In the nick of time

Chen Yuan had barely run a few steps before he suddenly stopped.

He turned and rushed back to the front desk, bracing both hands on the counter as he asked:

"Check whether someone named Wang Dahai booked a room."

The young women behind the desk were startled by his sudden return and shrank back.

"Sir, we can't just disclose guest information..."

One receptionist tried to explain, but Chen Yuan cut her off.

"They're planning to hurt my sister! If anything happens to her, this hotel won't escape responsibility. Every one of you will face the consequences!"

The receptionists froze.

"Just check whether he did. If he did, tell me which room."

One receptionist hesitated for two seconds, then lowered her head and tapped a few keys.

"Yes, Wang Dahai booked room 1806."

"Which floor?"

"The eighteenth..."

Before she could finish, Chen Yuan had turned and run.

The receptionists exchanged looks.

"Should we tell the manager?"

"Hurry. We can't let anything happen."

One receptionist had already picked up the phone.

Eighteenth floor, room 1806.

Wang Dahai and Li Yan hauled Zhang Xiu'e into the room. Sun Deming followed them in and pulled the door shut behind him.

With a click, the door was locked.

Zhang Xiu'e's heart turned cold.

They forced her onto the sofa. Only then did Li Yan remove the hand covering her mouth.

Zhang Xiu'e gasped for breath, lifting her head to look at the three people before her.

Wang Dahai stood in front of her, undid the top button of his shirt, and caught his breath, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"Zhang Xiu'e, why couldn't you have cooperated from the start? You had to make a scene and wear everyone out."

Sun Deming settled into an armchair beside them and crossed his legs. His gaze slowly traveled down from Zhang Xiu'e's face, stopping at her chest.

He licked his lips, took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and drew on it before leisurely exhaling.

Li Yan stood beside Wang Dahai with her arms folded tightly across her chest, her lips curved in an amused smile and her eyes full of mockery as she looked at Zhang Xiu'e.

Zhang Xiu'e sat on the sofa, her head buzzing.

She knew exactly what kind of situation she was in!

There was no escape. Two men and a woman stood before her, each more disgusting than the last.

Zhang Xiu'e hoped Chen Yuan would come to save her, but she knew he had no idea which room she was in. In a hotel this big, how could he find her?

She had to find a way to buy time.

Zhang Xiu'e took a deep breath and suppressed the fear on her face.

She lifted her head and looked at the three of them.

"Fine!"

Wang Dahai blinked.

"I'll do it!"

Zhang Xiu'e spoke softly, but all three heard her clearly.

Wang Dahai and Sun Deming exchanged a look, both a little surprised.

Li Yan was stunned too!

Zhang Xiu'e leaned back against the sofa and looked at them. "But I have conditions."

Wang Dahai narrowed his eyes. "What conditions?"

"First, after tonight, you give me twenty thousand yuan."

Wang Dahai smiled. "Easy enough."

"Second," Zhang Xiu'e said, looking at Sun Deming, "you have to promise to give me all of Dacheng Electronics' recruitment business and count it toward my performance."

Sun Deming flicked the ash from his cigarette and smiled. "No problem! As long as you give yourself to me, Miss Zhang, anything is negotiable!"

"Third," Zhang Xiu'e paused, "I want to take a shower first. I'm all sweaty. It's uncomfortable!"

The three exchanged looks.

Wang Dahai was the first to react.

"Xiu'e, why couldn't you have come around sooner? You put us through all that trouble."

He stepped forward and reached out to pat Zhang Xiu'e's shoulder, but she dodged him.

Wang Dahai didn't mind. He withdrew his hand and turned to Sun Deming.

"Mr. Sun, what did I tell you? Xiu'e is just shy. Deep down, she knows what's what."

Sun Deming stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray and chuckled. "Good that she understands. Good."

Wang Dahai turned back to her, adopting an earnest air.

"Xiu'e, tell me, what matters most these days? Opportunities! Mr. Sun is giving you one, and you need to seize it. Plenty of people can't even get in line to have dinner with him, but here you are, being coy!"

Sun Deming leaned back on the sofa, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Miss Zhang, let me be straight with you. Dacheng Electronics needs to hire over two thousand people this year. That recruitment business has to go to someone, right? What matters is who knows how to play along. If you do, I'll return the favor."

The two played off each other like a comedy duo.

Zhang Xiu'e's stomach churned as she listened, but her face betrayed nothing. She nodded without speaking.

Li Yan went to the water dispenser, filled a cup with warm water, and brought it over to Zhang Xiu'e.

"Have some water. Sober up."

Zhang Xiu'e glanced at her and accepted the cup, then set it straight on the coffee table without drinking.

Li Yan didn't mind. She sat beside her and patted her thigh.

"Xiu'e, I told you you were smart! Look at me. Ever since I got together with Dahai, I've had everything I wanted. Double the salary, commissions rolling in—who at the company doesn't show me respect?"

She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Dahai said if you stay with him and treat him right, he'll give you this much every month."

Li Yan held up three fingers and waved them.

Zhang Xiu'e looked at her and thought, This woman really is vile!

Li Yan kept talking, looking smug.

"I was just like you at first. Couldn't loosen up. Then I figured it out. Being a woman, isn't it all the same? What difference does it make who you're with? A rich, powerful man is better than some penniless loser."

Zhang Xiu'e said nothing.

Li Yan continued, "Don't worry. After tonight, we'll be sisters. If anyone at the company dares bully you, I'll tear their mouth apart!"

Zhang Xiu'e glanced at her and tugged at the corners of her mouth, managing something like a smile.

She stood. Her legs were still a little weak, but much better than before.

"I'm going to shower. I'm sweaty all over. It's uncomfortable."

Sun Deming immediately got up too, his eyes gleaming.

"I'll join you!"

Zhang Xiu'e looked at him without a word.

Sun Deming took two steps forward and reached for her waist.

Zhang Xiu'e stepped back, avoiding him.

"Don't rush, Mr. Sun! Let me wash first. We can talk afterward."

Sun Deming wanted to advance again, but Wang Dahai caught his arm.

"Mr. Sun, the girl's shy. Give her a little time."

Wang Dahai smiled and gave him a meaningful look.

Sun Deming understood. Smiling, he retreated to the sofa and sat down again.

"All right, all right. Go shower first, Miss Zhang. I'll wait."

Wang Dahai then looked at Li Yan and signaled with his eyes.

Li Yan immediately stood. "I'll wash too. I'm all sweaty, and I still have to keep Dahai company later."

As she spoke, she linked arms with Zhang Xiu'e and headed toward the bathroom.

Zhang Xiu'e didn't refuse. She knew it would be useless.

They entered the bathroom, and Zhang Xiu'e locked the door behind them.

Hearing the lock click, Li Yan glanced back and smiled.

"You're locking it? Who are you afraid will come in?"

"It's a habit. I lock the door when I shower at home too."

Li Yan pursed her lips and said nothing more. She went to the mirror, checked her reflection, took off her earrings and set them on the counter, then smoothed her hair.

"Are you going first, or am I?"

"You go first. I need a moment to recover."

Li Yan made no objection. She took off her dress and draped it over the rack.

Underneath, she wore black erotic lingerie. Her breasts were small, but her waist was slim.

Li Yan turned and saw Zhang Xiu'e standing motionless by the door, leaning against the wall.

"You really aren't showering?"

"You first. I'll wait until you're done."

"Fine. Wait there. I'll be quick."

Li Yan entered the shower enclosure and pulled the glass door shut. Water began to run.

Standing in the bathroom, Zhang Xiu'e watched Li Yan's silhouette through the glass. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Not from fear.

From rage!

She turned and saw Li Yan's earrings on the counter, with an ashtray beside them.

Zhang Xiu'e picked it up and weighed it in her hand. It was heavy!

The water kept running. Li Yan hummed inside.

Gripping the ashtray, Zhang Xiu'e stood outside the shower door.

Her heart pounded so hard it felt ready to leap out of her throat.

"Xiu'e, get me a bath towel," Li Yan called lazily from inside.

Zhang Xiu'e didn't move.

The glass door opened a crack, and Li Yan extended a dripping hand.

"Where's the towel? It's on the rack beside you."

Zhang Xiu'e glanced at the rack. The bath towels were neatly folded.

She picked up a towel.

Then she tightened her grip on the ashtray in her other hand.

Li Yan poked her head through the gap, her hair wet and droplets clinging to her face.

"Got it?"

Zhang Xiu'e looked at her.

Li Yan smiled. "What are you spacing out for? Give it here."

She pushed the door wider and leaned halfway out, reaching for the towel.

Zhang Xiu'e handed it over.

The instant Li Yan took the towel, Zhang Xiu'e raised the hand holding the ashtray.

Then she brought it down hard.

A dull thud!

Li Yan's eyes flew wide. She swayed and crumpled, her head striking the shower doorframe before she slid to the floor.

Blood seeped from her temple and ran down her face, mingling with the water in a red smear.

Li Yan lay motionless.

Zhang Xiu'e stood there, still gripping the ashtray, trembling all over.

She looked down at Li Yan.

Her eyes were closed and her lips slightly parted, but her chest still rose and fell. She wasn't dead.

But that pool of blood was a glaring red.

Zhang Xiu'e's legs gave way. She slid down the wall and crouched by the door.

Hugging her knees, she stared at the red pool on the floor, her mind blank.

Did I kill someone?

No, she's still alive.

But she's bleeding. There's so much blood!

Zhang Xiu'e's hands shook violently. The ashtray fell from her grasp and clattered onto the floor.

Wang Dahai and Sun Deming's voices drifted in from outside.

"...So, are you going first, or am I?"

"Dahai, you're the host and I'm the guest. Why don't you go first?"

"That won't do, Mr. Sun. You're our honored guest. You first."

"Hahaha, Dahai, you're too polite. I have to tell you, I really appreciate you!"

"Then you go first, Mr. Sun. I'll watch from the side and learn a thing or two."

The two of them dissolved into laughter.

Listening to them, Zhang Xiu'e felt her stomach churn and nearly threw up.

She huddled behind the bathroom door, hugging her knees, her nails digging into her flesh.

I can't panic!

Zhang Xiu'e raised her head and looked at the bathroom door. It was locked.

But how long could it hold them off?

She heard Wang Dahai speak again outside. "Those two, honestly! How can a shower take this long? I'll go check."

Footsteps approached.

Zhang Xiu'e's heart leaped into her throat.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Li Yan? Are you two done yet?"

No one answered.

"Li Yan?"

Still no answer.

Wang Dahai's tone changed. "Li Yan? Do you fucking hear me?"

Zhang Xiu'e huddled behind the door, barely daring to breathe.

Outside, there were two seconds of silence.

Then Wang Dahai suddenly raised his voice. "Zhang Xiu'e! What the hell are you up to?!"

Sun Deming came over too. "What's wrong?"

"There's no sound in there." Wang Dahai banged on the door twice more. "Li Yan! Li Yan!"

Still no sound.

Wang Dahai started kicking the door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The doorframe shook, and the latch rattled.

Zhang Xiu'e shrank back into the corner, hugging her knees and trembling all over.

She looked at Li Yan lying on the floor, then at the shaking door.

Only one thought remained in her mind.

Yuan.

Where are you?

Hurry!

Your big sister can't hold on much longer.

In the hallway outside, the elevator doors opened.

Chen Yuan rushed out, glanced at the sign on the wall, and turned right.

The hallway was long and carpeted, with doors lining both sides.

1801, 1803, 1805...

1806.

Here it is!

The door was closed. Banging came from inside, as though someone was smashing something.

Chen Yuan stood at the door and took a deep breath.

He raised his foot and kicked hard at the lock.

The door flew open, slammed into the wall, and bounced back.

Chen Yuan shoved it aside and charged in.