Arriving abroad wasn't as smooth as Tong Tong had imagined. The so-called Scout swiftly took all her identity documents away under the pretense of processing company paperwork.
The only mobile phone she could use to contact the outside world was accidentally broken by the Scout shortly after landing, who then took it away on the pretext of getting it repaired.
By then, Tong Tong realized that something was amiss, but it was already too late.
Without a phone, without identity documents, and under the Scout's surveillance, she had no chance to leave, let alone return to her country.
Tong Tong was confined to a small rental room, a basement converted into living space with no windows and only one door. As soon as the lights were turned off each day, the room would be engulfed in pitch darkness.