Queen of the Underworld

Chapter 1: The Kidnapping

In a Spanish-style villa, the interior exuded the same opulent elegance. The kitchen was bathed in natural light, the bedrooms were warm and inviting, the staircase was charmingly rustic, and the spacious living room was airy and bright. Every corner of the home radiated a sense of comfort and warmth. The colorful tiles and bright mosaics of the living room, paired with golden curtains, highlighted the villa's noble atmosphere. The massive floor-to-ceiling windows seamlessly merged the indoor and outdoor views, with light streaming in to create a uniquely bright ambiance.

Yet, the couple sitting on the sofa could not appreciate this brightness. Their world was shrouded in a storm—an intense, unrelenting storm.

**Ding… Ding~~~~~**

The sharp ringing of a phone shattered the silence. A police officer, seated on a nearby sofa, put on his headphones and gestured for the husband to answer the call.

“Hello~~~~~”

“Mr. Shan, is the money ready?”

“I need to confirm my daughter is still alive. Let her speak to me,” Shan Lisen said, following the police officer’s instructions to buy time.

The man on the other end understood his intention all too well. “Cut the nonsense. Have the money ready by 3 PM today. I’ll call you then. Don’t try any tricks or involve the police. Otherwise, I’ll send your precious daughter to heaven ahead of time.”

The call ended abruptly.

“How is it? Did you find anything?” The wife, Meng Jiejun, sprang up in panic.

The two police officers removed their headphones. “Not enough time to trace it.”

Her heart sank as she collapsed back onto the sofa.

“Jiejun.” Shan Lisen supported his wife’s shoulder.

“Honey, we have to give them the money. No matter how much it is, I don’t care. I just want Ning’er back.” Meng Jiejun clung tightly to her husband’s arm, her voice trembling with emotion.

One of the officers approached and said, “Mrs. Shan, don’t worry. We’ll do everything we can to rescue your daughter. Think carefully—do you trust the kidnappers or do you trust us?”

“I don’t know who to trust. I just want Ning’er back. What if her asthma flares up? What if she doesn’t have her inhaler? I... I...” Meng Jiejun had barely eaten in the three days since her daughter was kidnapped, and the stress had caused her to faint from exhaustion.

“Jiejun, Jiejun…” Shan Lisen held her close. His once handsome face now showed the strain of worry. “Zhang Ma, quickly go upstairs and get Madame’s medication.”

As Meng Jiejun regained consciousness, the officer addressed his subordinate. “Xiao Wen, stay here and keep watch. I’ll head back to the station to organize the operation for this afternoon. Let me know immediately if there’s any news. Mrs. Shan, take care of yourself. We will rescue Shan Qingning this afternoon.” With that, he turned and left.

Sha Yahao looked up at the sign that read “Angel Orphanage.” It had been his home for nearly fifteen years. Claiming he had no attachment would be a lie, but he had to leave. He needed to return to what was supposedly his real home to save someone—a woman he should call mother.

From his earliest memories, he had lived in the modest "Angel Orphanage." Due to his striking appearance, many kind-hearted women had wanted to adopt him from the moment he arrived, offering him a warm home. Yet, he wasn’t interested in their insincere affection.

Even the unattractive volunteers who came on weekends were the same. They would feign purity and kindness, but if they were truly kind, wouldn’t they show concern for all the orphans, not just him? He loathed insincere women. And there were those who acted as though they were saviors, their pity for him just a way to highlight their own nobility. It made him sick. He never thought he needed pity, nor did he see adoption as happiness. He preferred staying in the orphanage because of Guan Yuxuan.

However, when he was still very young, a kindly couple took him in. He enjoyed a good life for over six months until, at the age of forty-five, his adoptive mother became pregnant. He went from being a pampered child to a household worker, as they claimed they needed to save money for their biological son’s future. They provided for his needs but expected him to contribute. At just seven years old, he was responsible for his pregnant mother, cooking, cleaning, and other household chores. The once kind-hearted mother turned harsh, frequently beating and scolding him. He endured silently until one day, after accidentally breaking a valuable vase, he was bound and beaten. When he was freed, he picked up a shard and slashed at his adoptive father’s hand, earning a hard slap in return.

“I’m telling you, I’ll never obey or work again. Either send me back to the orphanage or kill me. Otherwise, I’ll make your lives miserable every day.”

He remembered saying this as a seven-year-old. It seemed he was born to be a troublemaker. He once wondered if he was the illegitimate child of a gang leader, but his parents turned out to be...

Eventually, he returned to the orphanage. Over the years, he became the leader there, no one dared to bully him, and those who once wanted to adopt him no longer did after hearing about his past threats. He knew he would one day leave the “Angel Orphanage” to carve out his own dark empire, but he hadn’t anticipated it would be to rescue someone.

His steps remained swift despite the memories.

Suddenly...

Chapter 2: The Tough Guy Saves the Princess

“Help! Help!” A chubby little girl shrieked as she threw herself into his arms, nearly toppling him over.

What is this—does she weigh a ton or something? She’s like a giant, round pumpkin!

He tried to push her away, but she clung to him like an octopus. Every attempt to dislodge her only made her grip tighter.

“Hey, chubby pumpkin, are you done hugging me? Get off, or I’m going to suffocate!” He was exasperated. All he wanted was a shortcut, and now he was stuck with this mess.

No matter how much he yelled, Single Qingning wouldn’t let go. She looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes, and her voice was a constant wail. “Help! Help me!”

Help? How about helping me?

Before he could get more frustrated, two rough-looking men appeared from a distance, stopping nearby.

“Kid, hand over that girl if you know what’s good for you. Otherwise…” The man with the crooked teeth spat as he spoke, hi