"I... I'll give it a try." Suddenly, Xu Ze's voice broke the silence, his words cautious yet deliberate.
I was momentarily stunned, barely able to believe my ears.
"But not for your money..." he added, his voice low and resolute.
"I have children, too." He paused, then added, "I once had a child."
His words came slowly, laced with an indescribable bitterness.
In that instant, I understood.
Of course, if he had children, how could he possibly find himself alone in such a perilous place, engaging in such high-risk, underhanded activities?
Unless, like me, he had endured the agony of losing a child.
But alas, the present circumstances offered no room for probing into his past—I had no time to spare.
The air inside the coffin grew more oppressive and suffocating, each breath harder to take. Clutching the oxygen tank tightly, I inhaled deeply, feeling my heart pound violently in my chest, as though it might burst from my ribcage.