The destination had finally arrived. Xia Liu hoisted Qiqi up and carried her into the basement.
Immediately after, Zhou Tai pulled off the sack covering Qiqi, staring at her with a cold, sinister gaze, a gleaming dagger in her hand.
It was clear she was after Qiqi’s face—she intended to slash it with the knife.
Oh my god.
Qiqi screamed in terror, shrinking back as far as she could. A flicker of vengeful satisfaction crossed Zhou Tai’s eyes; she seemed to relish the girl’s panicked shrieks, even going so far as to tear off the tape over Qiqi’s mouth.
“Cough, cough…”
Finally able to speak freely, Qiqi coughed violently at first. Then, unexpectedly, instead of screaming loudly, she forced herself to stay calm, staring straight at Zhou Tai as she quickly defended herself: “It wasn’t me who leaked the information. I kept my promise.”
Zhou Tai stepped forward, the knife in her hand pressing against the girl’s fair cheek like a cold snake, gliding gently as she sneered, “I know.”
“What? Then why are you holding me?”
“Who sold me out doesn’t matter now. I’ve lost my standing in the Zhou family anyway.”
“Then why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I want you dead—”
“Why? What grudge do you even have against me?”
Qiqi finally screamed, as Zhou Tai’s wrist tensed, the knife nearly cutting into her face.
She hoped her voice was loud enough to reach outside the basement, to catch a passerby’s attention and bring help. But she knew this basement was airtight, windowless—she could scream her throat raw and no one would hear.
Zhou Tai’s knife traced patterns on her face, sending chills rippling across the girl’s skin. “Gu Qiqi, you don’t need to know anything. All you need to do is die.”
With that, Zhou Tai’s previously casual tone turned vicious, and she swung the knife sharply toward Qiqi’s face.
Qiqi lunged sideways, straining to dodge, but her limbs were weak. She avoided the fatal strike, yet a sharp sting pricked her neck—oh no, she’d been cut.
Thinking she might be scarred, Qiqi felt herself on the verge of breaking down. “Oh my god, if you’re going to kill me, at least let me die knowing why—”
Just then, Xia Liu grabbed Zhou Tai’s hand from behind, urging, “Sis, killing her outright is such a waste. She made you suffer so much—you should torment her a bit before letting her die.”
Zhou Tai seemed to like the idea, eyeing the trace of crimson blood on the blade. “Not a bad suggestion. But don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Hmph, get on with it quickly, and don’t delay my real business.”
So Zhou Tai was the mastermind here, and Xia Liu just an accomplice. But if she wasn’t killing her over the leaked information, then why? It seemed like she’d never crossed this woman before, had she?
Qiqi wailed inwardly.
At that, Zhou Tai finished speaking and left with the knife, a cold smile on her face.
She opened the basement door, and Qiqi saw a pitch-black staircase beyond. Zhou Tai’s high heels clicked on the narrow wooden steps, the sound unnaturally loud—“click-clack, click-clack”—fading away only after a long while.
Xia Liu stepped forward, his fingers pinching the girl’s chin with a lecherous touch. “Don’t bother looking. You’re not getting out of here. Now, you’re going to serve me well. If you make me happy, maybe I’ll give you a quick end later.”