Tian Xiaoyu stirred awake, her vision blurry as she slowly regained consciousness.
Peering through the dim light outside the window, she realized it was already the dead of night—she must have been out cold for an entire day.
Moments later, she became aware that her body was tightly bound by thick chains, her arms suspended above her head. She couldn't reach any supplies or tools to free herself from this predicament.
Zhang Hao had regained his senses long before her.
Together with Junior, he'd spent hours trying to figure out how to remove the combat suit encasing Tian Xiaoyu's body.
But no matter what they attempted, every effort ended in failure.
They were utterly stumped!
Zhang Hao clenched his teeth in frustration.
He'd finally managed to capture Tian Xiaoyu, but now, because of this damn combat suit, he could only glare at her helplessly, unable to claim his prize.
Junior hesitated for a moment before asking, "Boss Zhang, should we try something else?"
Tian Xiaoyu let out a cold snort.
"I'd advise you not to waste your time," she said sharply. "This suit is bulletproof and blade-proof. There's nothing you can do to get past it."
Zhang Hao chuckled darkly.
Walking closer, he leaned in and spoke with icy disdain: "Tian Xiaoyu, you really are something. But I've changed my mind—I'm going to present you to the leader of the Scar Crew as a gift. Let them deal with you while securing my place among them."
The Scar Crew was a rising powerhouse in their region, one Zhang Hao had been desperate to join for months.
Tian Xiaoyu sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.
"What makes you think the Scar Crew will fare any better? If they can't even crack open my suit, what exactly do you plan to do with me?"
Zhang Hao erupted into laughter, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Tian Xiaoyu, the resources at the Scar Crew's disposal far exceed your imagination. When the time comes, they'll find a way to pry you out of there."
A flicker of panic crossed Tian Xiaoyu's face as she snapped back, "Zhang Hao, you've always claimed to care for me. Is this how you show your affection?"
At these words, Zhang Hao exploded in rage.
"You don't get to lecture me on feelings, you little slut! All you ever cared about was Chen Du!"
His voice turned venomous as he continued, "I've come to realize it doesn't matter whether I have you anymore. What I want is for Chen Du to suffer—to watch you humiliated and violated while being powerless to stop it!"
He threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
"Just imagining it fills me with joy!"
"You're insane… completely insane…" Tian Xiaoyu muttered under her breath.
Zhang Hao barked an order at Junior to fetch a wooden club.
He intended to knock Tian Xiaoyu unconscious so he could deliver her to Scar, the leader of the Scar Crew.
With no way to resist, Tian Xiaoyu sent a frantic voice message to Chen Du just before losing consciousness.
"Chen Du, save me!"
When Tian Xiaoyu came to again, she found herself no longer in the dilapidated shack but inside a vast warehouse.
One thing remained unchanged: she was still bound by heavy chains.
"Well, well, looks like our little beauty is awake," a gruff voice called out.
A bald man with a single eye approached her, flashing a wide grin that revealed a golden tooth.
This was Scar, the leader of the Scar Crew.
While Tian Xiaoyu had been unconscious, Zhang Hao and Junior had delivered her to Scar as a token of loyalty to gain entry into the gang.
Standing behind Scar, Zhang Hao smiled sycophantically.
"Boss, you've seen the photos I showed you earlier. Only someone of such exceptional beauty deserves a man like you!"
Scar's smile faltered.
"The photos? Could I even see her face clearly? Taken from so far away, they were useless! Still, her figure does look enticing enough."
Pointing at Tian Xiaoyu's armored form, Zhang Hao puffed out his chest confidently.
"Boss, I swear on my life—if this woman doesn't satisfy you, then I deserve whatever punishment you see fit!"
Scar narrowed his eyes and sneered.
"Hmph, don't test my patience. If you're lying, I'll make sure you regret it deeply."
Zhang Hao bowed obsequiously.
"No chance of that, Boss! My loyalty to you knows no bounds. I bring only the finest treasures for your approval!"
Scar tapped impatiently on the helmet of Tian Xiaoyu's suit.
"But what the hell am I supposed to do with this metal shell? Are you trying to give me a headache?"
Zhang Hao hadn't anticipated the combat suit would pose such a challenge.
Even after bringing her to the Scar Crew, they still hadn't found a way to remove it.
Under Scar's questioning glare, Zhang Hao bowed repeatedly, stammering explanations.
"Boss, I never expected this wench to be hiding such invincible gear! That's why I let my guard down when capturing her, allowing her to put it on!"
Scar shot him a sidelong glance.
"So, do you have any ideas on how to get her out?"
Zhang Hao's eyes darted around nervously before he replied, "Boss, since external force isn't working, why don't we starve her for a few days? Eventually, hunger will drive her to take off the suit herself."
Scar's face twisted in fury, and he slapped Zhang Hao squarely on the forehead.
"You idiot! If she'd rather starve to death than take it off, what good is she to us—and what use are you?"
Zhang Hao reeled from the blow, seeing stars, but dared not retaliate.
"Boss, listen—we'll keep food and water within sight every day, taunting her survival instincts. I guarantee she won't last more than a few days without giving in!"
Scar pondered this for a moment.
For now, it was the only viable option.
"Fine, do as you suggest. But if you fail, consider yourself dead!"
Zhang Hao nodded profusely.
"Yes, yes, absolutely, Boss!"
As Scar and Zhang Hao plotted loudly, Tian Xiaoyu heard every word.
"You'll never break me this way," she declared defiantly. "I'd rather die than let you win!"
Scar looked Tian Xiaoyu up and down with a sneer.
"Listen here, little wench—you'd better just give in to your big brother. Trust me, once you're mine, you won't have to worry about food or shelter, and no one will dare lay a finger on you. Why keep suffering like this?"
Tian Xiaoyu spat in disgust, her voice sharp with defiance. "You talk a good game, but you and Zhang Hao are nothing but cut from the same dirty cloth!"
Scar muttered a string of curses under his breath before turning to leave the warehouse with Zhang Hao. But before they stepped out, he said something to Zhang Hao that made Tian Xiaoyu's blood run cold—and her stomach churn.
"If worse comes to worst, let her starve. Though… taking what we want while she's still breathing wouldn't hurt either."
A wave of despair crashed over Tian Xiaoyu. She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but they refused to fall. How could she have been so blind? She had worried that abandoning Zhang Hao would leave him destitute, prey for the undead. Instead, her misplaced pity had given him the opening he needed to betray her. Now, she was trapped—his prisoner, vulnerable and stripped of all dignity.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
The sound of incoming notifications jolted her back to reality. It was only then that she noticed the flood of messages Chen Du had sent after she lost consciousness. Upon receiving her distress signal, he had immediately tried to reach her, asking for details again and again. Each message went unanswered, disappearing into the void like stones dropped into deep water. If not for the fact that her account remained active, he might have assumed the worst—that she was already dead. With no response and no location to go on, all he could do was send message after desperate message.
Her hands were tied above her head, making it impossible to grab anything from her backpack. Thankfully, the chat window could be opened with a mere thought. As she scrolled through the backlog of messages from Chen Du, a flicker of calm finally settled over her.
"What happened?"
"Did Zhang Hao do something to you?"
"Where are you now?"
"Reply if you get this!"