“Bang—”

A sudden loud noise echoed through the dimly lit corridor. It sounded like something heavy had fallen, a dull and abrupt thud. Jiang Tingyu’s slender body trembled involuntarily as she cautiously looked over. The lights in the hall were deliberately dimmed, casting a faint yellow glow that softly spread across the marble floor. The light was insufficient but not enough to obscure her vision, yet there was no movement in sight. Had she misheard?

Jiang Tingyu pressed her warm palm against her cheek, trying to calm herself, but all she felt was the soft non-woven fabric of the mask she wore due to her cold. Perhaps her cold had worsened, causing her to hallucinate. She sniffled and continued walking. She was already late. She had received a message urging her to hurry at the entrance of the hall; everyone in the private room was waiting to celebrate her twenty-second birthday.

What should have been a joyful and carefree birthday was marred by her illness the day before, leaving her listless and without energy. If not for not wanting to dampen everyone’s spirits, she would have canceled the birthday party and stayed home to rest. Jiang Tingyu’s steps were unsteady as she slowly walked to the corner, her eyes lifting slightly. Upon seeing the scene ahead, her pupils contracted sharply, and her eyes filled with fear.

In the dim light, she could vaguely make out the silhouettes of two men. They were fighting. More accurately, one man was completely overpowering the other. A shattered vase silently spilled water on the floor, and the stand that once held the vase now pressed down on a man’s head. The sound echoed in her ears again.

“Overestimating yourself.”

The voice was harsh, cold, and devoid of any warmth. The man who spoke was in absolute control, effortlessly subduing the struggling man. It was as easy as crushing an ant. He stood in the middle of the corridor, avoiding the crystal chandelier’s light, creating a gray area where the front and back lights did not meet, providing the perfect spot for his crime. The man’s face was obscured, only the silhouette of his hair visible in the backlight.

The corridor lights flickered suddenly, and in that moment of darkness, Jiang Tingyu closed her eyes in fear. Deprived of sight, her hearing became more acute, and she clearly heard the suppressed man’s heavy breathing, as if silently pleading for help. Jiang Tingyu clutched her phone tightly, her rational mind telling her to call the police immediately, but her hands refused to obey.

Her eyes sensed the light, and her trembling eyelashes lifted slightly. In the dim light, Jiang Tingyu saw the man’s eyes. Cold, ruthless, bloodthirsty eyes, staring at her like a hawk. Her heart tightened, and it felt as if all the blood in her body was flowing backward, her brain suddenly deprived of oxygen.

“I…”

She tried to say something to divert the man’s attention but couldn’t form a complete sentence. Her body went limp, her feet numb and unable to lift, and she leaned against the wall to keep from falling. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man on the stand, no longer struggling, unsure if he was unconscious or dead. Jiang Tingyu was terrified. She was the only witness, and the man would not let her go. Perhaps her fate would be the same as the man lying there, disappearing helplessly.

The man released his grip on the subdued man, leisurely adjusting his shirt cuffs. The diamond-studded cufflinks glinted faintly. He was tall and well-built, his shirt’s fabric outlining his firm, smooth muscles. He looked down at his palm with disdain, took out a handkerchief from somewhere, and meticulously wiped it before casually tossing it onto the lifeless man’s face.

The man turned his gaze back to Jiang Tingyu, his dark eyes scrutinizing her. The girl wore a white mask, revealing only a pair of timid eyes. She was dressed meticulously, her hair curled into waves, cascading down her shoulders. She wore a light blue princess dress with a puffy skirt, and a necklace adorned her slender neck, as if she were going to an important event. Jiang Tingyu could barely stand, her shoulder leaning against the wall for support.

“I didn’t see anything, and I won’t say anything,” she said, her voice trembling with a strong survival instinct, trying to gain the man’s trust and a chance to live. She didn’t dare to call for help loudly, unsure if it would lead to her escape or hasten her death.

“Is that so?” The man casually fiddled with his cufflinks, laughing softly. His tone was too indifferent, as if making small talk. Jiang Tingyu’s heart skipped a beat. He left her room to speak, did that mean he wasn’t entirely intent on killing her?

“I can swear,” Jiang Tingyu responded urgently, her voice trembling uncontrollably, fearing that a second’s delay would bring disaster. “Swear?” The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, a mocking smile on his lips, his deep voice tinged with cold sarcasm. “How amusing.”

The man studied her through the dim light for a moment, seemingly dissatisfied with the distance between them. He took long strides towards her. The sudden sound of his leather shoes echoed in the silent space, each step striking fear into Jiang Tingyu’s heart, signaling intense danger. She held her breath, her weak body swaying, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the man’s face.

Half of his face was hidden in shadow, his features more defined, his jawline sharp, exuding masculine strength. His thin yet highly defined facial structure made him strikingly handsome. If she hadn’t just witnessed his crime, she might have admired his looks. But now, Jiang Tingyu’s mind was blank. Her body trembled with fear, tears welling up in her eyes but not daring to fall, biting her lip to hold back.

The courage she had mustered had completely dissipated. She was no match for him; silencing her would be too easy. The man leaned in slightly, his deep, cold gaze falling on her face, his hand casually reaching for her ear, his cold fingertips grazing her skin like a sharp blade cutting slowly. He seemed to want to remove her mask.

Images of countless horror movie scenes flashed through Jiang Tingyu’s mind, where psychopathic killers enjoyed torturing their victims, reveling in their fear and struggle. Her long eyelashes trembled, and tears finally broke free. That morning, her parents had given her a gift, a limited-edition camera lens she had longed for. Despite their disapproval of her going out for photography, deeming it too dangerous, they had fulfilled her wish.

By noon, her brother in Los Angeles had sent his blessings and a diamond necklace hidden in her desk drawer. She had celebrated her birthday with her parents and made a wish: to be granted the freedom to travel and capture the world’s beauty through her lens. Jiang Tingyu had never wished so fervently for time to turn back. If she could do it over, she would wish for a long life.

Stolen novel; please report.

Perhaps her prayers were too intense, and even God was moved. A figure suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor. Jiang Tingyu broke free from the man’s grip, desperately trying to grasp this lifeline, her voice hoarse as she cried out, “Help… help me.”

The person approached slowly, glancing nonchalantly at the man on the stand, showing no sign of shock. Jiang Tingyu sensed something was wrong. This person was too calm, as if it was nothing unusual, or perhaps—he was in league with the man. The newcomer stopped before the man, speaking respectfully, “Mr. Xie, I’ll handle it.”

Jiang Tingyu’s heart pounded, cold sweat seeping from her palms, her tears retreating in shock. She had seen such scenes too many times; her father’s assistant always handled everything flawlessly, leaving no trace. She never doubted their capabilities, but now, she feared she would die silently, her parents unaware.

The man called Mr. Xie glanced at the trembling Jiang Tingyu, a lazy, indifferent smile on his lips. He beckoned his assistant forward, whispering a few words. Despite the short distance, Jiang Tingyu couldn’t hear what he said, nor did she dare to eavesdrop. The assistant nodded to the man, his gaze barely lingering on Jiang Tingyu as he walked to the stand, carrying the lifeless man away, leaving the water stains on the floor untouched. The evidence of the crime was left in plain sight. Was it forgotten, or simply disregarded?

Jiang Tingyu had no time to ponder as her gaze met the man’s once more. His deep, inscrutable eyes seemed to be probing her like prey. Moments later, he raised a finger to wipe her tear-streaked cheek, his fingertip absorbing the warm, sweet scent. He rubbed the tear between his fingers, asking, “Why are you crying?”

Jiang Tingyu’s heart stopped, shaking her head mechanically. “No, I’m not crying.” The man’s eyes were too cold, his lowered voice, no matter how indifferent, sounded terrifying to her. She even thought that if she admitted to crying, his hand would press down on her head. She had witnessed how easily that strong hand had subdued a grown man; she doubted she could escape his grasp.

The man’s gaze shifted to her slender neck, his eyes growing darker with each flutter of her lashes. Jiang Tingyu couldn’t help but wonder if he intended to strangle her. A cold wind blew through the enclosed space, chilling her back. She shivered, sneezing involuntarily, her fear intensifying, her voice tinged with tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

She was at a loss, not knowing what to do, even worrying that a simple sneeze might provoke the man's anger. The man smiled faintly, seemingly unbothered. He leaned in closer, his gaze fixed on the necklace around her neck. "A gift from someone else?"

Jiang Tingyu covered her neck with both hands, nodding stiffly. "Yes."

The man’s eyes darkened, his voice low and mocking. "How interesting." He straightened up, his presence still imposing. "Remember, you saw nothing, and you will say nothing."

Jiang Tingyu nodded frantically, her heart pounding in her chest. "I swear, I won't say a word."

With trembling hands, she offered the necklace to the man, her voice quivering, "Take the necklace and spare me, please. It's very valuable and can fetch a lot of money."

"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow, his voice lazy and indifferent.

He took the necklace, holding it up to the light. The diamonds sparkled brilliantly, reminiscent of the solitary moonlight on a cold autumn night—chilling and noble. It was indeed a necklace that suited the girl perfectly.

Clenching his fist, he grasped the necklace tightly, his dark eyes once again locking onto the girl. "Just giving it to me like this, without any regret?"

Jiang Tingyu felt a pang of sorrow. The necklace was a birthday gift from her brother, worn for the first time, not even shown to anyone else. To say she wasn't heartbroken would be a lie, even to herself. But she valued her life more.

"As long as you let me go, it's yours." Her long eyelashes trembled, her heart pounding like a drum, her voice faltering. She knew the man could kill her and take the necklace without her consent; she was merely grasping at straws.

The man's sinister gaze bore into her, like a wolf silently assessing its prey in the snowy wilderness. Jiang Tingyu shivered under his scrutiny, her voice tinged with tears as she cautiously pleaded, "Is that alright?"

The man raised his hand again, his broad palm descending like a mountain. Jiang Tingyu closed her eyes in fear, her body stiffening with terror. A cold touch suddenly pressed against her neck, feeling like a venomous snake slithering over her skin, ready to bite if she moved.

Her heartbeat quickened, yet she didn't dare to breathe.

"Click—"

With a crisp sound, there was a new weight around her neck. It was the necklace. The man had personally put it back on her. Jiang Tingyu could feel the warm breath in front of her face, not her own trapped by the mask, but a man's.

"Open your eyes." His voice was low and lazy, exploding in her ears like fireworks. Her heart hung in the air, pounding loudly. Knowing she was no match for him, she obeyed, trembling as she opened her eyes.

Her vision cleared, and the man's enlarged features filled her sight, causing her pupils to contract in fear, her dark eyes glistening with tears. The man pointed to her tightly clenched hand, speaking indifferently, "Your phone."

Jiang Tingyu looked down at her phone, the screen showing an incoming call from a friend, probably wondering why she hadn't arrived at the private room. The screen remained lit, and Jiang Tingyu did nothing, as if frozen.

"Not going to answer?" The man asked lazily. Jiang Tingyu desperately wanted to answer, to call for help, but with the man right in front of her, she didn't dare speak. She bit her lip, shaking her head vigorously.

The man chuckled nonchalantly, glancing at his watch. The silver dial was exquisite, the smooth glass reflecting his face, blurred and dark. "It's getting late, let's go."

The lack of a subject made Jiang Tingyu hesitate, unsure if he meant she could leave. "Not leaving?" Seeing her immobility, the man looked at her again. Jiang Tingyu thought she had misheard, frozen like ice. Seconds later, she realized she had narrowly escaped death, "Yes, I'll go!"

In her panic, she turned to leave the way she came, but the man's voice suddenly rang out, "Wrong way, your path is this way." He pointed behind him, casually reminding her. Jiang Tingyu's breath hitched, her steps controlled by his voice, stiffly walking towards the private room. As she passed him, she instinctively dodged.

She wore a strapless princess dress, her back exposed, her pale skin gleaming. With each step, her shoulder blades seemed ready to take flight. The girl's timid figure disappeared around the corner, and the man retracted his gaze, striding in the opposite direction.

The elevator stopped steadily on the second basement level, the doors sliding open, and the roar of a car engine filled the air. The assistant from earlier waited by the car, opening the back door for the man. "Mr. Xie, the person and the surveillance footage have been sent to the police station as you instructed."

"Good." The man responded lightly, placing a hand on the car door and bending to get in. Before closing the door, the assistant added, "They were questioned on the way, but they refused to say anything."

The man chuckled indifferently, as if expecting this. "Understood." The assistant closed the door, hurried to the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, and started the car. The man in the back seat half-closed his eyes, his legs crossed, the tailored suit pants falling smoothly, accentuating his long, lean legs.

The assistant glanced at the man in the rearview mirror, silently lamenting the hardships of the wealthy. Such incidents had become commonplace since the CEO returned to take over the Xie Group. A cold gaze fell on the rearview mirror, startling the assistant, who quickly looked away, swallowing nervously.

The man shifted his gaze to the window, watching the dark clouds outside. Soon, raindrops the size of beans began to fall.