Hazel? Could it really be the same Hazel from that factory four years ago?

Before I could process the thought, Shannon continued slashing at my face. The searing pain stole my voice, and blood streamed into my eyes, staining my vision crimson.

“I know Hazel,” I choked out through the agony. “Take me to her.”

If Hazel saw me, she would surely send me back. I clung desperately to that hope.

Shannon froze for a moment, the knife in her hand pressing deeper against my skin. Her face twisted with fury.

“You’re really shameless, aren’t you?” she spat. “Still trying to cozy up to Hazel?”

Her eyes gleamed with malice. “Fine, I’ll ruin this pretty face of yours. Let’s see how you seduce anyone after this.”

The pain became unbearable. I wailed until darkness consumed me.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself being dumped unceremoniously at the factory gate. My body ached, and my face throbbed with burning pain. The person talking to Shannon nearby caught my attention—it was Hazel.

“Hazel!” I croaked weakly, my voice barely audible.

Hazel turned her head, momentarily startled by my pitiful state. “How does he know my name?” she asked suspiciously.

Shannon’s face darkened. She stepped forward and stomped hard on my mouth, silencing me.

“He must’ve overheard our phone call,” she lied smoothly. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter now.”

Hazel lit a cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke as she mulled over Shannon’s words.

“Is that so? Well, you wouldn’t dare mess up, would you? How many have you brought me so far?”

“This is the seventh,” Shannon said confidently, lighting Hazel’s cigarette. “Don’t worry, I know the rules. He’s got no family, no relatives—just an orphan. Even when he was with me, he was still a virgin.”

Hazel squatted down, blowing smoke rings toward my face as she scrutinized me.

I clung to a fragile glimmer of hope—if she recognized me, she would surely send me back. After all, if my sister found out her men had kidnapped me, they would all pay with their lives.

But Hazel's expression turned to one of disgust.

“Tsk, what happened to his face? He looks hideous,” she said dismissively, standing up and turning away.

My heart sank into a bottomless pit. She didn’t recognize me. Had Shannon disfigured me so badly that even Hazel couldn’t tell who I was?

Grief and despair surged through me. I wanted to cry out, but my throat felt stuffed with cotton.

“He’s too restless,” Shannon said mockingly. “What if he uses his face to seduce someone and escape? Better to ruin it—the face doesn’t matter anyway.”

She crouched beside me, her voice low and mocking in my ear.

“See? You thought you could seduce Hazel, but she says you’re ugly now.”

Summoning every ounce of strength, I forced out a few words between clenched teeth.

“You’ll all die...”

Hazel’s eyebrows shot up. She kicked Shannon aside and let out a chilling laugh.

“Did he just curse us?” she asked, amused.

I shook my head frantically, trying to convey my true meaning. No—that’s not what I meant. I wanted to warn them: if they didn’t send me away quickly, they really would die.

Hazel grabbed my jaw, prying my mouth open. Her still-burning cigarette pressed against my tongue.

A sharp, searing pain tore through me. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air as my screams echoed around us.

“Ugly brat,” Hazel sneered, spitting thick phlegm onto my face. “Who do you think you are, threatening us?”

Shannon picked up a wooden stick from the ground and jabbed it into my mouth.

“How dare you offend Hazel? Let’s see how much you scream now,” she snarled.

Blood mixed with wood splinters filled my mouth, choking me. I struggled for air as tears streamed down my face. Was this how I would die?

“Enough,” Hazel finally commanded. “Don’t ruin him completely—we won’t get paid if he’s too broken.”

Shannon hastily tossed aside the bloodied stick, breathing heavily.

The agony lingered, but one thought remained clear in my mind—I had to survive.

“Alright, so are we heading in now to sign the contract and get the money?”

I was hauled to my feet by two large men, their grip like iron. They dragged me toward the factory. Just then, a small car pulled up—it was my sister's car!

Desperately, I struggled against their hold, throwing myself toward the moving vehicle. The car screeched to a halt, and the back door swung open.

My sister stepped out, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement. She frowned as she looked down at me, sprawled in the dirt.

“Fionna! It’s me! I’m your little brother!”

I tried to call out, but my voice was hoarse and broken. I stared up at her, silently pleading for help.

Instead of the rescue I’d hoped for, Fionna—a woman I once trusted—yanked me up roughly and slapped me across the face.

“You little punk! How dare you cause trouble for our boss!”

The slap was so hard, I coughed up blood, splattering it onto her pristine high heels.

Horrified, Hazel knelt down, hurriedly wiping her shoes clean.

“I’m sorry, Boss,” she said, groveling. “This new brat is making a scene. I’ll take care of it!” Another woman, Shannon, joined her, crouching down to assist. Meanwhile, I lay in the dirt, watching helplessly as they ignored my suffering.

Fionna, it’s me! I’m Alan!

Fionna narrowed her eyes at me. “New arrival, huh?”

“Yes,” Hazel—the one who had dragged me in—replied quickly. “But he’s trouble. We had to rough him up. He even cursed at us!”

Fionna tilted her head thoughtfully. “Hmm... first time here and already causing problems? What’s his background?”

“A college graduate, Boss. Top of his class.” Shannon seized the moment to chime in.

My sister’s gaze lingered on me, her expression softening for a brief moment. “If Alan were still alive... he’d be about that age. Probably just graduated from college too…”

Hearing her say my name, my heart raced. I struggled against my restraints, shouting with what little strength I had left.

“Sis! It’s me! I’m Alan!”

“Shut up!” Hazel barked, kicking me square in the face.

Pain exploded as my wounds reopened, blood seeping freely. My tongue was swollen, my mouth mangled—I couldn’t form the words I so desperately wanted to say. All I could do was cry out in agony.

“Huh?” My sister paused, crouching down to get a closer look at me. For a fleeting moment, I thought she recognized me. But as I tried to speak, I coughed up another mouthful of blood, splattering it across her face.

Both Hazel and Shannon froze in shock. They scrambled to clean her up, one wiping her face while the other dragged me toward the factory.

Inside, an iron bucket brimming with filthy water waited ominously. Hazel didn’t hesitate. She grabbed me by the hair and shoved my face into the murky liquid.

The foul water rushed into my mouth and nose, cutting off my air. My lungs screamed for oxygen, my body convulsing in panic. When I thought I’d drown, she yanked me up by the hair, only to slam me back under again.

Over and over, the cycle repeated. I lost track of time, my strength fading with each agonizing second. Finally, she threw me to the ground like a piece of garbage.

“Boss,” Shannon said, turning to my sister. “This brat dared to offend you. What should we do with him? Maybe we start by pulling out his nails and then treat him to some ‘pearl milk tea’?”

Terror shot through me at her words. I’d seen what they meant by “pearl milk tea.” It wasn’t a drink—it was torture, designed to break even the strongest men.

This was it. My turn had come. I stared at my sister, praying for mercy. But her eyes burned with cold fury.

“Do what you want,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. I closed my eyes, accepting my fate. As the world darkened, a strange calm washed over me. I’d see Mom and Dad soon. At least in death, I wouldn’t be alone.

“Is he... smiling?”

My sister’s hesitant voice broke through the tense air.

“What the hell? This little punk actually has the guts to laugh?” Hazel, clearly furious, yanked me up by my hair, forcing my head back.

The filthy water had washed away some of the blood on my face. My sister’s eyes widened slightly, startled by what she saw. “Why are there so many scars on his face?”

Through the reflection in her eyes, I caught a glimpse of myself—thin, jagged scars crisscrossed my features like grotesque earthworms crawling over my skin.

I looked horrific. Hideous. How ridiculous was I to think she would recognize me? Even I barely recognized myself anymore.

“We had to do it,” Hazel said hurriedly. “This brat wasn’t trustworthy. What if he charmed one of the female workers and tried to escape?”

Shannon nodded in agreement. “Exactly! He was too good-looking. If we left his face intact, sooner or later, it would’ve caused trouble.”

My sister sighed, nodding. “A shame, really. He could have been put to better use in the casino—entertaining wealthy women, playing cards, drinking with them. He’d have brought in way more money.”

Shannon's face flashed with regret. “Ugh, my mistake! Next time, I’ll be more careful and start with fresh, handsome ones like him.”

Hazel clicked her tongue in frustration. “Yeah, the guys you’ve brought in before were all subpar. This one actually had potential, and you wasted it…”

“You say he was good-looking?” Fionna asked, her curiosity piqued. “Let me see!”

Shannon laughed bitterly. “My phone was confiscated earlier, so I don’t have a photo.”

Then, Shannon suddenly remembering something, she patted her coat pocket. “But I do have his ID and diploma!”

Fionna’s eyes lit up. “Hurry, show me!”

Shannon pulled out my documents, and Fionna eagerly snatched them up, flipping through them.

“Damn,” she whistled. “This kid had the face of a pretty boy, but look at those pecs—he’s got that dangerous charm. If his face hadn’t been ruined, he could’ve made a fortune as an escort.”

At that moment, my sister returned, wiping her face with a towel.

“Flying Fish?” she murmured, reading my name off the ID. “That’s kind of similar to mine... Flying in the sky.”

Shannon immediately fawned over her. “Boss, don’t compare yourself to this nobody!”

“You’re the mighty phoenix soaring in the sky—he’s just a dead fish that can’t even swim, let alone fly. What’s that saying again…” She snapped her fingers, trying to remember.

“The sparrow cannot comprehend the ambitions of the swan,” Hazel chimed in.

My sister chuckled, amused. She tossed the towel at Hazel’s face. “Oh, shut up. You dropped out of high school, and now you’re quoting poetry?”

Hazel pulled the towel off, grinning. “It’s all because of you, Boss! You’re one of the only college graduates in the entire operation.”

She glanced at Shannon and added playfully, “I still remember the way you used to scold the young master—telling him to study hard so he could make something of himself…”

The room fell silent. My sister’s smile faded instantly. She reached for my diploma, taking it from Shannon’s hands. Her fingers brushed over the embossed golden lettering. A heavy sigh escaped her lips.

“If Alan were still alive… he’d be twenty-two now. He should have graduated from college this year too…”

As she spoke, she absently flipped open the diploma. Then, she froze. Her expression shifted in an instant. Her body went rigid. Eyes wide with shock, she stared at the photo inside.