The moment Su Mo’s pupils turned crimson, the world around him seemed to fade as he activated his corpse puppet ability.

The basement, the stench, the silence—everything receded as fragments of memory surged forward, piecing themselves together into a scene that belonged to this little child.

---

"Daddy, where are we going?"

A small, clear voice rang out.

Gao Xufan crouched down, his face tense but forcing a gentle smile as he patted the little girl’s head.

"You and your mom are playing hide and seek," he said softly. "Remember, no matter what happens, you must not come out, okay? If you win... I’ll take you to the amusement park."

Little Mimi’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Really~ Daddy? Pinky swear?"

"Pinky swear..."

He hooked his finger with hers, his smile trembling slightly at the edges.

Then he stood up and turned to Han Mei.

She was already looking at him, worry written all over her face.

"Honey... will this really be okay? Those people... they’re dangerous. Shouldn’t we try calling the police?"

Gao Xufan shook his head slowly, his expression heavy.

"It’s useless. They’ve blocked all signals using a jammer. We’re completely surrounded."

Han Mei’s face paled.

"Then... what do we do?"

"Take Mimi and hide in the old shelter," he said, his voice low but firm. "I’ll stall them as long as I can. Wait for me to find a chance to get you two out."

"That’s too dangerous!" She grabbed his arm, her eyes already red.

Gao Xufan gave a bitter smile.

"We don’t have a choice."

He gently pried her fingers off his sleeve and turned away.

"Mama... why are you crying?" Mimi asked, tugging at her clothes.

Han Mei quickly wiped her tears.

"Nothing... Mama just got dust in her eyes."

"Let me clean it for you!"

Small hands reached up clumsily, wiping at her cheeks.

Han Mei’s lips trembled before she pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

"My Mimi has grown up... you even know how to take care of Mama now."

"Hehe~ because Mama is the best."

---

The memory shifted.

The shelter was dark and quiet, filled only with the sound of their slow breathing.

Then, suddenly, the sound of footsteps came closer.

"Found them."

"So this is where they were hiding."

"Boss Ye was right. That mayor really wouldn’t give up so easily."

Han Mei’s body stiffened.

She instinctively pulled Mimi closer, shielding her with her body.

Then—

*Smack.*

Her head snapped to the side as a hand struck her face.

"Ugh—!"

"Mama!"

Little Mimi cried out in panic.

"Why are you hitting Mama?!"

"Shut up, brat," one of the men said impatiently.

"So noisy... should we just kill her?"

"Don’t bother. Take the woman first."

Their gazes were cold and appraising. It was like looking at an excellent product, not a woman.

"Look at her. That old guy had some good taste."

"Heh... doesn’t matter. In the end, we brothers got the bargain. We’ll make good use of her now."

Han Mei struggled desperately, but it was useless.

Her eyes filled with fear as she realised what they meant.

She turned toward Mimi and shouted with all her strength—

"Mimi, run! Stay away from here!"

"But Mama—!"

"No buts!" Her voice suddenly turned harsh, almost cruel. "If you don’t leave, I won’t talk to you anymore!"

Mimi froze, tears streaming down her face.

"...Okay..."

She turned and ran.

Behind her, her mother’s figure was dragged away.

---

"Daddy... save Mama..."

Her small voice echoed helplessly.

---

The scene changed again.

"Is this your child, Mayor Gao?"

A calm voice full of amusement.

Gao Xufan’s body trembled.

"D-don’t worry, Mr Ye... I’ll send her away... she won’t disturb you..."

He tried to speak steadily, but his voice shook.

It didn’t matter.

---

They brought him and Mimi upstairs.

Soon, a group surrounded Gao Xufan.

He fought back, but he was outnumbered.

Blows rained down on him.

Mimi cried, screaming for them to stop.

Then she was dragged away.

---

What followed was something that shouldn’t exist in the memory of a child. But it did.

"M-Mama... what are they doing to you...?"

Mimi’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

In front of her, her mother struggled; they tore her clothes, her cries hoarse, her body covered in marks.

The men laughed.

Their movements didn’t stop.

They didn’t even look at the child; instead, they got even more excited by her cries.

To them, her fear was just a stimulant.

"Mama... Mama..."

Her voice grew weaker.

But no one answered. Only despair continued. Followed by the evil laughs.

"Hahaha! That was good!"

"My turn next."

"Let’s go together!"

"Hehehe! Why not?!"

"Kekeke!"

---

Night came.

The light grew dim.

The basement felt colder.

Ye Chen appeared.

His expression was calm, even gentle.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Mimi shrank back, biting her lips, her body trembling.

She didn’t answer.

Ye Chen took a drag from his cigar.

"It’s not good for a child to stay hungry."

He turned his head slightly.

"Shixun, give her something to eat."

Lu Shixun smirked faintly.

"Brother Ye... we’re out of ingredients."

Ye Chen paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Wasn’t that dog barking earlier?"

His tone was light.

"Use it."

"...Understood."

---

"No! Don’t hurt Shushu!"

Mimi screamed, struggling, but she was too weak.

She watched helplessly. As those scary uncles cut her pet dog with a knife, followed by his whimpers.

Then started skinning and deboning it.

Her small body trembled as everything happened in front of her.

After making dog soup.

They forced the food into her mouth.

She gagged and coughed.

Tried to spit it out.

But they didn’t stop.

"Eat."

"Don’t waste food."

Her body convulsed as she vomited over herself, tears streaming down her face.

---

But the nightmare didn’t end there.

Ye Chen looked at her calmly.

"That won’t do. You’ve made yourself dirty."

He turned slightly.

"Clean her up."

At that moment, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at it.

"...Delayed?"

His expression didn’t change much.

"Then the plan needs adjustment." He murmured to himself...