Chapter 17
Why?
Behind the lenses, those eyes were exceptionally cold. He, too, was curious—curious about how he had ended up here.
Everything before the age of seventeen felt like a lifetime ago, as if it belonged to another existence.
After that, his life veered off course, leading him into experiences he had never encountered or even heard of.
What exactly had kept him going until now?
He didn't understand. He wasn't sure.
But he didn't think there was anything wrong with it, either.
No one really knew what kind of person Jiang Suliu used to be.
Willful, obsessive, reckless, and untamable.
His prestigious background had adorned his life with countless halos, opening many convenient doors.
The Jiang family's business was originally intended for the elder son, Jiang Sufeng. Their parents were strict with him, raising him entirely in the mold of a successor. But the younger Jiang Suliu, seven years apart, was showered with affection. All the warmth that was denied to the elder went to the younger.
And that, inevitably, spoiled him.
Aside from drug use and women, he dabbled in everything his social circle of rich, idle youths did. He was especially addicted to extreme sports—the kind that brushed against death—drawn to the adrenaline rush. Even in Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, people knew of "Second Young Master Jiang." In B City, his name was notorious—though not for any good reason.
Rebellious, undisciplined, and fearless—it described him perfectly back then.
His brother Jiang Sufeng eventually lost patience and gave him a brutal beating. After that, Jiang Suliu ran away from home.
His disappearance threw the entire Jiang family into panic.
Though he was a slacker, he wasn't stupid. Knowing how his parents operated, he avoided train stations and cut off all contact with his party friends. Instead, he hitched a ride out of B City in an unregistered vehicle.
Exhausted, he fell asleep in the car.
And in that moment, the gears of fate shifted ever so slightly—
And from there, his life took an entirely different path.
When he woke up, he found himself tied up—hands and feet bound, eyes and mouth sealed with duct tape. The sounds of birds chirping were drowned out by the rough voices of several men speaking in heavy regional accents.
"Hahaha… Who'd have thought we'd hit the jackpot this time. Second Young Master of the Jiang family? That's worth a fortune!"
"Rich kids really are as dumb as they say. This one just made things easy for us."
"Hey, Biao, did you get in touch with that brat's father?"
"Yeah. The deal's set for noon tomorrow."
"Heh~ I thought that little girl wasn't worth much. Turns out she's worth a ton!"
"Once we finish this job, we're off to the Middle East. Things are getting hot—I don't want any trouble."
"This place is safe. No need to worry for now."
"Heh, since we're leaving anyway, might as well make this a big one."
"What about the Jiang kid?"
"If we run out of time, just..."
"A shame, but it is what it is."
"I'm heading out to get what we need."
"Third Brother, stay here and keep watch. Not too far, but just in case."
"Got it."
Where is this place?
Who dared to kidnap him?! The shock and fear stirred him into struggling.
Not long after, he heard a door creak open. The tape over his eyes was yanked off.
The man looked startled by the wolf-like glare in Jiang Suliu's eyes. Then, realizing what it was, he kicked Jiang hard in the stomach.
"You little shit! Looking at me like that? You've got a death wish!"
The taste of blood flooded his mouth. It was the first time he'd ever been treated this way. He'd forgotten that outside, as long as he carried the name "Second Young Master Jiang," people fawned over him. He'd thought the world was safe. That no one would dare treat him like this.
"Hey now, this kid's face is prettier than a girl's. Heh heh…" The man loomed over him, grinning obscenely, eyes gleaming like the perverts who ogled scantily-clad women at his usual clubs.
It was revolting. Disgusting. He nearly vomited.
"Rich boys do wear nice clothes, huh." As he spoke, the man yanked off Jiang's shirt and laid a filthy hand on his bare skin. Jiang retaliated with a punch to the man's face.
Furious, the man lashed back with a series of brutal punches.
Then came a savage kick to his chest.
The pain turned his vision black. He couldn't breathe, the suffocating helplessness closing in on him.
That revolting touch invaded his senses. He couldn't move. Couldn't fight back.
Kill him! Blood boiled in his veins. The only response was violence. He clamped his hands around the man's throat and refused to let go.
Startled by the feral glare in Jiang's eyes, the man drew a knife and plunged it toward Jiang—
But at that moment—
"Ah—!!!" A scream tore through the air. The man reached for the back of his head—his fingers came back wet.
"Blood! Who the fuck hit me?!"
A pale-faced girl stood behind him. Her lips were cracked and dry, but her steady eyes were unmistakably clear. In her hand was a wooden stick, thicker than a fist—the weapon that had just struck him.
The man spun around and saw the girl staring at him coldly. He raised the knife and lunged.
She shifted sideways—her reaction slow, likely from weakness. The blade grazed her arm, soaking her school uniform in blood. She winced but didn't drop the stick. Instead, she brought it down with even more force—first on his knee, then squarely atop his head.
He collapsed. Blood spread across the floor.
"Get up. If we don't leave now, the others will come back." Her voice was hoarse, parched, and sleep-deprived.
He got to his feet, picked up the knife, and was about to finish the man off.
The girl stopped him.
"Killing him will complicate things."
"Why did you save me?"
"If they get the ransom, they'll kill us anyway," she said quietly, but her tone was firm. "Leave if you want."
With that, she turned and walked away.
He looked at the bloodied man on the ground, then followed her.
They were surrounded by mountains. Isolated. Only a few acres of melon fields nearby. The watermelon vines had just begun to spread over the dried straw. He glanced back at the makeshift shelter in the ravine where they'd been kept.
The girl moved slowly up the hill, pausing often to catch her breath. She was clearly weak.
"Give that to me," he said, pointing to the stick in her hand as he caught up to her.
Just then, the rumble of motorcycles echoed in the distance, along with shouted curses.
"They're back." The girl leaned against a tree, panting. Blood still seeped from her arm, and her face was unnaturally flushed. "We're out of time."
"I'll carry you." She'd saved him—he owed her. And Jiang Suliu never owed women favors.
She shook her head weakly. "If you do that, neither of us will get out."
Her eyes flicked to him. She suddenly had an idea. "You go first—head uphill. Alone, I'm a smaller target. And besides, I'm not as weak as you."
Rustling sounds came from the underbrush.
"Fuck! How did that brat still have the strength to run after all the sedatives?!"
"Find them! They can't be far. They don't know the terrain."
"There are tracks here!"
"Move! We can't let them escape!"
The forest was getting darker. The last light of day was fading.
In the silence, the girl heard the sound of running water. She pointed in a direction. "That way—downhill."
"Together," he insisted.
She hesitated, then nodded faintly. "Okay."
His heartbeat slowed. He helped her down to the riverbank, where they sat on a rock. He used the knife to cut a strip from his shirt and wrapped it around her injured arm.
Bamboo cracking in the distance pierced the quiet.
They hid behind a bush. The sound of water helped mask them.
He noticed something wrong. She was burning up. When he reached out to feel her forehead, she suddenly twisted his wrist and pinned him down. Her mind had blurred—she was running on instinct.
He bit back a cry of pain as his wrist twisted and his back scraped against the stones.
Finally, she came to her senses and released him. "Don't move. We'll wait here until it's completely dark."
"You have a fever."
"It's just the aftereffects of the drugs."
Her breath was faint. He tore a leaf from a nearby plant, cupped some water in it, and offered it to her.
"Drink."
It was his first time doing something like this. His hands were clumsy. By the time she opened her eyes, the water had spilled.
"I'll get more—"
"No. Stay still. They're still nearby."
The river drowned out their whispers, keeping them hidden.
Time passed. He itched from insect bites, tormented but enduring.
When full darkness fell, flashlights flickered in the distance—those men still hadn't given up.
The girl rose. "Time to go."
They followed the river's path. She left the stick behind.
Under the faint moonlight, they could barely make out their way. Crickets chirped. Leaves crackled underfoot.
Suddenly, a beam of light swept across them.
"They're over there!!"