The floor tile above her head slid away, allowing Chen Xuanqiu to see the light once more. Only then did she finally release a small, shaky breath.
“Quickly, come with me,” Wei Shoutai urged, his voice laced with urgency. “Everyone is out searching for you right now.”
“And Grandpa Wei?” Chen Xuanqiu asked, scrambling out from under the bed.
“He’s out as well,” Wei Shoutai replied. “The basement is completely empty, making this the perfect moment for your escape.”
Wei Shoutai helped Chen Xuanqiu to her feet, then seized her hand and pulled her, rushing toward the exit.
Now transformed into a girl, Chen Xuanqiu found herself burdened by a new weight on her chest and her physical stamina severely diminished. Despite this, she exerted every ounce of effort to keep up with Wei Shoutai’s pace. The sensation of her hand being held barely registered; internally, she was still a man, and the distinction between genders held no significance for her.
After navigating the two heavy doors of the basement, they ascended the stairs, emerging onto the factory’s ground floor. The building had been deserted for so long that no lights illuminated their path, a fortuitous circumstance that offered perfect cover for their escape.
They crept stealthily through the factory gates. A few kilometers distant, the city twinkled with myriad lights—Chen Xuanqiu’s ultimate destination.
Chen Xuanqiu peered towards the city, discerning faint, flickering flashlight beams in the encroaching darkness. It was undeniably the search party.
‘It seems I can’t escape in that direction,’ Chen Xuanqiu mused.
“They’re currently searching towards the city,” Wei Shoutai confirmed. “You can’t head straight there.”
Wei Shoutai, far from foolish, gently tugged Chen Xuanqiu’s soft hand, leading her to the rear of the factory. He then gestured towards the dark, distant mountains. “Go to the mountain first,” he instructed, “then circle around from another direction to reach the city. Understand?”
“Yes!” Chen Xuanqiu affirmed. “Please take care of yourself. Once I’m home, I’ll certainly find a way to repay both you and Grandpa Wei.”
Her voice was filled with sincere gratitude.
“There’s no need for repayment,” Wei Shoutai said with a gentle smile. “You know my condition; I can’t be exposed to light. Your safe return is the greatest reward I could ask for.”
He then urged, “Go quickly. It’ll all be over if someone sees you.”
Possessing the pragmatic mindset of a man, Chen Xuanqiu understood the necessity of decisive action. She turned and fled resolutely towards the distant mountains, acutely aware that every moment she hesitated or lingered only heightened Wei Shoutai’s risk of exposure.
The night was illuminated by a bright moon and scattered stars, offering just enough light to discern the path beneath her feet.
With her limited stamina, Chen Xuanqiu found herself weary after only a few hundred meters. Yet, she knew this was her sole opportunity for escape. She pushed her legs forward relentlessly, her body moving with the numb, automatic precision of a machine.
She ran and ran, her gaze unwavering, fixed solely on the mountains ahead. Only when she finally plunged into the dense woods at the foot of the slope did she collapse to the ground, panting raggedly.
‘If only I had a phone,’ Chen Xuanqiu thought, gasping for breath.
With a phone, she could simply call the police right now; why endure such torment?
‘Come to think of it, I’ve been in this world for so long, and I haven’t even seen ‘my’ phone. My adoptive parents must have kept it safe, considering our school rules forbid students from bringing phones to class.’
Chen Xuanqiu’s thoughts drifted aimlessly, when suddenly, a rustling sound emanated from the dense trees before her.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart seized. Before she could even register what was happening, a tall, dark figure lunged abruptly from the shadows.
“Ah!”
Terror-stricken, Chen Xuanqiu let out a piercing scream, attempting to scramble to her feet. Alas, before she could fully rise, the assailant tackled her back to the ground.
“Haha, you can’t escape now.”
The towering figure pinned Chen Xuanqiu down firmly, a laugh rumbling in their chest.
“Liqiang, is that really you?” Chen Xuanqiu exclaimed.
She instantly recognized the voice, and a chilling dread settled deep within her heart.
“Surprised? Unexpected?” Liqiang gloated. “I knew that Wei Shoutai fellow was up to something, so I didn’t go far. Instead, I stayed to monitor the factory. I never thought my suspicions would prove true!”
Liqiang chuckled triumphantly.
“What do you want?” Chen Xuanqiu demanded, desperately resisting Liqiang’s weight.
“What do I want?” Liqiang sneered. “Why, to make you bear my child, of course! That’s precisely why I waited until now to emerge. This place is far from civilization; no one can interfere with our plans. Once the deed is done, we’ll escape together and live as a loving couple.”
A malicious grin spread across Liqiang’s face.
“Let me reiterate,” Chen Xuanqiu spat, “I used to be a man, and you know that. Are you truly so depraved as to lay hands on a man?”
She attempted to sicken the beast before her.
“Do you know what’s most important for a man in this world?” Liqiang snarled, his face contorting. “It’s to carry on the family line! So long as you can bear children, who the hell cares what you used to be?”
His face contorted into a grotesque mask. One hand seized both of Chen Xuanqiu’s wrists, pinning them, while the other began fumbling with the buttons of her patient gown.
“Help! Help!”
Unable to break free, Chen Xuanqiu cried out for help, her clear voice echoing desperately through the silent mountains.
“Shout all you want!” Liqiang mocked, unhurriedly undoing her buttons. “In these remote mountains, who do you think will come to your rescue? Wei Shoutai certainly never imagined that his attempt to save you would ultimately lead to your downfall.”
Shame and fury surged through Chen Xuanqiu, her tears flowing freely. ‘Am I truly destined to fall into this beast’s clutches?’ she thought, despair settling in. Just as all hope seemed lost, her eyes darted forward, suddenly discerning yet another dark silhouette emerge from the night.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart leapt into her throat once more, and she momentarily forgot to struggle.
“What’s wrong?” Liqiang chuckled, completely oblivious as his back was turned. “Giving up? That’s the right attitude. Why bother struggling when you know it’s futile? Just relax and enjoy it; I promise you’ll be very comfortable.”
At that precise moment, the shadowy figure raised a thick, long wooden club in their hand and brought it down with a resounding thud upon the back of Liqiang’s skull.
Liqiang reeled as if struck by lightning, his body instantly stiffening before he toppled stiffly to the ground.
“Bastard, feeling comfortable now?” the dark figure snarled, tossing aside the wooden club. It was none other than Wei Shoutai.
“Brother Wei,” Chen Xuanqiu said, rising with a lingering sense of dread. “Thank goodness you arrived in time.”
Wishing not to appear overly weak, she suppressed her tears and discreetly rebuttoned her gown.
“He thought he was so clever, hmph!” Wei Shoutai scoffed.
He delivered another harsh kick to Liqiang’s prone form before turning back to Chen Xuanqiu, his expression softening with concern. “Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” Chen Xuanqiu replied, wiping her face, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “How did you manage to follow?”
“Because I anticipated his anticipation, that’s all,” Wei Shoutai said, brandishing the wooden club in his hand.
“Thank you for saving me once more,” Chen Xuanqiu said, expressing her gratitude again.
A wave of embarrassment washed over her; mere verbal thanks felt utterly insufficient to convey the depth of her sincerity.
“It’s nothing,” Wei Shoutai assured her. “Come, I’ll escort you part of the way; I’m quite familiar with this area.”
He gestured for her to follow, then led the way.
“But if they don’t see you,” Chen Xuanqiu asked, catching up to him, a hint of worry in her voice, “won’t they become suspicious?”
“It’ll be fine,” Wei Shoutai reassured her, quickening his pace. “They’re still out there searching for you.”
Chen Xuanqiu, unwilling to be a burden, gritted her teeth and kept pace behind him.
Within the inky darkness of the mountain forest, the unknown lurked on all sides. Yet, Chen Xuanqiu felt no fear whatsoever, comforted by the presence of a man beside her.
As Chen Xuanqiu watched Wei Shoutai, a peculiar illusion took hold of her. She felt like a princess in distress, attended by her loyal knight.
‘Alas, this princess of mine possesses a man’s heart,’ Chen Xuanqiu mused, a touch of regret in her thoughts. ‘Otherwise, I would surely be moved to offer myself to him.’
A pang of guilt accompanied her reflection.
After an hour of arduous trekking, they finally reached a small path on the other side of the mountain, where scattered lights twinkled faintly in the distance.
“I can’t be exposed to light, so this is as far as I can take you,” Wei Shoutai said, stopping. “Follow this small path directly to the city. Be extremely careful.”
“Brother Wei, please take care,” Chen Xuanqiu said earnestly. “I hope we can meet again someday.”
She bid him a solemn farewell, then, without a moment’s hesitation, turned and headed towards the city. It wasn’t coldness that drove her, but a fierce desire to no longer burden the man who had saved her.
“Goodbye, my cherished girl,” Wei Shoutai whispered, watching Chen Xuanqiu’s retreating figure. “I hope you make it home safely.”
He stood rooted in the darkness for a long time, gazing after her.
****
Around six in the morning, an utterly exhausted Chen Xuanqiu finally reached the city. At that moment, the immense weight that had been pressing on her heart finally lifted.
Overcome with fatigue, Chen Xuanqiu sank onto a street bench. Her patient gown was tattered and torn from the ordeal, and her small face was smudged with dirt, making her look like a bedraggled kitten. Her disheveled appearance naturally drew curious glances from passersby.
Unwilling to linger, Chen Xuanqiu stopped a passerby to ask for directions to the police station. She then dragged her heavy feet towards it, as she was completely penniless and had no other choice but to walk.