Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Kidnapped?!

“Yisheng, wake up! The sun’s already up.”

Jiang Yisheng was stirred awake. She groggily opened her eyes and saw a woman sitting at the edge of her bed, gently stroking her forehead.

Jiang Yisheng frowned, staring at the woman for a few seconds in a daze before yanking the blanket toward the headboard to shrink away.

“Who are you? What are you doing in my room?” Her voice trembled with fear as she gripped the blanket tightly.

“Oh, sweetie, did you sleep yourself silly? You don’t even recognize your own mother?” the woman said dotingly, her voice warm and gentle.

Jiang Yisheng’s frown deepened. Her parents had passed away long ago—so what was this woman playing at?

“President Yu, we’re going to be late for the banquet,” a nearby woman in a suit reminded quietly.

Only then did Jiang Yisheng notice two other women in suits standing by. The one who had spoken looked especially stern.

“Alright, sweetie, stop being difficult and get up to eat. Auntie’s already reheated your breakfast several times.” The woman stood, about to ruffle her hair, but seeing Jiang Yisheng’s resistance, she smiled and withdrew her hand.

“Mommy has a meeting to attend. Make sure you eat, and if you don’t feel like going to the company today, don’t go.” She raised a hand and a luxurious fur coat was draped over her shoulders.

Jiang Yisheng didn’t catch the rest of what the woman was saying—she was too focused on the fact that once she blinked again, the only person left in the room was a younger woman in a suit.

This woman looked to be in her early twenties and stood at the foot of the bed, staring at Jiang Yisheng nervously.

Sensing the girl was scared of her too, Jiang Yisheng slowly relaxed and tried to speak, “Who are you?”

“I’m so sorry, President Jiang. You made me promise over and over yesterday that I had to wake you up. But you just wouldn’t wake up this morning, so I had no choice but to get President Yu…” Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

Jiang Yisheng caught a keyword: “What did you call me?”

“President Jiang,” the girl murmured like a mosquito.

“I didn’t hear that. Come closer,” Jiang Yisheng said, lowering her guard slightly and leaning forward.

The girl nodded, stepped closer, and timidly repeated, “President Jiang.”

“President… Jiang?” Jiang Yisheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She looked around the room. This wasn’t her tiny rental apartment anymore. A grand crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. Wall sconces matched it in design. A plush sofa sat against the wall beside a table that held half a bottle of red wine and a wine glass.

She was stunned. Where the hell is this place?

“Yes, President Jiang,” the girl confirmed again.

“Where am I?” Jiang Yisheng asked, fear rising again at this unfamiliar environment.

“You’re… at home.” The girl glanced around, confused herself.

Just then, a phone started ringing. Jiang Yisheng glanced at the screen—a string of digits with no name saved.

She pinched the edge of the phone between two fingers and looked at the girl for a sign—should she answer?

The girl merely glanced at the phone and quickly averted her eyes, lowering her head.

Jiang Yisheng hesitated, but picked up.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” A cold female voice came from the other end.

“Mm.” Jiang Yisheng gave a noncommittal reply while frantically scanning the room. Her mind was quickly recovering from shock. These people might be scammers. Maybe she was trapped in some Truman Show-style setup, trying to trick her into joining a pyramid scheme.

Regardless, she had to stay calm. She ended the call and hid the phone under the blanket.

A phone is better than no phone.

“Who are you?” she asked the girl again.

“I’m your assistant, Zhang Tao.”

Assistant? Me? With a 4,800 yuan salary and I have an assistant? These scammers really aren’t even trying.

“You said I asked you to wake me up. Why? For what?”

“You have a ten-thirty appointment today and asked me to wake you by eight.”

“I see. Then, could you give me some privacy? I need to get dressed,” Jiang Yisheng tried, testing whether they’d leave her alone.

“Of course.”

The girl didn’t hesitate and even kindly shut the door behind her.

Jiang Yisheng immediately took out her phone and dialed the police.

“The number you have dialed is not in service.”

What the hell?!

911 is out of service?!

She froze.

Is this even China anymore? Did they kidnap me and take me to Myanmar or something?!

She rushed to the window and pulled the curtain open. Sure enough, everything outside looked unfamiliar.

This is bad. This is really bad. She quickly pulled up her clothes to check for scars.

Thankfully, everything seemed intact.

She frantically dialed every contact in her phone—family, friends—all the numbers returned the same message:

“The number you have dialed is not in service.”

By the last one, her eyes were red with tears, but she forced herself to stay strong. They’re probably watching. Can’t cry. Stay alert. Only I can save myself now.

She yanked a pair of jeans and a shirt from the closet and got dressed, clinging to the unfamiliar phone, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

“President Jiang, your breakfast has been reheated again. Please eat a little before you leave,” Zhang Tao said, standing right outside.

Jiang Yisheng’s throat tightened. She clenched her fists. “Not hungry.”

The girl didn’t press. “The car is waiting outside. We can leave anytime.”

Jiang Yisheng gave a cold nod. No turning back now. If I’m going down, I’ll go down with answers.

Outside the grand gates, a Maybach was waiting. Tears welled up again.

My first time in a Maybach and it has to be while I’m kidnapped? How pathetic.

Zhang Tao opened the door for her, hand shielding the top like a chauffeur. Putting on a full show, aren’t they? Jiang Yisheng thought bitterly.

She glared and stepped in like she was marching to her death.

As the car pulled away smoothly, she glanced at the rearview mirror.

Sure enough, Zhang Tao was watching her. Their eyes met briefly before Zhang Tao quickly looked away.

They arrived at a café. Jiang Yisheng stood outside, mentally bracing herself.

Suddenly, the door was pulled open, and Zhang Tao gestured politely.

“I can walk on my own.”

Her palms were already damp with sweat. She had no idea who she was about to meet, and every step felt like walking off a cliff.

Finally, she was led to a quiet corner. At the table sat a woman in a white trench coat.

The server leaned over respectfully and greeted her, “President Bai.”

The woman looked up, glancing at Jiang Yisheng with calm, but faintly hostile eyes.

“You’ve wasted a lot of my time. If you’ve got something to say, say it now,” she said, checking her watch with clear impatience.

Jiang Yisheng stood there, hands folded awkwardly, not knowing what to say. But she figured this “President Bai” was the head of this scam ring and she started shaking.

“Jiang Yisheng, are you going to talk or not? If not, I’m leaving.” President Bai started to rise.

Jiang Yisheng panicked. All her internal pep talk crumbled. She dropped to the floor, wailing loudly.

“Okay! I’ll talk, I’ll talk, just please listen!” she sobbed, grabbing onto the woman’s leg, “I don’t know what you want from me! I swear I don’t know anything! Just let me go home—I’ll give you everything! I’ve saved over 100,000 yuan—I’ll give it all to you! Please, President Bai, let me go!”

She was bawling uncontrollably.

Everyone in the café stopped and stared, gasping.

“Are you crazy?!” the woman cried, trying to shake her off, but Jiang Yisheng clung to her leg like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline.

“If you keep this up, I’m calling the police!” President Bai raised her voice, pushing Jiang Yisheng’s shoulders.

“Police?” Jiang Yisheng only caught that one word. Police won’t even work here! That number was dead! Her cries grew louder. “I swear I won’t call the police! Just let me go! I don’t want to die yet!”

Seeing the scene escalating, President Bai stuffed an entire chocolate mousse into her mouth to shut her up.

“Mmmph…” chew… chew

Finally silenced, Zhang Tao hurried over and tried to lift her up. Jiang Yisheng kept eating and clung to Bai’s leg.

“Jiang Yisheng, I know you and An Hao were childhood sweethearts, and I know you hate He Youran. But did you really have to go to such extremes to deal with me?” Bai said, looking down at her with heaving chest.

Jiang Yisheng slurped back her runny nose, swallowing the mousse.

“I…”

Wait.

An Hao? He Youran?

She snapped her head up and looked at the two women.

“You… you said I had a childhood sweetheart named An Hao? And a love rival named He Youran?” she asked through tear-streaked cheeks.

President Bai gave her an impatient glance.

Jiang Yisheng suddenly sat up straighter. She tugged on Bai’s sleeve.

“Your last name is Bai. Are you… Bai Chu?”

Bai Chu’s brow furrowed as she tried to tug her sleeve back, but failed.

“That means I’m Jiang Yisheng?!”

She let go, eyes bright with realization. She turned to Zhang Tao and asked again, “I’m Jiang Yisheng? The Jiang Yisheng from Yujiang Company?!”

“Yes, President Jiang… are you okay?” Zhang Tao looked terrified.

“So you’re not scammers. I’m not kidnapped. And I’m… still alive?” Her tears returned, but this time, they were tears of relief.

She had transmigrated into the novel she read last night.

And she seriously thought she’d been kidnapped into some pyramid scheme.

Jiang Yisheng cursed in her head, Damn it. Stupid author, why name the evil side character Jiang Yisheng too? If the name had been different, I’d have figured it out way sooner.