Even If I’m Reborn as a Cute Dragon Girl, I Will Still Make a Harem

“Y-You’re… awake…” Chen Xing’s face stiffened slightly as he pulled out a can of soup from his bag and forced a smile. “You seemed really drunk. I was going to make you some soup to sober up,” he said.

When Wang Defa saw the soup can in Chen Xing’s hand, his face broke into a huge smile. “Geez, so that was what you were doing. I thought you were going to run off with your bag!”

“Come on, what are you talking about, Old Wang? We’re in the same boat now—where could I possibly go?” Chen Xing quickly masked the flash of panic in his eyes.

“Haha, looks like I was overthinking it. Sorry, sorry!” Wang Defa apologized twice to show his sincerity. He accepted the can of soup and took a look at it.

“Only a manager would be so well-prepared for everything. I’m impressed that you’re even carrying something like this around…”

“Hehe. My wife insisted I carry it with me because I’d often end up wasted when I go out drinking with clients.”

“Your wife’s truly a virtuous woman.”

“Virtuous? You’re putting her on a pedestal. She’s just a little better in this regard.”

“Haha, I’ll definitely visit your wife when I get the chance in the future.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll leave this to you then, Manager Chen.” Wang Defa waved and jogged out the door.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Chen Xing’s expression darkened. “That b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲’s starting to suspect me. I need to leave now.” He slung his bag over his shoulder, then moved silently to the door, listening to the sounds outside.

“No, can’t leave through the door.” Chen Xing looked around the room, his eyes lighting up as he spotted something.

This room had once been a reception office, so aside from the door they had entered through, there was a window on the other side of the cluttered space. It had originally been used by the factory’s receptionist.

Though the window was small, Chen Xing figured he could squeeze through it. He walked over, quickly swept the clutter on top of the window sill away, and looked at the window. Taking a deep breath, he glanced at his slightly swelled stomach.

He told himself that after all this, he’d probably need to lose some weight, or at least drink less.

The window wasn’t high, so Chen Xing was able to easily slip the upper half of his body through it.

Hmm… his stomach was still a bit too big so he’d have to squeeze himself through it. The position he was in wasn’t ideal to force his way through, though.

He tried jumping to push himself up but the movements only hurt his stomach even more.

“Do you need help?” A hand suddenly reached over and grabbed Chen Xing’s shoulder.

“Thanks…” Chen Xing was about to express his gratitude but his face turned pale. Chen Xing froze, lifting his head to see Wang Defa standing there with a sinister grin, silently watching him.

One of his hands gripped his shoulder, while the other held a steel pipe about half a meter long.

Chen Xing’s heart sank. He gripped Wang Defa’s wrist with both hands, trembling as he begged for mercy. “B-Brother Wang…! I’ve made a mistake, please spare me… I still have… family waiting for me at home…!”

“Spare you? Dream on!” Wang Defa raised the steel pipe and brought it down on Chen Xing’s head with brutal force.

The impact made a muffled thud, and blood immediately clouded Chen Xing’s vision. His consciousness began to fade.

“Brother… Wang… Please…”

“You’re only calling me Brother Wang now, huh? Traitor!” Wang Defa raised the pipe again, bringing it down mercilessly onto Chen Xing’s head.

Chen Xing’s body jolted, as though he had been electrocuted.

Wang Defa raised his hand again.

Three strikes… four strikes…

Finally, Chen Xing’s grip on his wrist loosened, his hands falling limply to the side.

Wang Defa staggered back, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. “Damn, I knew you were unreliable. Good thing I was cautious.”

Wang Defa shakily lit a cigarette, but after a quick drag, he angrily tossed it to the ground and crushed it under his foot.

“S̲h̲i̲t̲, I’ve got to go after that boy first.” Wang Defa turned around and shoved Chen Xing, who had gone limp, back into the room. He grabbed the bloodstained steel pipe, then strode to his van, starting the engine with haste.

“No… wait…” Just as he was about to slam his foot on the gas, Wang Defa paused. A sudden thought crossed his mind. “That brat wouldn’t be stupid enough to take the main road.”

Since it wasn’t the main road…

Wang Defa stuck his head out the window, scanning the area with his sharp, hawk-like gaze. When his eyes landed on a certain spot, his expression darkened. The bushes had clearly been disturbed, as if someone had forced their way through them.

“Hehe. Let’s see how you’ll escape, boy.” Wang Defa’s grin twisted into something vicious. “When I catch you this time, I’ll break your limbs first.”

◆◇◆◇◆

My chest… hurts…

His chest was on fire. Every breath he drew felt like hot oil being poured directly into his lungs, burning them from the inside…

His feet felt heavy… Every step he took felt as though he were dragging them through drying cement. It took all his strength to lift just one foot.

I… I may have underestimated how difficult escaping would be…

Tadashi’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Luckily, the area around him was a large swamp and river. The ground was soft, so the fall didn’t cause any injury. But the terrain made escape so much harder. He had truly overestimated his own capabilities.

Tadashi reached into his shirt and pressed his lips in frustration. The food he had hidden had been thrown away by that damn kidnapper. A whole day and night without food, and with such serious injuries, his strength was nearly gone.

Maybe hiding had been the best option. But it was too late to regret now.

Tadashi struggled, trying to get up from the ground.

Splash…!

A strange sound suddenly echoed through the air.

That’s… the sound of water? And it’s very close…

Tadashi’s body tensed. A chill ran down his spine.

Is it an animal? Or… No, it doesn’t matter. Either way, I can’t afford to take the risk.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. He scanned his surroundings. It seemed like he was still far from the reed swamp that the nice uncle had mentioned, and there weren’t many places to hide.

His only choice was to stagger into a thick bush.

A moment later, the unmistakable sound of footsteps splashing in a water puddle reached his ears. A figure was slowly approaching. Through the gap in the foliage, Tadashi held his breath as he watched the figure.

It was the kidnapper who referred to himself as Old Wang.

He was covered in mud, looking miserable, but still in much better shape than Tadashi. He was holding a half-meter-long steel pipe, swaying as he took each step, but moving with a determined purpose.

He reached the spot where Tadashi had just fallen. As if he’d discovered something, he crouched down and examined the ground, noticing the clear signs of a struggle.

“Ha, stupid brat, I caught you after all.” Wang Defa laughed, grabbing a handful of mud and tossing it aside, his voice full of mockery.

He suddenly straightened up, looked around the field, and yelled, “Hey boy, you’re hiding around here, aren’t you?”

Tadashi clamped his hand over his mouth, not daring to make a sound.

“Stop hiding and come out. I’ve found you.”