Though the livestream viewers couldn't see much through the dark, it reminded them of when Gao Yiyang led a team to rescue Shen Ning. These virtual rescuers could hear the breathless panting and the sound of hurried footsteps outside his pocket.
Luckily, Sun Wenli was wearing a windbreaker, its smooth surface preventing her from getting snagged by sharp branches and twigs. With her life on the line, she made sure nothing would slow her down, tying her long hair back and tucking it inside her hood. Her windbreaker now completely shielded her from the elements.
As she hurried through the brush, viewers could hear the rustling of leaves and grass brushing against her clothes. Navigating the rugged mountain path at night wasn't easy, and she nearly tripped several times on small holes in the ground, any of which could have twisted her ankle. Her pace slowed out of caution.
Typically a homebody, Sun Wenli wasn't used to this level of exertion. Her lungs felt like they were on fire, every breath cutting into her like a knife.
After five or six minutes of running, she finally reached a spot where the terrain matched the description the streamer had given. She slumped against a tree, unzipped her pocket, and carefully pulled out her phone. She switched the camera to face outward, scanning the area cautiously while whispering, "Streamer, is this the place?"
Zhuang Zhou Mengdie took a quick look and nodded. "Yes, this is it. Stay hidden. The truth you're seeking is about to unfold."
As a loyal fan of Zhuang Zhou Mengdie, Sun Wenli hadn't doubted her for a second. After all, how else could she explain the fact that she could connect with the streamer, while Xu Chao couldn't even get a signal on the mountain?
Sun Wenli scanned her surroundings again. There wasn't much cover, and the bright moonlight lit up the area, which explained why her connection had been so stable—there were no trees or branches to block the signal.
To avoid being seen, Sun Wenli decided to hide by lying down in a patch of low shrubs.
As soon as she laid down, viewers saw through her phone's perspective, catching glimpses of the bright clearing illuminated by the moonlight through the tangled branches of the bushes.
"I swear, this girl's using a Hua-brand 60. Only that phone's camera could capture such amazing clarity."
"Fruit-brand? Don't even mention it. At night, its pixels are as blurry as black sesame soup."
"Haha, our Dragon Country's products are rising to the top!"
Thanks to Sun Wenli's phone quality, the viewers felt like they were right there with her, fully immersed in the terrifying live stream. Some even turned off the lights at home to experience the chase in complete darkness.
People sure have some strange hobbies.
Through the livestream, Xiang Wan could hear Sun Wenli's heavy breathing, and the occasional shaky camera angles revealed just how scared and nervous she was.
Xiang Wan reassured her, "Don't be afraid. You were destined to face this challenge, but once it's over, your life will be smooth sailing all the way to old age."
Sun Wenli's teeth were chattering with fear. "Streamer, am I going to die?"
Xiang Wan answered with certainty, "Fate may play a part, but human determination can always overcome it. Your destiny changes with every choice you make."
If Sun Wenli knew for sure that she'd escape this unscathed, would she stop running, let them catch her, and think, "Since my life's not in danger, why bother?" But getting caught would lead to a life far different from the one where she returned home free, safe with her parents.
Mianbei was known as a living hell, a dead-end for life. No matter how much you think of the worst kind of suffering a young, beautiful girl would endure after being sold there, you'd still be underestimating the reality of that hellish existence.
"Why not just call the police?" someone asked.
"Do you think there's any stable signal on the border? Can she even guarantee that after disconnecting from the stream, there'll be enough signal to dial emergency services?"
"Even if she miraculously manages to call the cops, how long do you think that call will last without dropping?" another viewer chimed in.
"I think everyone's missing the point. Dragon Country's border is vast. Recently, the government's been cracking down on human trafficking, and it's rare to see domestic traffickers smuggling people out. If her boyfriend plans to sell her, there's only one explanation: the smuggling trade has resumed. Here's a piece of advice, folks: don't trust hometown acquaintances, and definitely don't trust promises of high-paying jobs."
"I'll add to that: don't even trust regular jobs! These human traffickers and smugglers post fake job offers online, advertising wages between 3,500 to 6,000. Once you show up for the interview, they imprison you. These job listings are all over the web, so be cautious when applying."
"Another key issue is that she's not local. Even if she calls the police, it'll be hard to give them a clear location. The border is full of mountains, and without an exact position, sending a whole squad to search for her wouldn't do much good."
Lying in the bushes, Sun Wenli fought off the occasional mosquito bite while reading the discussion on the screen at its lowest brightness.
The viewers were right; she had no clue where she was. The entire hiking and camping trip was arranged by Xu Chao. It was all his idea, and he took care of everything.
Just as she was getting lost in thought, the faint sound of footsteps rustling through the grass reached her. Then she heard Xu Chao's voice, and he sounded furious, talking to someone over the phone.
"Why aren't you guys here yet? You're running late!"
"Yeah, I've got the girl with me, same place as last time. No suspicion, she's dumb as a rock, thinks I'm in love with her."
"Fifty grand will do. We've worked together long enough. I didn't even sell her to Old K for sixty. Isn't that just because we go way back?"
Thinking he was alone, Xu Chao made no effort to lower his voice, letting both Sun Wenli and the livestream viewers hear every word clearly from her hiding spot in the bushes.
"Dead? You can't blame me for that! She was so wild! She seemed pretty easygoing when she was sleeping with me. Maybe you guys didn't handle her right?"
"This one's different. She's obedient and well-behaved. A few beatings or letting a few guys take turns, and she'll fall in line for sure."
Xu Chao lit a cigarette as he spoke, laughing casually, like the women he had tricked and tormented to death were no more than chickens—easy to replace once one was gone.
From the livestream's angle, Xu Chao stood tall, about 6'3" with long legs and a lean body. Even just his silhouette was enough to stir up fantasies. Given how head-over-heels Sun Wenli was for him, his looks were likely just as striking.
The typical "romance scam" tactic had clearly evolved from the digital world into something far more dangerous in real life.