Yi Sa dialed Jing Xiu’s phone number.
Jing Xiu’s phone was indeed business-oriented, with a ringtone featuring massage service introductions in both Chinese and English, with Chinese coming first.
It seemed that even overseas, she still primarily served Chinese clients.
Jing Xiu answered: “Hello?”
Yi Sa said: “Miss Jing? A friend recommended you to me. I haven’t been feeling well lately and would like to book an in-room full-body massage.”
Jing Xiu responded promptly: “As long as it’s at a two-star or above hotel in the city area, there’s no problem. What time?”
Yi Sa stepped outside and looked at the sun: it was already afternoon. If she hurried without delay, she should be able to reach Siem Reap by evening.
“Would tonight be possible?”
Jing Xiu said: “Just a moment please.”
The sound of pages turning came through the receiver as Jing Xiu seemed to consider: “…I have one scheduled for the afternoon, another at six, but after eight in the evening should work.”
This timing was quite suitable. Yi Sa made an affirming sound: “I’ll send you the address later then.”
After hanging up, Yi Sa contemplated what preparations she needed to make for this trip.
Just then, a small sampan passed by her door, its wake gleaming golden.
The boatman greeted her: “Yi Sa, making yourself at home at Dr. Chen’s place?”
It was Ma Jiu, who made his living openly by fishing with his boat, but secretly facilitated illegal border crossings. He had helped Wu Gui make its way here back then.
He always respectfully called Chen Tu “Dr. Chen” because Chen Tu ran a clinic, and clinic operators should be called “doctor” – calling him “Dr.” seemed more prestigious.
Yi Sa waved to him, and when he came closer, she took out two ten-dollar bills from her wallet and handed them over, gesturing toward Wu Gui nearby: “Help me take it to Sister Xiang’s place.”
Ma Jiu laughed exaggeratedly: “Wow, Yi Sa, you must be rich now, paying so much for such a short trip!”
Yi Sa laughed too: “Dream on, this is just a deposit.”
She lowered her voice: “I need to make a long trip, might go back to China. Wait for my call, in case there’s a need…”
She winked: “Maybe send it back for a family visit too.”
Ma Jiu understood: “Got it…”
He glanced at Wu Gui: “A wandering child missing the motherland should indeed go home often to visit.”
Jing Xiu picked up her large bag and walked to the street corner to hail a tuk-tuk.
She had only two jobs left today but had agreed to add another one on short notice. Now she somewhat regretted it – she shouldn’t have scheduled things so tightly. Clients often caused unexpected problems, and if something went wrong with earlier appointments, the later ones would be thrown off schedule.
A tuk-tuk stopped in front of her. Jing Xiu had already gotten on when she suddenly spotted another one turning the corner. She hurriedly got off and shooed away the driver: “You can go, I won’t be riding.”
The driver was unhappy: “Hey, you…”
Jing Xiu pointed at the approaching tuk-tuk: “That’s my friend…”
She waved in that direction: “Hey, Apa! Apa!”
It seemed to be a friend, and helping a friend’s business was only natural, so the driver had no choice but to drive away, grumbling.
Meanwhile, Apa reluctantly came over: “What is it?”
Jing Xiu threw her large bag into the vehicle, grabbed the handlebar, and got on: “You little brat, I’m helping your business and you’re acting all high and mighty!”
Jing Xiu had only become familiar with Apa after Zong Hang’s disappearance.
Since they were both key figures in the case – one being the last person to see Zong Hang, and the other having spent the entire evening drinking with him before his disappearance – it was inevitable that they became regular visitors to the police station, repeatedly questioned.
Afterward, Apa quit his job, saying he needed to find his way to get information about the young master. When Jing Xiu advised him not to give up stable employment, he became agitated.
He even cried while ranting: “What else can I do? I took the young master out twice – once he got beaten half to death, and once he disappeared completely. How can I keep working there?”
Jing Xiu felt quite bad for him: Apa had it harder than Long Song, being younger and more stubborn.
So she tried to help Apa however she could, like prioritizing his tuk-tuk service, and sometimes even taking a ride when she didn’t need one.
She didn’t know that Apa resented this because other tuk-tuk drivers would make lewd jokes, asking if he “had something going on with that massage girl” or “Apa, you’re still young, isn’t that woman a bit too experienced for you?”
Apa was furious, feeling cursed with bad luck and everything going wrong, but not knowing what to do about it. So he became like a hedgehog, prickly with everyone he met.
Jing Xiu attributed it to his youth and didn’t take offense, trying to advise him when she could: it’s so hard to find stable work nowadays since the boss hasn’t asked you to leave, so why not just keep at it?
Apa asked for her destination and turned the vehicle around.
He was small, with thin shoulders and back, really not suited for bearing such heavy responsibilities.
Jing Xiu asked him: “Have you found out anything?”
Apa responded impatiently: “Nothing yet.”
Jing Xiu spoke calmly: “Apa, Zong Hang, and I are friends, I care about him too, but we can’t make assumptions. With so much media attention, so many police investigating, the embassy involved, and Zong Hang’s father offering rewards starting at a million, there are still no results. Running around aimlessly like a headless fly won’t work…”
Apa interrupted her: “What do you know? I’ve watched lots of cop shows, some things can’t be rushed, you have to take it slow. Besides, don’t you Chinese say, ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’…”
Having grown up in a Chinese family, Apa was quite adept at quoting Chinese sayings.
Jing Xiu was both annoyed and amused at being stumped by him, but also somewhat envious: perhaps only someone his age, with young hot blood, could have such unrealistic but determined impulses.
Looking at herself in comparison, had she become too cold? Besides sighing and feeling sorry, what had she done for Zong Hang?
She said: “Yes, where there’s a will there’s a way, but even the determined need to eat. The hotel job at least provided security…”
Apa remained silent. He knew Jing Xiu was right: the tuk-tuk business was difficult, with more tuk-tuks than customers in Siem Reap. Sometimes four or five vehicles would compete for one customer. When people can’t eat their fill and are constantly distracted by livelihood concerns, determination indeed becomes short-lived…
But with youthful pride, even after hitting a wall, he had to show his stubbornness. He hardened his attitude again and retorted to Jing Xiu: “Stop nagging, worry about yourself.”
Jing Xiu laughed at his attitude: “What’s wrong with me?”
“If the young master can disappear from the streets, it shows society is complicated. Your clients are complicated too. People like you are high-risk workers. Instead of lecturing me, better watch out for yourself.”
This kid, talking about “complicated society” – Jing Xiu snorted: “We’re not illegal masseurs, we have principles for taking orders. Locations must be two-star or above hotels in the city area.”
Apa tilted his head towards the air, letting out three dry laughs: “Ha, ha, ha.”
He said: “What’s so special about two stars and above? Bad people don’t stay in hotels?”
Perhaps influenced by Apa’s words, Jing Xiu felt somewhat uneasy as she entered the elevator.
Partly because this hotel was very old, one of Siem Reap’s first accommodations catering to Chinese tourists. The furnishings were dated, the corridor motion sensors were unreliable, and the elevator creaked as if it might break down at any moment. However, relying on its long history and extensive connections, it barely maintained its two-star rating.
From experience, the guests here tended to be of lower quality – many tried to haggle prices, waste time, or get handsy. If the client hadn’t been a woman, Jing Xiu would likely have declined.
Exiting the elevator right on time, she walked down the corridor looking for the room number. Finding room 218, she was about to knock when the door directly behind her opened silently.
A woman called out: “Jing Xiu?”
It was so sudden that Jing Xiu jumped in fright, turning around in confusion.
The room opposite was very dark, probably with blackout curtains drawn. The door was only opened a hand’s width, and the woman was completely shrouded in darkness, her hair partially covering her face. Jing Xiu couldn’t make out her features clearly, only vaguely sensing she was a middle-aged woman in poor condition, appearing quite exhausted.
How did this woman know her name? Jing Xiu looked at the number plate 218, then turned back to look at the woman, feeling confused about the situation.
The woman spoke kindly: “I made the phone appointment. I was initially in 218, but the toilet drainage wasn’t good, so they moved me to this room.”
“I forgot to tell you, and when I remembered, seeing the time and knowing you’d arrive soon, I thought I could just tell you in person.”
“Oh, I see,” Jing Xiu smiled. “This hotel’s equipment is quite old and faulty.”
The woman smiled too, stepping back and pulling the door open wider.
The room was quite dark, with blackout curtains drawn tight despite it being broad daylight, with only a single yellow wall lamp lit.
But Jing Xiu was used to peculiar clients, having seen many before.
Entering the room, she first placed her bag on the coffee table and began taking out her massage uniform and equipment. Glancing up inadvertently, she saw the woman standing nearby, looking her up and down.
Jing Xiu felt somewhat awkward – truthfully, while she knew how to handle male clients, she always felt slightly uncomfortable with female ones.
She pointed at the woman’s loose long-sleeved bathrobe: “Um… that kind of clothing isn’t very convenient for massage. Since we’re both women, if you don’t mind, just underwear would be fine.”
She finally got a clear look at the woman – gaunt and withered, with long hair like dried twigs hanging down, revealing an ashen face beneath, her gaze dim as if perpetually distracted.
It was obvious her qi and blood weren’t flowing well – she needed full-body massages.
The woman looked down at her clothes: “I’ve been injured before, I have scars. I didn’t want to frighten you.”
Jing Xiu quickly shook her head: “No, no, actually, scarred skin needs to be treated differently from healthy skin. During massage, the pressure needs to be adjusted accordingly. It’s better if I can see them.”
After speaking, she felt awkward again. Although the woman’s attitude was gentle, Jing Xiu felt inexplicably uncomfortable in her presence.
Better to get to business quickly – the sooner finished, the better. She pointed to the bathroom: “May I… go prepare?”
The woman nodded.
Jing Xiu took her massage uniform into the bathroom. After turning on the light, she tried to lock the door but found the latch was broken after fiddling with it twice. She gave up – they were both women anyway, no need to worry about peeping.
She quickly changed into her uniform and turned on the faucet to wash her hands with soap – clean hands would make applying massage oil smoother later.
As she was washing, she suddenly frowned, staring at the scene reflected in the mirror.
The bathroom was small, with a standard layout: facing the door was a seated toilet, to the right was a washbasin with a large wall mirror, and to the left was a full-length bathtub.
Standing at the sink facing the mirror, one could see the entire bathroom.
But what was strange was that the shower curtain around the bathtub was completely drawn closed.
As the water ran, Jing Xiu scrubbed her hands while her back gradually began to tingle.
If the curtain had been open, everything visible, she wouldn’t have thought much of it. But drawn so tightly closed, it made her uneasy, as if something was hidden behind it.
Jing Xiu couldn’t help looking back, her heart scratching like cat claws.
Scientifically speaking, the bathtub area would be very humid, and it wasn’t advisable to keep it so “stuffed up,” as odors couldn’t dissipate.
She glanced at the bathroom door, then turned the faucet to the maximum.
She had no other intention – just wanted one look, for peace of mind.
Jing Xiu walked over slowly, her index finger slightly hooked, gently lifting the wall-side edge of the curtain to create a small gap.
What she saw made her mind explode.
It was a full tub of water, a thin rusty red color, with someone lying at the bottom, legs curled up, probably because they were too tall to fit in the tub.
Jing Xiu withdrew her hand as if burned, nearly screaming out loud, but fortunately reacted quickly enough to clap her hand over her mouth.
The curtain was still swaying slightly as she stood there, her legs shaking so badly she could barely stand.
Psychopath, murderer, maybe a serial killer – Apa was right, hotels weren’t safe places either.
Jing Xiu felt cold all over. She slowly, with extremely light steps, began backing away.
Stay calm, act normal, go out, and give that woman a massage, then find an opportunity to run for the door. Once outside, scream – someone would hear. This was the second floor; even running full speed down the stairs would only take seconds…
Jing Xiu suddenly froze.
Her back had bumped into someone.
Jing Xiu couldn’t take it anymore. She might be calmer than most women, but that calmness only went so far.
Her heart racing wildly, desperately needing release, she screamed.
But the sound was quickly cut off as the person gripped her jawbone. The grip distorted her facial muscles, silencing her cry, making it so that even with her mouth wide open, only a hissing sound escaped her throat.
From the corner of her eye, she could see clearly – it was that woman – with incredibly strong strength. The sleeve fell back from her raised arm, revealing skin covered in scars as if slashed by wild knife cuts.
Jing Xiu struggled desperately, her nails scratching the woman’s arm, breaking the skin, but drawing no blood. The woman seemed completely unbothered, reached up to yank away the shower curtain with a swoosh, kicked the back of Jing Xiu’s knees to force her down, and then violently pushed her head toward the water.
Jing Xiu nearly broke down, with only one thought in her mind: She’s here to kill me! She’s here to kill me!
Her hands gripped the sides of the bathtub tightly, eyes shut tight, even holding her breath in advance: her thin arms struggling to support her upper body, just trying to avoid being pushed into the water.
Then suddenly, the downward force stopped.
Jing Xiu could sense her face was just a hairsbreadth from the water’s surface, feeling the coolness of the bath water just below her nose and eyelashes.
The woman gave a light laugh and said: “Open your eyes and look – do you recognize him?”