The afternoon sunlight of late autumn remained intense, yet seemed feeble. Shi Nian tightened her coat, standing by the roadside in a daze.
No, something must have happened to Xiong Jie!
.
In the suburbs, the forest remained lush. Among the shade of the trees were scattered independent cabins. These were mostly used by the city's middle class for summer retreats. By this season, most of these houses were left vacant.
Yet, at this time, the scenery outside these cabins was still picturesque, golden leaves dancing in the wind, the sky a clear blue, and the distant mountains painted in hues like an oil painting.
Inside a locked cabin, a woman was tied to a chair, her mouth gagged, gazing out the window.
The window panes resembled a picture frame, with the scenery outside encapsulated like an oil painting, colors vivid and rich, emotions boldly and earnestly conveyed.
