The room was uniquely designed, with an ambiance exuding sophistication and a sensual aroma that seemed to stir hormones in the air.

Looking around, it was evident that every detail was crafted for intimacy.

One had to admit that being alone with a member of the opposite sex in such an environment could challenge even the most self-disciplined, let alone someone less resolute.

As soon as they entered the room, Ye Chen instinctively looked around the corners of the space, trying to spot any cameras.

"Are you looking for cameras? Don't worry, there are none installed in the room," Xiao Ya said flatly, as if she understood his intent.

Then, she reached to take off her clothes.

"What are you doing?" Ye Chen quickly stopped her.

"Do I not need to undress?" Xiao Ya asked, her tone wooden, as if this wasn't unusual.

After all, many clients had their peculiar preferences.

"Just give me a head massage first," Ye Chen said, walking over to the luxurious bed and lying down with his head at the foot.

"A head massage?" Xiao Ya repeated, clearly surprised. She had never encountered such a request before. Most clients were eager and impatient from the outset.

Still, adhering to the "customer is king" philosophy, she obediently pulled up a stool and began massaging his head.

"Can we talk here without being overheard?" Ye Chen suddenly asked, his eyes closed as Xiao Ya's fingers worked on his scalp.

"No, there are no cameras or audio devices in the room. Why do you ask?" Xiao Ya responded, still detached.

Hearing this, Ye Chen hesitated.

He had sought her out because he noticed a hint of resistance and struggle buried deep in her eyes and expression, suggesting she hadn't been completely broken yet.

After some thought, he asked, "What did you do before this?"

Unbeknownst to him, that question caused Xiao Ya's hands to pause momentarily.

Ye Chen didn't rush her, nor did he seem surprised.

After a brief silence, Xiao Ya replied bitterly, "Three months ago, I was still in university, a senior. Surprised?"

"Really? Then how did you end up... working here?" Ye Chen pressed further.

Xiao Ya hesitated, her face filled with struggle.

She resumed massaging but suddenly asked, "Are you a good person?"

"Not bad," Ye Chen replied after a moment of thought.

Perhaps it was his demeanor, so different from the other clients she had encountered, or the inexplicable sense of comfort he exuded. Against her usual practice of never divulging personal information, she found herself speaking.

"I'm from a single-parent family. My mom raised me and my younger brother by herself. My brother is still in his final year of high school. Three months ago, my mom got seriously ill, and the doctor said we needed 500,000 yuan. To us, that was an astronomical sum. But the situation was urgent. I learned about a company called Anda Finance that could lend money, so I approached them.

"They granted me the 500,000 yuan loan in one go. I thought I could save my mom first and figure out the repayment later. But a month passed quickly, and I couldn't find any way to pay them back. I considered abandoning my dignity to find a wealthy sponsor, but when they heard I needed over half a million at once, they all backed out.

"When the repayment deadline came and I couldn't pay, the people from Anda Finance—led by Biao Ge—caught me and took me to their company. They showed me two videos: one of my brother at school, and one of my mom in the hospital.

"They gave me two options: either repay the money immediately or start working at Maple Leaf Hotel to pay off the debt. Otherwise, my brother and my mom wouldn't survive. I had no choice. Even though I knew what 'working' there meant, I couldn't refuse."

Ye Chen frowned. "And after all this time working, how much do you still owe?"

"How much? I can't repay it. The debt only grows larger," Xiao Ya said.

Ye Chen had already guessed why but still asked, "Why is that?"

"I was naive at first. I thought working could repay the loan. But I didn't know the principal would accumulate daily interest, compounding endlessly. After a week of work, they started injecting me with drugs, forcing me into addiction so I had to buy from them. Between the drugs and the compounding debt, how could I ever repay?"

Tears rolled down her face, her voice choked with despair.

"Have you ever thought about escaping?" Ye Chen asked.

"I have, and I tried. One night, I and another girl, Xiao Qin, tried to run away. But within half an hour, their people caught up to us. I was so terrified I collapsed. Xiao Qin tried to keep running, but Biao Ge ran her over with his car, killing her. I was taken back, beaten, and warned that if I tried to run again, my mom and brother would die," Xiao Ya said, her voice trembling.

Tears continued to fall as she added, "They'll do anything. In these three months, I've seen them kill two other girls besides Xiao Qin. I saw it with my own eyes."

She stopped speaking, and Ye Chen fell silent too.

The room was engulfed in a deathly stillness.

After a long pause, Ye Chen said, "Aren't you afraid I might tell someone about all this? If the people at Maple Leaf Hotel find out, you won't survive."

"I'm afraid. But I want to take one last gamble. I have no other way out unless Maple Leaf Hotel's operations are dismantled, or the police rescue me," Xiao Ya said, stopping her massage to stare blankly at the ceiling.

Hearing this, Ye Chen understood why she had died in her past life. She hadn't met him then, and these words had been spoken to the wrong person.

Her death had been the result, her body buried in concrete.

"What car did Biao Ge drive when he hit Xiao Qin? Do you remember the license plate?" Ye Chen asked.

"A black Toyota Highlander, license plate Jiang A-J311K," Xiao Ya answered without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, she shivered and asked nervously, "Are you a police officer investigating Maple Leaf Hotel?"

In that moment, her question betrayed a flicker of hope.

"The things you told me today—don't mention them to anyone else, unless it's the leader of an inspection team. Also, mess up the room a bit, make it look like a service was provided. Then leave and tell them I ordered the third-tier package for 38,000 yuan. I'm going to take a shower and will head out afterward," Ye Chen instructed.

Without giving her a chance to respond, he walked toward the bathroom.