There was a convenience supermarket in the neighborhood. After three days of eating compressed biscuits and instant noodles, Lutuo was finally fed up. The two chose a time when there were many people around, hand in hand, to go shopping. To avoid drawing attention, Lutuo dyed his light brown hair black, wore a typical student’s checkered jacket, and a baseball cap, looking just like an obedient high school student. Inside the supermarket, they divided the tasks; Lutuo went to fetch the heavy items like rice and oil, while Dongqin picked out vegetables. As she picked up a cabbage, she suddenly felt someone behind her, assuming it was Lutuo, she laughed without turning around, “Shall we have stir-fried cabbage for dinner? By the way, I’m not good at cooking, so don’t laugh if it’s not good…” Before she could finish, someone gripped her tightly from behind with tremendous strength. Shocked, Dongqin was about to scream when her mouth was covered. “Zuo Dongqin?” the man whispered, dragging her towards the less crowded baby products section. Dongqin had no strength to resist and was dragged along. “Found her, Zuo Dongqin,” the man said into a communicator in Italian, “Oh, kill her immediately? But we’re in a supermarket… Alright, I understand.” Dongqin felt a chill at her neck, as if a dagger was pressed against it. “Sorry, miss, orders from above to kill you on sight. You’ll have to die here.” With strength she didn’t know she had, Dongqin threw the basket she was holding up. The man was startled and loosened his grip slightly; she pushed him away with all her might and ran. It was someone from the organization! They had already caught up! Dongqin opened her mouth to shout for Lutuo, but the man caught up, grabbed her hair, and dragged her back, covering her mouth. “Damn it! Bitch!” he cursed, slapping her across the face. Dong Qin’s ears suddenly buzzed, and half of her face was in excruciating pain. Her chin was abruptly jerked up; was that person going to slit her throat?! She struggled frantically, reaching for his arm, only to feel a sharp pain in her hand as she grasped the dagger. The assailant seemed inexperienced, thrown off by her resistance, unsure whether to knock her out with a slap or finish her off with a knife. She felt the person behind her stagger and then fall onto her. Instinctively, she screamed, only to realize his grip had loosened. A hand reached out from beside her, pulling her forcefully away and covering her mouth. “Don’t scream, are you hurt?” It was Lu Tuo’s voice! She shook her head, and Lu Tuo grabbed her wrist, examining it closely, a shadow passing over his eyes. “Follow me, don’t make a sound. Let’s go back first.” It was surprising that the organization had found them so quickly, yet they sent a novice. This indicated they weren’t entirely sure if she was here. Lu Tuo glanced back at the man he had knocked out, seemingly the only one who had come. He grabbed Dong Qin and ran out of the supermarket, saying, “Let’s get your wounds treated first, we’ll leave in half an hour!”
The Pursuit of Dong Qin
