Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 447: Holding my breath

Su Ming's mind was in turmoil. Zheng Yaoxian's words were like a sharp knife, piercing him deeply into an invisible abyss. He couldn't comprehend, couldn't accept that everything he had done was just a carefully orchestrated chess game for him. And this game was far from over. Every time he tried to grasp at a clue that would regain control, the situation around him would slip through his fingers like fine sand, dragging him deeper and deeper into the abyss.

Zheng Yaoxian's words were like a bomb, sending countless ripples through his heart, even causing him to question the very reality of the world he lived in. Could he truly control those seemingly ordinary moments? Had all the people he trusted become pawns of the enemy?

These questions surged in like a tide, nearly suffocating him. His eyes unconsciously glanced at the group of people standing across the street. They were all like machines, ruthless and calm. Although their gazes were not directed directly at Su Ming, they seemed to be constantly scrutinizing him, monitoring his every move.

"I must calm down," Su Ming repeated in his mind, forcing himself to regain his composure amidst this invisible pressure. Every nerve in his body was strained like a taut string. As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, he realized he had to make a choice: continue competing with Zheng Yaoxian on this chessboard, or flee, seek a secluded spot, and temporarily escape this uncontrollable storm.

He didn't hesitate for long. Escape, temporarily hiding, might be his only option at this moment.

"I'm going to the bathroom." Su Ming suddenly whispered to Zheng Yaoxian.

Zheng Yaoxian didn't ask any further questions, but simply gave him a penetrating glance, as if he'd seen through his inner decision. "Be careful," Zheng Yaoxian's voice was low, carrying an unspoken meaning.

Su Ming nodded slightly and turned to head for the restroom on the corner. Each step seemed to plunge him deeper into thought, yet a sense of vigilance welled up in his heart. The restroom—a seemingly ordinary place, yet perhaps the most crucial link in this situation. Su Ming knew he needed to find a moment of respite and calm within this limited space.

He quickly walked to the bathroom door, gently pushed it open, and walked in. The bathroom was dimly lit, the walls had already yellowed, and the air was filled with the faint smell of disinfectant. The only sound was the dripping faucet, breaking the silence. Su Ming walked to a row of empty sinks and stood there, staring intently at himself in the mirror.

He looked no different; he was still the calm, rational Su Ming. However, the man in the mirror suddenly felt unfamiliar—this was not who he wanted to be. Su Ming frowned, grabbed the faucet, and washed the layer of anxiety and sweat from his hands.

Suddenly, there were soft footsteps outside the restroom door. Su Ming's head jerked up, his eyes growing alert. It wasn't the sound of people walking outside the bar, nor were it the two people he had just met. The footsteps were so light they barely caught anyone's attention, but in the silence, they sounded like the burning fuse of a bomb.

"Who?" Su Ming's heartbeat quickened, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The restroom had only two exits: the door he had just entered through, and a tightly closed window on the other side, which looked out onto a dark alley. He didn't have many options. Right now, his only option was to remain calm, look for a chance, and escape.

However, the sound of footsteps grew closer, almost reaching the bathroom door. Su Ming was somewhat surprised, as he had thought he was the only one aware of the change in the situation. But now it seemed that he was not the only one taking action.

"There's someone." Su Ming frowned, his mind racing, trying to find a way to escape.

The footsteps at the door gradually stopped, followed by a gentle knock. The voice was almost emotionless, calm and disorderly, making it impossible to determine who was behind it. Su Ming's heart moved, and he made a quick decision—he did not respond immediately. Instead, he used the sink as cover and gently retreated, keeping his body low.

"Are you here to see me?" Su Ming's heart stirred slightly. His intuition told him that the person outside the door was probably not an enemy. However, the footsteps still had a sense of strangeness, making him unsure.

After a moment, the person outside the door didn't wait long and turned away. As the footsteps gradually faded, Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief, holding onto the sink with both hands and sighing softly. He knew his intuition might be correct, and the person outside the door hadn't noticed his presence. But the problem was, this was only a temporary escape and couldn't change the reality he faced.

Su Ming adjusted his breathing slightly, but he still didn't dare to let his guard down. Even though he had successfully avoided the impending threat just now, he knew that his situation still showed no signs of improvement.

The bathroom door creaked again. Su Ming looked up, his heart tightening. He quickly rushed to the nearby storage room and hid there, hardly daring to make a sound. After a while, footsteps could be heard again, but this time they continued to move directly towards the sink.

"Could it be another person?" This thought flashed through Su Ming's mind, but he did not act rashly. Instead, he held his breath patiently and listened quietly to everything outside the door.

He vaguely heard a faint voice, which seemed to come from near the sink: "Are you sure there is any movement here?"

Another voice replied, "Of course there is. He's the one who just came in." The voice was low and cautious.

Su Ming held his breath in the cramped storage room, quietly lurking in the darkness. Outside the restroom, everything was quiet, yet he knew he couldn't let his guard down. The enemy's footsteps receded, but his heart continued to beat violently, as if every beat carried an invisible pressure that nearly stifled his breath.

This wasn't his first time facing danger, but each time, the situation was different. Every time he thought he had the initiative, reality repeatedly brought him back to square one. Each subtle change left him feeling even more lost, as if he could never truly grasp the full picture of this game.

"Zheng Yaoxian..." Su Ming whispered the name in his mind, feeling as if he was sinking deeper and deeper into a dark tunnel with no end. Zheng Yaoxian, the partner who had once fought side by side with him, the calm man who now seemed to know everything,