The two of them just stared at each other in silence.

The room was dark, but the floor-to-ceiling window behind Qin Qinxi wasn’t drawn, and the soft glow from the courtyard lights below seeped in, allowing her to barely make out the man’s face.

His features were exquisitely chiseled, not particularly foreign-looking—by Chinese standards, he could easily be called a top-tier heartthrob.

Especially his eyes: deep and penetrating, with long, curled lashes that gave him an almost Barbie-like air of delicate beauty.

People say foreigners have a shorter prime, so if he’s this handsome, he must be only in his early twenties, right?

So young… how could he possibly be a boss of the Criminal Underworld?

Vio was pondering whether to skin this woman alive and post the photo on the dark web, or first take her to Red Bay for a bit of rough treatment before skinning her and posting the image online.

Just as he was thinking, Qin Qinxi spoke up—in English: “Hello… I didn’t mean to barge in.”

“Handsome guy, I’m Chinese. I work for Medecins Sans Frontieres. I saved someone, and then that person tied me up and brought me here. I really did save him—I didn’t hurt him. I don’t even know why he brought me here…”

She didn’t dare mention that the man had tried to kill her, for fear that this guy might be in cahoots with the other one and end up sending her back.

Vio remained silent, simply staring at her.

Seeing that the man wasn’t saying a word, Qin Qinxi swallowed hard, forced a smile, and complimented him: “Handsome guy… you’re really good-looking. I’ve never seen anyone as handsome—or as beautiful—as you…”

Vio still said nothing.

He was used to it; women who tried to get close to him always started their conversations with pretty much the same line.

But he did sit up slightly, his gaze openly scanning her figure.

Qin Qinxi instinctively scooted back half a step when she saw him move.

She was actually afraid of him.

Although the man was handsome, there was something menacing about his eyes.

How could a henchman of a gang boss possibly be a good person? She was just trying to curry favor, get closer, and beg him to let her go.

She’d spent all her time in Syria saving lives, dealing only with patients and hardly ever interacting with men. She wasn’t sure whether men here would be easy to talk to.

Qin Qinxi noticed that the handsome man seemed ready to pull back the covers.

She could clearly feel that he was naked from the waist up—and wondered if he was also bare down below.

Qin Qinxi shyly averted her gaze.

Seeing her flustered reaction, Vio became even more certain: she wanted to sleep with him.

Fine. He’d planned to break his vow of celibacy on his birthday anyway. Starting a few months early wouldn’t be a problem.

After all, she was a doctor kidnapped from Syria by Tuxi—she couldn’t be an agent.

She was safer than those other women.

“Go take a shower,” he said in Mandarin, his voice hoarse from having just woken up.

Qin Qinxi was taken aback.

She was stunned for two reasons: first, he actually spoke Mandarin—and quite fluently; second, he… told her to go take a shower.

The handsome man’s voice was actually quite pleasant: low, slightly raspy, with a smoky quality that made your ears tingle.

But… in the middle of the night, in a stranger’s bedroom… he was telling her to go take a shower…

All of Qin Qinxi’s red flags went off at once.

She remembered that in the field hospital, sometimes in order to gain the trust of irritable wounded soldiers, she had to first appear harmless and obedient.

Qin Qinxi looked at him and forced a smile, switching from English to feigning ignorance: “Thank you, but no need…”

Vio just kept staring at her, his eyes utterly cold.

Intimidated by his gaze, Qin Qinxi didn’t dare say another word and turned around, slowly walking toward the bathroom.

His eyes followed her the whole way, icy and direct.

So straightforward? Looks like he’s experienced.

Well, maybe. After all, he’s inexperienced. If the outcome after the fact satisfies him, then he won’t kill her.

Vio propped his head up on his crossed arms.

The sound of water rushing in the bathroom went on and on, endlessly.

End of Chapter 4: Chapter 4