This bedroom was nearly one hundred square meters. Apart from a large bed, it also had a desk and bookshelf, all quite empty and sparse. Directly ahead was an enormous window with the curtains drawn open. The morning light was dim, and outside the window were metal security bars installed all around.

At the back of the bedroom was a door leading to a walk-in closet and bathroom. On the side was another door, closed, leading to who knows where.

Li Weiyi quickly surveyed everything, then let out a low cry while holding back tears: “It hurts so much.”

Xu Yi placed her on the bed and patted her head: “Still dare to run away? Just wait.”

He sat down at the bedside, took out his phone, and called a doctor. Because of Li Weiyi’s arrival, as a precaution, the family doctor had been on standby and was staying in the villa. He arrived immediately.

Seeing how the doctor was completely deferential and obedient to Xu Yi, Li Weiyi didn’t dare say anything recklessly. The doctor examined her entire body from head to toe and felt several bones, then smiled: “No bone injury. I’ll prescribe an ointment. Just apply it to the bruised areas and it should be fine.”

Li Weiyi: “But my ankle hurts so much I can’t move it.”

Doctor: “It might be sprained. Stay in bed and rest more.”

Xu Yi glanced at her, saw the doctor out, then sat back down by the bed and asked: “Can’t move?”

Before Li Weiyi could answer, he said: “Think carefully before you answer. Do you really dare sleep in this bed?”

Li Weiyi looked at his expression and cowered, though not completely. She lowered her head: “How about I rest here during the day and go back inside at night? Just to get some fresh air. Please?”

Xu Yi laughed again. He leaned forward, pressing one hand on the headboard and the other on the side of the bed. Li Weiyi shrank back inward as he said: “All those little schemes of yours… I find them quite amusing. Want to sleep out here during the day? Fine—give me a kiss.”

Now Li Weiyi had painted herself into a corner. Kiss him? She really couldn’t bring herself to do it. Don’t kiss him? After the conversation had gone this far, she was afraid of angering him.

She turned her head away and tried to get up and get around him off the bed. Xu Yi, as if anticipating her move, pushed her down onto the bed, grabbed both her hands with one of his, pinned them above her head, and said: “Today you did something so outrageous, you nearly broke a bone falling. Do you know how dangerous that was? I’m indulging you, but you can’t joke around with your own safety.”

Li Weiyi immediately said: “I know I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again next time.”

Xu Yi snorted with laughter: “No sincerity. This time there has to be punishment.” He lowered his head to capture her lips, but Li Weiyi turned her head to dodge. Just as she was about to be kissed, Xu Yi’s phone rang.

Still holding Li Weiyi’s hands pinned with one hand, he freed his other hand to fish the phone from his pants pocket, glanced at the screen, looked at her once, and said: “Stay still and don’t move.” He released her.

Li Weiyi quickly sat up, but he had already pulled open the door and gone out.

Xu Yi walked out of the master bedroom suite. The door automatically locked behind him. The villa’s butler was right outside, reporting in a low voice: “Mr. Xu, it’s those two people. They have police badges and say they want to understand the circumstances of a murder and kidnapping case from you.”

They were on the third floor. Xu Yi looked over the railing downward. Familiar faces—Ding Chenmo, and an unfamiliar female officer, sitting on the sofa in the first-floor living room.

“Let them wait.” Xu Yi turned and re-entered the master bedroom.

Downstairs, You Mingxu raised her head and glanced in this direction.

When Xu Yi entered the bedroom, Li Weiyi was still sitting in the same spot. She asked: “Is something the matter?” Xu Yi didn’t answer. He walked closer and asked: “Can you walk on your own? Or should I carry you back?”

Li Weiyi looked up at him: “Didn’t you say you’d let me stay out here during the day? Is… is there someone here?”

Xu Yi hadn’t expected her mind to work so quickly. He smiled but didn’t answer. Just as he was about to bend down to pick her up, Li Weiyi shot out from beside him like a rabbit, heading straight for the door. Xu Yi’s brow furrowed as he turned to chase after her.

This time, Li Weiyi threw caution to the wind. In two or three steps she rushed to the door. Xu Yi hadn’t expected her sudden attack and was indeed a step too late. Plus, he had just entered and hadn’t locked the door, so in the blink of an eye, Li Weiyi pulled open the door and rushed out.

With his height and long legs, Xu Yi followed right behind.

However, the moment Li Weiyi rushed out the door, she cursed: “Damn it!”

Outside wasn’t a corridor or staircase, but another even larger study with security iron bars on the windows, silent and empty. It also appeared to be Xu Yi’s private resting place.

Who builds a master bedroom suite this large? Room after room like nesting dolls. Li Weiyi’s heart already sensed trouble, but she still steeled herself and rushed toward the study door. However, the footsteps behind her drew closer and closer. Li Weiyi was still several steps from the door when an arm firmly grabbed her. Her heart pounded with fear, but unwilling to give up, she shouted toward the door: “Help! Help! Is anyone out there? Help!”

Xu Yi pulled her back, holding her around the waist, turned and walked back, saying: “Don’t waste your energy. The entire room is fitted with the best soundproofing. You could shout yourself hoarse and no one outside would hear.”

Li Weiyi cursed and kicked at him: “You pervert!”

He said nothing, just carried her all the way through the study, through the bedroom, pushed open the hidden door to the secret room, and placed her back on the bed. Li Weiyi’s hair was disheveled, her clothes were in disarray. With a face full of despair, she clutched at him, still trying to fight. He took several punches and kicks, his expression stiffening somewhat, but he didn’t strike back. Finally he roared: “Keep making trouble and I’ll tie you up!”

Only then did Li Weiyi become frightened. She shrank back onto the bed, looking at him with eyes full of tears and hatred.

Seeing her like this, Xu Yi’s heart ached again. He sighed and said: “Just angry words—I won’t tie you up. Rest a bit and don’t cause any more trouble. I’ll come check on you later. Be good.”

He finally left. The door locked again. Li Weiyi sat on the bed hugging her knees, wiped her tears, and her face already showed no excited expression. She buried her head in her knees again and let out a long breath.

——

Zhang Jingchan and Li Yunmo drove to an utterly ordinary gas station.

Zhang Jingchan parked the car across the street and looked down at his watch. Li Yunmo raised his hand to ask: “Boss, what exactly are we waiting for?”

“A black Jeep.” Zhang Jingchan recited a license plate number. “You keep an eye out too.”

“How do you know that car will come to this gas station?”

Zhang Jingchan rested one hand on the steering wheel, tapping his fingers a few times, and glanced at him. So Li Yunmo understood—it was related to the loops.

“Who is he?”

“I have a guess. He was just released from prison three days ago. In the first loop I had no memory, but when Li Weiyi and I did the earliest review, she said that on that night, I had told her he’d been out of prison for three days and had even gone to see my father. The second time, I remember telling Li Weiyi that his release was delayed by one day, and as a result the loop was also delayed by one day. The last two times I didn’t pay attention. Now, this is the fifth time.”

Li Yunmo’s eyes widened. After digesting this for a moment, he said: “You mean… this person is…”

Zhang Jingchan’s gaze fixed on the distance. Li Yunmo followed his line of sight. At the street corner, a large black Jeep drove over and turned into the gas station.