"Kneel down now and kowtow!" Wang Xiong commanded again.
"Impossible." Xia Ling's voice was crisp and clear, but a lingering fear remained in her eyes.
"Then come with us," Wang Xiong suggested, his hand already on Xia Ling's waist. "It's not far from here."
Xia Ling flinched as if electrocuted, but Wang Xiong grabbed her wrist.
He leaned close to Xia Ling's ear and whispered a few words. I only caught snippets of the text: "Zhang Ming," "arson," "company," but I saw Xia Ling's face grow even paler.
"Where...where are we going?" Xia Ling's voice had completely lost its usual authority, and her 10cm stiletto heels shuffled nervously on the ground.
"Nearby," Wang Xiong's hand touched Xia Ling's waist again. This time she didn't pull away. "You'll see when we get there. Aunt Xia, that suit fits you really well. But let me remind you again, from now on, always wear a skirt when you see me. I like seeing your beautiful legs in stockings."
Mom was silent for a moment, then finally nodded slightly.
She turned to me, forcing a calm expression, and said, "Xiaowei, you go home first, understand?"
The last three words carried an undeniable command.
Wang Xiong smugly put his arm around Mom's waist; I could feel her trembling even through her suit jacket.
His hands roamed restlessly over her waist, and he deliberately stood on tiptoe, whispering something in her ear. Mom stiffly allowed him to hold her, forced to walk alongside him in her high heels.
Cobra and Fatty followed behind, like two bodyguards.
Cobra's eyes were fixed on Mom's long, shapely legs beneath her trousers, occasionally letting out a lewd laugh. Fatty made no attempt to hide his stare at Mom's waist, nudging Cobra with his elbow and making obscene gestures.
I stood there, watching Mom being escorted away by them.
Her back looked so helpless. Her off-white suit stood out starkly in the twilight, and her 10cm stilettos made each step hesitant, as if she might fall at any moment.
I knew I couldn't let Xia Ling face this alone, but what could I do? I was just a cowardly high school student, unable even to protect myself. But I still quietly followed, keeping a distance, watching them turn into a secluded alley.
The sound of Xia Ling's high heels echoed in the alley, like silent sighs. Wang Xiong's hand remained on Xia Ling's waist, as if showing off his prize.
…
The alley deepened, the buildings on both sides becoming increasingly dilapidated, and the population dwindling.
Xia Ling walked carefully in her high heels, afraid of stepping on the pebbles and trash. Her suit looked out of place in this environment, further emphasizing her helplessness.
After a few turns, the view suddenly opened up—an abandoned demolition site. The word "Demolish" was scribbled on the mottled wall, and weeds sprouted from the cracks in the concrete. Wang Xiong, his arm around Xia Ling's waist, his fingers still restlessly caressing her trousers, led her through a patch of ruins to a downhill slope.
"Aunt Xia, those trousers of yours are really sexy," Wang Xiong's hand roamed around Xia Ling's waist, "but you should still wear a skirt like yesterday, showing off your stockinged legs is more exciting, haha."
Xia Ling visibly trembled, but was still forced to follow them down the slope.
The 10cm stilettos made a crisp sound on the damp ground, echoing in the dim space.
The underground parking lot was dimly lit, with only a few broken fluorescent lights flickering, emitting an eerie white glow. A stench of mustiness, urine, and an unknown putrid odor permeated the air. The ground was uneven, with sewage flowing everywhere, and broken glass and discarded tires scattered about.
Xia Ling's off-white suit stood out starkly in the filthy surroundings. Her ankles and insteps, peeking out from beneath her trousers, still gleamed softly in the dim light, thanks to her flesh-colored stockings.
"Here it is," Wang Xiong suddenly stopped, turning to face Xia Ling, his eyes filled with naked lust. "Aunt Xia, take off your high heels."
"What?" Xia Ling took a step back in surprise, her high heels splashing in the puddle of sewage.
"I said, take off your high heels," Wang Xiong's tone turned icy. "Let me see what the usually aloof CEO's beautiful feet look like in stockings."
Xia Ling's face suddenly turned ashen, a flash of anger in her eyes: "Impossible!" Her tone was unusually firm, completely unlike her previous show of weakness. "Absolutely impossible!"
This sudden defiance startled Wang Xiong.
Cobra and the fat man's laughter also abruptly ceased, and they exchanged bewildered glances.
"Oh," Wang Xiong snapped out of his daze, looking at Xia Ling with interest. "What's wrong with Aunt Xia? Weren't you being quite cooperative just now?"
"Just now was just now, now is now," Xia Ling gritted her teeth, her voice filled with unprecedented determination. "I'll do anything you want, but taking off my shoes… I said no, and that's final!"
Wang Xiong narrowed his eyes, looking at Xia Ling thoughtfully.
With the evidence of the arson case in his hand, she had clearly been threatened into submission, so why was she suddenly so forceful on this matter? This usually elegant woman was now like an enraged lioness, radiating an unassailable aura.
"Interesting," Wang Xiong circled Xia Ling, "Looks like you've crossed Aunt Xia's line? But…" He suddenly leaned close to Xia Ling's ear and whispered, "Lines are meant to be broken, aren't they?"
Xia Ling's body trembled slightly, but her tone remained resolute: "You can threaten me, but this is off the table!"
"Fine," Wang Xiong pulled out his phone, "I'm going to find Susan from the Hera Group right now. And this isn't over yet. From now on, every time I see Xiaowei at school, I'll beat him up!"
Xia Ling's face instantly turned deathly pale, but her eyes still held a stubborn glint.
She bit her lip tightly, her whole body trembling, yet she still stubbornly shook her head: "No… I… I won't take it off."
Seeing Xia Ling like this only fueled Wang Xiong's interest. He reached out to grab Xia Ling's wrist, but she forcefully shook him off, an action that instantly darkened Wang Xiong's expression.
"Aunt Xia," his voice turned dangerous, "have you forgotten your current situation?" He dialed the number.
The phone's ring echoed in the empty parking lot, each ring like a hammer blow to Xia Ling's heart. She looked at the phone in Wang Xiong's hand, then at the sewage and broken glass on the ground. Finally, her stubbornness was replaced by fear.
The call seemed to connect. Wang Xiong shouted, "Hello, Aunt Susan? It's me, Xiao Xiong, yes, yes, Wang Datao's son..."
"No..." Xia Ling's voice trembled, her eyes already red, "Please..."
"Then take off your shoes." Wang Xiong hung up abruptly, a triumphant glint in his eyes.