He Shun leaned back, his brow furrowing as he stared at the wall. "He's unpredictable. If he's as dangerous as you say, he might come for Zhong Qing, but then again, he might not. What if he's moved on? Or is planning something else entirely?"
Luan Xie's eyes were distant, lost in thought. "Ye Rou has always been full of surprises. I can't say for sure what he'll do. But one thing I know for certain—he's not the type to let something like this slide. If he values Zhong Qing, he'll come for him eventually."
He Shun nodded slowly. "So, we wait?"
"Wait and prepare," Luan Xie replied. "We need to be ready for whatever comes next. I don't want to be caught off guard, especially not by him."
He Shun shifted uneasily. "I never imagined I'd be involved in something like this. One minute I'm rehearsing lines, and the next, I'm helping you confront your past. It's overwhelming."
Luan Xie looked over at him, a rare hint of empathy in his eyes. "I know it's a lot to take in. I'm grateful for your help, even if it's not what you planned for. It means more than you know."
He Shun managed a small smile. "Well, I'm here now. We'll get through this together. But I still can't shake the feeling that there's more to this than we realize. Something we're not seeing."
Luan Xie nodded, his expression serious. "There's always more beneath the surface with Ye Rou. We need to stay vigilant and trust our instincts."
As the conversation settled, both men were left with the weight of their situation. The quiet of the room was punctuated only by the soft hum of the hotel's machinery, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions and uncertainties brewing between them.
In the small, dimly lit storage room, Zhong Qing was left to his thoughts. The weight of his betrayal was heavy, and he struggled against his restraints, but they were too tight. His mind replayed the painful conversation with Luan Xie, and he felt a deep sense of regret and helplessness.
Zhong Qing's thoughts drifted back to his past with Ye Rou. The days when they were close, when Zhong Qing had been loyal to Ye Rou out of love and admiration. But the memories were bittersweet, tainted by the truth of how things had changed. Ye Rou's ambition and cruelty had transformed him into someone Zhong Qing barely recognized. And now, his actions had led to this moment of confrontation with Luan Xie—an enemy he had once sworn to protect.
The room was silent except for the faint sounds of the hotel outside—distant footsteps, the occasional murmur of guests. Zhong Qing's mind raced with strategies and regrets. He knew the mafia leader's tendencies well enough to predict that Ye Rou might come for him, but it was also possible that Ye Rou had moved on, focusing on his own plans rather than rescuing his old ally.
Zhong Qing's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. He tensed, his heart racing with a mix of hope and dread. He wondered if it was Ye Rou coming to his rescue or if it was something more sinister.
The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Zhong Qing squinted against the low light, hoping to catch a glimpse of who it was. His shoulders tensed up upon seeing an unknown person. The man, looking serious, approached him with a briefcase.
"Looks like they've covered their tracks," the man said with a smirk. "But you're still in a tight spot. Got any final words before I take you out of here?"
Zhong Qing's eyes widened in shock and despair. "Wait, please. I need to explain—"
The man raised a hand to silence him. "You're in no position to negotiate. You might have had a chance if you'd played your cards right, but now... well, let's just say you're running out of time."
As the man prepared to act, Zhong Qing felt a surge of desperation. The chance to redeem himself, to make things right, was slipping away. He knew he had to find a way to convince the man to hold off, to buy some time and perhaps find a way to make amends for his actions.
The minutes ticked by slowly, each second feeling like an eternity as Zhong Qing waited to see what would happen next.
Zhong Qing realised that this man was not with He Shun nor Ye Rou. He was now seriously being kidnapped and there was nothing he could do to save himself.
Zhong Qing's heart pounded as he observed the man's demeanor. It became increasingly clear that this man was not affiliated with He Shun or Ye Rou. The realization hit him like a cold wave. He was not just being held; he was about to be forcibly taken away, and there was nothing he could do to escape or protect himself.
Panic surged through him, but he forced himself to remain calm, trying to think of a way out. The man's casual attitude and the sinister undertone of his actions made it evident that Zhong Qing's situation had become far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
"Please," Zhong Qing begged, his voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. I can—"
The man cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Spare me the pleas. You're a liability now, and I'm here to clean up."
Zhong Qing's mind raced as he tried to piece together his next move. The bindings were tight, and his chances of freeing himself were slim. He glanced around the dimly lit room, searching for anything that might aid in his escape or at least give him a chance to buy more time.
He took a deep breath, focusing on the man's movements and trying to gauge the man's intentions. The faint hope that someone might come to his rescue flickered in the back of his mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by the harsh reality of his situation.
As the man approached, Zhong Qing's thoughts shifted to Luan Xie and He Shun. They had once been allies, and now he was caught between their conflict and a new, more perilous threat. The gravity of his betrayal weighed heavily on him. The man who had once trusted him implicitly was now faced with a painful decision about his fate.
The door creaked open again, and Zhong Qing tensed, hoping for a glimpse of salvation. Instead, the dim light revealed another figure entering the room. The sight of this new arrival did nothing to ease his growing anxiety. It was clear that Zhong Qing's predicament was about to take a darker turn, and the options for his survival were dwindling rapidly.
Zhong Qing's voice trembled as he demanded, "Who are you?"
The newcomer, a tall man with a cold, unreadable expression, stepped further into the room, his presence commanding an immediate sense of authority. The light from the flickering bulb above cast long shadows across his face, making it difficult to read his features clearly.
"I'm someone who's been hired to handle loose ends," the newcomer said smoothly, his tone laced with indifference. He approached Zhong Qing with a deliberate, measured pace. "And it seems you've become quite a loose end."
Zhong Qing's heart raced as he tried to assess the situation. The newcomer's words confirmed his worst fears: he was in the hands of someone with a clear agenda, and his chances of escape were growing slimmer by the second.
"Please," Zhong Qing tried again, his voice more desperate. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I—"
The newcomer cut him off, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Spare me your pleas. I'm not here to negotiate. I'm here to make sure you're dealt with."
Zhong Qing's mind raced. He tried to think of any way to turn the situation to his advantage, but the situation was dire. His attempts to reason or bargain seemed futile against the newcomer's cold determination. The reality of his predicament sank in deeper, and he could only hope that somehow, someone would come to his rescue before it was too late.
"Relax, my boss won't kill you. Not yet." Zhong Qing's breath hitched at the newcomer's chilling reassurance.
The statement did little to ease Zhong Qing's fear. The newcomer's cold tone suggested that the delay in his fate was not out of mercy, but rather a matter of timing and convenience.
"What do you want from me?" Zhong Qing asked, struggling against his restraints. His voice was a mix of defiance and desperation. "Where are you taking me to?"
The newcomer's lips curved into a thin, almost amused smile. "You're here because you've become a liability. My boss has specific interests, and you're caught in the crossfire of a larger plan. Your fate depends on how things unfold."
Zhong Qing's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the cryptic message. "But why? What does my situation have to do with anything?"
"Let's just say your role in this is temporary," the newcomer replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "For now, you wait and see. And while you're waiting, think about how things might change if you cooperate."
The newcomer turned and started toward the door, leaving Zhong Qing to stew in a mixture of fear and confusion. The implications of what he'd said began to sink in. Zhong Qing knew he had to find a way out or at least gain some understanding of what was coming next.
"Take him to the base." The newcomer told the man and left.
The man nodded at the newcomer's orders. "Take him to the base," he instructed, then turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Zhong Qing in a haze of growing anxiety.
Without a word, he began untying Zhong Qing's restraints, his movements methodical and impersonal. Zhong Qing winced as his wrists were freed, but the relief was short-lived as he was roughly pulled to his feet.
"Move," the man said curtly, nudging Zhong Qing forward. The dimly lit corridor outside the storage room was a stark contrast to the tight confines where he had been held, and Zhong Qing's heart pounded with a mix of fear and confusion. The uncertainty of what lay ahead only added to his distress.
As they made their way through the labyrinthine hotel corridors, Zhong Qing's mind raced. The base—the term itself was ominous. He had little idea what awaited him there, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his situation was far from resolved. If anything, it seemed to be spiraling further out of his control.
They exited the hotel through a service door, stepping into the cool, night air. Zhong Qing was shoved into a waiting van, the door slamming shut behind him. He was left in near darkness, the only light coming from a small window in the rear of the vehicle. His heart beat loudly in his chest as he tried to prepare himself for whatever awaited him at the base, hoping against hope that there might still be a way to turn the situation to his advantage—or at least make it out alive.