The green train rumbled loudly, its noise accompanied by the pungent smell of fuel.

Xu Xiaoyue held her bundle close with one hand while adjusting the scarf on her face with the other, pulling it down slightly. She raised her head and carefully searched for her seat.

The aisle was packed with people, and her cautious movements while carrying her luggage made her stand out.

The driver sent by the Yan family had only escorted her to the train station before claiming he had other matters to attend to and turning back. Xu Xiaoyue had to buy her own ticket and take the train to the capital.

She had barely sat down for two stops when she realized that at some point, a young woman had leaned against the seat next to hers.

She looked about seventeen or eighteen, with two long, dark braids and noticeable dark circles under her eyes.

Before Xu Xiaoyue could say anything, the young woman timidly whispered, “Sister, I’m sorry for disturbing you. I just need to rest for a little while, just a short while.”

Xu Xiaoyue nodded and tucked her luggage under her feet, making room on the seat. “You can sit here for a bit.”

Across from them, a man had been covertly watching Xu Xiaoyue ever since she sat down. When he saw her make space, he glanced at the young woman and struck up a conversation.

“Comrade, you’ve been standing the whole way. Luckily, this kind-hearted lady here gave you some space.”

“Yes, otherwise I would have to stand all the way to the capital. My legs would probably break.”

“You’re heading to the capital—going to visit relatives?”

The mention of the capital seemed to open the floodgates, and the two began chatting enthusiastically.

As the train rumbled into a tunnel, the light was blocked, casting the entire carriage into darkness. Taking advantage of the dim lighting, Xu Xiaoyue discreetly observed the man opposite her.

He was dressed in a well-fitted green Zhongshan suit, with thick hair neatly combed, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and a black briefcase in his right hand. His fluent Beijing accent suggested he wasn’t an ordinary person.

Sensing her gaze, the man met her eyes midair, curved his lips into a smile, and nodded in greeting.

When the train emerged from the tunnel, he seemed to recall something. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a business card and placed it on the table.

“What a coincidence. I work at the Capital Steel factory. The factory is currently looking for a few female employees to host visiting officials.”

“You have excellent appearance and speak fluent Mandarin. Would you be interested in an interview? I can recommend you—it shouldn’t be a problem.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young woman sitting beside Xu Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up. She picked up the card and read the man’s name aloud.

Xu Xiaoyue turned her head, glanced at the man, and then at the card.

“Steel factory?” Her red lips moved slightly.

The man eagerly explained, “Yes. What do you think, comrade? The factory offers decent benefits, including food and accommodation, and the salary is around thirty to forty yuan per month.”

A collective gasp filled the carriage. That wasn’t just “decent”—it was a dream opportunity.

People began crowding around the man, chattering excitedly and asking how many positions were available.

Even the young woman with braided hair beside Xu Xiaoyue turned to her, her voice filled with excitement. “Sister, you’re going to the capital too, right? We’re really lucky to meet such a benefactor. We can go together…”

“I won’t be joining the excitement.” Xu Xiaoyue shook her head slightly. Her tone was light, but her rejection was clear.

She glanced at the man being surrounded and hesitated for a moment before standing up. Turning to those around her, she said, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

With a handkerchief in her hand, her expression remained calm, but her heart pounded rapidly. She walked briskly to the train attendant and, in a voice barely above a whisper, said, “There’s a human trafficker on this train.”

Before the attendent could react, two men sitting in a corner with their eyes closed suddenly opened them.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” The attendent’s eyes darted around, ensuring no one else had overheard before she scowled at her.

It was clear that she didn’t believe her.

Xu Xiaoyue didn’t argue further. Instead, she simply pointed toward her carriage and said, “You don’t have to take my word for it. Just keep an eye on that man.”

“If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize.”

Seeing her speak with such certainty, the train attendant took a few steps forward and casually glanced at the male comrade in question. After returning, she scolded in a hushed tone, “Just look at the way he dresses—he’s obviously from a proper work unit. I even heard he works at a steel factory.”

After saying this, the train attendant gave Xu Xiaoyue a once-over, her tone filled with mockery. “That man looks like an honest person, but you—dressed like this—are you trying to seduce him but failed? I’ve seen plenty of female comrades like you…”

Hearing this, Xu Xiaoyue was so angry she wanted to slap her twice.

She had deliberately bought a silk scarf to cover half of her face when boarding the train, trying not to attract attention. She had almost wrapped herself up from head to toe, yet somehow, she still ended up being suspected.

What Xu Xiaoyue didn’t realize was that, compared to fully revealing her face, this semi-covered look—where only her eyes were visible—combined with her natural aura, made people even more curious to see the beauty beneath the veil.

“You’ve seen plenty like me? Then why is your brain still not working? Don’t you know that people who look like me aren’t easy to mess with?”

“You—”

Before the train attendant could finish speaking, Xu Xiaoyue shot a cold glance at the woman’s name tag and turned away.

“Tsk, tsk, that female comrade sure has a temper. But I have to admit, she really is beautiful.”

“Comrade Yan, how much of what she said do you think is true?”

A deliberately lowered voice sounded from the corner. After speaking, the person turned to look at the man beside him.

The man wore a black jacket on top and black trousers below, his long legs barely fitting in the cramped space.

His short, jet-black hair was neatly trimmed, and his sharp eyes gleamed like cold stars. His thick, well-defined eyebrows looked as if they had been painted on. Even in silence, his presence was impossible to ignore.

“No investigation, no right to speak,” the man replied before straightening up and heading toward the train car.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiaoyue had just suffered a setback. As soon as she sat down, her stomach let out a loud growl. She hadn’t eaten a single bite since boarding the train.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she reached out to cover her stomach. Just then, a misshapen pastry was handed to her. The golden crust, wrapped in multiple layers, had become wrinkled after being unwrapped, but its faint fragrance still lingered.

“Sister, my mom made this by hand. This is the last one—I’ll share it with you.”

Before Xu Xiaoyue could refuse, a large piece was already stuffed into her palm.

Food was precious in this era. She could feel herself growing lightheaded from low blood sugar. Without overthinking, she whispered a thanks, took a sip of water, and swallowed the pastry.

The green train rumbled along, swaying gently. Leaning against the seat, Xu Xiaoyue grew drowsy. Just as she was about to drift off, her eyes suddenly snapped open.

Something was wrong. Even if she had low blood sugar, she shouldn’t feel this sleepy.

It wasn’t just sleepiness—her entire body felt weak, completely drained of strength.

The first thought that flashed through her mind was the so-called steel factory worker—the human trafficker. But she had been careful not to accept anything from him.

She dug her nails into her palm, pressing hard until she broke the skin, trying to stay conscious. In that split second, Xu Xiaoyue realized—

Damn it, that female comrade and the man across from her were working together!

She immediately tried to stand and call for help, but as soon as she struggled, a strong force yanked her sleeve, pinning her to the seat.

“Sis, are you feeling carsick?”

“The station is coming up soon. Just hold on a little longer, and I’ll take you outside for some fresh air.”

The young woman with a braided ponytail spoke with concern, but her other hand—hidden from view—clamped tightly over Xu Xiaoyue’s mouth.

With Xu Xiaoyue subdued, the woman nodded at the man across from them. The man, who had been holding a briefcase, stood up, stretched as if casually loosening his body, and moved to block the exit near their seats.

The green train slowed down, the rumbling growing softer until it came to a gradual stop.

A crowd of people surged forward, jostling to disembark. The man held Xu Xiaoyue under his left arm, using his briefcase to shield her face from view.

On the right, the female comrade gripped Xu Xiaoyue’s arm tightly. The two of them sandwiched her in between, leaving her no way to escape.

There were people everywhere. Xu Xiaoyue wanted to shout, but the moment she opened her mouth, her voice was drowned in the crowd.

Step by step, she was being dragged toward the train car’s exit. Just two more steps, and she would be off the train with them.