Scarred Hearts — A Girls' Love Tale - Chapter 71

The brief night passed quickly, and the sun rose once again. Under the effect of the medicine, Yan Shuangfei managed to get some sleep, though she still felt like she was waking from a dream. Earlier, Luo Qinghan had been right beside her—just a glance upward would have shown her graceful figure and gentle eyes. Now, Luo Qinghan wasn’t by her side but trapped in danger. Although, based on Luo Qinghan’s earlier analysis, her life was not in immediate danger, it was still only just that—her life was barely safe.

The damp, stifling environment was really uncomfortable. Yan Shuangfei endured the sweat-soaked clothes sticking to her body, leaning against a simple wooden plank bed, lost in thought for a moment. Then she quickly ran through the plan for their upcoming action, finally pounding her back—she heard her joints crack—and snapped herself awake. She got up and tidied herself a bit.

She washed her face with the sun-warmed water. The dry, hot breeze brushed her cheek, bringing a slight relief. She should have felt very uneasy, yet she had to stay calm. Losing her mind now would lead to terrible consequences.

“Good morning,” Ying Sha said with a smile, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. “You look really worn out.”

“I know.” Yan Shuangfei pulled out a chair and sat down, lowering her head. She took a black hair tie and tied up her messy hair. Then she looked at the salt water and compressed biscuits serving as breakfast in front of her and couldn’t help but frown. She reached for the water, took a sip, then stopped. She rested her head on her hand, lost in thought again.

“You need to keep your strength up. That means drinking enough water and getting sugar,” Ying Sha said, pushing the food closer to Yan Shuangfei. The doctor came over and sat down at the same time. Looking at Yan Shuangfei seriously, the doctor said, “Young one, stop frowning. As long as there’s hope, there’s always a way out.”

“I want to believe that too,” Yan Shuangfei said anxiously, “but I just can’t calm down. All these years of training feel wasted. Whenever it involves her, I lose my composure easily.”

Ying Sha had food stuffed in her mouth, trying to reply but instead hurriedly gulped some water and choked, coughing a few times before saying, “Look, everyone has weak spots when they care about someone or something. Don’t panic. Luo Qinghan isn’t stupid—she knows how to protect herself. You have to believe you can save her. And trust us—we’ll do everything we can to help.”

“I keep thinking about how the Artist will treat her. That woman’s crazy!” Yan Shuangfei said in frustration. “I’ve seen the so-called ‘artworks’ the Artist talks about—a man, nailed to a cross, limbs skinned. I’ve felt, in a small way, what that means.” She smiled bitterly and instinctively touched her neck—scarred by the Artist before. “And that’s not all. One of the man’s eyeballs was gouged out. His mouth held his own severed genitals. His stomach was cut open, but the photo shows it’s already sewn up, just a straight scar left behind. The cause of death wasn’t bleeding or any fatal wound—it was suffocation. His neck was strangled by his own intestines.” Yan Shuangfei’s face turned pale. “Do you know what happened next?”

“I do,” the doctor answered calmly. “After unwrapping the intestines, you’d see his Adam’s apple was carved out, and in that big wound was stuffed his eyeball.” The doctor raised her chin slightly, her eyes shining with an unknown light. Seeing Yan Shuangfei and Ying Sha both staring, her expression was complicated—full of curiosity and surprise. She paused, then said, “Unfortunately, the assistant who helped keep that man alive by transfusing bl00d and sewing him up until the Artist finished her work—that assistant was me.”

Then came a deathly silence. Both women’s faces turned pale. They looked at the doctor, then, almost without speaking, stepped back together. The doctor looked at them with pity—were these kids scared stiff?

“Why didn’t you tell me you kept doing things like this after that?” Ying Sha was the first to bravely question. Hearing the doctor calmly recount that story just now, she felt her partner might be a potential, well-hidden, pervert. Damn it—she’d rather the doctor be into S&M a thousand times than ice play!

“Didn’t want to scare you,” the doctor said with a light glance. Unlike the Artist, Ying Sha killed quickly and cleanly, leaving no traces. Death was terrifying to her; she constantly pushed herself to be better, to survive. She couldn’t understand the beauty in death.

“All right,” the doctor comforted them, “If the Artist really wants to torture someone, she makes sure they have a comfortable place and plenty of time. She can’t stand any flaws or mistakes in her work.”

Yan Shuangfei shrank her neck instinctively. No wonder the Artist had looked at her with such disgust and impatience before—it was because she saw her as a defective product.

“Besides, as long as you’re alive, everything will get better.”

Yan Shuangfei relaxed a bit. Right—life meant everything could improve. Even if Luo Qinghan was hurt, as long as she lived, Yan Shuangfei would take care of her and give her everything.

The doctor sighed sympathetically. “Luo Qinghan is with the Artist, but there’s no other way. Both sides need a way out. The Artist has the upper hand. If she doesn’t take advantage, she’ll lose face. A direct fight isn’t an option—both sides would lose. The Artist hates that kind of brute force. She won’t risk it. So, we have to give up a more important hostage.”

“The Artist might be strong, but she’s still human,” Ying Sha said, giving Yan Shuangfei’s back a firm pat. “Last time she got surrounded, she ran off in a panic. She’s not invincible.”

“I’ll get her back,” Yan Shuangfei said, clenching her fists with determination. “No matter the cost.”

Straightening up, Yan Shuangfei discussed the plan with everyone again. After confirming everything, she put on her gear and led the team toward the camp where the Artist was staying.