Xia Fei didnât know how he made it out of the penthouse. His feet moved on instinct, driven by the overwhelming need to escape. His lungs burned, his vision blurred, and his hands trembled as he gripped the railing of the apartment complexâs stairwell, stumbling down the flights like a man on the verge of collapse.
His heart pounded in his chest, the stench of rotting flesh still clinging to his clothes, to his skin, to his very thoughts. It was suffocating.
Bodies. Opened up. No organs left.
Xia Fei gagged mid-step, barely catching himself against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut, his mind replaying the grotesque imagery that had been burned into his retinas. He felt sick. Disgusted. Violated.
The moment his feet hit the streets of Bridon, cold air rushed against his face, but it did nothing to ease the nausea twisting in his gut.
He needed to get away.
He didnât know where to go at firstâhe had nowhere to runâ his legs carried him to the one place he had left: his tiny, cluttered apartment.
---
Xia Fei slammed the door shut behind him, locking it hastily before pressing his back against it, panting heavily. The familiar scent of stale coffee and dust welcomed him, but it didnât bring the usual comfort. His small apartment, once a safe haven from the outside world, now felt like a prison of his own thoughts.
He slid down to the floor, burying his face in his hands. His mind raced, replaying everything he had seen, over and over.
Why the hell am I even involved in this?
Xia Fei thought back to the days when his biggest concern was chasing down late payments from clients, not stumbling into a nightmare straight out of a crime thriller. Heâd always known Vein was a shady guy, someone who operated in the shadows of society, but he had never imagined this.
He lifted his head, staring blankly at the peeling wallpaper in front of him. "Why the hell am I still in this mess?" he muttered, rubbing his face. "I should just disappear, leave Bridon altogether."
But as much as he tried to convince himself, something gnawed at him. If Vein wanted me dead, Iâd be dead by now.
The thought unsettled him.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed violently on the coffee table, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts. He glanced over, hesitant to check the caller ID. His stomach dropped when he saw the name flash across the screen.
"Pain-in-the-ass Client"
Xia Fei scoffed under his breath, despite the anxiety gnawing at him. "Of course, it's you, Liu Xiao..."
He hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen. The last thing he wanted was to talk to anyone, especially Veinâs business associate. But curiosityâor maybe desperationâgot the better of him, and he swiped to answer.
"Yeah?" Xia Feiâs voice was hoarse, drained of energy.
"Xia Fei, hey!" Liu Xiaoâs overly enthusiastic voice rang through the phone, the same smug tone that always grated on his nerves. "Long time no see, huh? Howâs life treating you?"
Xia Fei groaned, running a hand through his messy hair. "Cut the crap, Liu Xiao. What do you want? Want me to spy on Cheng XiaoShi and Lu Guang again? If that's the case no"
Liu Xiao chuckled on the other end. "Hey, no need to be so cold! I didn't call you work for me this time! I was just thinking⦠it's been a while since we hung out. How about grabbing some food? My treat."
Xia Fei narrowed his eyes, already suspicious. "You never just hang out unless you want something. What did Vein tell you?"
There was a brief pause before Liu Xiao responded, his voice noticeably more serious. "Letâs just say... I heard you had a bit of a shock recently. Thought you might need someone to talk to."
Xia Fei stiffened, his grip tightening on the phone. He shot a wary glance around his apartment, as if Vein might be lurking in the shadows. "So, what, youâre his damage control now?"
"Listen, Xia Fei," Liu Xiao sighed, his voice dropping to a quieter, more sincere tone. "I know what you saw freaked you out. Hell, I freaked out when I found out too. But trust me, itâs not as black and white as it looks."
Xia Feiâs jaw clenched. "Youâre telling me a room full of gutted bodies isnât black and white?"
Liu Xiao laughed dryly. "Not when you donât know the full story. Come on, man. Just one drink. Iâll explain everything. You know I wouldnât waste my time if it wasnât important."
Xia Fei rubbed his temple, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. "Fine. But you better have a damn good explanation."
"Always do," Liu Xiao replied, amusement creeping back into his voice. "I'll text you the location. And hey, donât flake on me. I'm not dragging your ass out of bed again."
Xia Fei rolled his eyes and hung up, tossing the phone onto the couch beside him. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
He wasnât sure what he hated moreâthe fact that Vein had sent someone after him or that part of him actually wanted an explanation.
---
Meanwhile..
Vein sat at his desk, tapping his fingers against the polished wood, his sharp gaze fixed on the large monitor in front of him. Several surveillance feeds were displayed, showing different parts of the cityânone of them Xia Fei's apartment. He knew Xia Fei had disabled any tracking Vein had placed on him, a small act of rebellion that Vein had long tolerated.
But still, Vein wasnât worried. Not yet.
He exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair. Xia Feiâs reaction was expected. It was natural. Anyone would have reacted the same way upon seeing what lay beyond that door. But Xia Fei didn't know the full picture yet.
The people Vein eliminated werenât innocent. They were criminals in their own rightâcorrupt politicians, human traffickers, and underground crime lords who committed rape, theft and other unimaginable things. The government had no choice but to turn to people like him, the ones willing to do what others couldnât.
And if he made a little extra money by selling the organs on the black market... well, that was just good business.
Vein's gaze darkened. The real problem
wasn't Xia Fei discovering the truthâit was whether Xia Fei would believe him when the time came to explain.
That's why he needed Liu Xiao.
Reaching for his phone, Vein tapped out a message.
Vein: Let me know when you've talked to
him.
A reply came almost instantly.
Liu Xiao: Relax, dude. He said yes. I got this.
Vein allowed himself a small smirk before setting the phone aside. Xia Fei could run, could hide, but in the end, he would have to face the truth.
And Vein would make sure of it.