Laila thought for a moment and said, "Help me pass along a message to everyone that I'm safe. And tell Roy: if he gets ugly by the time I get back, I'll go find someone else."
Knowing Roy as well as she did, she could easily imagine how he must be worrying himself sick. She didn't want to come back only to see a worn-out fiancé—that would just break her heart.
The mercenaries hadn't expected to be force-fed a mouthful of dog food even under these circumstances. They all twitched at the corners of their mouths, then silently turned and left. This place was cursed!
Word of Laila's situation quickly made its way back to Xiao Ye. After confirming the news through their team, he realized that the absurd rumor he had heard was true.
That gang leader named Martin had kidnapped Laila just to make her star in a movie!
Who could even believe that?
Back in the 1980s, when Hong Kong cinema was at its peak, some gangsters kidnapped the biggest stars to force them into making trashy films—creating black marks on many famous actors' careers.
But this was Laila! Her status was far above anything Martin could touch—she wasn't some powerless little celebrity.
How could he have the nerve to even think about targeting her?
Roy found it equally unbelievable. If it weren't for the fact that Laila was the victim, he might have even applauded Martin's insane courage.
Just how suicidal do you have to be to come up with such a plan?
If someone had suggested it to him, that person must have been an enemy trying to get him killed.
"So what do we do now?" Roy asked, completely speechless. He had imagined countless possibilities, but this—this he truly hadn't seen coming.
Xiao Ye felt the same way. That was why, when he first heard the rumor, he had dismissed it outright as nonsense.
After a long, awkward silence, Xiao Ye said, "Dong-ge and his team have already infiltrated and even gained Martin's trust. As long as they stay close to Laila, they can prevent anyone from harming her."
He paused, then added, "She also asked us to pass on a message for you: make sure you don't get ugly before she comes back, or else she'll find someone else."
These two did understand each other inside and out.
Laila could guess with just her knee what kind of wreck Roy must be right now.
"...I got it," Roy said. What else could he say?
Xiao Ye patted him on the shoulder. "You don't need to worry about her anymore. I heard she's living pretty comfortably over there. She's reading a deluxe edition of The Godfather, and getting into it. They're treating her like royalty—feeding her, pampering her—the best food, the best bed, everything. You don't need to worry about her being mistreated."
"A deluxe edition of The Godfather?" Roy blinked, baffled. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Xiao Ye waved it off, looking too tired to explain further.
When Dong-ge had reported it to him, the man's tone had been very... complicated. The fact that he had specifically emphasized the "deluxe edition" spoke volumes about his "what the actual hell" feelings.
While they had been suffering under external pressure and internal guilt, the young lady they were supposed to rescue was living it up in a gangster hideout. She wasn't a hostage—she was practically on vacation!
Xiao Ye felt utterly drained.
Getting dragged into this ridiculous mess by some idiot of a crime boss—this was a first for him.
Once they caught Martin, Xiao Ye was looking forward to personally giving him an unforgettable lifetime experience.
Leaving behind only the words, "I'm going to dig up some more intel," Xiao Ye strode off.
Roy, meanwhile, tossed his half-packed bag back onto the table.
Walking to the bathroom mirror, he ran a hand over his cheek. The rough scrape of stubble met his fingers, and he smiled bitterly as he picked up his razor.
"Looks like it's time to clean up."
He shaved off his scruffy beard, restoring the handsome Roy he used to be.
Then he forced himself to eat a high-calorie dinner, and afterward, slept the most peaceful night he had had in a week.
The next morning, Roy was once again the world's number one Roy.
But when he returned from his morning jog, something new in the room immediately set him on high alert.
It was a letter.
A white envelope, sealed with wax, was placed conspicuously on his table.
This was the room he shared with Laila.
After she went missing, aside from himself and Xiao Ye, no one else should have had access.
Xiao Ye would have spoken to him directly if there was anything important—he wouldn't have resorted to secret notes.
Which meant this letter had come from someone else.
Roy did not believe it was a prank. Even the closest of friends wouldn't pull something like this at a time like this.
There was only one possibility.
Roy picked up the letter, carefully inspecting it front and back, before cautiously opening it.
He knew he should call Xiao Ye to handle it—let a professional collect potential fingerprints or DNA.
But he didn't.
If the letter came from Laila's captors, and they found out it had been exposed to others, there was no telling what they might do to her.
When it came to anything involving Laila, he couldn't take any risks.
So he opened it himself, laying the letter flat on the table.
It was just an ordinary sheet of A4 paper—the kind used in copy machines.
The English text was typed, not handwritten, and the grammar was flawless, suggesting someone with a very high level of English.
Because it was in English, Roy could easily understand what it said:
"Mr. Roy Jixing,
We are currently producing Director Moran's new film.
Would you be interested in participating?
Both we and Director Moran are very eager to welcome you.
If you are willing, please call the number below.
We look forward to meeting you.
Please do not disclose our contact to anyone else."
Below the message was a phone number.
If Roy hadn't heard Xiao Ye's earlier intel, he might have assumed this was some kind of thinly veiled threat—a way to lure him into captivity alongside Laila.
But now, he knew it was exactly what it claimed to be.
They really wanted to use Laila to make a movie—and they were even trying to rope him in too.
Having the world's top director and the world's most handsome man—just the two of them could pull a huge audience.
Still... where did they get the confidence to think anyone would be stupid enough to voluntarily walk into a criminal lair?
What made them so sure he wouldn't just turn the letter over to authorities and set a trap for them?
Roy chuckled softly, crumpling the letter into a ball.
A sharp, resolute gleam flashed in his eyes.
Well, it just so happened...
He was exactly that kind of fool.