CTS 21

Ji An’an did not quite catch what Shen Mo said. She continued, “Actually, I do not like Zhou Yang’s cousin very much either. But Aunt Zhou look after her relatives, so there is not much we can do. No matter what kind of background he has, as long as we stay out of his way, it will be fine.”

Shen Mo replied, “Yes.”

His voice trembled slightly without him realizing it. He knew better than anyone what would happen if that man was provoked.

It was only then that Ji An’an sensed something was wrong. “Brother Shen?” she called.

Shen Mo, already on edge, was startled by the sound of her voice.

Standing there in the bustling hotel lobby, he felt as though he had been dragged back to three years ago. It had been such an ordinary day. Zhou Yang had some matters to attend to at home and was away for a few days. Shen Mo had gone out alone to buy a few things. He never would have dreamed that he would be kidnapped.

“Brother Shen, are you alright?” Ji An’an called again.

Shen Mo snapped back to reality. He forced himself to calm down and said,
“I am feeling a little unwell. I think I need to use the restroom.”

Seeing how pale he looked, Ji An’an quickly let go of his hand and asked, “Do you want me to get my brother to go with you?”

Shen Mo glanced in Ji Mingxuan’s direction.

Ji Mingxuan was talking with Zhao Yi.
He was laughing happily, his eyes fixed entirely on Ji Mingxuan.

Shen Mo shook his head and said, “No need. I just need a bit of rest.”

He slipped away through the crowd, heading toward the restroom.

The lights in the lobby were far too bright.
They shone down harshly, turning everyone’s faces into a blur of white.
Under the glare, it seemed as if every man, woman, and child had a hideous scar across their brow. Even though it was a short distance, Shen Mo walked very slowly.
By the time he reached the restroom, cold sweat was dripping down his forehead, soaking even the hair at his temples.

The face reflected in the mirror was frighteningly pale. Shen Mo only glanced at it once before lowering his head to wash his hands.

Cold water rushed over his skin.

The injury to his right hand had long since healed. Not a single scar remained.
But he could never forget how someone had once stomped on his hand, snapping his fingers one by one.

Back when he had been kidnapped, he actually had a chance to escape.
He had hidden in the bushes, calling Zhou Yang over and over. But no matter how many times he tried, the number he knew by heart never connected.

Later, after he was dragged back, he overheard the kidnappers talking.
Zhou Yang had gone abroad with Ji An’an.

It was laughable.
He, the one who had been abandoned, had been the last to learn the truth.

Back then, he had been lying on the ground, his body covered in injuries. His fingers had been stomped until they were deformed, and he had heard the distinct crack of bones breaking with his own ears. The pain had been so intense he could not even scream.

It was a memory carved deep into his bones.

The sound of footsteps echoed outside the restroom.

Shen Mo’s hands trembled. It felt as if he had been pulled back into that desperate moment of escape. He stumbled into one of the stalls and locked the door tightly.

The footsteps grew closer, finally entering the restroom. Whoever it was paused briefly in front of each stall, as if searching for someone.

Shen Mo was terrified. He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out his phone and quickly dialing a number that he knew by heart.

The name Ji Mingxuan popped up on the screen.

Shen Mo froze, staring blankly at the name.

He almost forgot where he was, almost forgot what year it was. But he still remembered that he and Ji Mingxuan were in the middle of a cold war.

If he called, would Mr. Ji even pick up?

He was scared of the man with the scarred face. Scared of the nightmare he had lived through. But what he feared even more was dialing the number and once again hearing nothing at all.

Maybe Ji Mingxuan was too busy laughing and chatting with Zhao Yi to even notice the phone ringing.

Shen Mo stared at the screen until his eyes grew sore. Then, with cold fingers, he pressed the delete button.

Three years ago, he had called Zhou Yang’s number countless times.

It was only later, when he woke up in a hospital room, that he finally understood a simple truth.

In this world, no one would come to save him except himself.