The car doors slammed shut.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each sound echoed sharply in Xiaoyu's ears, like something sealing her fate.
For a moment, everything went still.
Too still.
Even the air felt heavy.
Her fingers slowly curled into her palm.
Think.
Her mind forced itself to stay clear.
Don't panic.
The men outside didn't rush.
That was the first thing she noticed.
They weren't nervous.
They weren't hurried.
They were… patient.
Like hunters who already knew the prey had nowhere left to run.
"Stay in the car," the driver said under his breath, his voice tight.
His hands gripped the steering wheel harder than before.
"You're in trouble."
Xiaoyu didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes moved carefully—left, right, front.
Every exit blocked.
Every angle covered.
"This wasn't random…" she murmured.
"No," the driver said grimly. "It wasn't."
A shadow moved closer.
One of the men stepped up to her side of the car and tapped lightly on the window.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Slow.
Controlled.
Deliberate.
Xiaoyu turned her head and met his eyes.
Calm.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
"Miss Xiaoyu," he said, his voice smooth, almost polite.
"Please step out of the vehicle."
Her heartbeat skipped.
They knew her name.
That confirmed everything.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it didn't shake.
The man smiled faintly.
Not kindly.
Not mockingly.
Just… certain.
"You misunderstand," he said.
"This isn't a request."
Behind him, the others shifted slightly.
Not aggressively.
But enough to show they were ready.
The driver suddenly leaned forward.
"Hey, back off—this isn't—"
A second man stepped forward and slammed his hand against the hood.
The loud impact cut him off instantly.
"Stay out of it," he said coldly.
Silence filled the car.
Xiaoyu's mind raced.
Five men.
Maybe more.
No witnesses.
No help.
Her breathing slowed.
Not because she was calm—
But because she forced it to.
She turned slightly toward the driver.
"…Unlock the door."
"What?" he snapped, turning to her. "Are you insane?"
"Do it."
Something in her tone changed.
Sharp.
Focused.
The driver hesitated.
Then reluctantly—
He pressed the button.
Click.
The sound was quiet.
But to Xiaoyu, it felt like crossing a line she couldn't come back from.
She took a breath.
Then opened the door.
The night air rushed in.
Cool.
Heavy.
Real.
She stepped out.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The men watched her.
All of them.
Every movement.
Five against one.
"Good," the first man said.
"You're making this easier."
Xiaoyu tilted her head slightly, her gaze steady.
"Who sent you?"
A pause.
Brief.
Measured.
"You already know," he replied.
Her jaw tightened.
Of course she knew.
Lu Shen.
A bitter feeling rose in her chest.
"So this is how he does things…" she muttered.
No one answered.
No one denied it.
That silence felt louder than any confirmation.
"Get in the car," another man said, pointing behind them.
A black vehicle.
Engine running.
Door already open.
Prepared.
Planned.
Xiaoyu didn't move.
"I said—"
"I heard you."
Her voice cut through his, calm but firm.
"I'm just deciding if I should listen."
The air shifted.
Subtly.
"She's not scared," one of them muttered under his breath.
"She should be," another replied.
Xiaoyu took a small step back.
Just one.
Measured.
"You think I don't understand?" she said quietly.
"If I get in that car… I disappear."
Silence.
No one corrected her.
Her chest tightened slightly.
That was enough.
"Then I won't get in."
The moment snapped.
"Grab her."
Everything moved at once.
A hand reached.
Another followed.
Xiaoyu turned and ran.
Her body reacted before fear could fully catch up.
Her feet hit the ground hard.
Fast.
Sharp.
"Stop her!"
Footsteps thundered behind her.
Heavy.
Close.
She turned into a narrow street.
Then another.
Then another.
Her lungs burned.
Her legs strained.
But she didn't stop.
Not now.
A hand brushed her sleeve—
She twisted sharply, pulling away.
"Damn it—!"
They were gaining.
Her breath came faster now.
Her vision narrowing.
Keep going.
She turned one more corner—
And froze.
A dead end.
Her heart dropped.
No.
Behind her—
The footsteps slowed.
Confident now.
She turned slowly.
They were there.
Blocking the only way out.
No escape.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her mind searched for anything—
Anything—
Nothing.
"End of the line," one of them said.
Xiaoyu looked around once more.
Walls.
Darkness.
No exits.
For a moment—
Fear crept in.
Cold.
Sharp.
Real.
Then—
Something shifted.
Not outside.
Inside.
Her breathing slowed.
Just enough.
Her hands steadied.
Her eyes sharpened.
"If there's no way out…" she said quietly,
"…then I'll make one."
Before they could react—
She grabbed a rusted metal pipe leaning against the wall.
Heavy.
Cold.
Solid.
The nearest man stepped forward.
"Don't—"
Too late.
She swung.
Hard.
The impact echoed.
Sharp.
Violent.
Everything changed in that instant.
Because she didn't run anymore.
She fought.