Chapter 8: Imprisoned Again

She… How did she find me here so quickly!

Xia Mengxi’s face turned deathly pale as she desperately retreated, but the single shower stall was so small that no matter how much she backed away, there was nowhere left to go.

The water droplets hitting her body merged with her sweat, and along with her heart, they fell onto the anti-slip floor tiles, drawn by gravity toward the drain, sinking deeper and deeper.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Xi? You seem… really scared to see me?”

“N-no! Not at all!”

Xia Mengxi forced herself to appear calm, willing her trembling body to take two steps forward before reaching out toward the handle of the already-opened shower door.

“I-I… I’m showering here. D-don’t you have any manners… Can’t you wait until I’m done before… talking…”

Under Lin Xue’er’s piercing, icy gaze, Xia Mengxi closed the door, then collapsed onto the cold floor tiles, all strength leaving her body.

However, in her terrified state, her body temperature was almost the same as the tiles, so she felt no difference in temperature at all.

“I’m done for… I’m done for!”

Did that girl plant a GPS tracker on her? 

How else could she have found her so quickly?

Xia Mengxi clutched her pounding heart, breathing rapidly. 

Some of the water from the showerhead above trickled down her back, dripping from her soaked hair onto the floor in front of her.

It took a long while before her emotions stabilized. 

As her body temperature returned to normal, she finally felt the chill of the tiles and slowly pulled herself up, leaning against the wall.

If possible, she’d gladly stay in here forever—maybe then she wouldn’t have to face the person outside. 

Or at least she could stall until class ended. Once there were more people around, she might still have a chance…

“Xiao Xi, I’ll give you ten minutes. If you’re not out by then, don’t blame me for being truly impolite.”

“……”

Damn, how considerate of you.

The ill-timed voice from outside the door made Xia Mengxi furious. 

When trapped in a hopeless situation, the last thing you needed was for the tiny glimmer of hope you’d just conjured up to be crushed instantly. 

It couldn’t be more infuriating.

But right now, she was completely at the other’s mercy. 

She didn’t even have the right to be angry. 

Who knew what unimaginable punishment awaited her if she dared defy Lin Xue’er now?

No way! This made her seem way too weak!

Xia Mengxi gritted her teeth and clenched her fists against the wall.

She was still a guy, after all. 

How could she let a girl boss her around like this? 

Maybe she should just fight back.

At that moment, she felt adrenaline surging through her body, filling her with strength. 

Was this the legendary masculine spirit engraved in her soul? 

Good, very good-she felt like she could take down ten tigers!

So what was a measly Lin Xue’er? Hah, why should she be scared?

“Bring it on! Let’s fight! A real man fights! I refuse to believe I can’t take her down.”

Turning off the shower, Xia Mengxi swept her waist-length wet hair behind her back. 

Just as she prepared to confidently step out and engage in an epic boxing match with Lin Xue’er, what greeted her instead was the cold touch of a metallic tube pressed against her neck.

“You…!”

Lin Xue’er, you shameless cheat!

Xia Mengxi widened her eyes, staring in disbelief at the girl before her. 

But under the effects of some unknown drug, her consciousness gradually blurred.

Just as she was about to collapse into the embrace of Mother Earth, Lin Xue’er stepped forward and caught her delicate body.

“Xiao Xi, I never wanted to go this far. But you forced my hand. From now on, you’ll have nothing-no sky, no sunlight, no freedom. But… you’ll still have me, because I’ll be with you for the rest of your life.”

As she spoke, a hint of sickly amusement crept onto Lin Xue’er’s face, mixed with an intense possessiveness.

When Xia Mengxi regained consciousness, she found herself confined in an entirely new place.

This space was even more oppressive than the previous brick cell. 

Apart from the bed she lay on, everything—the ceiling, floor, and all four walls-was made of metal panels, as if she were trapped inside a metal box.

The only exit was a staircase leading upward, positioned opposite the bed.

“Where is this now…?”

Frowning, Xia Mengxi felt deeply uneasy at the sight before her. 

It was clear just how far Lin Xue’er’s attitude toward her had escalated.

As she got off the bed and moved toward the staircase, the sound of chains clanking against metal echoed from her feet.

Looking down, she realized she had been shackled, with the other end of the chain fastened to the bedpost.

“Lin Xue’er, you’re seriously messed up!”

Though she had mentally prepared herself for some form of restraint after being caught, seeing it in person made Xia Mengxi lose her temper and curse at Lin Xue’er outright.

“Damn it! The distance is calculated so precisely!”

The chain wasn’t long enough for Xia Mengxi to reach the staircase. 

If she stretched her arm out while lying down, her fingers could barely graze the edge of the stairs.

Such an exact measurement made it hard not to suspect Lin Xue’er had done this on purpose-but what was the point?

Xia Mengxi couldn’t figure it out, nor did she care to. 

She believed she’d only be imprisoned for a few more days before finding another chance to turn the tables.

Having been confined before, she remained much calmer this time. 

Bored, she lay on the bed, waiting for Lin Xue’er to arrive—and sure enough, Lin Xue’er came as expected.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Xiao Xi. I brought you food.”

Following the voice, Xia Mengxi saw Lin Xue’er descending the stairs with a tray. 

However, Lin Xue’er didn’t approach her, stopping instead at the bottom of the staircase.

Seeing this, Xia Mengxi didn’t put up a defiant front and walked over herself. 

After all, she could resist anyone but not her own stomach, because hunger always won.

“Here, eat up, Xiao Xi.”

It was the same smile devoid of warmth, no different from before. But… wasn’t this too ‘normal’?

Lin Xue’er didn’t do anything else, simply handing her the meal without mentioning her escape at all.

Was she supposed to apologize on her own?

Apologize my foot… 

Fine, if apologizing meant avoiding trouble, she’d do it. A wise man knows when to yield.

“Xue’er, I…”

“Shh… Xiaoxi, you don’t need to say anything.”

Taking the tray, Lin Xue’er made a shushing gesture, then walked up the stairs while saying, “Xiaoxi, I’ll give you ten more seconds to memorize the layout here. Otherwise… you won’t get another chance.”

“?”

Huh? What does that mean?

Though she didn’t understand Lin Xue’er’s words, Xia Mengxi reacted quickly and immediately took another look around.

Then, as Lin Xue’er’s figure disappeared, a heavy door-closing sound echoed. 

Suddenly, the only light overhead… went out.