Ning Mei's eyes welled with tears, but she force herself not to cry. She did this not because she was trying to stay strong, but because she is afraid of what will happen to her.
She bit her lower lip and quietly stares at the man sitting down.
If she were to cry again, she knows that he will not hesitate to kill her. Even though he had on a phantom mask, she can see the look of pure hatred in his eyes that were visible to view.
"Hui, look at what you did. Your words terrified our guest."
From the door, the man wearing a gas mask spoke in a sarcastic tone. He leisurely strides to where Ning Mei is and squats down to be at eye level with her.
His head wearing the mask lowers to look at her and he stuck out a hand to her.
"Don't be afraid. We aren't going to hurt you. We just want to talk. Here, let me help you up."
Hearing the man's calm voice, Ning Mei unknowingly place her hand over his palm and with his help, she sits on the bed.
She would be lying if she isn't afraid, but for someone reason, this man…
Before her thoughts could advance any further, her teary eyes widen, and a streak of tear slid down her cheeks. Her lower lip trembles and she stares at the mask where the man's eyes should be.
"N-Nie Chen?"
Although she could not see his face and his body appearance is completely different from when she first met him, she recognizes his voice.
His voice was one that could make any woman lose their breath and never forget even if they wanted to.
Staring down at the woman, the gas mask man did not show any change in his posture. He looked rather calm before a long sigh sounds from him and his shoulders shrug like he had been caught.
"Well, seems like I've been found out."
Nie Chen lifts both his hands to his head and removes the gas mask. He reveals his devilishly charming face and smiles down to the woman.
"Hello pretty."
Unlike Liu Shan and Lin Hui, he is always nice to women. It's just who he is. Just like right now, Ning Mei isn't as pretty as the other women he's encounter, and she is his enemy, but she is still a woman.
When his father was still alive, he (Nie Chen) was raised to always respect women. Of course, that doesn't mean he will let his enemy off that easily.
Ning Mei stares at the man standing in front of her and she swore her heart dropped to her stomach. She is still scared, but at this moment, she was more in shock than ever.
She could not believe that the disheveled and homeless looking man she had met hours ago and the man standing in front of her are the same person.
However, knowing that it was Nie Chen, the fear inside her lightly subdues and relief gradually wash inside her.
Maybe he is here to save her since she owes him money.
"Nie…"
Before she could finish saying Nie Chen's name, Lin Hui stood up from the chair and walks over to the bed.
"Nie Chen, is she really that pretty?"
He bends forward to get a closer look at Ning Mei. Even with the phantom mask on, one can see that he was eyeing the woman's appearance.
"Hmm… Pretty indeed."
However, he only did this for one split second before he raise one hand and his palm covers the mouth part of the mask.
Ning Mei thought he was going to remove his mask too, but unfortunately, to her dismay, he made gagging noises like he had saw a decaying body.
"Hurr… Pretty… Hurr… Pretty ugly."
"…"
Hearing his words, Ning Mei was struck dumbfounded. Her entire being tremble with anger and she glares at the man with tightly curled fists.
She knows that there are many people who talk about her behind her back, but never has anyone dare to call her ugly to her face.
"Hui, that's enough."
From the door, the other man wearing a phantom mask interrupts the atmosphere. He casually place his hands inside the pockets of his pants and stares in the direction of Nie Chen.
"Stop wasting time. We all know she is as repulsive as her sins."
Ning Mei's shoulder jumped at the man's voice.
Unlike the other two, this one sounded colder and full of loath towards her. He frightened her so much, that the anger inside her disperse into thin air. Even the feeling of relief that was slowly surfacing inside her was overcome with fear again.
She didn't dare to turn around to look at the man and stares with trembling eyes at Nie Chen.
"P-Please help me. I haven't done anything wrong. I'm innocent in all this. Please."
Hearing her words, Lin Hui scoffs in disgust. He doesn't say anything to her and walks back to sit on the chair. However, unlike the man, Nie Chen crouch down in front of the woman.
A soft smile curls on his lip and he reach a hand towards Ning Mei to caress her cheek.
"Aiya, indeed you didn't do anything."
His voice was very calm and that of a true gentleman. He wipes away her tears with his thumb and his smile widens more.
"It's just that, you are the one who set the deals. So that makes you not so innocent."
Ning Mei had been in a panic state about being kidnapped that she had forgotten all about the deals she had made to kill Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er. However, when she heard Nie Chen's words, everything came flooding back inside her like grey clouds engulfing the clear blue sky.
"W… Why…"
She was confused as to why Nie Chen would say such thing to her. Wasn't he supposed to help her?
Seeing the look of pure terror and confusion in her eyes, Nie Chen softly chuckles and he lightly pats the side of her cheek with his palm.
"You see, you shouldn't have asked for something you cannot have."
He retracts his hand and stood up.
"The person you want me to kill is someone I can never kill."
As his words fell, he looks in the direction of the door and he kept his smile. It was a smile that held genuine warmth and respect for someone he looks up to and holds dearly in his heart.
Ning Mei was left speechless with her mouth open agape. She didn't need to ask any questions as she understood very well what his words meant.
She had asked him to kill Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er, but he is now telling her that one of them is someone he knows and cannot do as she had asked. Even if someone were to give him the world, he would never do it.
However, the only question she can ask herself is, who?
Afraid, but more curious, she slowly turns her head to look in the same direction as Nie Chen.
When she saw the person, all the hair on the back of her neck stood up and her eyes shook.
"Y-You…"
