Xu Zhengqing had not lied. 

The new room was more comfortable, indeed. Above all, it was brighter. But Wenjie did not trust the peace as his gaze slid over the furnishings to the window. Sunlight fell in and drew yellow stripes on the bedspread. An easel stood between the bed and a desk. On the floor, he discovered a box with paints and drawing supplies. Indecisive, he paused at the entrance. 

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder that made him flinch involuntarily. Instinctively, he moved a little to the side to avoid the touch. 

Uncle Xu laughed. "Do you like your room?"

Wenjie nodded. The question even elicited a fleeting smile from him, despite the obvious trap this room held for him. After all, why would Monsieur offer him the opportunity to contact the outside world? The window had a grille, but it could be tilted. He could write messages on a sheet and throw them out, or just call attention to himself. 

That Xu Zhengqing didn't put a stop to it meant he was testing him. Wenjie's gaze wandered over the furniture to the ceiling. There were no cameras anywhere. Then his captor had probably placed them outside to monitor any movements at the window. 

The clockmaker stepped up beside him. "I've decided to give you privacy. The police are no longer looking for you, and you will not attempt to escape."

Wenjie remained silent. In a moment, uncle Xu would explain to him what a perfidious plan he had concocted. 

Instead, Monsieur pulled out of his pocket the necklace he had taken from him in the getaway car a week before. A sly smile graced his lips. "It's time to return this to you." 

Wenjie stared at the open palm where his necklace lay. His pulse was racing. With a hasty flick of his wrist, he grabbed the necklace and backed away a few steps to put distance between himself and Mr. Xu. The pendant was warm because it had been in the watchmaker's breast pocket all this time. 

"You know what I expect from you," Xu Zhengqing said.

"Yes," Wenjie whispered, barely daring to unclench the fist that encircled the chain.

Uncle Xu's smile died and gave way to a serious expression. "Follow me. I have something else for you."

Wenjie shivered. He reckoned already that it couldn't be anything good. Hesitantly, he followed the man out into the hallway. Xu Zhengqing led him to another room, which contained technical equipment mostly and two chairs. There, he gestured for the student to sit down before tampering with the cabinets. 

Wenjie did as he was told. He was not comfortable with this. There was only one way out and it was guarded. Resignedly, he put his necklace back around his neck, hiding the pendant under his T-shirt. 

Xu Zhengqing, meanwhile, fetched something from the closet. Turning to him, Wenjie realized it was an electronic necklace made of metal. "Do you really need to do this?" He didn't want to wear this thing. But what he wanted didn't matter, anyway.

Uncle Xu smiled again. "We both know what that window does to you."

Wenjie gulped. That was when hope faded away. 

"I don't want to have to lock you in the basement anymore. This collar will help you not do anything stupid. It contains more than electronics." Which could presumably be activated at any time using a remote control. Monsieur spared him the details of how it worked, but not the consequences of trying to take it off.

"See the circular lines on the inside? Behind them are needles that will extend and inject you with a poison. It will cause pain and hallucinations and kill you if you don't get the antidote in time." 

Wenjie took a deep breath to calm herself down. Whatever Xiao Dao was planning to do with this collar, it was doomed to fail. Unless Wenjie figured out exactly what kind of poison it was beforehand, or put all her eggs in one basket. With the residue on the needle, it might be possible for the doctors to determine the poison and administer the antidote in time. 

Uncle Xu laughed. "Don't worry. I'm the only one who can save you. But as long as you follow my instructions, I'll make sure you won't die."

That could also be a bluff. But should Wenjie take the risk or convince Ding Wei on his next visit to call off whatever plan he was up to? After all, if Monsieur was telling the truth right now, then he had no choice but to submit to his will unless he harbored an increased death wish.

Li Shuting came to his mind. She had tried to warn him before her leap to death. Why did she let go? Why had she seen no other option? If she had cooperated with the police, many things might have been very different. Had Xu Zhengqing left only one path open for her as well? Wenjie did not remember seeing such a collar. That didn't have to mean anything in the end. 

Uncle Xu had arrived at Wenjie's place by now and bent down to put the collar on him. Wenjie met his gaze with an expressionless expression.

There was a soft click. Then Xu Zhengqing released his hands from his neck and straightened up. "You won't have to wear this forever. Just until it extinguished the last spark of hope in your eyes. Did you think I hadn't noticed? I don't know how Ding Wei managed it, but you shouldn't cling to the idea that he'll help you."

Wenjie's eyes widened. The stress level immediately rose again. 

Uncle Xu smiled slyly. "Don't worry. You will see each other again soon enough. He's in a similar position as you and knows what will happen if he betrays me. That being said, his fear of the police is greater than his resentment." 

Wenjie sighed deeply. He could have guessed it right away. It was useless to hope Ding Wei would keep his promise. Xu Zhengqing wouldn't be Monsieur if he didn't have a Plan B for every eventuality. And to add emphasis to his words, he switched one of the screens to another transmission channel at that moment. 

The sight that presented itself to Wenjie made him turn pale. In a dark room, on a mattress, lay his father. This wasn't real, was it? His father had been dead for 12 years. What uncle Xu had said during their ride suddenly took on a whole new meaning. Wenjie jumped up and ran to the screen. His father was moving, which meant he was alive, if this recording showed the present. Resting his hands on the desk, Wenjie stopped, leaning forward slightly, breathing hastily. 

"I want to see him." 

Xu Zhengqing laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "You already do. He's fine, as you can see. Considering the circumstances."

Wenjie gave him an angry sideways glance. "How long have you been holding him captive?"

"About half a year."

Then monsieur had caught his father even before he had charged Ding Shenghuo with interfering in his life. Wenjie slapped the table with one hand. "Where is he? Take me to him!"

to be continued...