He chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. “So you got your information from him. But even so, what qualifications do you have to negotiate terms with me here?” He narrowed his eyes, the icy blue of his irises shimmering with a metallic sheen beneath his golden lashes. His gaze was as cold as a stainless steel scalpel, and being watched by such eyes felt like being stripped of flesh, leaving only bare bones. “You should know that you are just a lucky rabbit that escaped from a shotgun.”
“I’m not negotiating terms; I just want… to ask you.” Her tone was humble and earnest as she pleaded with him. She could not think of any words to convince him, feeling like a drowning person grasping at a piece of driftwood, hoping for survival.
“Ask?” He laughed loudly, his tone mocking. “But I admire your courage. Have you really thought this through? If you want to save someone… can you afford the price?”
She bit her pale lip tightly, tears already welling in her eyes. From the moment she made up her mind, she had not thought about being able to return alive. At worst, she would die; this time, she would not fail again…
He stood up from behind the desk and walked step by step to stand in front of her, his icy blue eyes burning into her. The smoke from his cigarette wafted near her ear, releasing a strong smell of tar. His voice echoed in her ear, “Then, from now on, your life is mine, until the moment I decide to end it.”
Her eyes trembled violently. Although she had anticipated that the outcome might be like this, and it was the best result, she still feared the long-lost, wolf-like glint in his eyes as he toyed with his prey.
This time, falling into his hands was far worse than before; her life was entirely in his control, and she could not even choose death. Although she did not know what role he played in the military, she was well aware of the dark, all-encompassing reach he wielded. He could release them or send them to their deaths at any moment.
He took a deep drag from the cigarette and exhaled slowly. “Fate is truly unpredictable; this little one has thrown herself into the net. But don’t worry, this time, I won’t let you, this cunning little rabbit, slip away again.”
Khanyi forced herself to appear calm, looking out the glass window. The black night had already swallowed the last glimmer of the setting sun. Her fate was once again in his hands; this path was one she had chosen herself. Suddenly, she hated that painting, a forgery.
When Christ was nailed to the cross, he could not possibly be that calm; he must have endured unbearable pain, screaming and desperately accusing… yet he was still willing to sacrifice himself to save others. She nodded, not realizing that the light in her eyes was as brave and fearless as a martyr before execution.
Her resolute demeanor made him suddenly chuckle lightly. He extinguished the cigarette and slowly extended his arm toward her, his long index finger about to brush across her forehead. She instinctively shrank back, avoiding his finger. The forced calmness in her dark eyes vanished, replaced by a look of fear and avoidance.
His hand halted in mid-air, stinging as if it had been stung by a bee. In truth, he had no other intention; he merely wanted to slightly part her black hair to see her dark eyes more clearly. He suppressed his smile, fully aware that his smile appeared so ferocious in her eyes.
He turned back to his seat, picked up the neatly arranged leather document folder on the desk, and pulled out several sheets of paper. “The teachers from Starlight Art School, are they your friends?” He quickly flipped through the stack of papers, selecting one. “Tell me, who do you want to save?”
Khanyi could hardly believe he would agree so readily. Biting her lower lip, she stared at him but remained silent for a long time.
He set the list down, his long hands crossed in front of his narrow jaw, his chilling gaze sweeping over her face. “A woman’s thoughts are truly inscrutable. I have thousands of names here; I wonder which one is your beloved?”
Khanyi lowered her gaze, staring at the paper on the table. Finally, she mechanically began to name the teachers one by one. She could not be sure if he truly intended to release them, nor did she know if her actions would bring them fortune or disaster.
