“Hello? Where are you?” Static crackled on the other end of the line.

Shi Xing glanced at Shi Lei and could only try to hint carefully. “I’m at—”

Before she could finish, the hot-tempered Shi Lei snatched the phone away. He let out a mocking laugh and shouted into it, “Ji Yu, do you still remember me?”

Ji Yu paused for a moment, then reacted quickly. “Shi Lei?”

Hearing his voice, Shi Lei crooked his lips. “I ended up like this because of you. Your girlfriend is in my hands right now. If you want to save her, come tomorrow to No. 667, Wuxi Road, Central District, Nanlin City. Don’t call the police—or you can collect her body.”

With that, he hung up.

Seeing this, Shi Xing immediately tried to divert his attention.
“Hey, why do you say he ruined your life?”

Shi Lei took a drag from his cheap cigarette, staring straight ahead as he spoke slowly. “If it weren’t for him, I’d be the one standing on the podium right now, basking in the cheers of thousands.”

Shi Xing didn’t believe him. She had seen Ji Yu’s years of effort with her own eyes. If success were really that easy, everyone would be holding trophies by now.

While she was lost in thought, Shi Lei stepped outside to make a call. Seizing the opportunity, Shi Xing scanned her surroundings, searching for something that could cut the ropes. Finally, she spotted a shard of a broken beer bottle nearby. She carefully shuffled forward and discreetly tucked the shard beneath her foot.

The next moment, Shi Lei returned with another unfamiliar man. The morning sun was slowly rising, the air damp and cool, mist drifting lightly in the breeze.

“Your husband’s pretty fast,” Shi Lei said while fiddling with his phone, casually updating her. “He’s almost here.”

At the same time, the man—named Ding Junfeng—lifted her up with one hand. In that split second, Shi Xing shifted the glass shard into her palm and gripped it tightly.

When they put her back into Shi Lei’s car, the overwhelming stench of smoke and alcohol hit her again—stronger than before. Compared to Ji Yu’s car, it felt like heaven versus hell.

Fortunately, neither of them noticed her small movements. The car drove steadily until it reached an abandoned factory, isolated and desolate.

Ding Junfeng shoved Shi Xing into a corner and taped her mouth shut again. With her eyes also covered, she could only secretly use the shard in her hand to cut through the ropes.

Her heart pounded wildly. Worried about whether Ji Yu would be in danger, she sped up her movements.

Faint, scattered noises reached her ears. With one final cut, the rope snapped. Unfortunately, the glass sliced her finger, and blood slowly seeped out.

Inside the factory, Ji Yu stood facing Shi Lei. An invisible tension filled the air between them.

“Where is Shi Xing?” he asked coldly, his dark eyes filled with chilling restraint.

Shi Lei scoffed. “After all these years, you haven’t changed at all. Still just as annoying.”

Ji Yu had no interest in reminiscing or responding to the mockery. “What are your conditions for releasing her?”

Shi Lei lit a cigarette, crossed his legs, and smiled. “Kneel.”

Ji Yu didn’t hesitate. “Fine. But I want to see her first.”

Shi Lei hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. Ji Yu had always been famously proud—never begging even when several of them had ganged up on him. And now, for a woman, he gave in without resistance.

Just as Shi Lei was about to call Ding Junfeng to bring her out, a shout suddenly rang out from the side.

“Don’t run!”

In the next second, Shi Xing was caught by Ding Junfeng and dragged in front of Ji Yu. Shi Lei burst out laughing. “Your girlfriend’s pretty clever. She even lied to me earlier, said she wasn’t close to you.”

Ji Yu’s gaze shifted slightly, his lips twitching faintly.

Shi Lei pulled out his phone and started recording, raising his brows in ridicule. “Go on. Kneel. Let me see what it feels like to have a world champion kneel for me.”

“Don’t kneel!” Shi Xing cried out. Blood from her injured finger dripped steadily onto the ground.

Ji Yu shook his head at her. Then, without hesitation, he bent his knees and dropped straight down. With no cushioning at all, the sound of bone striking concrete was painfully clear.

Shi Lei and Ding Junfeng cheered, as if that kneel symbolized their victory.

Shi Xing’s mind went blank. She knew exactly how hard Ji Yu’s journey had been. That was why she couldn’t accept him abandoning his dignity, letting others humiliate him because of her.

Still unsatisfied, Shi Lei stepped forward, mocking him. “Weren’t you proud?” He lifted his foot and kicked Ji Yu hard in the waist—twice. “Didn’t you injure your back before? I’ll help you fix it.”

Ji Yu endured the pain, sweat seeping from his forehead. Shi Lei shoved the phone close, trying to capture any hint of humiliation on his face.

But there was none.

Ji Yu pressed his lips together and said calmly, “I’ve knelt. Can you release my girlfriend now?”

Tears filled Shi Xing’s eyes as she turned her head away.

Just as Shi Lei was about to speak again, the factory door was suddenly kicked open. A large group of police rushed in, followed closely by an anxious Ying Xiaoxiao.

Before Shi Lei and Ding Junfeng could react, they were subdued. Ji Yu immediately stood up and hurried to Shi Xing, checking her injured hand.

Still defiant even while being restrained, Shi Lei cursed, “Ji Yu, you’re playing dirty again!”

“I didn’t call the police,” Ji Yu replied coldly.

“It was me,” Ying Xiaoxiao shot back. “So what? You had the guts to kidnap my Shi Xing—if the cops weren’t here today, I’d beat you to death myself.”

Even the police couldn’t help laughing.

After statements were taken at the station, Ji Yu was sent to the hospital for examination. His previous back injury had worsened due to Shi Lei’s kick.

Xie He rushed to the Nanlin hospital as soon as he heard the news. Seeing Ji Yu alive and well, his heart finally settled.

Then he reverted to his usual irreverent self. “You made it sound so serious on the phone—I thought you were dying.”

“Get lost,” Ji Yu snapped, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

After Ying Xiaoxiao finished helping Shi Xing get her hand bandaged and returned, she saw Xie He lounging in the room watching TV, while Ji Yu glared at him.

Xie He greeted them casually.

Shi Xing began to introduce him. “This is—”

Before she could finish, Ying Xiaoxiao cut in. “Oh, I know him. The national badminton men’s singles eternal runner-up.”

Ji Yu deliberately cleared his throat, raising a hand to hide the smile creeping onto his lips. Xie He’s expression instantly darkened as he pointed at Shi Xing and Ying Xiaoxiao. “Hello… and you—absolutely not.”

Embarrassed, Shi Xing tried to smooth things over. “She’s just very blunt—don’t take it personally.”

But Ying Xiaoxiao waved it off. “Even though you can’t beat Ji Yu, I still think you’re impressive.”

Xie He raised an eyebrow, suddenly pleased. “Really?”

She nodded seriously. “Of course. Not everyone gets the chance to face him every match. You fight through round after round, make it to the finals, and end up becoming part of his highlight reel. When you retire and look back, every match has someone remembering it. Isn’t that great?”

Shi Xing’s heart skipped a beat. She frantically nudged Ying Xiaoxiao from behind, signaling her to stop.

Xie He’s face turned ashen. He pursed his lips and gestured helplessly. “Alright, stop, sister. I don’t lose to him every single time.”

“Nine losses out of ten,” Ji Yu added flatly.

Shi Xing hurried to change the subject. “By the way—was Shi Lei also a badminton player?”

“I looked him up,” Ying Xiaoxiao said. “He was from your generation too, but later got expelled. I’m curious—what did he do to get kicked out so badly?”

Xie He spoke quietly. “He violated discipline and got caught—right when leadership was cracking down hard. His performance also kept declining. No results, no one backing him.”

He didn’t specify the violation, but from his expression, Shi Xing could guess.

“Then why did he say Ji Yu ruined him?” she asked.

“Because he thought I reported him,” Ji Yu said with a cold laugh.

Xie He turned toward him. “That’s not the only reason. Before you joined, Shi Lei was the team’s top prospect. After you broke his records one by one, resources shifted toward you. He blamed everything on your arrival.”

He paused, then added, “But competitive sports are always fair. The winner takes all. Every championship is built on extraordinary talent and extreme effort.”

Ying Xiaoxiao stared at him in awe. “Wow, Runner-up, that was actually profound.”

Xie He gritted his teeth. “Can you stop calling me that?”

The two bickered as they left the room.

Shi Xing sat beside Ji Yu and tentatively said, “I’ll peel you an apple?”

Ji Yu glanced at her coolly. “No need. I don’t eat apples from strangers.”

She knew he was mad again. Quickly, she said, “Fine—then I’ll peel it for someone else.”

Just as she stood up, Ji Yu grabbed her arm, pulling her close. The faint scent of bitter pine from his body surrounded her.

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