Rose in No-Man's Land

28 Kidnapping

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Violence ⚠️
***

They had done absolutely nothing the night before. They simply took a hot shower and had a good, long sleep.

Early in the morning, Xia Xingmian finished freshening up and put on her sportswear under her coat.

Tao Ye wanted to drive her directly to the sports arena, but Xia Xingmian said she needed to first go to school to meet her team, and then take the school bus to the sports arena.

"Then I'll go ahead and wait there for the competition to start. It's suddenly turned cold with heavy snowfall today, and some roads are blocked, so be careful when you go to school," Tao Ye said.

She brought over the breakfast she had prepared. "Come on, eat first."

Xia Xingmian checked the time, grabbed her bag, and said, "I'm running late, I can't eat now."

"Wait..." Tao Ye walked over and handed her a large bill, "Go to the convenience store and buy something to eat on the way."

Xia Xingmian refused, "No need..."

"You're not going to tell me you're not being taken care of by me?" Tao Ye replied.

Xia Xingmian paused for a moment, realizing she wasn't used to this change in identity. With a vague "mm," she took the money, not daring to look up at Tao Ye, and quickly walked out.

It was still early, and the elevator was mostly empty. When Xia Xingmian got in, there was only a man wearing a cap leaning against the back corner.

She stood quietly, gripping the money in her hand, recalling what had happened the night before and the sight of Tao Ye cooking for her while wearing an apron.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the man behind her slowly approaching.

Suddenly, a handkerchief was pressed over her mouth.

The events happened without a hint of warning; she didn't even have time to resist as the strong smell of ether invaded her nostrils and robbed her of all strength.

— —

"Cough..."

When Xia Xingmian regained consciousness, she found herself in a dim, narrow basement.

She lay among a pile of abandoned wooden debris, under a broken lamp with no lampshade. There was a faint smell of burnt electric wire in the air.

She coughed a few more times, trying to move her limbs, but realized her arms and legs were tied up. Her throat felt dry and painful as if filled with sand.

In front of her were two men. One was wearing a cap, looking to be in his forties or fifties. Xia Xingmian recognized him immediately.

Wu Fang. One of the many creditors her father owed money to. The younger man beside him was a stranger, who appeared to have just come to help.

"Uncle Wu..." Xia Xingmian coughed and struggled to speak.

"How did you...?"

Wu Fang chuckled softly, "Everyone says I look much older now, that I've changed completely. You managed to recognize me at first glance."

"Of course, I could recognize you. I remember every one of you," Xia Xingmian struggled to kneel, weak and pale, before Wu Fang. "Years ago... my father wronged you all, I feel very guilty about it..."

Wu Fang questioned her, "If you really feel guilty, why didn't you continue to pay back the money Xia Yingbo owes us?"

Xia Xingmian: "I've been paying for three years."