Wenjie stared past him into the hallway. He registered the older man's shocked reaction, but he couldn't categorize it. His head was empty, his limbs numb. Otherwise, he might have got up. Instead, he kept laying there and ignored the other. 

The fight inside him had lasted far too long. There was no way to win. Uncle Xu had all the strings in his hand. There was no escape, or hope left.

"What did he do?"

The older's voice reached his ear as if through absorbent cotton. Xiao Dao had already asked that after he opened the door. Wenjie didn't understand why he cared. "Leave me alone," he muttered. 

But Ding Wei ignored his words. Instead, he grabbed him by the arms and straightened him up. A moment later, Wenjie felt the icy wall at his back. His gaze wandered to Xiao Dao, who was now sitting beside him. One hand still rested on Wenjie's shoulder, presumably to prevent him from simply toppling to the side. 

"What do you want?" Uncle Xu had announced the visit, but Wenjie would prefer if Ding Wei disappeared again. 

Xiao Dao grabbed him by the shoulders with both hands and shook him gently. "That you come back to your senses, man. You're totally out of it. What did that bastard do to you?"

Wenjie swallowed. This time, he sought eye contact. The older's behavior was not an act. There was actually concern reflected in his features. Why? They were not friends. So was it tactics? Yes, it had to be, although he didn't think Xiao Dao was a good actor. But it would suit Uncle Xu to hire Ding Wei to play nice. 

Wenjie chewed his lower lip and looked back out into the hallway. They were alone, as the watchmaker had announced. His gaze slid back to Xiao Dao. "Why do you care?" he finally broke the silence. 

"Because I'm fucking worried. Did he lock you up here all this time? You can't sleep on that mattress, can you?"

Wenjie sighed deeply. Half-heartedly, he tried to wriggle out of his grip as Xiao Dao grabbed him under the armpits and pulled him to his feet. Since Wenjie had no sure footing, he supported him. 

"What are you doing?" 

"I'm taking you to another room. The sofa in the living area looked more comfortable. Besides, you need something to eat. You need to get your strength back."

Wenjie shook his head. 

"You'll be fine." 

Wenjie hadn't really meant to imply that. Reluctantly, he let himself be taken to the other room. The sofa there was really more comfortable than the mattress. Exhausted, he lay down. 

Was Xiao Dao planning to let him stay here for the next few days? Wait, that was certainly part of the plan. According to the motto: Maybe Wenjie will develop Stockholm syndrome and I can play the two of them off against each other. But shouldn't he rather assume that Ding Wei treated him badly? In that case, Uncle Xu was probably hoping that Wenjie would start to miss him. 

His head was spinning. Fortunately, he lay down already. "What day is it? What month?" Little more than a whisper passed Wenjie's lips. 

"Friday," Xiao Dao replied. His gaze fixed on him. "What did he do? That he managed to break you like this after only a week?"

Wenjie blinked. "A week? It feels like a month."

Ding Wei started walking around the room, to the door, then back to the sofa. Apparently, he didn't want to leave him alone, but had to in order to get something to eat. Because the kitchen was in another room. 

"Don't keep dodging my questions," Xiao Dao grumbled. Unexpectedly, he approached the sofa. 

Wenjie's muscles stiffened. 

Ding Wei stopped in front of the sofa and looked down at him. 

Before Wenjie could prevent it, Xiao Dai was reaching for him. He lifted him up a bit so he could sit on the sofa as well. But instead of pushing him away, he abruptly hugged him. A lump formed in the younger man's throat as his head came to rest against Ding Wei's shoulder. 

A hand caressed his back. Wenjie lacked the strength and will to break free of the grip. Whether he liked it or not, there was something comforting about the embrace. 

"Don't give up," he heard Ding Wei say. "You hear me? No matter what he does, stay strong. I'll think of a way to get you out of here."

Startled, Wenjie winced. Panicked, he tried to free himself, to no avail. Xiao Dao held him too tightly. "Then he will kill you," Wenjie said. 

Ding Wei furrowed his brow. A moment later, he laughed. "He can't. He needs me as leverage for my father. Besides, he has no idea that I don't give a damn if we're friends. I'm going to get you out of here. I don't know how yet, but I'll find a way. Promised."

Wenjie said nothing. It was just a bad joke. No, it didn't sound like that. It was more reminiscent of the older's impulsive reaction back in the car. Hadn't Xiao Dao said he would steal Water Lily for him if it was so important to him? According to this, he was serious. Still, Wenjie struggled to believe it. Uncle Xu would not let that happen. And if he found out they were planning something together, it wouldn't end well for either of them.

"Don't do it," he mumbled. "There's no point. He won." Tired, he leaned back against the elder and closed his eyes. 

Suddenly, Ding Wei grabbed him by his shoulders again and shook him. "Cut the crap." His tone was noticeably sharper. "Don't you dare to give up. Get a grip on yourself!" 

The loud voice actually brought Wenjie out of his lethargy. Only now did he become fully aware of the older's closeness. Immediately, he wriggled out of the grip. Ding Wei let him and leaned back on the sofa, grinning. 

Wenjie found this less funny, and it irritated him in equal measure. "If you want to get me out of here, why are we still sitting here?" Xiao Dao had somehow ignited the last spark of hope inside him, strengthening his will to fight. He tried to stand up when a dizziness overcame him, forcing him to refrain.

"Because there's a big guy up there guarding the entrance. I'm sure the driver who brought me here has orders to pay attention as well. And you're in no shape for an escape. If we're going to get out of here, it has to work immediately."

Admittedly, he was right. It really wouldn't be a good idea to try to escape now. If only because he was still unsure whether all this was not part of Uncle Xu's plan. And he did not want to see Xu Zhengqing carry out his threats. He therefore had to watch what he said and what he did. 

Wenjie also leaned back on the sofa, now deep in thoughts but feeling slightly better.

to be continued...