The soft ticking of a luxurious clock echoed in the dimly lit office. Lei Xian sat slouched in her leather chair behind a grand mahogany desk, her fingers pressed tightly against her temple as if trying to squeeze the growing headache from her skull. The golden hue from the chandelier overhead barely reached her tired face, casting shadows that deepened the hollows beneath her sharp eyes.
It had been four long, maddening days—and still, there was no trace of Xin Yi.
Suddenly, a knock interrupted the tense silence. The door creaked open and one of her trusted men stepped inside, bowing respectfully yet nervously. His forehead was already glistening with sweat.
"Did you find the bodyguard?" Lei Xian asked, her voice sharp and low, dangerously calm.
"Yes… yes, Boss," he stammered, stepping forward and carefully placing an iPad in front of her. "But… there's something you need to see. This is footage from the hotel's security cameras—taken the night she vanished."
His hands trembled slightly as he pressed play, knowing very well how explosive Lei Xian's temper could be.
The screen came to life with grainy CCTV footage. It showed the hotel's rear exit. The bodyguard was in frame—rushing out in a panicked state. His eyes darted behind him, filled with paranoia, as if someone were chasing him. He didn't stop, didn't even hesitate. He disappeared off-screen, swallowed by the darkness of the night.
Lei Xian's eyes narrowed. She tapped the screen to pause the video, then slowly placed the iPad down. Her gaze shifted to the man before her—a cold, unforgiving glare.
"That's all you found in four days?" she asked, her voice low but heavy with restrained fury.
"B-Boss… I'm trying. But there's no trace of the girl. I checked every CCTV angle in and around the hotel—none of them show her leaving. It's like she disappeared into thin air. Not a single lead… it's like someone is helping her. On purpose."
"Helping her escape?" Lei Xian scoffed bitterly and stood, her tall figure casting a looming shadow over the man. "That girl has been imprisoned here for eight goddamn years. She knows no one outside. Not a single soul. And now she's gone? Your useless bodyguard is involved in this mess—and you're here standing in front of me, blabbering like a coward instead of fixing it?"
The man's shoulders shrunk inward. He opened his mouth to reply, but words failed him.
Lei Xian slammed her palm on the table, rattling the delicate penholder and knocking over a crystal vase.
"Do you have any idea what happens if the shareholders find out?" Her voice rose, fury seething with every word. "Everything we built—*gone*. And if the *police* find that girl before we do…"
She trailed off, chest heaving with anger. The man gulped hard, visibly trembling.
"B-Boss, don't worry. I swear I'll find her. And the bodyguard too. Just give me more time."
He turned and left the office in a hurry.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Lei Xian let out a roar of rage. She swept everything off her desk—the iPad, documents, glass of water—all went crashing to the floor.
"AHHHH! Where the hell did that bit**h go?!"
Tension gripped the lab like a noose. The white-coated doctors stood silently, exchanging nervous glances. No one dared speak. The shattering sound from Lei Xian's office still echoed in their ears. One wrong move and they knew heads would roll—figuratively or not.
Qin Lianyi looked as pale and shaken as the others, but inside, her fear was not for herself. It was for Xin Yi.
"Xin Yi, where did you go…? Please be safe."
—Flashback begins—
Four days ago. The night of the escape.
Qin Lianyi had been waiting outside the hotel, just as she and Xin Yi had planned. She stood near the back gate, constantly checking her phone and glancing at the entrance.
But Xin Yi never came.
She waited all night—until the morning sun rose—but still, there was no sign of her.
"If Xin Yi didn't come to me, and she's not with Lei Xian either… then where did she go?"
(What she didn't know was that just before she arrived at the hotel, Yi Chen had already rescued Xin Yi and rushed her to the hospital that very night.)
——Present——
A cold, clinical scent filled the air. Yi Chen sat quietly on the sofa beside the bed.Moments later, Dr. Wei arrived with Hua Yong and a nurse. The nurse carefully moved Xin Yi onto the bed, adjusting her posture with gentle hands.
But then, the nurse noticed something. The IV drip in her hand had been removed.
"Miss, why did you take the drip out yourself?" she asked gently, reaching for Xin Yi's arm.
The moment her hand touched Xin Yi's, the girl flinched. Fear flashed across her face. Her breath caught in her throat, and she immediately pulled her arm back, trying to protect it like a wounded animal shielding itself.
Yi Chen's brows furrowed. Hua Yong looked shocked.
The nurse tried again, this time firmer.
But Dr. Wei raised his hand, stopping her. He approached Xin Yi himself, crouching slightly to meet her gaze.
"It's alright," he said softly. "We're not here to hurt you. But if we don't treat you properly, your recovery will take longer."
Xin Yi didn't speak. Her lips trembled, but no words came. She simply stared at the doctor with wide, frightened eyes and gave a small nod.
Dr. Wei began unwrapping the bandage from her scalp. As he removed the second layer, the faint red of fresh blood was visible—her wound had reopened, likely due to her movement.
"Poor child," Hua Yong whispered with sympathy, eyes moistening.
Yi Chen, however, stared only at Xin Yi's expression. Her face remained composed, but he saw her knuckles turn white as she gripped the bedsheet beneath her—silently enduring the pain. Not a sound escaped her lips.
Dr. Wei finished rewrapping the wound with fresh gauze.
"Your injury is on your scalp," he explained gently. "You have long hair—don't tie it tightly, alright? Keep it loose, so it doesn't strain the wound."
Xin Yi nodded quietly.
After finishing, the doctor turned to Yi Chen.
"Sir, may I speak with you outside?"
Yi Chen stood and followed him into the hallway.
*****
Dr. Wei's face was grave. He looked at Yi Chen with deep concern.
"Mr. Yi Chen… after examining her injuries and reviewing her reports, I'm almost certain this is a case of abuse—possibly even assault. We may be looking at something more severe. I think it's time we informed the police."
Yi Chen exhaled deeply. He had expected this.
"I understand, Doctor. But if we get the authorities involved now, we might never uncover who's truly behind this. I need more time."
Dr. Wei studied him in silence.
"I've known you since your grandfather's days. I trust you—but tread carefully. This situation could spiral out of control very easily."
With that, he patted Yi Chen's shoulder and walked away.
Yi Chen remained standing in the hallway, lost in thought, staring after the doctor. The weight of what was ahead had only just begun.