Later that day, the detaining officer came back jiggling the keys as usual. This time, not to yell, but to unlock the door.
"Hey, girl, time to go". He announced as all eyes fell on the curled figure sitting so pitifully at a dark corner once more.
Q'ling who was too shocked to speak, too baffled to move, and too sad to cry sat still on the floor soulless.
Time to go? Where would she go? Who could she go to?
She had no one to go to and had known no where else except the house she was birthed in... The house they were sending her away from.
Where would she go on from here on when she had nothing? How would she survive?
Was this his way of sending her off to die?
Q'ling's thoughts ate her away.
"Hey, I don't have all day. Are you going or are you staying?" The detaining officer asked getting impatient as his keys jiggled.
Then slowly, Q'ling moved her legs, pushing herself forward as she stood on her feet. Maybe it was best if she just left. It would give her the space and time to take her life without anyone knowing.
It's not like anyone cared if she lived anyway.
As she dragged her feet out of the cell and the doors closed shut behind her, she was sent outside of the police station without even signing any papers or conditions.
Everything had been settled by her father so that she wouldn't have any history or a record attached to her name.
But of what use was it anyway when she was still thrown out of the house?
She stared out the busy headquarters of the police station watching people in pairs and duos as they all carried on with their lives.
Time moved so slowly, and it felt like she was the only one stuck in this gloomy world.
Q'ling stood there lost in her thoughts when suddenly, a man in black suit, perfectly tailored strolled in front of her with a slight nod in greeting.
"Good afternoon, Young miss," He mouthed politely leaving Q'ling surprised and nervous as she stared at him cluelessly. "Miss Q'ling?"
He inquired and she bobbed her head slightly, a little bit frightened.
Who was he? What did he want from her?
Was it another trick from Shin Li?
Was she still bent making her life even more miserable after she had succeeded in kicking her out of the family?
Why the hell won't she just leave her alone?
"My name is Jeffrey Butour, family butler of the Lu's, and I'm here to pick you up". The man stated gently as he watched her patiently.
Butler?
P-pick me up?
The Lu's?
What is this?
"If you don't mind, Miss. This is an order from the family".
Q'ling stood there completely speechless as her father's words rang in her head like a flashback.
Once you're released, you'll be heading to your new home. I've packed your belongings.
Oh, so was the new home he was sending her off to?
So he meant everything he said earlier?
What sort of arrangement was this?
Why was he giving her away to another family when he could just disown her and leave her on the streets to die?
Suddenly, Q'ling flinched.
Did he sell her off?
Her thoughts were cut short when the man in front of her croaked his throat and gestured her towards the sleek back car parked just in front of them.
"We should head to the mansion before it gets dark". He spoke up again, opening the door of the car with a slight tilt.
Hesitantly, Q'ling got in anyway.
The door was shut immediately, and the supposed butler hastened his steps to the driver's seat, and in no time, they began moving.
She sat so stiffly at the backseat not daring move as her eyes surveyed the car. Compared to it's sleek leather seat she sat on, she looked haggard.
She didn't want to move just so her dirty clothes wouldn't leave a stain on it.
It wasn't long before they got to the major road, following through traffic and large city buildings standing opposite and adjacent one another.
It was one of the biggest cities in the countries anyway. And though she hadn't been out enough to explore, she had been able to get an insight of the trending places when followed Shin Li around.
Though she hadn't been to this part of the city before.
She noticed that the more distance they covered, the quieter the busy city became. Or had they taken another route without her noticing?
Maybe they had, because the next turn the driver took lead to a single straight road.
It resembled that of an estate, just like her father's but this one was way bigger. The road was never ending and both sides of this road was nothing but bushes.
Somehow it felt like a maze, only, this was a straight road.
Where was he taking her?
What kind of estate was never ending?
And why did it feel like she was being sucked Into another jail?
Q'ling's thoughts were short-lived, because In the next second, a very humongous mansion appeared from a distance, it's lights reflecting on the car as they moved further.
What was this place? A castle?
What kind of family did her father sell her off to?
The close they got to it, the larger it got, until they were in front of a three gigantic buildings and the car came to a stop.
It was then her heart began to race.
Suddenly she stared feeling nervous and emotional all at once.
What the hell are you doing, Gao Q'ling! Get a hold of yourself!
Q'ling tried to talk herself out of her head but before she could even find composure, the butler was already in front of the door.
Gently, he opened it. "We have arrived, Miss Q'ling, please step out". He announced.