Zhou Hao Yang was sitting in the hotel lobby, casually scrolling through his phone when something unusual caught his attention. A tall, muscular bodyguard was walking past him, holding a young woman by her shoulder. She looked fragile, her head hanging low, her body limp as if she was barely conscious. Her long hair cascaded over her face, obscuring her features, but something about her seemed off.
Hao Yang's sharp eyes recognized the bodyguard—he had seen him before, always standing beside Lei Xian. His instincts flared with suspicion.
Frowning, he pulled out his phone and called Yi Chen. The phone rang twice before the line connected.
"Boss, something strange is happening. Lei Xian's bodyguards just carried a girl out of the VVIP ballroom. She looked sick… almost unconscious."
Yi Chen, who had been lounging in his suite, immediately straightened. His fingers tightened around the phone. "Who is she?"
"I don't know," Hao Yang admitted, keeping his voice low. His gaze followed the bodyguard, who was now standing in front of the elevator, waiting for it to arrive. "But something isn't right."
"Follow them and keep me updated," Yi Chen ordered.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. The bodyguard stepped inside with the girl still slumped against him. Hao Yang quickly entered as well, maintaining a neutral expression. The bodyguard pressed the button for the 14th floor. To avoid suspicion, Hao Yang casually pressed the button for the 12th.
The small enclosed space felt suffocating. The only sounds were the faint hum of the elevator and the girl's ragged breathing. She wasn't just unconscious—she was struggling. Her breath was shallow, wheezing. But the bodyguard didn't even flinch.
Hao Yang glanced at the girl, but with her hair covering her face, he couldn't see her features. What made him uneasy, though, was that she wasn't moving at all. His gut churned.
The elevator dinged as it reached the 12th floor. Hao Yang stepped out, glancing once more at the girl before the doors slid shut. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the stairwell, taking the stairs two at a time as he called Yi Chen again.
"Boss, they're taking her to the 14th floor."
Yi Chen's voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "Did you see her face?"
"No," Hao Yang admitted, "but… something's wrong. The girl isn't just unconscious—her breathing is bad. What if she's dying?"
Yi Chen exhaled sharply. "For now, just follow them."
"Understood."
The elevator doors opened on the 14th floor. The bodyguard dragged Xin Yi out, still gripping her shoulder tightly. Her body was weak, her limbs trembling. Her breaths came in short, painful gasps.
Why…? Xin Yi thought, her mind hazy with pain. I only ate two spoonfuls… why is it getting this bad? She had expected an allergic reaction, but this… this was worse than anything before. What do I do?
The bodyguard reached a suite and swiped the key card. As he pushed the door open, his grip loosened slightly on her shoulder. A flicker of desperation ignited in Xin Yi's chest.
This is my only chance.....
With every ounce of strength she had left, she twisted her body and shoved the guard with all her might. He stumbled back, caught off guard.
"Ahhh—!" the guard yelled in surprise as she stomped on his foot with all her strength. Pain shot up his leg, but before he could react, she bolted.
Her lungs screamed for air. Every step felt like dragging a leaden weight, but she pushed forward. She ran, ignoring the dizziness threatening to consume her.
The elevator was too far. She slammed her palm against the call button, but the doors didn't open immediately. Too slow!
Without thinking, she turned toward the stairwell and yanked the heavy door open. She had just taken a single step downward when—
A brutal hand grabbed her by the hair.
"You wench!" The guard's furious voice growled behind her, his breath hot and filled with rage. He yanked her back violently, causing pain to explode in her scalp. "I thought you were unconscious, but you've got some nerve!"
Xin Yi gasped, her nails digging into his hand as she tried to pry him off. "Let me go!" she screamed, twisting in his grip, but he was too strong.
The guard sneered. "You want to run? Let's see you try." He reached down and forcefully pried her fingers off the stair railing, intending to drag her back. But Xin Yi acted fast—she lunged forward and sank her teeth deep into his hand.
"ARGH—!" the guard roared as pain shot through him. Blood welled up from where she bit him. He lost control for a second—but it was enough for Xin Yi to free herself.
Then—
A loud crack echoed through the stairwell as his palm struck her face.
Xin Yi's head snapped to the side, pain exploding through her skull. The force sent her staggering backward. Her foot missed the edge of the stair.
She fell.
The world spun. The cold, hard steps slammed into her body. Her head hit something sharp—
THUD. THUD. THUD.
She landed at the base of the stairs, crumpled and motionless.
For a moment, there was only silence.
The guard stood at the top of the stairs, frozen, his face drained of color. His breathing was ragged. What… What did I just do? His gaze dropped to the girl below.
Xin Yi lay there, her chest barely rising and falling. Blood seeped from a deep gash on her forehead, pooling beneath her head and trickling down the steps. Her fingers twitched slightly. Slowly, painfully, she lifted her trembling hand toward him.
"H…Hel… Help me…" she whispered, her voice so weak it was almost lost in the cold air.
The guard felt his stomach twist in horror. He stumbled back, his hands shaking. He couldn't get caught. He had to leave. Now.
Without looking back, he turned and bolted, slamming the stairwell door behind him.
The sound echoed in Xin Yi's ears. She lay there, her body screaming in pain, but she could barely feel it anymore. Her limbs were numb. Her head felt too heavy to lift. The world blurred, and all she could see was the ceiling above her.
Is this how I die?
She stared at the dim light flickering above her. It swayed slightly, its glow stretching and fading in her vision. Her breathing was shallow, each inhale a struggle, each exhale a whisper of pain. The cold floor beneath her was becoming unbearably warm, as if her own blood was soaking into it, claiming the space around her. A distant ringing filled her ears. Her mind felt slow, like it was shutting down, piece by piece.
Then—
Hurried footsteps. The rapid thudding of shoes against the stairs. Voices—low and urgent.
Hao Yang's breath hitched as he took in the scene before him. "Boss… she's…" His voice faltered. He had expected something unusual, but not this. The girl was sprawled at the foot of the stairs, her pale face streaked with blood, her body frighteningly still.
Yi Chen didn't hesitate. He was already crouching beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the injuries. A deep cut on her forehead, her breathing erratic, blood pooling beneath her. His hands moved swiftly—pressing against the wound, checking her pulse. His fingers came away wet with crimson. Too much blood.
"Call the doctor. Now," Yi Chen ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
Hao Yang fumbled for his phone, his fingers unsteady as he dialed. "We need emergency medical help on the 14th floor! A girl—she fell down the stairs, she's bleeding heavily—"
Yi Chen barely heard the rest. He was focused on her. Her pulse was weak. Her breathing shallow.
"Stay with me," he muttered under his breath, his grip firm but careful as he tried to stop the bleeding. His expensive suit was already stained with her blood, but he didn't care.
The girl's eyelashes fluttered. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but no sound came. Her fingers twitched again, weakly reaching for something unseen.
"The doctor is on the way," Hao Yang confirmed, kneeling beside him. "Boss, what should we do until then?"
Yi Chen didn't answer immediately. He looked down at the fragile figure in his arms.
"Keep her awake," he said, his voice quieter now. Urgent. "She can't lose consciousness."
He shook her lightly. "Hey. Don't sleep." His voice was softer now. "You have to stay awake."
Her eyes fluttered again, unfocused. She was slipping.
A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. And then—darkness swallowed her whole....