I started by watching videos, and I chose 10,000 combat power.

Luo Fei arrived at the bathroom sink.

The cold water washed over his right hand, which had just been holding the residue from his phone.

Her skin was smooth, without even the slightest red mark.

Only a tiny bit of black stain remained on the fingertips.

The person in the mirror had bloodshot eyes but a cold expression.

He forced himself to calm down.

Gently turn off the tap.

He turned around and walked out of the bathroom.

The office area was still filled with the sounds of keyboard typing, hushed discussions, and ringing telephones...

No one noticed his unusual behavior just now.

He went straight to his colleague Xiao Li's seat at the next table.

Xiao Li was browsing the web when he heard footsteps and looked up nervously. He saw Luo Fei and smiled, "Luo Fei, what's wrong? You don't look well."

Luo Fei tried to force a smile, but failed.

"Little Li."

"My phone... I just accidentally dropped it and broke it. It's urgent, could I borrow your phone for a quick call?"

Xiao Li paused for a moment, clearly noticing that Luo Fei was not in a good state.

"Oh, okay, no problem." Xiao Li didn't ask any more questions and readily unlocked his phone and handed it over.

Luo Fei extended his right hand.

He stopped abruptly just as his fingertips were about to touch the phone case.

Looking at the smartphone that looked much more sophisticated than his own cheap phone, the image of his own phone shattering flashed through his mind.

No.

Do not touch.

Given his current state, even just holding it could unintentionally leave fingerprints, or worse.

"Can I put it on the table?" Luo Fei's voice was dry. "I'm on speakerphone. I just finished using the restroom, and my hands are a little dirty."

He made up an excuse.

Xiao Li was even more confused, but he nodded, placed his phone flat on the table, and brought up the dialer.

Luo Fei gently pressed his father's number with his index finger.

The phone was dialed, and the dial tone sounded as the caller waited for an answer.

Luo Fei's heart jumped again, his fists clenched behind his back, and his knuckles made a slight cracking sound.

Fortunately, the surrounding environment was noisy, and no one noticed.

The call was answered quickly, and the father's voice came through: "Feed? Who is this?"

"Dad, it's me, Xiaofei." Luo Fei tried to keep his voice steady.

"My phone just... accidentally broke, it's completely unusable now. I'm borrowing a colleague's phone."

"Xiaofei! Xiaofei!" Upon hearing his voice, his father became agitated again. "Did you hear that? Your sister...she..."

"I heard you, Dad," Luo Fei interrupted his father, needing more detailed information.

"Calm down, speak slowly, tell me everything you know in detail from beginning to end. Don't leave out a single word."

His voice made his father on the other end of the phone sob a few times, trying to calm himself down.

As Xiao Li listened, his eyes widened, realizing that something was amiss. He instinctively sat up straight and held his breath.

The father's intermittent narration spread through a corner of the office area via speakerphone.

My younger sister, Luo Ying, made plans with three other girls from her dormitory to visit Yunhai City, a tourist city on the southern border, this summer vacation.

Her parents initially disagreed, thinking it was too far, but they couldn't persuade their daughter, and Luo Ying promised to be careful and report her safety every day, so they reluctantly agreed.

For the first few days, things were fine. Luo Ying would post photos and videos on her WeChat Moments every day, showing blue skies, white clouds, and all sorts of pictures, looking like she was having a great time.

But since yesterday, the news has suddenly stopped.

My parents called and sent WeChat messages, but there was no response.

Just when they were extremely anxious, an unfamiliar number called this afternoon.

When the call was answered, it was Luo Ying's voice filled with immense fear and sobs. She only managed to shout "Dad! Mom! Help..." before being abruptly interrupted.

Instead, a man with a fierce voice told them menacingly that their daughter was in Myanmar and in their hands.

They want their daughter to return home safely and are preparing a ransom of 500,000 yuan.

They only gave us three days.

Once the money is in place, the person will be released.

If the money isn't right, or if they dare to call the police, they'll be sold to a far, darker place, where they'll never see each other again.

On the phone, you could also hear other girls' suppressed sobs and men's shouts.

The call was then disconnected, and when I called back, the phone was switched off.

"Five hundred thousand...three days...Myanmar...sold even further..." The father repeated these words, each one laced with despair. "Xiaofei, what do we do? All our savings combined, even selling the house, isn't enough! Calling the police...would calling the police do any good? They said calling the police would..."

The father's voice was once again drowned out by sobs.

The office area had become quiet at some point.

Several colleagues nearby stopped what they were doing and looked over in astonishment, their faces filled with shock and sympathy.

Xiao Li covered his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Luo Fei stood there quietly, trying to control his emotions.

He can't lose control, at least not now.

"Dad," his voice was calm, eerily calm.

"I understand. Don't worry about the money, I'll figure it out. You and Mom stay home and don't go anywhere. Wait for my news. Keep your phone on. If they call again... try to reason with them, but don't provoke them. Just say you're raising the money and need time."

"Xiaofei? What can you do? Where did you get 500,000 yuan?" the father shouted anxiously.

"I have a way." Luo Fei didn't explain, his tone resolute. "Trust me. Take good care of my mother. Wait for me to come back."

After saying that, he gestured for Xiao Li to hang up the phone.

Xiao Li's fingers trembled slightly as he pressed the hang-up button.

There was silence all around.

Everyone was looking at Luo Fei.

Luo Fei took a deep breath, turned to Xiao Li, and said in a still hoarse voice, "Thank you. Here's your phone back."

He didn't touch his phone, but gestured with his eyes.

Xiao Li quickly took back his phone, hesitated, and finally just whispered, "Luo Fei... if you need help..."

Luo Fei shook his head and didn't say anything.

He turned and walked toward the supervisor's office.

"Manager Wang, I have a family emergency, it's extremely urgent." Luo Fei stood in front of the manager's desk, without any preamble, and went straight to the point, "I need to resign immediately. Now, right now. I don't want this month's salary."

Manager Wang was looking at documents when he heard this. He looked up and saw Luo Fei's frighteningly cold face. He swallowed back the words of blame and harassment that were on the tip of his tongue.

He felt a strange pressure.

"...So urgent? What happened?" Manager Wang frowned, his tone softening.

"It's a personal matter, and it's urgent," Luo Fei repeated.

Manager Wang felt a little uneasy under his gaze and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, since you don't want your salary... I'll have HR process your resignation as soon as possible. Hand over your work..."

"There's nothing to hand over. I've already taken care of the urgent work, and the rest isn't urgent. The data is all on my computer," Luo Fei interrupted him. "I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the office without waiting for Manager Wang's reaction.

Back at his workstation, he quickly shut down his computer and put his few personal belongings into a plastic bag.

He didn't say goodbye to any of his colleagues and went straight to the elevator.

Stepping out of the office building, the afternoon sun was a bit too bright.

Luo Fei narrowed his eyes, discerned the direction, and headed towards the nearest online store.

He needs a new phone and needs to get a replacement SIM card immediately.

I walk very fast, but keep it within the upper limit of a normal person's brisk walking pace; I don't dare to run.

The online shopping mall was bustling with activity.

Luo Fei went directly to a second-hand mobile phone counter.

"A sturdy smartphone, one that can make calls via WeChat will do. I need it now," he told the shop owner.

The shop owner, a middle-aged man, glanced at him and took out a domestically produced phone with minor scratches on the screen and an outdated model from under the counter.

"This one, 750, guaranteed sturdy and durable," the shopkeeper boasted.

"I'll take it." Luo Fei didn't haggle and paid with the cash he had on him.

Then immediately go to the corresponding operator's business hall, queue up, and use your ID card to replace the SIM card.

Insert the new SIM card into the old phone and turn it on.

He immediately called his father: "Dad, wait for me to come home."

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up the phone, quickly left the business hall, hailed a taxi, and gave the address of his rented apartment.

Sitting in the car, he watched the city rushing past the window.

High-rise buildings, traffic, and bustling crowds.

All of this is irrelevant to him at this moment.

Back to the rental house.

Quickly find your suitcase and start packing.

They quickly filled their suitcases and backpacks.

He didn't want anything else—bedding, pots and pans…

Finally, he dialed the landlord's number.

"Auntie, this is Luo Fei. I'm not renting the apartment anymore; I'm leaving today. I don't want the deposit or the remaining rent for this month. Please handle the things in the apartment as you see fit. There's some minor damage, consider the deposit as compensation. I've left the key under the doormat."

The landlady on the other end of the phone was clearly surprised and wanted to ask a few more questions.

Luo Fei had already hung up the phone.

He picked up his suitcase and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

There was no lingering attachment.

He turned around and closed the door.

He gently placed the key under the doormat.

I went downstairs and flagged down a car again.

"To the train station," he told the driver.

He needs to go back to his hometown first.

Going directly to Myanmar was unrealistic. He needed more information, to know the exact location where his sister was last seen, to plan his route, and to prepare some things.

Perhaps the police back home can find some clues through that brief phone call?

Although the chances are slim, this is the most conventional approach he can think of at the moment.

Of course, his real reliance was never the police or the ransom.

Rather, it is the power within this body that is capable of tearing everything apart.

The taxi merged into the traffic and headed towards the high-speed rail station.

Luo Fei leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

In my mind.

All that remained were the sister's terrified cries, the father's desperate roars, and the man's vicious threats on the phone.

Arrived at the train station.

Luo Fei bought a ticket for the next high-speed train heading towards his hometown—Longhai city.

He mingled in the crowd queuing to have his tickets checked, trying his best to calm his mind and control every muscle in his body.

When passing through the turnstile, he turned sideways to avoid colliding with others, his movements appearing slightly stiff.