No Way out

Part 1

Darkness. An eerie silence. The air was so quiet that I could only hear my own heart thumping against my ribs.

I strained my eyes, but saw nothing.

I struggled to escape, but my limbs were completely immobile.

The only things I could move were my eyeballs, which darted around in panic, trying to find the monster in the darkness and then flee far away.

A cold touch slowly spread from my feet to my legs, then to my abdomen and arms...

I knew it was caused by the monster.

It approached my body, brazenly exploring every inch of my body.

I wanted to scream in terror, but I was voiceless.

Only in the depths of my heart could I hear my own desperate cries for help, which were pathetic pleas.

The monster got closer and closer, and I could even feel its breath.

Its breath was surprisingly warm, blowing on my neck.

Then it stuck out its tongue, doing even viler things.

I broke out in a cold sweat, as I continuously called for help in my mind, but no one could hear my cries. I fell into endless despair.

Part 2

A gentle shake pulled me out of the nightmare.

I opened my eyes to see my boyfriend's worried face and the warm orange glow of the night lamp.

It wasn't the darkness in my dream... I let out a long sigh of relief, my mind finally settling down.

Davin Ashton touched my cheek, gently wiping away my sweat, then pulled me into his arms, comforting me like a child, "It's okay, don't be afraid, it's just a dream..." His actions were very practiced, without any impatience.

Whenever I woke up from a nightmare or he woke me up, he always treated me this way, like treating a precious treasure.

This brought a bit of comfort to me who had continuous nightmares.

I had been having nightmares for almost half a year.

Even though I left that demon half a year ago, the pain was still plaguing me, invading my mind every night, pulling me back to those unspeakable things that had happened in the thirteen days, replaying that disgusting memory over and over.

The most ridiculous part was, I didn't even know what that demon looked like.

Half a year ago, I was kidnapped by someone and held in a pitch-black basement for 13 whole days.

It was the most hideous nightmare of my life. But soon I would realize, this was just the beginning of the nightmare.

Part 3

Half a year ago, I was just an average commuter, working in an office in a desert of concrete every day, taking the subway back to my tiny rented room after work.

Sometimes I would fantasize about something extraordinary happening, like I was actually the long-lost daughter of some big shot, then being welcomed back home, instantly transforming into a rich and beautiful woman, reaching the pinnacle of my life...

Of course, it was just a little light relief in my boring life. After all, I knew I was just an ordinary white-collar worker.

I never thought that one day something truly extraordinary would happen in my life.

But it wasn't a good thing.

I was inexplicably kidnapped.

When I woke up, I found myself in complete darkness, my limbs tightly bound, and even my mouth gagged with tape.

I immediately understood my situation-I had been kidnapped.

The firm yet soft feeling behind me told me I was lying on a bed at least one and a half meters wide, my arms and legs splayed out, utterly humiliated.

My mind raced, searching for any reason of the kidnap.

Had I offended someone?

Was it because I didn't give up a good project to a female colleague before, so she held grudges against me?

That female colleague joined the company about at the same time as me, and we were at similar positions, but there was only one of us who could be promoted, so naturally, she saw me as a rival.

We had constant minor conflicts, always competing in secret.

Recently, I had seemed to be slightly ahead of her.

But it didn't make sense for her to do something like this to me out of hostility. Who would kidnap a colleague just because of disliking her?

After ruling out this possibility, I tried to think of other suspects.

But my mind was blank; I couldn't think of anyone to suspect.

As a small office worker, where would I have the chance to make enemies?

I thought, I must have been abducted by a psychopath, a psychopath who hid in the night, seeking prey everywhere.

Part 4

I don't know how long it had been when I heard the door creak as I was about to fall asleep.

I immediately woke up, my nerves on edge, not daring to breathe loud.

Footsteps approached lightly, sounding particularly clear in the darkness.

The footsteps stopped beside me, then there was another deathly silence.

It hadn't left yet, right?

What was it doing, quietly observing its prey, admiring the fear emanating from every pore of my body?

I tensed up, not daring to move, not knowing what this pervert would do, but it did nothing.

The footsteps sounded again.

They were heading back in the direction they came from.

I panicked, making muffled sounds, trying to attract the person's attention.

But the footsteps paused for a moment, then it continued walking towards the door, opening it and leaving.

The room returned to silence again.

No matter how I groaned, there was no response.

Was it planning to starve me to death, or waiting for the right time to do something perverted to me?

It felt like an eternity had passed in the darkness.

Hungry, thirsty, sleepy... Tears uncontrollably slid down my face; I was on the verge of collapse.

The first I couldn't control was my bladder.

I couldn't hold it back any longer, and no matter how much I struggled, no one came. In the end, I peed myself, the urine wetting my pants.

How long could a person last without eating or drinking, unable to move or communicate, not even able to talk to herself?

A person could survive a few weeks without food, but only about a week without water.

Just when I was about to give up, the pervert entered the room again.

"I'll give you a bit of water.

Don't scream, or I'll leave immediately.

No one will come here, so screaming is useless."

The person spoke, sounding like it was using a voice changer, making it impossible for me to tell if it was a man or a woman.

I nodded groggily.

Then it came closer, tore off the tape from my mouth, then used a cotton swab dipped in water to touch my lips.

At first, my lips were numb, but when they touched water, the source of life, I instinctively stuck out my tongue, greedily seeking more.

"Can't you give me a cup of water? I'm about to die."

I was startled by my own voice, hoarse like an old woman.

But it didn't respond, patiently feeding me water drop by drop. Before I wasn't satisfied, it stopped.

Then it put new tape on my mouth and left again.

I struggled and groaned behind them, but it ignored me.

I fell back into despair.

It was the same in the next few days.

Every time I was about to give up, it would appear, using a cotton swab to feed me water.

I wanted water, food, to talk to the person, but no matter how much I begged or cursed, it never responded anymore.

Later, I stopped resisting, even feeling a bit happy when it came.

It seemed that it was a god, who could decide to let me live or die.

I thought I understood the pervert's purpose.

Perhaps it wanted me to submit, both physically and mentally.

Part 5

I lay on the bed like a dead person, completely without dignity, surrounded by damp and sticky excrement. Finally, the pervert moved me to a different position.

When I woke up again, I was sitting on a cold, rough floor, my hands cuffed behind my back, with a thick iron chain around my legs.

But my body was very dry, and I had changed into clean clothes.

The air no longer smelled bad.

But just thinking about the pervert changing my clothes made me feel nauseous.

"Behave yourself, and you can eat and use the toilet."

The pervert started feeding me porridge with a small spoon.

It was a bowl of meat porridge with egg, emitting the fragrance of oats, meat, and vegetables, steaming hot, warming my heart.

I thought I had no appetite, but after I had a few bites, it tasted better and better, and I nearly munched my way through it.

But the pervert was very slow and methodical, always maintaining its pace.

Every time the person fed me, it was like this that it patiently fed me like a child who couldn't take care of herself. I actually even felt a bit of tenderness, then was horrified by my own Stockholm syndrome.

Walking a few steps to the left along the wall, I could see the toilet. Opposite the wall was the bed.

It was still the same room, but I had more freedom now.

A small freedom within the confines of the room.

I complied with the abductor, eating obediently and following the routine he arranged for every day.

If it just wanted a plaything, I might as well cooperate since there was no way to escape.

I was waiting for an opportunity, a chance to flee.

But how long could one wait in the darkness?

I feared that before that day came, I would have already had the mental breakdown.

One night, I was awakened by a strange sensation.

Something was crawling up my leg, touching my calf and my thigh. It was the abductor!

My mouth was still gagged with the tape; I wanted to scream loudly but couldn't make any sound. I struggled violently, but it was useless.

I was like a deer caught in headlights, helpless and exposed.

As it approached, I could even feel its breath, disturbingly warm against my skin.

Then it did even viler things to me.

I cried so hard those days that I couldn't shed tears in the end.

Every time I fell asleep, the pervert would come.

I tried to stay awake, but I must have inhaled some gas, and eventually, I would fall into a sound sleep.

Then I would wake up, feeling the abductor's abuse with my clear senses.

I felt my body and soul separate; my body was mine, but it wasn't mine anymore.

My soul was nailed to the ground, being trampled over and over again by it.

I felt my body was utterly defiled.

Many girls felt a strong sense of inferiority after being raped, a feeling of turning "dirty."

This feeling was so painful, heartbreaking, and maddening.

I was only 24 years old then, and I had never had a boyfriend.

I thought I could never fall in love again.

I might never be rescued, tortured in this darkness until I had a mental breakdown, and then one day, the abductor would lose patience and kill me, dismembering my body. I kept thinking like that until Davin appeared.

Part 6

Suddenly, there was light in the darkness.

After not seeing light for so long, my blindfold was removed, and I was exposed to the glare of an incandescent lamp, trembling and shedding tears.

As I couldn't see things clearly, I saw a worried face of a man.

I shrank into the corner, not daring to believe in the person in front of me. Who knew if this was another game of the abductor?

But the man in front of me gently comforted me, softly telling me not to be afraid, making me get rid of my fear.

He tugged at the iron chain and found some tools, but the thick chain couldn't be removed at all.

If we stayed here, we might both die when the abductor returned.

Davin made a quick decision to go out alone to call the police and seek help, telling me to pretend nothing had happened to avoid alerting the abductor when it came back.

I cried and begged him not to leave, not to leave me in the darkness again.

"I promise, I will come back to save you.

Just hang in there a little longer, okay?" Davin's voice was like that of an angel, his eyes shining with determination and sincerity.

He gently caressed my face, as if we had known each other for a long time.

He seemed to be glowing in my eyes.

I think it was at that moment that I fell in love with Davin.

He was like an angel who suddenly appeared, taking me away from this endless darkness.

Davin kept his promise.

The police arrived faster than expected, and the abductor never showed up anymore.

We left that basement.

Later, I learned that I had been missing for thirteen days.

The abductor had used my phone to send a message to my boss, saying that I needed some time off work, so no one at the company knew I was missing.

My parents had contacted me, but the abductor always replied to them that I was busy with work, never using speaking or video chatting with them on the phone.

My disappearance was like a drop in the vast ocean, unnoticed and insignificant.

Davin lived in the suburbs at that time and went jogging every day.

He noticed a man frequently entering and leaving a nearby abandoned warehouse, but it didn't seem like he was there to carry goods.

Davin became suspicious of him and one day sneaked into the warehouse, discovering the basement and the helpless girl chained and blindfolded inside.

He later told me that I was curled up in the corner, almost indistinguishable in gender.

When the blindfold was removed, I still exuded a strong sense of insecurity, like a wounded cat, skittish and fearful, making her strongly protective of me.

So we became lovers.

It sounded a bit ridiculous; after being kidnapped, I, who had been single for 24 years, found a partner, and it was the person who saved me.

Everything was as unbelievable as a plot straight out of a soap opera, making me almost suspect that being kidnapped was the price I had to pay to find a partner.

But I would rather it had never happened.

After escaping the basement, I had nightmares every night.

In my dreams, it was still dark, and I was helplessly tied to the bed, my mouth gagged, unable to make any sound.

The abductor that I hadn't seen its face clearly was a shapeless monster, sometimes with cold tentacles, sometimes with terrifying breath.

The monster raped me wantonly, and I was powerless.

Every night, I had to experience this fear.

The police said the basement and warehouse were rented long-term by a fugitive criminal. The fugitive had been wanted by the police for almost two years, last seen in Asciuria, but then he fled elsewhere.

The abductor who kidnapped me was likely that fugitive criminal, who had secretly returned to Asciuria and kidnapped me. "What crime did he commit?" I asked.

"Financial fraud," the policeman replied.

I frowned, feeling it wasn't that simple.

The abductor didn't kidnap me for money, but for some perverted hobby, which I could feel during the 13 days we spent together.

It was hard to imagine a fraudster doing such things.

"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that someone else had used the warehouse," the investigating officer added, "We'll keep an eye on that area for any suspicious individuals." Until the abductor was caught, I might have to live with this pain and unease.

Part 7

I frequently had nightmares, afraid to go out alone, always feeling someone was following me.

I was also scared to stay home alone, fearing the abductor would break in and kidnap me again.

I even imagined a pervert lurking in every hidden corner, ready to pounce on me when I was off guard.

Under the bed, in the closet, behind the curtains... I frantically checked these places over and over again.

I went to the hospital, and the doctor said it was post-traumatic stress disorder.

The bald doctor with glasses typed on the computer, speaking calmly as if talking about the weather, "Insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, constant alertness are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. You said you were kidnapped, right? Did the abductor do anything to you?"

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but my throat felt tight, unable to utter a word.

The doctor looked at me indifferently through his glasses, "You don't seem to be injured, and there is no need to be so anxious.

Being rescued by the police is already your fortunate."

"Do you need more tests?

Medication is also an option.

But it's not really necessary; a period of rest should help you recover..." The doctor's mouth kept moving, but the voice became distant, as if through a layer of fog, stabbing my heart with every word.

I practically bolted from the consultation room in a panic.

As I was about to leave the hospital, I bumped into someone in a white coat. I jumped back in fright, "I'm sorry!" Looking up, I saw a familiar face-it was Davin.

After being rescued, he had visited me several times.

Although he did it out of sympathy, it seemed a bit too frequent.

I even suspected that Davin might just be the abductor, orchestrating the kidnapping and rescue to make me fall in love with him.

The police had considered this possibility and conducted a thorough investigation of Davin, finding no time for him to commit the crime.

Only then did I feel relieved.

"Are you okay? Why are you at the hospital?"

Davin asked with concern.

I felt a bit embarrassed; after the incident, I seemed to have lost the ability to communicate normally with others, "A-are you a doctor here?"

Other people looked at me curiously, and under their gazes, I started trembling uncontrollably.

Davin seemed to notice my nervousness and smiled gently, "Do you want to sit down somewhere?"

His gentleness was hard to refuse.

Davin turned out to be a doctor, working in the dental department of this hospital.

Hearing that I had registered at the psychiatric department, he was very concerned.

After that, our relationship gradually became closer.

He often invited me out to spend time together.

I made an excuse not to go out with him, but he came directly to my door.

He wore a gray cotton jacket and carried a bunch of groceries in his hand. He looked at me with wide, innocent eyes and said, "You haven't been eating properly, have you? Look, I saw your food boxes piled up high. If you don't want to go out, let's have a meal at home together."

I was a bit stunned and didn't have time to stop him before he walked into my apartment, skillfully putting down the groceries as if he were the owner of the place.

He strode into the kitchen and started washing and cutting vegetables.

I was a bit confused, after all, we weren't that familiar with each other yet.

But it didn't seem so bad.

Bathed in sunlight, we had a warm lunch together.

With Davin's encouragement, I began to have the courage to go out normally. We visited many places together, such as squares and amusement parks... I had already shut myself off, but I gradually bared my soul to him as time passed by.

Love came so suddenly, yet so naturally.

As Davin put it, he just didn't want to see someone like me living in pain, and since this girl was quite cute, he wanted to do something for her.

Who knew that as we spent more time together, he would fall for me.

A month after dating Davin, we moved to Joshealor.

It's a southern city where every street was lined with camphor trees, giving off a pleasant, faint fragrance in late spring and early summer.

There were too many harsh memories in Asciuria. I thought maybe a change of place would allow me to restart my life.

Davin fully supported my idea, finding a new hospital and moving house, doing everything himself for me without a single complaint.

I was happy.

Even though I had nightmares every night, having a comforting embrace beside me made me feel very secure.

The morning sunlight woke me up. The nightmare left my head a bit groggy, but at least I didn't have any more dreams after Davin woke me up in the small hours.

The smell of food wafted in from outside the room. I walked out to find Davin had already prepared breakfast, steaming hot.

He took off his apron and hugged me, planting a sticky kiss on my cheek. "Ramona, have breakfast now."

There was only one breakfast on the table.

"Aren't you eating with me?"

"Ah, there's an important meeting at the hospital today, I have to rush.

Don't be sad, sweetheart, I'll come back early tonight to keep you company."

Davin coaxed me as if I was a child.

"Oh, and don't forget to take your medicine."

After saying that, Davin left.

Next to the bowl on the table was a bottle of medicine with incomprehensible letters on it.

Davin said it was helpful for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and reminded me to take it every day.

Part 8

After Davin left, the apartment immediately felt empty. I finished breakfast, washed the dishes, and started lying on the sofa watching TV. At noon, I heated up the lunch Davin had prepared in advance and took a nap after eating it.

The afternoon was even more leisurely that I could do everything including watching movies, playing games and exercising... I was almost living a retired life ahead of time.

This was the life I had dreamed of, but when I truly had nothing to do, it wasn't as joyful as I had imagined.

After leaving the basement, I rested at home for a while, but my condition wasn't good. Every dark corner could trigger my immense fear.

I didn't dare to go out or even open the curtains, fearing that a pair of pathological eyes from the outside world were staring at me.

Ironically, crowded and secure places where outsiders couldn't enter made me feel safer.

The company was such a place.

I soon went back to work, but those unbearable memories haunted me, sometimes flashing like sparks and suddenly occupying my mind.

Whether in a meeting or writing a document, I would suddenly be overwhelmed by fear, leaving me trembling and unable to speak or interact normally with others.

At first, my colleagues would comfort me, but soon most of them kept their distance from me.

One night after a group dinner, the leader stopped me from leaving and had a talk with me downstairs at the company.

"Ramona, it's normal to be in a bad state after what you've been through. Everyone understands it.

But health is important, so it's better to take care of yourself first."

The leader had expressed concern before, but I didn't know what he meant by bringing it up again.

He spoke kindly, "But the company is a collective, and everyone needs to play their part to develop it.

So, those who are sick or injured need to go home and rest... You understand what I mean, right?"

"Uh..." I frowned, sensing the underlying message to leave, "But, but..." "Go home and rest well. Hand in your resignation letter, and I'll approve it as soon as possible..." The problem was, I had only been working for two years and still needed to support myself and my parents. How could I just end my career like this?

Working for 12 hours every day was tough, but for an wage slave, having no income was even tougher.

I wanted to say something to reverse the situation.

But suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm.

I looked over and saw it was Davin.

He pulled me to his side, and I leaned into his embrace, catching a whiff of his cologne.

He held my arm firmly but gently enough not to hurt me.

The usual gentle smile on his face was replaced by a stern expression, "As a boss, it's inappropriate to abandon employees who are in difficulty, is it?"

"Who are you?" The leader's face immediately darkened.

"You don't need to know who I am. She will quit this job. Working for a boss like you isn't worth it."

Davin's tone was polite but firm, and the leader's face turned livid.

Davin didn't give him a chance to scold us, pulling me away quickly.

We walked through the glass-walled office buildings, past men and women wearing work badges on their chests, and finally arrived at the artificial lake in Cultural Oasis Park.

"What are you doing? How can I work now liek that?"

I panted, angrily questioning him.

He didn't speak, but just looked at me.

The lake water shimmered under the streetlights, and his eyes sparkled along with it.

"Why force yourself?" Davin's voice was soft and soothing.

Actually, I shouldn't blame him.

"Yeah, I really don't want to work anymore. I think it's better to rest for a while."

Tears suddenly welled up in my eyes, and I sniffled hard, "Sorry, I should thank you. Now I don't have to spend time writing the resignation letter..." As I spoke, tears started to fall, but I tried to keep my expression nonchalant.

Then, I was pulled into an embrace.

The tears became uncontrollable, and I cried on Davin's shoulder for a long time, which wet his clothes.

At that time, we hadn't officially formalize our relationship yet.

After that incident, I quit my job and rested at home.

Later, Davin became my boyfriend and the most important person in my life.

Part 9

Lying at home with nothing to do, I was so bored that I was twiddling my thumbs. There had been six months since the kidnapping incident happened. Recently, apart from still having nightmares, my normal life was mostly unaffected.

Maybe it was time to return to society and be a normal person again.

So when Davin took me to a restaurant for dinner that night, I eagerly brought up the idea of finding a new job.

"You look beautiful today. Did you dress up just for me?"

Davin smirked, "You look so good, I don't want other men to see you like this."

I was wearing a light blue dress and had put on some light makeup.

I planned to make today an important day to show my appreciation and gratitude to Davin.

After some sweet talk, I mentioned wanting to find a job, "Recently, I've been feeling much better. Staying at home all the time is inappropriate. I'm ready to start looking for a job..."

Davin's expression suddenly changed, becoming cold-something I had never seen before.

But that coldness disappeared in an instant, so quickly that I thought it was my illusion.

He smiled and said, "Ramona, you don't need to worry about work. I said I would support you. Are you afraid I can't let you live a good life?"

"No, it's just that staying at home every day is boring.

And I'm feeling much better now. Meeting new people would be good for me."

"You haven't fully recovered yet. Rest at home for a bit longer.

Aren't you still having nightmares every day?

If you go to work in this state, your condition will worsen," Davin said with concern.

"But..."

"Listen to me, I'm a doctor, remember?

I even studied a lot of knowledge about psychiatry just for you. Don't doubt a doctor's expertise," Davin said, pretending to be serious.

Davin was a dentist, but after meeting me, he learned a lot about psychiatry and even got some certifications of it.

"Come on, stop talking and eat before the food gets cold," he said, placing several pieces of food on my plate.

I nodded. Although Davin said that for my own good, I still felt a bit stifled inside.

Was I really unable to work right now?

How long would this stay-at-home life last? How long could Davin tolerate having such an incapable girlfriend?

I hid my disappointment. After all, Davin was thinking of me, and I didn't want to make him sad.

Davin ate elegantly, telling me some amusing stories from the hospital, and I smiled along.

After we finished eating, Davin went to pay the bill while I sat there in a daze.

A young man suddenly came over to chat, making some small talk and even asking for my Whatsapp account.

I politely told him I already had a boyfriend, but he confidently said it didn't matter that we could still be friends.

Were men nowadays really this forward?

I was a bit taken aback.

But it seemed that if I dressed up nicely, I still had some charm.

When Davin returned, he stared at the guy's departing figure, his voice a bit unhappy, "Who was that man? What did you talk about?"

"Nothing, he just accosted me. But I told him I already have a boyfriend.

Guess what? He said we could still be friends..." I said animatedly, but Davin's face grew darker.

Realizing something was wrong, I quickly stopped, "Are you jealous?"

Davin tapped my nose, his expression softening a bit, "Of course, you're mine.

Next time, don't dress so nicely when you go out. Remember, you can only dress up for me."

Seeing his proud little expression, I felt a warm glow inside.

Part 10

I brought up working several more times to him, but Davin skillfully dissuaded me each time. Finally, I got a bit annoyed, "Whether I work or not is my business. You don't have the right to interfere, do you?"

Davin stared at me, his beautiful eyes unreadable.

Realizing my words were harsh, I quickly apologized, "I'm sorry... You know I didn't mean it that way. I understand you're concerned about me.

But staying home all day is really boring..."

Davin nodded and stopped persuading me, suggesting I can rest for another two weeks and then see if I could go out to work.

Two weeks later, I started actively sending out resumes and found a job as a planner at an advertising company.

On my first day of work, Davin specially drove me to the company entrance.

"How do you feel? Are you confident?"

Davin asked with a raised eyebrow and a light smile, helping me straighten my collar.

I took a deep breath, pumped my fist in determination, and walked into the towering skyscraper.

I thought work would be stressful but fulfilling.

However, once I restarted it, it felt like a basin of cold water poured on my body from head to toe.

The client's demands kept changing, and the project went through dozens of revisions. Even when it wasn't busy, everyone had to stay at their desks, working overtime until they were exhausted.

Maybe it was the mental and physical exhaustion, but my previous symptoms of palpitations, insomnia, and anxiety all reappeared.

Despite Davin insisting on asking me to continue my medication to prevent a relapse, I soldiered on without complaining to him.

One late night, as I worked overtime, my proposal was harshly criticized by my boss without any four-letter words. I broke down in tears at my desk while revising it.

Davin messaged me, asking if he should come to pick me up. I replied that I would take a taxi.

When I got downstairs, Davin was already waiting outside, smiling gently.

Who knew how long he had been waiting.

I suddenly remembered the time before we became a couple when he saw my boss forcing me to resign and then took me too the park.

That night, the moon had been just as bright as it was now.

I threw myself into his arms, crying my eyes out.

I hadn't felt so wronged before, but seeing him there made me unable to control my emotions.

No matter what happened, Davin was always there to protect me.

Thinking of this, I cried even harder.

Davin patted my back, gently comforting me.

I resigned again, realizing my current state wasn't suitable for such intense work.

Although I was still unwilling, my health was more important.

I planned to find a more cozier job once I felt better.

Davin invited my parents over, saying that family companionship would help improve my mental state.

Were Davin and I already at the stage of meeting our parents? Wasn't this a bit too fast?

I was hesitant.

However, my parents were very satisfied with Davin as a prospective son-in-law. They always wanted me to find a boyfriend who was a civil servant or a doctor.

My parents were still unaware of my previous kidnapping. I didn't tell them because I didn't want them to worry.

Honestly, my parents weren't very good at comforting me. They had always pushed me to study and build my career, caring more about how high I could climb rather than how tired I was.

After I started working, I had complained to them about the pressure, but their response was always, "Everything is tiring," or "That's just life." Eventually, I couldn't be bothered to tell them.

I rarely went home except for the New Year, and even then, it was just to listen to them talk about what they had heard, like how much money someone's child made at a law firm or who married a rich young man.

This time, Davin told my parents that I had moderate depression due to work stress and needed to rest at home.

He followed my wishes and didn't mention the kidnapping to them.

When they heard that Davin had studied psychiatry and obtained a qualification certificate about it for me, my parents' eyes lit up even more, and they subtly hinted at marriage.

"Oh, Mom, we're not even close to that yet. Don't push me and Davin like that.

We're just dating, and who knows what will happen in the future."

My mom gave me a knowing look, "Oh, you silly child. Isn't it inappropriate to live together without being married?

And if you weren't planning on it, would Davin have called us over?

This is clearly heading towards marriage, understand?"

I was speechless, my heart racing.

After my parents left, life returned to normal. Davin went to work during the day, and I had nothing to do at home, waiting for him to come back.

Soon, I got restless again. So people were really strange. They would complain about work when they had jobs, and feel bored when they had nothing to do.

This time, I decided to find a cozier job.

Coincidentally, a client I knew from Facebook was hiring staff of a gallery that dealt with painting exhibitions and sales. The job was from ten a.m. to five a.m., very tempting, and the work hours perfectly matched Davin's.

I immediately applied for the job without telling Davin.

This time, I was determined to work well and not let Davin laugh at me.

The gallery was located in the Cultural Oasis Park.

The job was relatively simple and cozy, and I got to see many excellent paintings.

One day, I stood in front of a newly exhibited painting, staring blankly.

The colors in the painting were mottled and intertwined, enveloping an ambiguous shape.

For some reason, something in it struck my heart, making it impossible to look away from the painting.

I stared at it for a long time, as if I could see the artist's madness, pain, sadness, repression, and helplessness flowing perfectly through the brushstrokes.

"Do you like this painting?"

A clear male voice sounded.

I looked over and saw a man I had never seen before.

His skin was very fair, with jet-black hair and eyes, a delicate nose, but pale lips that hinted at a hint of fragile, sickly beauty.

But the most special thing was his eyes.

Under long eyelashes were a pair of ink-black eyes, so clear I could see my own reflection.

What a refined and elegant face! I was taken aback when watching it.

Seeing that he didn't speak, I realized that he was waiting for my answer.