Counterattack

Jiang Mian looked around the newly renovated room, took off her coat, and prepared to wash up.

Just then, the phone she'd left by the bed began to vibrate. The caller ID showed "He Yi."

Jiang Mian picked up the phone, instantly switching back to her timid tone.

"Hello? Captain He?"

"Am I disturbing you?"

He Yi's voice was still steady, but there was a hint of apology in it.

"N-no, Captain He. You're not. Did you... need something?"

Jiang Mian curled up on the bed, staring at her plump, pink toes, her gaze unfocused.

He Yi sighed on the other end of the phone. His tone grew more serious.

"Right, there's something I need to tell you. Li Hao... got out of the detention center this afternoon."

So soon?

Jiang Mian had expected it, but hearing the news confirmed still made her heart tighten.

There was no other reason. She'd have to put on another acting performance.

She fell silent, not answering right away, as though the news had "shocked" her.

He Yi seemed able to imagine how pale she'd gone. His voice softened, heavy with apology.

"I know this is the last thing you want to hear. Given what he did, he should've been locked up a while longer, but his father pulled some strings... I'm sorry."

"...I-it's okay, Captain He. You've already helped me so much. Thank you for going out of your way to tell me."

Jiang Mian's voice trembled slightly, as if she were forcing herself to stay calm.

"It was the least I could do."

He Yi asked with concern, "How have you been lately? Are you still living at the same place? I'm worried he might... so I thought I'd call and check."

"Me? I moved."

"You've already moved? Good. That neighborhood was too chaotic. How's the area around your new place? Is it safe?"

"Mm, it's all right. I'm in North City. The rent... isn't too bad either."

"North City..."

He Yi pondered for a moment. He didn't ask for her exact address, only reminding her:

"It's a little out of the way... Be careful, and call me anytime if anything happens."

"Mm, I will."

After hanging up, Jiang Mian casually tossed her phone onto the bed and looked out at the bleak scenery beyond the window.

Although "awakening" in front of a crowd would be safer, with Li Hao's temperament, he was probably already looking for her.

Jiang Mian didn't know how he'd found her new address, and she didn't want to know.

She only had to make sure there'd be "witnesses" when Li Hao inevitably showed up.

Who those "witnesses" were, or how many there were, didn't matter.

What mattered was that she'd truly suffered severe "stimulation" and had fully unlocked her "potential."

West District, Jiang Mian's old rental apartment.

Li Hao emerged from the apartment with a gloomy look and kicked the pile of junk in the hallway.

"Brother Hao... that chick really ran off?"

Green Hair asked cautiously from beside him.

"No shit!"

Li Hao spat.

He hadn't expected such a coincidence. He'd only gotten out that afternoon, and Jiang Mian had already moved.

He figured she was no longer in the neighborhood—or even in the West District.

"Damn it, she sure ran fast."

"So... what now?"

"Find her!"

Li Hao pulled out his phone, grinding his teeth as he said:

"It's just a rental record. I want to see where she thinks she can hide!"

The next evening, dusk settled in.

Jiang Mian carried her shopping bag and ambled along the road home.

Today, she'd told Teacher Lin her new address. Teacher Lin had said she'd come by later to check on her, and by Jiang Mian's estimate, she should be arriving soon.

The Mist blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the sky perpetually dim and overcast.

At this time of evening, the desolation unique to North City made the atmosphere even more oppressive.

But the silence was soon broken by a familiar voice.

"Jiang Mian, you sure ran far!"

Li Hao's voice came abruptly from up ahead. With two lackeys behind him, he blocked her way home.

Perfect timing?

The moment Jiang Mian saw Li Hao, her face instantly took on a frightened expression, and her thoughts shifted.

This guy had timed it perfectly. She didn't even need to do anything extra. In that case...

She took two steps backward and spoke in a trembling voice.

"L-Li Hao, how did you..."

"How did I find you?"

Li Hao advanced step by step, sneering.

"You think moving to North City means you're safe? Dream on!"

His gaze settled on Jiang Mian's eyes. Her round, almond-shaped eyes were now clouded with tears, making her look utterly pitiful.

But instead of stirring any sympathy in him, the sight only fanned the flames of his rage.

"You even dared to move? A useless, unawakened good-for-nothing like you should've just listened, shouldn't you?"

Li Hao reached out and grabbed Jiang Mian by the wrist without a word.

"Ah! You... let go!"

The pain made Jiang Mian drop the bag in her hand. Discount bread and instant noodles spilled across the ground.

Li Hao sneered, as if mocking her poverty. The flames of his anger burned even hotter, and he dragged her toward a Dilapidated Warehouse in the distance.

Jiang Mian seemed to be looking for help. She glanced around and met the eyes of a middle-aged woman who had poked her head out a window to look.

The woman's face changed. She instantly withdrew, locked the window, and pulled the curtains shut.

Farther away, several passersby saw what was happening and hurried along, pretending they hadn't seen a thing.

In this world, people instinctively kept their distance from all sorts of trouble they happened to encounter.

Stand up for someone?

They wouldn't just fail to receive any gratitude; there was a good chance they'd bring trouble down on themselves.

A district's Public Security Bureau had only a little over a hundred people to manage a vast area. They couldn't respond in time to every minor altercation.

And retaliation often came faster than they did.

Jiang Mian felt nothing. She'd known it would turn out this way.

But she still had to keep acting. The next part was up to her.

She struggled, but couldn't break free of Li Hao's iron grip. Then, in a trembling voice, she pleaded:

"Please... let me go..."

"You don't get a say!"

Seeing Jiang Mian still try to escape, Li Hao lost all patience. He quickened his pace and dragged her into the Dilapidated Warehouse.

Red Hair quickly found an iron bar and handed it to Li Hao, then stayed outside with Green Hair and shut the door.

With a clang, Li Hao wedged the rust-covered warehouse door shut, sealing off the inside from the outside.

The warehouse was dimly lit, making Li Hao's face look especially sinister.

"Go on, run. Why'd you stop?"

He cornered Jiang Mian against the wall, his face brimming with undisguised malice and excitement.

"You don't know what's good for you. You even dared to call the police, huh?"

Li Hao bent down, the corners of his mouth twisting into a nasty smile.

"Now it's just the two of us."

As he reached out to pinch Jiang Mian's cheek, his movement suddenly halted.

A slender, pale hand had grabbed his wrist, stopping him from getting any closer.

What was going on?

His heart jolted. He looked into Jiang Mian's eyes.

The round, almond-shaped eyes that had been filled with terror now gleamed with coldness and savagery, as if she were a completely different person.

"That's right... it's just the two of us."