Qiu Yi struggled through the window. His hand slipped. He crashed to the floor with a dull thud.

"Wake up?" a guard outside asked another.

"Let me check." The second guard opened the storage room’s wooden door.

Qiu Yi was caught red-handed.

"Who are you?!" the man barked, charging at Qiu Yi.

Seeing his plan fail, Qiu Yi fought back instead of surrendering. But the burly guard overpowered him easily. Three punches and two kicks sent Qiu Yi sprawling. The man swiftly grabbed a rope, tied Qiu Yi’s hands behind his back, and tossed him aside. Qiu Yi landed right on Ye Wen, who was propped against a straw pile.

"Stay put, punk. Scream if you don’t value your life." The thug threatened, then slammed the wooden door shut.

"...Sorry... I’m useless..." Qiu Yi muttered, head bowed.

Ye Wen spat out the cloth gag. "Idiot. You came alone? Don’t be reckless next time."

Both were bound hand and foot. Ye Wen shifted slightly. "Hey. Move. You’re crushing me. Can’t breathe."

"Huh? Oh!" Lost in guilt, Qiu Yi finally realized his head rested on Ye Wen’s chest. He rolled sideways onto the straw.

This was a woodshed. Stacked logs filled the space. In the corner sat a half-dismantled cabinet—likely the missing half had been firewood.

"Listen. Tomorrow at 5 a.m. Star River Dam. Five million. Involve the cops? We’ll rape and kill your precious daughter first."

Five million! Qiu Yi’s jaw dropped.

Ye Wen leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Powerless, she could only wait—for her father’s ransom or police rescue.

Five million wasn’t crippling for the Ye family, but it’d sting. As a clan-run enterprise, all decisions rested with the patriarch. For his daughter’s life, Mr. Ye withdrew the cash without hesitation. He’d hand it over this second to bring her home safe.

The kidnappers barely noticed Qiu Yi. They’d likely release him with Ye Wen—knowing his poor family couldn’t pay.

Before bed, the thugs "kindly" escorted them to the villa’s outhouse. Then they re-tied them and dumped them back in the woodshed.

Ye Wen stayed silent. Wang Hui’s gunshot death haunted her. Though not her own, the shock was visceral. Every time she closed her eyes, his final moments replayed.

Outwardly calm, inwardly she was fracturing. Death’s shadow clung relentlessly.

Neither slept that night. At dawn, the kidnappers shoved them into a van.

They’d switched vehicles after the abduction—the four flashy modified sedans were hidden. Only this nondescript van would collect the ransom.

Qiu Yi fished a small knife from his pocket. Amateurs—they hadn’t searched him. He sawed at his ropes, weakening them just enough to snap with a hard pull. Then he did the same for Ye Wen’s bonds before leaning back quietly.

Ye Wen glanced at him. What had he done to her ropes?

"Pull hard later. They’ll break." Qiu Yi pretended to stumble from the van’s jolt, whispering in her ear.

*Still calm in this hell... When did he grow this strong?*

Ye Wen squeezed her eyes shut, forcing Wang Hui’s image away. *He’s grown this much... while I crumble over someone else’s death?*

She fought the fear. But the harder she pushed, the clearer Wang Hui’s face became—even with her eyes wide open.

"Place the case by the eastern stone bench. In the weeds." The ringleader barked into his phone.

A scout soon confirmed no ambush. The van stopped at Star River Dam.

The kidnappers checked the cash, tossed the case inside, then shoved Qiu Yi and Ye Wen out.

They’d taken only a few steps when the lead kidnapper hesitated. Suddenly, tactical police surged from the water. The thugs panicked. One lunged for the hostages—but they were too far. With a snarl, he drew his pistol and fired at Ye Wen.

Qiu Yi saw the gun flash. He snapped his ropes and tackled Ye Wen down. The bullet tore through his shoulder. Crimson blood splattered Ye Wen’s face.

Qiu Yi hurled his knife. It struck the kidnapper’s hand. The man yelped, dropping his gun. It skidded to Ye Wen’s side.

"No! No! No!" Blinded by blood, Ye Wen snapped her ropes. Hysterical, she chanted the word like a broken record.

The gun lay beside her. Half-mad, she grabbed it. Fired. The bullet pierced the kidnapper’s skull. He collapsed. Red and white matter oozed from the wound.

"Hahahahaha—!" Ye Wen dropped the gun, clutching her head with wild laughter.

"Calm down!" Qiu Yi wrapped his arms around her thrashing body.

"Haha! Dead! All dead!"

Qiu Yi had never seen Ye Wen like this—shattered. "Calm down. He’s gone. It’s over. You’re safe."

Ye Wen went limp. Qiu Yi panicked, checking her breath. Relief flooded him. She’d fainted—her mind shutting down from shock.

He sighed, holding her on the ground.

The girl lay serene in his arms, as if the madness had never touched her.

Qiu Yi gazed at her lips. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead instead. A blush crept up his neck.

"No matter what happens... I’ll always be by your side..." he whispered—to her, or himself.

...