Jiang Zhiyi had long been prepared to run away.

She lived on the second floor, not very high from the ground.

She followed the method described in books, rolling bed sheets into a rope and tying them together.

When her parents had gone to work, she quietly slid down from the window.

Zhou Huaying didn’t expect Jiang Zhiyi to run away on her own and didn’t check her pocket money.

Although Jiang Zhiyi’s living expenses had been cut off, she still had money from her grandfather, Jiang Weidong, and her New Year’s money.

She wasn’t short of cash.

She took all this money with her when she ran away.

Jiang Zhiyi had a beautiful vision of her future.

She planned to call her cousin, Jiang Zhida, when she arrived in Yangcheng.

With Qian Ran also in Yangcheng, she would certainly have a place to stay.

She imagined that with no one to control or restrain her, it would be like “the sky is high and birds can fly, the sea is vast and fish can leap,” and she could pursue any ideal or ambition she wished.

With this hopeful fantasy, Jiang Zhiyi went to the train station.

With no experience of traveling far, though she knew to be cautious of strangers, she didn’t guard against thieves.

Shortly after buying her ticket, all the money in her pocket was stolen.

Her pants were also slashed, revealing her skin underneath, which she didn’t even notice until someone pointed it out on the train.

Her bag was also cut.

She had divided her money into these two places, and now it was all gone.

She felt like crying right there.

But this was the path she had chosen, and she hadn’t considered things thoroughly.

Losing money was something she had to endure.

Jiang Zhiyi forced her tears back, changed into a different pair of pants in the restroom, and prepared to endure the rest of the journey.

The person who alerted Jiang Zhiyi was a seemingly kind young woman.

After Jiang Zhiyi returned from the restroom, she thanked her and squeezed into the middle of the hard seats, bracing herself for the remainder of the journey.

The friendly young woman chatted with Jiang Zhiyi, asking where she was going.

Her voice was gentle, and her smile was friendly.

Jiang Zhiyi remembered what Jiang Zhida had told her about train travel: don’t trust anyone, even those who help you.

So Jiang Zhiyi said nothing except that she was going to find her brother, who would be waiting for her at the destination.

The kind young woman asked if she was going to work, saying she was too and planned to see the world in Yangcheng.

Jiang Zhiyi shook her head. “I’m not.”

She refused to say more and turned her head to look out the window, pretending to enjoy the scenery.

The journey from Jingcheng to Yangcheng was long.

With no money, Jiang Zhiyi had to cancel her plan to buy food on the train.

Fortunately, she had brought some snacks from her room at home, thinking it would be a waste to leave them behind. Otherwise, she might have fainted from hunger on the two- or three-day trip.

There was free hot water on the train, so Jiang Zhiyi managed to make do with the hot water and snacks, saving as much as she could until they finally arrived in Yangcheng.

The hardship and pain of the journey made Jiang Zhiyi want to cry.

However, when she got off the train, the kind young woman who had traveled with her suddenly grabbed her and said, “Cousin, where are you going? We need to go to Uncle’s place. Don’t get lost.”

Jiang Zhiyi quickly tried to shake off her arm, remembering all the ways Jiang Zhida had warned her about kidnappers: “Let go of me! I don’t know you. I’m not your cousin! Help, this person is a kidnapper!”

Despite using all her strength, she couldn’t shake off the girl, and she was on the verge of tears with no one to help her.

The seemingly kind girl continued to tell the surrounding people, “We’re having a family dispute. She always says strange things. Cousin, stop making trouble. I’ll ask Uncle to give you a higher salary.”

In the midst of hurried passengers who didn’t know what was going on, there weren’t many chivalrous people willing to help.

At that moment, a man appeared, claiming to be their uncle, saying he would take them to get settled.

Jiang Zhiyi was filled with boundless fear. If she was really taken away, her life would be over.

At that moment, she deeply regretted not planning her escape better, not informing her parents or even her cousin, and now finding herself alone with potential traffickers and no one to turn to.

Jiang Zhiyi desperately struggled and shouted for help.

In a moment of panic, she remembered Chu Xia’s advice about what to do if no one came to help: damage someone’s property or fight back.

As she prepared to kick a passing person, the seemingly kind young woman and the mysterious “uncle” were suddenly tackled to the ground by several men who appeared.

Jiang Zhiyi was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

She instinctively turned around and saw Qian Ran walking out from behind these men, with a reassuring smile and a comforting gaze.

“Zhiyi, it’s okay now,” Qian Ran said.

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly broke down and cried, running to Qian Ran and hugging him tightly, shaking with her sobs.

Jiang Zhiyi had genuinely thought her life was over.

All her ideals and bright future seemed like illusions when faced with the reality of being trafficked, awaiting an endless hell.

So she was terrified, her back still cold with sweat.

Qian Ran, who was about the same age as Jiang Zhida, saw Jiang Zhiyi as his beloved little sister.

Having grown up with Jiang Zhida and knowing Jiang Zhiyi well, he was deeply pained to see her so distraught.

“It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Qian Ran gently patted Jiang Zhiyi’s back, comforting her.

Jiang Zhiyi cried for a while, finally letting out her fear.

She gradually stopped crying and loosened her grip on Qian Ran, feeling embarrassed as she looked at the tear-stained shirt on his chest.

“Xiao Ran, your clothes.”

Qian Ran nonchalantly tugged at them. “I’ll just wash them later.”

The two traffickers were sent to the police station.

Having spent many years in Yangcheng, Qian Ran and Jiang Zhida had their own networks.

The police, eager to achieve results, took the case seriously and were determined to uncover any connections behind the traffickers.

Jiang Zhiyi was shaken by the recent events and was too scared to sit alone on the train, so she stayed close to Qian Ran.

Understanding her emotional instability, Qian Ran gently spoke to her throughout the journey, asking about her college life, future aspirations, and avoiding any mention of the train station incident.

Gradually, Jiang Zhiyi’s anxiety eased, and she began to relax.

However, after sitting on the train for so long and being startled earlier, she was exhausted.

As she listened to Qian Ran talk about what they were doing in Yangcheng, she eventually fell asleep.

Noticing that Jiang Zhiyi had closed her eyes, Qian Ran knocked softly on the seat in front of him and whispered, “Drive slower and smoother.”

The car slowed down.

The smooth ride ensured that Jiang Zhiyi slept soundly without feeling any bumps.

When it was time to get out of the car, she hadn’t woken up yet.

Qian Ran debated whether to wake her but decided against it, thinking she needed her rest after the long journey and the scare she had just experienced.

As he was about to get out and carry her inside, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly woke up, clutching Qian Ran’s arm with a lingering fear in her eyes.

Qian Ran furrowed his brow. “Did you have a nightmare?”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded, still shaken by the dream. “I dreamt that I was taken away and many people were fighting to buy me. They looked like terrifying snakes, their eyes seemed like they wanted to devour me instantly. I woke up scared.”

Qian Ran gently patted her head. “It was just a nightmare. You’re safe now. I’m here in Yangcheng, so you’re fine.”

He opened the car door and asked her where she wanted to stay.

This was a commercial building where Qian Ran lived on the third floor, but he also bought the adjacent and upper floors, combining them into a large duplex.

Jiang Zhiyi asked where he lived.

Qian Ran pointed to the first floor, saying he preferred the convenience of living downstairs.

Jiang Zhiyi chose the room next door to him. “Is this room okay?”

She wasn’t as bold as she had been before coming to Yangcheng; she just wanted to be close to Qian Ran to feel secure.

“Sure, that room has a bed and is cleaned regularly by an aunt. I’ll help you move your bedding.”

Qian Ran asked Jiang Zhiyi to freshen up in the bathroom while he got her room ready. When she came out, the room was well-prepared, and he had even considered that Jiang Zhiyi was a young girl, providing bedding in light colors.

“Is there anything you don’t like? If you’re not happy with anything, we can go to the mall tomorrow to get what you want.”

Standing at the door with a smile, Qian Ran told her that if she didn’t like something, he could replace it all.

Jiang Zhiyi shook her head. “I really like it. Thank you, Xiao Ran.”

“I’m brothers with Dazi, and you’re his sister, which makes you my sister too. No need to be polite with your brother.”

Qian Ran ruffled Jiang Zhiyi’s hair. “If you need anything, just call me.”

As he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back. “Oh, I’m going to call Dazi and your grandfather now. Do you want to say a few words to your family?”

Having just escaped from being trafficked and realizing her family’s care, Jiang Zhiyi, despite feeling suffocated by her parents’ strict ways, understood their intentions were good.

When she was being dragged away, she had missed her family dearly and had promised herself that if she escaped, she would cherish her time with them.

Her parents disagreed with her actions, and she should not have run away without any preparation.

She needed to find other ways to resolve her issues.