Quincy lifted his head and said, "Since it seems there's no sincere intent to cooperate, let's call it off and head back."The factory manager's expression tightened instantly. He quickly tried to persuade them, "Wait a moment, everything's negotiable. If the offer seems too low, why not stay the night and rest? You must be tired from the journey."Quincy was about to decline when Lydia cleared her throat. He glanced at her and then changed his mind, saying, "Alright, we'll stay the night."As night fell, Quincy turned to Lydia. "Why did you choose to stay?"He doubted it was because she was genuinely tired. Lydia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she replied, "No business is ever entirely clean. I noticed something illegal in this factory earlier, and I need tonight to confirm it. If I’m right, we can report them and shut this place down."She was visibly excited at the prospect. Quincy asked, "Are you sure?""If I’m right, with the right connections, we can shut them down
Sweat started to bead on Quincy’s forehead, and he silently cursed himself for his foolishness. They continued running, but Lydia was quickly running out of steam. Despite pushing herself, her heavy breathing made it clear she couldn't keep up much longer."Quincy, go on without me. Don’t worry about me," she panted."No way. Get on my back," Quincy insisted.Lydia froze for a moment, shaking her head. "N-no, I’m too heavy.""Come on, if we waste any more time, they’ll catch us," he urged.Realizing the urgency, Lydia didn’t argue further. She wrapped her arms around Quincy’s neck. "Am I too heavy?" she asked, feeling guilty for slowing them down and wishing she had trained more.Quincy shifted her on his back with ease. "You’re light as a feather. No problem at all," he said, trying to comfort her.Lydia couldn’t help but laugh at the exaggeration.Quincy glanced at her with a playful smirk. "You know, if we die together like this, does it count as a tragic romance?"The qu
Lydia instinctively grabbed onto Quincy, her fear taking hold. Realizing the situation, she slowly let go and looked around frantically. She picked up a nearby stick, trying to steady herself. "Come on, I’m not afraid of you," she said, her voice trembling slightly.Quincy quickly placed his hand over hers. "Don’t provoke it," he warned.The snake's cold eyes glinted as it hissed and suddenly lunged forward. "Ah!" Lydia screamed, swinging the stick wildly with her eyes squeezed shut. The snake coiled around the stick and struck, sinking its fangs into her leg before slithering away.Lydia gasped and collapsed to the ground, staring in shock at the two puncture marks on her leg. The courage she had forced herself to muster vanished instantly. Panic overtook her, and she began to cry, "Quincy, Quincy, am I going to die?"Quincy grabbed her hand, trying to calm her. "Don’t worry, you’ll be okay. Just stay calm."Without hesitation, he lowered his mouth to the bite on her leg, tryin
This was the first time Quincy had spoken so much at once. He was usually the type to keep his words to a minimum. "Stop crying. We're still here, safe and sound. Isn't that proof enough that we've been really lucky?"He tried to smile, hoping to lift Lydia's spirits. Lydia wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded, "You're right."The night air was bitterly cold, and a chill swept through the cave, causing Lydia to shiver involuntarily.Quincy noticed her discomfort and hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat. He then suggested a bit awkwardly, "If we stay closer, it might help us stay warm."His suggestion was subtle, but Lydia immediately understood. Her face flushed, but her body acted on instinct, moving closer to him without hesitation. Quincy, after all, was a strong man, and his body radiated warmth like a small furnace. Lydia instantly felt a wave of comfort and safety wash over her.Without thinking, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist. Quincy tens
After walking for a while, Lydia stumbled upon a small pond. Her heart leaped with relief as she found a tree for Quincy to lean against. She tore a strip of fabric from her skirt and soaked it in the cool water. She then began to gently wipe Quincy's feverish body. As she worked, she murmured to herself, "Quincy, you have to get better. When we get back, I'll agree to whatever you ask."She assumed Quincy was too delirious to hear her. However, he reached out suddenly and grabbed her hand tightly. He asked with his intense gaze. "Do you really mean that?"Lydia was startled. If it weren't for Quincy’s body still burning with fever, she might have thought he was faking it. Blushing, she said, "I didn’t say anything. Let go of me, now."Quincy chuckled weakly. "No way, I heard every word."Lydia looked down, embarrassed, and gave him a light shove. "I think you're just pretending to be sick."Hearing this, Quincy immediately looked hurt. He took Lydia’s hand and placed it on hi
The possibility that the man might have ulterior motives crossed Lydia’s mind, and she became instantly alert. Given their current situation, she knew she was likely no match for him, especially with Quincy still sick and unable to help.Sensing her unease, the man chuckled and said, "Don’t worry, I’m not interested in you. I don’t like skinny women. I prefer women with a bit more curves."Embarrassed that her thoughts had been so transparent, Lydia felt awkward, as if she had been both paranoid and overly self-assured.The man continued, "Just take care of him tonight. His fever should break by morning. I'll help you get out of here then. No need to thank me. Just bring me a couple of bottles of good liquor when you get the chance."Relieved, Lydia smiled, showing her white teeth. "Deal. My family has some great liquor stashed away. You’ll love it."The mention of alcohol seemed to loosen the man's tongue. He grinned and said, "You must come from money if your family has such t
"Thank you."Suddenly, Quincy’s soft, sincere voice echoed in Lydia’s ears as he looked at her with those deep, dark eyes. Lydia could sense his seriousness in that moment."No need to be so formal. You’ve helped me too. Let’s focus on recovering and then get out of here. Maybe we can ask the man if he has a phone?"Lydia felt they had spent enough time in the mountains, and she knew the factory workers likely wouldn’t give up looking for them."Alright, I’ll talk to him."Quincy had already asked the man about borrowing a phone, but the man had declined, saying, "I’ve been out here in the mountains hunting for years. What would I need a phone for?"His small home was simple but well-equipped. Quincy found it hard to believe that the man didn’t have a phone, but there were no signs of any communication devices around.Quincy suggested, "In that case, could you take us to the nearest market? We can pay to use a phone to call for help. We’ll make sure to reward you generously once
"At least you’re self-aware," Lydia replied, her smile growing wider.Quincy noticed this and couldn’t help but admire her composure. Even in such a dire situation, Lydia could still find it in herself to smile. Her mental strength was something else.Quincy frowned slightly and asked, "You’re aware of what’s going on, but you don’t seem scared at all. Why…?""Do you think we should be wearing gloomy faces instead?" Lydia cut him off with a soft laugh. "Honestly, if we’re meant to die here, that’s just fate. If it’s destiny that we die together, what choice do we have?"She didn’t seem like she was just trying to laugh in the face of adversity. There was a genuine acceptance in her tone.Quincy felt a pang of guilt. "I brought you on this trip, and now look what’s happened."Before, Quincy might have been wary of Lydia, but after all they had been through together, he knew what kind of person she was. If she were the type to abandon someone in trouble, she would have left him beh