As consciousness returned, Jiang Fan felt an oppressive weight in his head.

Perhaps due to the bumpy ride, after an indeterminate time, his eyelashes finally fluttered open.

*Where... am I...?*

His mind remained foggy. The knockout spray’s effects were brutally effective—his skull throbbed, vision blurred for long moments.

"Oh! You’re awake?" A voice chirped. "Sorry, sorry! You were out cold, and those pursuers were closing in. Had to move you roughly. Want some Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui?"

*Shouldn’t it be medicated oil in this situation? What even is Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui...*

Though he couldn’t see clearly, Jiang Fan recognized the speaker by voice and tone. Weakly, he retorted.

"Really? I always drink that for dizziness. Thought it was the only fix. Though... we don’t actually have any here. My bad~"

*Here...* The word implied a remote location.

*So they caught me after all...*

Guxuetong remained as terrifying as ever. Without her interference, he wouldn’t have fallen into Anna’s hands so swiftly.

Jiang Fan adapted quickly, accepting his reality upon waking.

"Anna-jie... could I have water? My throat’s parched..."

"Sure thing!" Anna, seated beside him, happily set aside her crossed legs and stood to pour water.

She held a paper cup to his lips, gently feeding him since he lacked strength.

"More? Free refills!"

*Since when does plain water need refills...*

"Not for now..." Hydrated and clearer-headed, Jiang Fan finally took in his surroundings.

*Pitch-black, just like Mu Yuli’s room. Straight out of a hostage thriller—airtight, only a dim desk lamp glowing. Creepy.*

Yet the sparse furnishings seemed ordinary: coffee table, sofa, low stool... just a regular living room?

*Why’s it so sweltering? No AC?*

"Anna-jie, what time is—! Why are you dressed like *that*?!"

Turning toward her, Jiang Fan was met with a flash of bare skin. He instinctively averted his eyes.

She wore only a skimpy crop top and hot pants, her slender waist and pale thighs fully exposed—a dangerous sight for any red-blooded teen.

"Huh? Oh, this?" Anna blinked, then glanced down. "Ah! It’s boiling here. Guxuetong hasn’t fixed the AC. Honestly, if you hadn’t woken up, I wouldn’t have bothered wearing even this."

*So you’d be naked if I stayed unconscious?*

Jiang Fan didn’t know how to react. "Uninhibited" was generous; "reckless" was accurate.

Truthfully, he wasn’t some blushing virgin. His reaction was pure self-preservation—he feared lingering glances might provoke her cruelty. After living with Mu Yuli, he knew how easily she toyed with him, hook or no hook.

"Why so tense?" Anna chuckled, patting his thigh. "It’s only nine. Flight’s in thirty minutes. We’ve got time. Look all you want—I don’t mind. Call it repaying your food and shelter debt, haha."

"Please don’t. I’ve got... a bit of a fear of women..."

"Really? What a shame."

Jiang Fan lay on the sofa, head turned away. Anna sat barefoot beside his legs, curled up, thumbs flying across her phone—likely texting Guxuetong.

*Thirty minutes until the flight... Will Chen Jing even find me?*

He felt bleak.

*That place wasn’t paradise, but this? Straight-up hell.*

For the first time, he longed for Mu Yuli’s arrival. Anna’s unpredictable presence was utterly draining.

"Hey! Check this out!" Anna suddenly slapped his thigh, then bounced off the sofa to crouch before him, eyes sparkling as she thrust her phone screen at him. "Just pulled her! Is she strong? Looks cool, right?"

"What...? Wait, you play *Genshin* too, Anna-jie?"

Jiang Fan’s lethargy vanished—he’d been dragged into a card-flaunting session!

*Damn Euro—no, Russian—luck!*

*Whatever. All white skins are the same.*

*Hmph. Just Eula? A five-star Cryo claymore girl? I got her today too. Adorable sprinting, with self-healing normals!*

"Hold on... this account looks familiar... *Ah!* That’s *my* UID! I spent my last Primogems on the pity pull!"

"Pity? Not sure. Got bored waiting, borrowed your phone. Saw the app, tried it out. Finished events, had just enough for one pull—and got her! Strong?" She pressed eagerly. First-timers always hoped their haul mattered. Her friends only got blues; her golden shimmer *had* to be better.

"I... Yeah. She’s strong."

Jiang Fan felt numb.

His own pulls always hit pity. Hers succeeded on a whim.

*What’s even the point of playing?*

"Hehe! Glad to hear it. Was worried it’d be trash."

Her crinkled eyes radiated genuine joy. Jiang Fan was baffled—did this kidnapper have zero professional pride?

He ventured carefully, "Anna-jie... since you brought me here... you’re sure your... uh... stepmom is my mother, right? Don’t you... hate me?"

"Why would I?" She tilted her head, puzzled.

Then Anna slid to the floor, back against the sofa, head resting comfortably on Jiang Fan’s stomach. Phone light illuminated her relaxed smile.

*Huh?*

*This isn’t the script...*

*Did my mom actually do nothing unforgivable?*

*Huh—*

*So what’s there to fear now?*

Jiang Fan sensed a new escape route from his debts.