Jin Ling'er was at a loss of what to do. She wasn't worried for herself, but for Xia Yingluo. How was she going to get away from this? If Yingluo was to be shamed or violated in any way, Jin Ling'er would never forgive herself.

Meanwhile, Xia Yingluo was very calm. She said to Zhao Yixuan, "As long as you don't touch her, I'll do as you say."

Zhao Yixuan thought that she was doing this to protect Jin Ling'er, and found it easier than he'd expected. "Yingluo, since you've put it this way, I'll definitely take good care of her, don't you worry."

Xia Yingluo couldn't stand to see this annoying face of his any longer. But under such circumstances, she had to put up with it for now. "You aren't all bad, after all." She sounded a little less cold.

Zhao Yixuan was so happy to hear that. "Yingluo, of course I'm a nice person. All those things that happened in the past, they were all misunderstandings. As they say, time reveals a person's heart. As we spend the rest of our lives together in the future, you'll know what sort of person I really am."

Xia Yingluo turned away slightly and sneered. Spend the rest of their lives together? Once she got out of this, the first thing she'd do would be to chop him into pieces, and yet he had the audacity to daydream about a future together? "I'm thirsty, and a little hungry too," she said to Zhao Yixuan. "Bring me some food."

Zhao Yixuan looked down at her. She looked tired and weak on the huge bed, and her lush black hair against her fair skin made her appear all the more alluring. He felt a fire inside him and couldn't wait to get into her. "Yingluo, stop buying time."

Xia Yingluo said, "But I'm really hungry. When I got onto the van just now, I was just about to get my food. You keep claiming to be nice to me, but you won't even fulfill this small wish of mine?"

This beauty was lying just before him and he couldn't wait any longer to have her. And yet, he was afraid he'd offend her too strongly. He weighed the pros and cons out agonizingly and decided. "Yingluo, of course I'm nice to you. What would you like to have? I'll call for room service."

"It's only sincere if you get it for me yourself," Xia Yingluo said. "I was just walking on the streets when you abducted me and brought me here. Shouldn't you compensate me for all the fear and panic you put me through? Zhao Yixuan, get me some food, but don't you use the elevators. Take the stairs, and I'll forgive you."

She was obviously dragging for time.

Zhao Yixuan furrowed his brows. "Don't you pull these tricks on me. The security here is tight, you and Jin Ling'er won't be able to escape."

Xia Yingluo said, "You don't have to bombard me with such excuses. Are you willing to do it or not?"

Seeing that she was genuinely upset, Zhao Yixuan smiled. "Alright, I'll go. But you've to be a good girl in bed later." His voice was low and hoarse as he said the last sentence.

He wasn't afraid she'd escape at all—the security was indeed tight, she wouldn't be able to pull off any tricks around here. Rather than incur her wrath, he might as well act according to her wishes. After all, they were going to be living together in the future. She was a girl from a rich and powerful family, there was no good at all in angering her, anyway. With that thought, Zhao Yixuan left to get her some food.

The door closed and Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling'er were left alone inside.

Jin Ling'er looked at Xia Yingluo in fear. "Yingluo, what should we do now?"

Xia Yingluo was very calm and she spoke quickly, "I don't have the energy, you need to find a way to undo the rope and then call my dad. He'll definitely be able to settle the issue for us." She had much confidence in her father—that man had so much power and authority, just one call from him was enough to have Zhao Yixuan under control.

Jin Ling'er was flustered but calmed down a little upon hearing her words. "How do I undo the rope around my hands?" She was depending on Xia Ling completely now. "I don't know how."

Xia Yingluo spoke quickly but calmly, "Zhao Yixuan isn't good at this at all. I've seen the knot, it's easy to undo. Just listen to my instructions and follow them." She'd undergone anti-kidnap training as a child, and undoing a rope knot was a basic lesson to take.

Her voice was reassuring to Jin Ling'er, who seemed to be more hopeful now. "Alright."

Xia Yingluo explained it to Jin Ling'er step by step.

Jin Ling'er learned fast. As time was tight, she focused hard on her task and undid it quickly. But just as they were about to celebrate this achievement, they heard the unhinging of the door as someone pushed it open. The sound of footsteps approaching could be heard. Why, how could Zhao Yixuan be back so quickly?

Both of them exchanged glances.

Jin Ling'er reflexively crouched lower and put her hands behind her back so nobody could tell that her knot had been undone. Meanwhile, Xia Yingluo's expression was as usual.

They were in a hotel suite, and the footsteps stopped in the living area before walking towards the bedrooms. A figure in a bright red dress appeared at the door.

Xia Yingluo looked up and saw an unexpected person—Pei Yan.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Pei Yan.

Pei Yan looked at her condescendingly, as if not the least bit surprised at their encounter. She said with a look of hatred, "Xia Yingluo, you vixen, I should be the one asking you this. What are you doing in Zhao Yixuan's room?"

Vixen?

Xia Yingluo was enraged. She had been abducted to this place for no rhyme or reason, and she even had to bear this horrendous name?

"Keep an eye on your fiancé," she said with an unpleasant tone. "Get him away from me. You're here in time, hurry and release us. From today on, we'll go our separate ways. You and Zhao Yixuan can live however you like."

Pei Yan looked at her coldly. "For as long as you vixen exist, Zhao Yixuan and I won't be able to live in peace." She looked so beautiful on the bed, with one side of her shoulders revealed and her hair a mess, making her look so pitiful. As a woman, Pei Yan was burning with jealousy, so much so that she wished to throw her into the fire alive.

Pei Yan's eyes darkened as she looked at Xia Yingluo.

Xia Yingluo sensed something wrong—what exactly was Pei Yan here for? Was it a coincidence, or did she enter deliberately? Zhao Yixuan was out to bed her, but Pei Yan's motives weren't so clear. When a woman got jealous, who knew what insanity she was capable of? Xia Yingluo sensed danger now.

In a bid to buy more time, Xia Yingluo asked, "Pei Yan, how did you find your way here?"

Pei Yan scoffed. "I sensed that something was off about Zhao Yixuan these few days, so I sent someone to stalk him. As I guessed, his soul has been seduced by you vixen."