Lu Mengjie has always been scared of snakes just like her mother. Just the thought of it was already goosebumps. Even if she was now cocooned in Yong Liwei's arm, she still couldn't help but think of the slithering animal that crawled on her tummy. Her body trembled not only because of the coldness of the place but also because of the thought of her most hated animal. She only found out about her trauma against snakes during her visit to the zoo. She just had the same reaction her mother did when they saw it together. She must have inherited her mother's fear of snakes.

"Mengjie, you should sleep," Yong Liwei said when he noticed that she was still awake. His deep voice was enough to snap her out of her trance.

"Y-you…" she paused as she felt another cold breeze enter the cave. This time, it even blew out the small bonfire. Her mouth was shivering, her teeth gnashing unintentionally. She inhaled sharply. Cold. She felt like dying. She buried her face on his chest. Her body was still trembling. Her fever didn't help at all. "You… said… that your… car is nearby."

"It's still raining heavily. It will only worsen your condition."

"Please…" She begged.

He tightened his arms around her. He could feel her small body tremble inside his. She was not the only one feeling cold but because of her fever, with her temperature high, he felt like she was warming him up instead. She was like a small animal, finding warmth and safety from a cold-hearted man like him.

"Liwei…" a small whimper was heard from her.

He sighed inwardly before he gently rubbed her back. She was just so vulnerable at that moment, just like that time. "I'm here. I won't leave you so just sleep, Mengjie. Sleep."

"Snakes?"

"I'll keep watch, don't worry," he promised.

...

The next thing she knew, Lu Mengjie was woken up by the stench of blood. Her head was aching and she was feeling dizzy as well but the scent of a dead body was just intolerable.

Huh? Dead body?

She snapped her eyes open and found herself in a clean, warm room. She was laying on a soft bed but she could sense someone, a dead body on the floor. The stench was too strong for her sensitive nose.

Her heart began to race. The last thing she remembered was being in a cave with Yong Liwei. What happened? She tried to sit up but failed in doing so as she realized that both her hands and feet were tied at each side of the bed. A cloth covered her mouth. How could this be possible? Was her escape only a dream? How about Yong Liwei? Did she never meet him?

"Mmm! Mmm!" She tried to struggle free but the ropes were tied nicely by the people who captured her.

Just when she thought that her meeting with Yong Liwei was a dream, she saw evidence of it when she saw a glimpse of her clothes under the blanket. She had cuts and bruises on her arms and legs from the fall she had in her escape. It seemed like they had been treated. That was not a dream at all. She was not wearing her gown anymore and instead, she was wearing a satin nightdress!

The scent of blood that entered her nostrils brought fear to her body. Were they captured? She could see the man's body laying on the far end of the room. He was covered in blood and he was badly beaten. Despite seeing the awful scene in front of her, she couldn't help but sigh in relief. He was not Yong Liwei. That means he was able to escape. But… he left her. Disappointment was cast in her eyes. Why did he leave her? Did he even try fighting for her?

The room she was in had no windows. She was all tied up. It was impossible for her to escape now. There was only one way in and out of the room. Through that metal door. The room she was in may look decent but it was only another form of prison for her.

She was scared. What was going to happen to her? They would have already killed her for so long if they wanted her dead. She was a hostage. They were using her against someone. They could be using her against Yong Liwei. From what Si Hongqi told her, Yong Liwei's previous lover was kidnapped too. She was tortured to death before her body was sent back to the man.

Fear enveloped her. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to be tortured to death! She could only pray inwardly for someone to come and help her. The first person that entered her mind when she thought of someone saving her was Yong Liwei. She knew for sure that he would come back for her. She trusted him. He would definitely come for her… she hoped.

Click! Clack! Click!

She shot her eyes at the door that was pushed open by someone outside. What kind of face did her captor have?

The person she first saw was the lackey, the man who opened the door. He was tall and had short hair. The man had a scary frown on his face. He looked strong. He was probably the person guarding the door outside. She had to think of another plan to escape. She wondered if seducing him would work once she's untied?

"You're awake."

Lu Mengjie's eyes went wide in disbelief when she heard the voice of the man who followed inside. She knew him. She knew that voice. She knew that face all too well. She was caught off-guard by his betrayal. Why him? Why him? She wanted to speak out. This was not a funny joke at all!

The man covered his nose as he shot daggers at the dead body in the room. "I guess you woke up because of that, huh? My apologies."