The man stood silently before Xu Yingying, still wearing that eerie black mask. His eyes were the only visible part of his face. They gleamed with cruel amusement as they locked onto her trembling figure. She tried to shift away, but the ropes tied around her wrists and ankles held her firmly against the chair.
Her cries were muffled by the filthy cloth stuffed in her mouth. Every panicked breath brought the sharp scent of dust into her nose, making her gag.
"So quiet now, Miss Xu?" the man whispered, his voice low and teasing. He leaned in close, so close she could feel his breath. "You know why you're here, don't you?"
Xu Yingying's eyes widened in terror. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to speak, to beg for mercy, but the gag held her voice hostage. She could only shake her head weakly, her whole body trembling like a leaf in the wind.
