The mist thickened outside the villa, swallowing the trees and the narrow road beyond. The sound of dripping water from the roof echoed faintly, mixing with the low growl of thunder in the distance.
Rui stood motionless by the window, eyes sharp, every muscle tensed. "Stay quiet," he whispered without turning. "And keep Xiaoya close."
Meilin's pulse raced as she scooped her daughter into her arms. Xiaoya stirred, mumbling softly, but Meilin pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh… it's all right, sweetheart. Just close your eyes."
The silhouette in the fog shifted — moving closer. Slow, steady steps crunched over wet gravel. Whoever it was, they weren't trying to hide.
Rui moved like a shadow himself, pulling the curtains closed and motioning Meilin toward the back hallway. "There's a cellar beneath the kitchen," he murmured. "Hide there. If anything happens—"
> "No," Meilin interrupted, her voice trembling but firm. "We face it together."
For a moment, Rui stared at her — torn between admiration and fear. Then he nodded once. "Stay behind me."
The front door creaked. A low, taunting laugh echoed from outside.
> "Running again, Rui?" The voice was male, smooth and familiar. "Or have you finally grown tired of pretending you can protect her?"
Meilin's heart dropped. "That voice…"
> "Chen Hao," Rui growled.
A figure stepped through the mist. His once-polished suit was stained, his eyes colder than ever. He carried a gun, though his smirk suggested he enjoyed the fear more than the weapon.
> "You made things very complicated," Chen Hao said, glancing around the dusty villa. "Your little love story could've ended peacefully, but you just had to dig deeper."
Rui's tone turned lethal. "You shouldn't be here."
Chen Hao's grin widened. "Oh, but I should. My father wants the girl. You know what her blood carries. You can't hide her forever."
Meilin's arms tightened around Xiaoya protectively. "You'll never touch her."
Chen Hao laughed. "You still think you can fight fate? You were supposed to die, Meilin. Twice, if necessary."
That was the last straw. Rui moved faster than sight — a flash of motion, a gunshot splitting the air. The bullet grazed Chen Hao's arm, forcing him back through the door.
"Go!" Rui shouted, grabbing Meilin's wrist.
They bolted down the hallway, footsteps pounding against the old wooden floor. The sound of shattering glass followed — Chen Hao's men were breaking in through the side windows.
Meilin stumbled, clutching Xiaoya close. "There's too many!"
Rui yanked open the trapdoor beneath the kitchen table. "Down!"
They dropped into darkness, the air cold and damp. Rui pulled the door shut just as another shot echoed above. Dust rained down from the ceiling.
In the dim cellar light, Meilin could see the faint shake of Rui's hands as he reloaded his weapon. Yet his voice stayed calm. "We'll wait until they search the house, then slip out through the tunnel behind the wall. It leads to the woods."
Meilin nodded, but her breath came unevenly. She could hear Chen Hao's voice upstairs, angry and searching.
> "Find them! The formula dies with her!"
Rui met Meilin's eyes. "We end this soon," he whispered.
Meilin brushed her fingers over his. "Together."
Above them, the creak of footsteps grew
louder. The enemy was closing in — and dawn was still hours away.