Chapter 888: Showing Weakness

As the heavy footsteps drew closer, Tao Yueyue gritted her teeth and encouraged the terrified child, “Don’t be afraid, go knock on the door!”

She pushed the boy forward. When they reached the twentieth floor, the boy suddenly turned and shoved Tao Yueyue hard. As she tumbled down the stairs, her mind went blank. In her spinning vision, she saw the boy’s scarred legs sprinting upwards.

Tao Yueyue landed on the lower stairwell, her head hitting the wall with a painful thud. She remembered the joke, “I can’t outrun a tiger, but I can outrun you.” In this life-or-death moment, the boy had used her to buy time.

Of course, it was “reasonable” for him. To the boy, she was just a stranger.

Zhou Xiao’s angry face slowly rose from the stairs below. He glanced at Tao Yueyue, backhanded her to the ground, and kicked her in the stomach. She cried out in pain as if lava was churning in her gut.

After briefly teaching Tao Yueyue a lesson, Zhou Xiao rushed upstairs. The boy’s screams echoed, “Uncle, Aunt, open the door… No, don’t come over… Ahhhh!!!”

Each gut-wrenching scream from the boy made Tao Yueyue shiver. When the screams stopped, she knew her turn had come.

She tried to stand, but the impact on her head made her stagger as if drunk. Knowing she couldn’t escape, she lunged for the nearest door, pounding on it and shouting, “Uncle inside, tell the police the killer’s name is Zhou Xiao. I’m Tao Yueyue.”

She repeated this three times. A trembling voice from inside replied, “Don’t stay at my door, go away, I’ve already called the police!”

The heavy footsteps brought the nightmare to Tao Yueyue’s back. Before she could turn, Zhou Xiao grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to face his twisted face. His knife dripped with warm blood.

He pointed the knife at the door, “Do you think these cowards will open the door?”

Zhou Xiao released Tao Yueyue and kicked the door hard, denting it. He shouted maniacally, “The murderer is outside! Open the door, cowards, hahaha!”

His laughter activated the voice-controlled lights again. Through the cold doors, Tao Yueyue seemed to see the pale, trembling faces and the fingers dialing 110.

“Who’s the wolf? Who’s the mouse? Do you want to be a wolf or a mouse?” Zhou Xiao snarled at Tao Yueyue, who clung to the stair railing, shaking.

Zhou Xiao yanked her down the stairs, his steps hurried. Tao Yueyue was dragged, forced to jog, until they reached a sedan. Zhou Xiao took out lock-picking tools and, despite the alarm, forced the door open.

Many households upstairs turned on their lights, but Zhou Xiao didn’t care. Cowardice and selfishness were ordinary people’s norms; they lacked the power to resist evil.

Zhou Xiao finally started the car and commanded, “Get in!”

Tao Yueyue obediently sat in the passenger seat. Zhou Xiao drove away, placing the bloodstained knife under the windshield, lighting a cigarette as he exited the complex. Police sirens wailed in the distance, heading to the scene, not after them.

Tao Yueyue knew that once they reached the next hideout, Zhou Xiao would punish her severely for tonight’s events. She had to show weakness, exploiting his character to survive.

“I’m sorry! I just didn’t dare to kill the boy myself, not planning to run!” Tao Yueyue said timidly.

Zhou Xiao stared at her, slightly surprised. Though he knew she was showing weakness, he still fell for it, his anger lessening. “Stop sweet-talking. I’ll punish you for tonight!”

“I… I accept punishment, but… I might need some mental preparation to kill.”

“Hmph, you couldn’t kill a rat but said you could kill a person, now you regret it? I warn you, I have no patience, and I’m a wanted man. Do what I say, or I’ll kill you next time!”

Tao Yueyue sighed with relief, thinking she was spared this time. “I promise…”

Zhou Xiao flicked his cigarette out the window. “There’s no compromise on killing. Your hands must be stained with blood for me to trust you. If you can’t kill, you’re useless to me, and I’ll get rid of you!”

Tao Yueyue bit her lip and nodded.

“Say it, I dare to kill!” Zhou Xiao shouted.

“I dare to kill.”

“Good, very good!”

“But… Uncle Zhou, I’m really tired now. I want to eat something and sleep. After resting and mentally preparing, I’ll do it. I promise to follow your orders from now on!” Tao Yueyue pleaded softly.

Zhou Xiao looked at her and sneered. He stopped the car outside a closed clothing store and handed her the lock-picking tools. “Go steal some clothes.”

Tao Yueyue obediently nodded, took the tools, and got out of the car.

She easily opened the small door on the shutter and slipped into the store. She grabbed two sets of clothes and a small bag. Leaving, she noticed a window on the wall. With something to stand on, she could climb out.

But she dismissed the idea. To gain Zhou Xiao’s trust and ensure he believed she wouldn’t run, she needed to wait for the best chance to escape.

Back in the car, Zhou Xiao praised her. He took off his bloodstained T-shirt, changed into the new clothes, wiped the knife clean with the old shirt, and handed it to Tao Yueyue. “Cut off the tag for me!”

He actually turned his back to her, exposing his back. Tao Yueyue gripped the sharp knife, a golden opportunity tempting her, or perhaps another trap.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her evil thoughts, and carefully cut the tag, then handed the knife back handle-first.

Zhou Xiao glanced at the new clothes in her hand. “Why don’t you change?”

“Can I change in the back of the car?”

“Change here!”

“Uncle Zhou, you asked me to cut the tag, showing you trust me. You should trust me that I won’t run.”

Zhou Xiao squinted at her and sneered. “You sure know how to talk. Fine, change in the back. If you dare to run…”

“I won’t run!” Tao Yueyue said firmly, showing her “loyalty.”

Zhou Xiao nodded, his tone softening. “Go ahead.”

Tao Yueyue opened the door and moved to the back, changing into the new clothes. She tossed the old ones by the roadside. She thought of leaving a message for Chen Shi but wondered how.