless of his attitude, he rescued the kidnapped woman. We still need to show some appreciation and acknowledge his efforts and hard work."
Hearing her friend's words, Section Chief Fang took a deep breath and composed herself. "Thank you for your help. We will honor you with an official announcement of your achievement in this case and award you a considerable amount of merit."
"There is no need for any of that. I'm not interested," he replied, wanting to stay low-key until he was strong enough to face all his enemies.
"What did you just say?" Section Chief Fang snapped, anger flaring at his blatant, carefree arrogance.