Bab 136: Make sure she knows

The Central Prison was infamous, a cold fortress sitting in the heart of the city. It was a name whispered in fear among those who dealt in unlawful schemes. Life inside was brutal, unforgiving, and stripped of all luxuries.

The cells were damp, the air chilling to the bone. A heavy silence hung over the corridors, broken only by the occasional clanging of chains or muffled cries in the night.

Inside cell 113, Zhou Jingwei, once a well-known businessman, sat against the cold wall. His transformation was shocking. The man who once boasted a plump, lavish appearance was now gaunt. His face was pale, his clothes tattered, and blood-streaked bruises dotted his once-pristine skin. His eyes, however, still burned with an unyielding intensity.

Around him, a few of his former associates sat quietly, each bearing marks of the violence that defined life in the prison. Nobody spoke much—it was too risky. But Zhou's mind was not quiet.