An ugly monster

Li Xinran's breath hitched. Useful? How?

Miss Yan leaned forward, her dark eyes locking onto hers. "Tell me, Li Xinran… how much are you willing to sacrifice to crawl out of this hell?"

Li Xinran's bloodshot eyes flickered with confusion. Who was this woman? What was she saying?

Seeing that, a soft chuckle slipped past Miss Yan's lips. It was an eerily amused sound, like a cat toying with a half-dead mouse. "Confused?" she murmured, voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Don't worry. You won't be for long."

Li Xinran couldn't answer. The thick cloth stuffed into her mouth choked off every syllable. She trembled, her wrists raw from the restraints biting into her flesh.