“Even if my appearance is cute, mentally I am a normal boy, and my sexual orientation is also normal. So please, don’t harbor any fantasies about me. Do you understand?”
Chen Xuanqiu stated this plainly. She was someone who repaid kindness, and thus only wished to accept favors she could return, not emotional debts that were impossible to settle.
“Don’t listen to Liqiang’s nonsense. I’m only good to you because you’re my patient. It’s called a doctor’s benevolence, understand?”
Wei Shoutai suddenly realized his words might be misinterpreted, offering a somewhat awkward explanation.
“Oh, my apologies then. It seems I misunderstood.”
Chen Xuanqiu apologized, a blush creeping up her neck, while silently wondering, ‘How could I have been so presumptuous?’
“Do you… do you truly wish to escape?”
After a brief silence, Wei Shoutai suddenly asked with a serious tone.
“Of course. I dream of nothing else.”
Chen Xuanqiu answered without hesitation.
“Mm.”
Wei Shoutai clenched his jaw slightly, his thoughts unreadable.
****
The next day, Chen Xuanqiu spent her time in constant apprehension. She noticed Liqiang’s gaze lingering on her with ill intent, clearly resentful after failing to achieve his aims the previous night.
Wei Shoutai observed this as well, and thoughtfully repaired Chen Xuanqiu’s door bolt.
As evening approached, Wei Shoutai secretly slipped a note to Chen Xuanqiu.
Taking advantage of a trip to the restroom, Chen Xuanqiu retrieved it. The note read: [Open your door at two o’clock tonight. I’ll come for you.]
Though suspicion flickered in Chen Xuanqiu’s heart, she decided to follow the instructions. Wei Shoutai’s actions over the past while had earned her trust.
In the dead of night, Chen Xuanqiu found herself wide awake. Instinctively, she felt that things were far from simple.
She endured the wait until two o’clock, then promptly opened her door. To her surprise, Wei Shoutai was already waiting outside.
“Follow me.”
Wei Shoutai whispered the instruction, then led the way back towards his own room.
Chen Xuanqiu wished to ask questions but dared not speak, so she obediently followed behind him.
Once inside the bedroom, Wei Shoutai closed the door behind them, then immediately dove beneath his bed.
Chen Xuanqiu was caught off guard by his actions. She knelt down, peering under the bed.
Wei Shoutai lay prone, reaching out to gently lift one of the cheap floor tiles.
Chen Xuanqiu found herself puzzled. Even though the basement was old and dilapidated, the floor tiles shouldn’t be so loose that one could pry them up with a finger.
“What are you trying to do?”
Unable to restrain herself, Chen Xuanqiu whispered the question.
“If you want to escape, don’t speak.”
Wei Shoutai made a shushing gesture.
“Escape?”
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanqiu’s heart began to pound uncontrollably. ‘Could this be a secret tunnel?’ she wondered, though as it turned out, she had greatly overestimated Wei Shoutai.
Wei Shoutai offered no further explanation. He simply and swiftly moved the floor tiles aside, revealing two wooden planks laid across an opening.
He then lifted the planks, uncovering an earthen pit approximately one point eight meters long.
“How can there be such a large pit here?”
Chen Xuanqiu’s clear, black-and-white eyes widened with shock.
“A fugitive always needs an escape route. I originally prepared this pit for myself, but I never expected you’d be the first to use it.”
Wei Shoutai gave a self-deprecating chuckle, then instructed, “Qirong, quickly, lie inside.”
Though Chen Xuanqiu had no idea what Wei Shoutai intended, she obediently crawled under the bed and then clumsily lowered herself into the earthen pit. After transforming into a girl, she now carried two heavy burdens on her chest, making her movements far less agile.
“Remember, no matter what happens outside later, don’t make a sound. I’ll come for you when the time is right.”
Wei Shoutai crawled closer to emphasize his instructions.
“Mm.”
Chen Xuanqiu obediently nodded her small head. Although lying uncomfortably in the pit, she was willing to endure any hardship for the chance to escape.
Wei Shoutai nodded in satisfaction. He then replaced the wooden planks over the hollow, before carefully sliding the floor tiles back into place, sealing the opening.
As the light vanished, Chen Xuanqiu’s anxiety mounted. She felt as though she were being buried alive, and even someone without claustrophobia would find such a suffocating sensation unbearable.
“I know it’s uncomfortable in there, but you must endure it. This is your only chance to escape, understand?”
Wei Shoutai reiterated his warning.
“Mm!”
Chen Xuanqiu bit her lip, affirming with a soft sound. Moments later, she heard Wei Shoutai’s footsteps retreating from the room.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
The next moment, a series of jarring impacts resounded, startling Chen Xuanqiu into a shiver.
Wei Shoutai, using some unknown object, began banging on a door, creating a thunderous noise. Then, his voice rang out loudly: “Where’s our test subject? Where has our test subject gone? Who’s on duty tonight?”
As Wei Shoutai continued to shout, everyone in the basement was startled awake. The outside instantly erupted into a clamor.
“What’s going on?”
A gruff voice cut through the noise.
Chen Xuanqiu had been in the basement for nearly two months, so she naturally recognized the voice of the security captain.
“I just got up to use the restroom and found Qirong’s door open. When I went inside, he was gone.”
Wei Shoutai explained.
“Gone? Have you looked around?”
The security captain inquired.
“Of course I looked. I only woke you all because I couldn’t find him.”
Wei Shoutai replied, likely fearing suspicion. He immediately resorted to crying wolf, turning to question Liqiang: “Liqiang, tell us, did you hide her?”
“Me? What the hell are you talking about!”
Liqiang instantly exploded in rage.
“Still denying it? Last night, you secretly snuck into their room. If I hadn’t discovered you in time, that beastly act of yours would have succeeded. Everyone here knows about it. Is it because you failed last night that you decided to try again tonight?”
Wei Shoutai presented his analysis, seemingly logical and well-reasoned.
“Liqiang, hurry up and hand her over. This basement isn’t that big; where could you possibly hide her?”
“Don’t let lust cloud your judgment! If you don’t hand over that test subject, none of us will have an easy time, and neither will you.”
“Liqiang, if you don’t hand her over tonight, I swear you won’t see the sun rise tomorrow.”
****
The crowd seemed to agree with Wei Shoutai’s assessment, and one by one, they turned their accusations toward Liqiang.
“Liqiang, hand her over. I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, if we find her ourselves, you should understand the consequences.”
The security captain also demanded her return.
“Captain Lu, it really wasn’t me! I swear to the heavens! It’s more likely this guy hid her himself and is now crying wolf.”
Liqiang said, his voice laced with resentment.
‘To think that the arrogant Liqiang would have a day like this!’
Chen Xuanqiu felt a small measure of satisfaction.
“Alright, everyone, start searching. This basement isn’t that big. I don’t believe a living person could just vanish into thin air.”
Captain Lu, at a loss, rallied everyone to search.
Everyone then began a thorough, carpet-style search of the entire basement. Chen Xuanqiu’s senses sharpened, and she lay perfectly still, not daring to move an inch.
Soon after, several footsteps entered the room.
“Captain Lu, I suspect this guy is crying wolf, so his room must be thoroughly searched.”
Liqiang spoke up.
“Heh, are you trying to tell Captain Lu how to do his job? Why don’t you become the security captain instead?”
Wei Shoutai taunted.
“You…”
Liqiang nearly choked on his words.
In the darkness, Chen Xuanqiu heard the sounds of rummaging, and soon, someone approached the bed. Their slightly heavy breathing was alarmingly close.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart instantly leaped into her throat. She held her breath, not daring to even take a shallow gasp.
Chen Xuanqiu felt incredibly lucky when, moments later, the footsteps moved away from the bed.
In this manner, several people searched Wei Shoutai’s room for a full ten minutes before finally giving up.
“Did you find anything, Liqiang? Weren’t you saying I was crying wolf? Where is she?”
Wei Shoutai challenged.
Chen Xuanqiu’s heart pounded at his words. She couldn’t help but admire Wei Shoutai’s acting; if it were her, she would only want to appease the situation at such a moment.
Liqiang remained silent, clearly having not anticipated this outcome.
“Damn it, she must have escaped.”
Captain Lu swore loudly, then turned and strode out the door, shouting, “Who’s on duty tonight?”
“Captain Lu, we’re on duty tonight.”
A young man replied.
“How exactly are you guarding this place? That test subject has definitely escaped.”
Captain Lu demanded loudly.
“That’s impossible, isn’t it? We’ve been patrolling non-stop, and the main door was locked after dark. How could she have gotten out?”
The young man argued.
“Then tell me, where is she? It’s just this big basement; she can’t have flown or burrowed her way out, can she?”
Captain Lu pressed, and silence fell over them all.
“Stop gawking, all of you! Get out there and find her. If you don’t, none of you will have an easy time.”
Captain Lu urged them impatiently.
“Everyone go out? Won’t someone need to guard the door then?”
Liqiang reminded him.
“Guard the door? Guard your mother’s head! If we don’t find the test subject, CEO Hai will have you guarding a wake.”
Captain Lu cursed, then led the group rushing out the door. The basement instantly fell silent.
After approximately ten minutes, Chen Xuanqiu finally heard footsteps entering the room.
“Qirong, come out quickly. Let’s go.”
Wei Shoutai’s voice quickly echoed.