Chapter 6: Escape

How long has it been? 

Probably… three days?

In this sunless “prison,” Xia Mengxi relied on Lin Xue’er’s descriptions during meal deliveries to determine that at least three days had passed since her confinement.

As for Lin Xue’er’s attitude during these three days, it remained unchanged-unyielding unless Xia Mengxi herself recalled the reason, no intention of backing down.

“Damn it! What exactly did I do wrong? If you won’t tell me, how am I supposed to know?”

Though only imprisoned for three days, with the oppressive environment had already begun to erode Xia Mengxi’s mental state.

Fortunately, this was just the beginning. 

After a momentary lapse of unstable emotions, she immediately recognized the change in herself. 

“No, I have to find a way to save myself before the necklace’s power becomes usable. Otherwise, staying here any longer will wear away my sanity.”

She leaned against the wall, hugging herself tightly for warmth, her pale teeth biting her bloodless lips.

Just as she was deep in thought, the long-awaited multiple-choice prompt finally appeared. 

But when she saw the words floating in midair, her strength drained away, and she slumped to the ground.

[Want to escape your cage, young lady? Then make your choice!]

[Option A: The moment Lin Xue’er brings your meal, use all your strength to shoulder-check and knock her down. If caught, you will face severe punishment from Lin Xue’er.]

[Option B: Use the excuse of going to the bathroom to escape through the ventilation duct. This option will increase Lin Xue’er’s corruption level by 10%.]

She knew it! 

These choices never offered a good method!

Xia Mengxi angrily swung her fist at the air, but no matter how much she scattered the words, they reformed the next second. 

Seeing this, she gave up, stopping her futile efforts. 

After all, the side effects of this choice didn’t guarantee her escape would fail. If she succeeded, perhaps the consequences could be avoided.

But… could the side effects of the choice really be avoided?

The moment this thought surfaced, Xia Mengxi panicked and shook her head vigorously. 

She had only been imprisoned for three days— how could she already be doubting herself? 

What if she were locked up for a week, a month, or even a year or two? 

Would she even recognize herself anymore?

Escape she had to get out of here!

Despite this conviction, when faced with the choices, she cautiously opted for Option B under the guise of prudence. 

Even if caught, the outcome would be better than the “severe punishment” promised by Option A.

Moreover, Option B had a higher success rate than Option A. 

Every time she used the bathroom, Lin Xue’er waited outside without excessive surveillance. 

If Option A failed and she didn’t knock Lin Xue’er down, wouldn’t that be the end? 

So, from every angle, Option B was indeed the optimal choice.

At the thought of her impending escape attempt, Xia Mengxi’s heart raced uncontrollably. 

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

“Phew… phew… Stay calm, must stay calm. Can’t let her notice anything, or it’s all over…”

After her emotions settled, the familiar sound of the iron door opening and the familiar words came through.

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

Xia Mengxi repeated the same actions as the past few days, taking the tray and eating the food on it.

But this time, after finishing, she carefully handed the tray back to Lin Xue’er and asked, “Xue’er… I, I need to use the bathroom. Is that okay?”

“Mm, come on.”

Lin Xue’er didn’t hesitate, setting the tray aside before reaching out to take Xia Mengxi’s hand and leading her out through the iron door.

The scenery outside the door wasn’t new to Xia Mengxi after several days-ceiling and floor of concrete, walls of blue brick, and the room she was confined in was at the very end of the corridor.

The bathroom wasn’t far. After leaving the room and turning left and right a few times, the first fork in the path led to the bathroom on one side.

“Go ahead, Xiao Xi. I brought you clean clothes today, so you can take a shower in the bathing area inside too.”

“Eh? Really?!”

Hearing this, Xia Mengxi smiled genuinely-not because she was happy to wash off days of grime, but because this added another factor to increase her chances of escape.

“Even though you forgot your promise to me, I still love you, Xiao Xi. Of course I’ll treat you well.”

“Uh… Xue’er…”

“Go on. If you stay this well-behaved in the days to come, I’ll treat you even better and try to forgive you.”

Under Lin Xue’er’s gaze, Xia Mengxi nervously entered the bathroom, only letting out a sigh of relief after closing the door behind her. 

“Hah, ‘stay this well-behaved~’, ‘I’ll treat you even better-‘, ‘try to forgive you~’. Hah, what a nutcase.”

Xia Mengxi snorted coldly, mimicking Lin Xue’er’s words with a mocking tone and pursed lips, not forgetting to call her crazy at the end.

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to react this way. 

Being imprisoned for days by someone she’d just met would upset anyone normal. 

Anyone who wouldn’t react must either be emotionally stunted or a masochist.

“Today’s the day I see the light again.”

Excitement aside, Xia Mengxi knew one thing for sure-after escaping, she’d need to gather information on Lin Xue’er. 

After all, Lin Xue’er was still one of her targets to “conquer.” 

Even if she got out of this mess, it’d be pointless if she didn’t solve the root of the problem.

“Future problems for future me. Right now, I need to prepare.”

Setting aside her thoughts, Xia Mengxi carefully examined the bathroom’s layout. 

After locating the ventilation duct described in the “question,” she began preparing her escape.

First, she pretended to finish using the toilet and flushed. 

After a pause, she turned on the shower in the bathing area.

Using the sound of water from the showerhead splashing on the floor, she blocked the bathroom door with cleaning tools inside. 

This way, the time Lin Xue’er would waste trying to open the door would buy her more time to escape.

After finishing this, she climbed onto the sink and forcefully pried open the vent cover of the ventilation duct. 

Due to long-term neglect and loose screws, the vent cover came off easily in her hands.

“Alright, time to bolt!”