Shen Mianmian's heart had leapt to her throat. She didn't dare to breathe heavily; the footsteps reached the kitchen door and then, suddenly, stopped again. The person seemed to be peering into the kitchen. Subconsciously, she held her breath, her face turning bright red from the effort.
After a while, the footsteps seemed to be leaving the kitchen. She slowly breathed a sigh of relief, planning to peek out at the kitchen entrance. But as soon as her head poked out, a dark figure rushed toward her. Before she could react, someone had grabbed her by the neck and twisted her hand behind her back.
"Ah..."
She instinctively let out a scream. The person gripping her arm seemed startled by her cry, and their grip loosened momentarily before pulling her tightly against their chest. Her face pressed against his chest; it was too dark to see anything beyond a dark silhouette. Yet judging by the person's strength and height, her chances of escaping were slim.