If time were to rewind ten months ago, Xu Qingyan could never have imagined making such a decision. In those days, she was an ordinary member of society. Upon graduating, she had been fortunate enough to secure a position at the hospital, courtesy of her teachers’ favor.

Day in and day out, she toiled on the frontlines, tirelessly saving lives and treating illnesses, never uttering a word of complaint. Her routine consisted of consultations, ward rounds, the study of medical records, with minimal social interaction after work. Her life was filled with exercise, reading, and sleep. While it might have appeared mundane to others, Xu Qingyan found contentment in it.

Occasionally, Cao Jin would reach out to her. They’d meet for a meal and exchange life updates. Every time, Cao Jin would offer a helpless smile and remark, “Can we talk about something other than work for once? Like, your life?”

Xu Qingyan would pause, pondering carefully, and could only respond with, “This is my life.”

Cao Jin let out a sigh. “That’s not really living. How about tonight I treat you to a movie? When was the last time you went to the cinema?”

Xu Qingyan rested her chin on her hand, a rare smile appeared on her delicate face. “No, I’m on duty tonight.”

In the eyes of everyone, even Cao Jin, Xu Qingyan appeared emotionally distant, like the air atop a mountain—cold and rarefied. At times, they found it challenging to connect with her. She had been an introverted child since her youth, often mistaken by classmates for aloofness, and this personality trait had made her the target of mischievous classmates’ bullying.

However, subtle changes had occurred between her younger years and adulthood, but no one, not even her closest loved ones, could pinpoint precisely what had changed. It was as if a piece of her soul had vanished abruptly, never to be replaced.

Yet, Xu Qingyan believed in her own way of life, even if it remained unfathomable to others. For instance, she enjoyed solo travel. Her job may have constrained her freedom, but she made it a point to embark on a journey every year. With a backpack slung over her shoulder, she’d shed her burdens and explore the world guided only by a map, relishing the sense of freedom.

Perhaps there was a hint of an adventurer’s spirit deep within her, a facet of her personality that most people couldn’t discern in her usual demeanor.

This time, Xu Qingyan ventured to Nepal for a self-guided trip. Accommodation held little significance to her as she moved between various small roadside hotels. She wasn’t in a hurry to visit the typical tourist attractions. Instead, she would sit by the window, sipping tea while observing the local life in the narrow streets and alleyways, relishing the rare tranquility.

Before departing from one place to another, Xu Qingyan would hold her camera, capturing memories of each small hotel she encountered.

In that particular moment, she had an inkling that something about the atmosphere in the hotel had changed. As she aimed her lens at the reception desk, two men behind it suddenly lunged toward her, forcibly snatching her camera away.

Both men were of Chinese descent. One stood tall, resembling a leopard with sharp, penetrating eyes, while the other had a slender build and a dark complexion, radiating an intimidating presence. It was this man who had snatched her camera, his grip so tight that it left a red mark on Xu Qingyan’s palm. He fixed a cold, unrelenting gaze upon her, as if he could snap her neck with a mere gesture. In a low, threatening tone, he demanded, “What were you taking pictures of?”

In the days leading up to this encounter, Xu Qingyan had heard whispers that the area she currently found herself in was situated near the border and was not entirely safe. She understood that, in such situations, she had to rely on her own luck.

“I’m sorry,” Xu Qingyan calmly pointed to the row of stone statues adorning the front desk, “I just wanted to take a picture of that decoration.”

The man seemed skeptical, and the other man behind him continued to scrutinize her with his leopard-like eyes.

“Are you a doctor?” His low voice weighed heavily on her, making it difficult to breathe.

Xu Qingyan paused, following his gaze to her luggage, where a prestigious medical journal was placed.

Xu Qingyan dared not lie, “Yes.”

The man asked further, “A surgeon?”

Xu Qingyan pondered briefly, and the dark-complexioned man turned to exchange a glance with his companion. Then, he abruptly grabbed Xu Qingyan’s arm and lowered his voice, saying, “Come with me.”

Though Xu Qingyan remained outwardly composed, beads of cold sweat began to form on her back. Nevertheless, she maintained her calm expression and asked, “Where are you taking me?”

The dark-faced man was growing impatient and didn’t allow Xu Qingyan much opportunity to speak. Without providing any explanation, he forcefully tugged her along. Meanwhile, the man with the leopard-like features stepped forward and spoke with an air of unquestionable authority, “We need your help.”

Though they claimed it was a request for help, their use of force contradicted such a statement.

During her earlier confrontation with them, Xu Qingyan had already observed of her surroundings. The shopkeeper had feigned ignorance throughout the encounter. Having survived in this unstable area for many years, they had developed a cautious approach to protect themselves.

It was possible that these shopkeepers were not entirely innocent either. Seeking help from them would likely prove futile, and her phone remained inside her bag, inaccessible. Moreover, the hotel lobby had no other guests present aside from them.

While uncertain of the identities of these two men, upon observing the tattoo on the dark-faced man’s neck and sensing the ominous aura exuded by the leopard-like man, it wasn’t hard to deduce their affiliation with the underworld.

In other words, today, Xu Qingyan had unwittingly stumbled into danger.

Forced along by the two men, one leading and one trailing, she was directed to the innermost area on the ground floor. She understood that attempting to call for help now would only hasten her perilous fate.

Lost in her thoughts, she couldn’t help but wear a wry smile. Who could have imagined that a melodramatic TV plot would unfold in her own life? She berated herself for not heeding Cao Jin’s counsel. He had warned her earlier about the lack of calm in this area, advising her against venturing here alone.

The dark-faced man and the leopard-man continued their stride until they reached the final room. The dark-faced man turned to glance at Xu Qingyan before sternly saying, “You must remain absolutely silent once we’re inside.”

Xu Qingyan nodded in acknowledgement.

The dark-faced man pushed open the door and stepped into the room, with Xu Qingyan following closely behind. She had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of witnessing something horrifying, but the room was pitch black. Drawn curtains obscured her vision, preventing her from seeing clearly. The leopard-man shut the door behind her. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the rhythmic thumping of her own heart.

In a hushed tone, the leopard-man urged her from behind, “Keep moving.”

Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Xu Qingyan carefully followed the dark-faced man. As it turned out, this suite had a basement.

Descending the staircase, the air grew damp, and the creaking of the old wooden steps sent shivers down her spine. Xu Qingyan carefully made her way down, all the while feeling the tangible restraints of the dark-faced man’s watchful gaze as he occasionally glanced back at her.

In the basement, a faint glow of light illuminated the surroundings. Squinting, Xu Qingyan took in her environment.

The room had a basic setup with a cement floor marked by stains and damp patches on the walls. Aside from a wooden cabinet against one wall and a suitcase, it contained two chairs—one in the east and another in the west. Beyond them, a silver curtain concealed an empty space, leaving its contents a mystery.

The dark-faced man stood by the curtain and gestured for her to approach.

Xu Qingyan moved cautiously, taking measured steps toward the curtain. She had no idea what awaited her behind it, but their claim of needing her help suggested a connection to her profession.

“Hurry up!” The dark-faced man’s impatience was palpable; it was as if he wished to pull her forward himself.

She quickened her pace, her heart beating faster, though her composed exterior masked any change in her expression.

She finally arrived and saw a bed first, where she immediately noticed the remnants of bloodstains on the bed sheets. The bloodstains had turned black, indicating a continuous seepage that deepened the color to this horrifying extent. 

When she reached the curtain, she first noticed a bed. On the bed sheets, dried black stains bore witness to an ongoing issue. A person lay on the bed, looking critically unwell. It appeared they had suffered a severe injury. Next to the bed stood a stand holding a bag of antibiotics, offering little relief from the patient’s pain.

Suddenly, the dark-faced man approached her and spoke with a sinister tone, “I need you to perform surgery on him right now.”

Xu Qingyan deliberately averted her gaze, taking a moment to regain her composure after seeing the menacing glare of the dark-faced man.

Staying grounded in the reality of the situation, she responded calmly and deliberately, “That’s not possible. There are no surgical facilities here, and I don’t have any information about his condition. If it’s urgent, why didn’t you take him to a hospital?”

Veins bulged on the dark-faced man’s forehead. “Enough of your nonsense. I’m telling you to treat him, and if you can’t…”

Suddenly, he drew a gun and aimed it directly at Xu Qingyan’s temple. The cold, black barrel emitted a chilling aura, as if it could go off at any moment.

The strength behind his actions left Xu Qingyan feeling dizzy, causing her to stumble momentarily.

The sudden proximity of the icy gun sent a throbbing sensation through her temple. Anyone would be terrified by the sight of a real firearm, and Xu Qingyan’s body broke out in goosebumps. Cold sweat trickled down her body, making her undergarments damp.

Nevertheless, she clenched her teeth, trying to control her breathing and regain her composure.

“Put down the gun.” The leopard-man observed for a while and felt that this woman had an unexpectedly bold spirit. There was no clear sign of fear on her face, and her personality appeared tougher than her delicate appearance, earning his admiration.

He finally stepped forward and forcefully lowered the gun, then sternly admonished the dark-faced man, “For now, Second Young Master’s life is the top priority.”

Barely containing his anger, the dark-faced man stepped aside.

The leopard-man then addressed Xu Qingyan with a cold tone, “Miss, you can probably guess why we didn’t take him to the hospital. What you must do now is assess his condition and perform the surgery as soon as possible. You tell us what you need for the surgery, and we will get it for you.”

The situation was pure chaos, like something out of a movie. It seemed as though capturing a doctor was some kind of miraculous feat. While she wanted to scold them for disregarding the patient’s safety, Xu Qingyan knew deep down that these desperate men had no other choice. They must have been pushed to the brink to bring her in as their last hope.

She looked down and quickly assessed the situation in her mind. These men wouldn’t give her much time to think, and she realized she didn’t have much of a choice. Refusing their request might mean not leaving this room alive.

“I’ll do my best,” Xu Qingyan spoke decisively, her voice steady, “but I can’t guarantee that I can save him.”

A faint expression of relief appeared on the tense face of the leopard-like man. “Thank you.”

Xu Qingyan sensed that the leopard-man was still reasonable, so she quickly made a request, “Regardless of the outcome, you must let me go, and I won’t say a word about this to anyone.”

Perhaps it was Xu Qingyan’s composed demeanor and her ability to stay calm in this crisis that impressed the leopard-like man once again.

Without wasting any time, Xu Qingyan removed her coat and assessed her crude surroundings. She could only disinfect her hands thoroughly with alcohol, then put on medical gloves and a mask.

She then asked about the injuries, “When did he get injured?”

“Two days ago.”

“What kind of injury is it?”

“A gunshot wound.”

Xu Qingyan lifted the thin blanket and immediately spotted the blood-soaked gauze on the man’s abdomen, which had turned a grim shade. The fact that he had held on with such a wound was lucky.

She shifted her gaze to the man’s face.

It was a plain face, but her eyes were drawn to a crescent-shaped scar stretching from his left eyebrow to his eye socket. At first glance, the scar seemed eerie, as if it might burst open at any moment, oozing dark, foreboding secrets.

Xu Qingyan forced herself not to look away and focused on the rest of his features. His face, though unremarkable, held a certain rugged handsomeness. Even in his unconscious state, he exuded a unique charm that made her steal a second glance.

After a momentary pause, she shook her head, regaining her focus. 

This man was deeply unconscious, and she was now in a race against death itself.

Xu Qingyan might have seemed lost for a moment, as the dark-faced man stepped closer and grabbed her hand, his eyes radiating menace. He growled, “What are you looking at? Hurry up and save him!”

Xu Qingyan snapped out of her trance and endured the pain in silence.

The dark-faced man released her, his voice seething with hostility. “Don’t even think about tricks. Your life is in my hands.”