The screeching sound of brakes echoed on the winding mountain road as a blue truck, like a wild beast out of control, crashed through the guardrail and plunged straight into the abyss.

Bang—!

Water splashed up more than two meters high, and the massive truck was instantly swallowed by the icy river water, gradually sinking into the deep riverbed.

Leng Ning opened his eyes amidst the violent impact and suffocating sensation. The cold river water flooded into his nostrils and ears, fear surged like a tide. He endured the intense pain and struggled to unbuckle his seatbelt, desperately kicking open the car door.

But all of this was just instinctive action; he couldn’t swim at all.

His body kept sinking, his chest felt like it was about to explode from the pressure, and the river water continuously poured into his mouth and nose. He tried to grasp something, anything, but caught nothing. His consciousness gradually blurred, and his body became light and weightless.

Suddenly, the surrounding water started to churn violently. Someone grabbed his arm forcefully, and his body began to slowly float upwards.

Driven by the last shred of consciousness, he opened his eyes with great effort, trying to see the person saving him. However, all he saw was blood-red river water. The person was injured, blood seeping from their thigh, yet they still held onto him tightly, as if his life was incredibly important.

Ring, ring, ring—

The 7 o’clock alarm went off right on time. Leng Ning sat up from the top bunk.

He had dreamt this dream many times before, and this time, he almost saw the person’s face.

Five years ago, he nearly drowned, and when he woke up, he had amnesia. The doctor said it was a consequence of brain hypoxia.

Leng Ning grabbed a cup and gulped down a glass of water, finally shaking off the near-death feeling.

“Graduating soon, have you signed for a job?” his roommate Zhou Xing asked.

“Yeah, I signed.”

“Is it the place where you interned?”

“Mm.”

“When are you planning to leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

Leng Ning picked up a toothbrush and squeezed out some toothpaste.

“I have an old house in Longchuan City, it’s close to where you’ll be working. If you don’t have a place to stay, you can live there first.”

“How much is the rent?” Leng Ning asked.

“No charge.”

“Take some anyway.”

“Come on, with our relationship, how could I charge you? The house is a bit old, but if you can accept it, you can stay as long as you want! No one’s managed it since my grandpa passed away, it’d be great if you could help tidy it up!”

After brushing his teeth, Leng Ning took out a stack of cash from his wallet and counted twelve bills.

He placed the money on Zhou Xing’s desk, but Zhou Xing pushed it back to him.

“You’ll need money there, keep it for yourself. Besides, do you think I need your money?”

“This isn’t right.”

“What’s wrong with it? Leng Ning, we’ve been roommates for five years, you’ve brought me meals for five years, and you always helped me highlight the important points for exams. I’m happy to help you.”

Zhou Xing said, tears welling up, “If you weren’t so set on going to Longchuan City, I would’ve stuck with you for a few more years.”

Leng Ning didn’t say much more, secretly slipping the money into Zhou Xing’s backpack, “Are you free tonight? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“I have to be free! It’s the first time you’re treating me to dinner!”

After their farewell meal, Zhou Xing, a bit tipsy, clung to Leng Ning’s shoulder, “Take care of yourself over there, call me if you need anything. Longchuan isn’t far from Ningzhou, it’s close by train. Come back and visit when you can.”

Faced with Zhou Xing’s enthusiasm, Leng Ning just gave a faint “Mm.”

Zhou Xing knew this was just a perfunctory response from Leng Ning, “Leng Ning, you’re great in every way, just a bit too cold. After being your roommate for five years, I still feel like I can’t reach your heart. But I’ve come to terms with it, maybe you’re just naturally like this, not looking down on me.”

Zhou Xing said, letting out a drunken burp, “Am I right?”

Leng Ning stopped walking, looking at the drunken Zhou Xing, “You’re right.”

Zhou Xing’s words suddenly made him realize that his indifferent behavior could hurt others.

Since Leng Ning could remember, he had mostly spent his time in Ningzhou. After waking up, he couldn’t muster interest in anything, and socializing was optional for him. He never thought about investing effort in any relationship.

The reason he went to college was simply because he found studying relatively less boring.

When he took the college entrance exam, he was already 20 years old, a bit older than the average student. He didn’t feel out of place in the exam hall. When the test papers were handed out, he picked up his pen and started writing. He could solve almost all the questions; the knowledge in his head hadn’t disappeared despite his amnesia.

Back then, he had nothing, only a belly full of knowledge.

Like all impoverished students, he firmly believed that knowledge could change his fate. So, during the five years of college, apart from his regular schedule, he focused on studying, pouring almost all his energy into his major courses.

Occasionally, he would dream of the man who saved him from the Longchuan River. He always felt that this man was deeply connected to him, and finding him might help him recover his past.

So, he had long planned to work in Longchuan City.

Taking the high-speed train to Longchuan City would take less than two hours, but Leng Ning chose to take a bus, which took over four hours. The reason was simple.

His four-year-old turtle couldn’t board the train.

After getting off, he walked a long way to find Zhou Xing’s grandfather’s old house. He didn’t take a taxi, wanting to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

He only had one suitcase, plus a not-so-large glass tank with a turtle inside, its head retracted. He bought it while strolling in the park, never expecting it to live for four years.

The old house was in a very dilapidated alley, most people had moved away, and some houses had big “demolition” characters written on them, with rubble and bricks piled everywhere, unmanaged.

He pushed open the door, and a musty smell hit him. A variety of books were neatly stacked on the shelves, and a thick layer of dust covered the furniture.

It was clear that Zhou’s grandfather was a very meticulous person in his lifetime, but after he passed, the house full of books was left unattended.

This place used to be a bookstore, with the first floor selling books and the second floor for living. After Zhou’s grandfather died, it was no longer in business. Zhou Xing was always studying elsewhere and rarely came back. He heard that this place might be demolished in the future, so Zhou Xing didn’t plan to sell it, leaving it vacant, waiting for demolition.

He cleaned until late at night, finally tidying up the second floor. He laid out his own bed sheets, placed the turtle on the windowsill, and felt a sense of tranquility as the night breeze blew into the room.

He lit a cigarette on the balcony, using a dried-up potted plant as an ashtray since he couldn’t find one.

While smoking, he pondered: several light bulbs were broken, he’d need to go to the supermarket tomorrow. He had already made a list of the daily necessities he needed to buy. There was no need to wake up too early; he’d deal with it after waking up.

He was so exhausted that he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.

*

“Whoosh—Bang—!”

When Leng Ning opened his eyes, it was already daylight.

In a daze, he thought he heard fireworks, but there was only one sound, and he wasn’t sure what was happening.

Remembering the plans he hadn’t completed today, he immediately got up, washed up, and stuffed the notebook with the shopping list into his backpack.

“Don’t run!”

A man’s voice approached from afar, and the sound of a chase echoed in the alley. Leng Ning perked up his ears, listening carefully. It seemed to be coming from the alley opposite.

He gathered his things for going out and pushed open the door on the first floor. Sunlight immediately flooded in.

On the other side, Di Ye stood on a high point, holding binoculars in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other.

“Hei Gou went in. He Le, take your team and flank from the left. Everyone, get ready to close the net!”

Upon receiving the captain’s order, all the plainclothes criminal police officers moved in the same direction.

At this moment, the scene resembled a pack of wolves hunting prey, with the pack leader, Deputy Team Leader Di Ye, standing high above, overlooking the battle below.

Suddenly, someone said, “Captain, there’s an iron gate ahead. What if Hei Gou escapes?”

Di Ye, one hand on his hip, spoke into the walkie-talkie, “Keep chasing, he won’t escape. I locked the iron gate long ago; he can’t grow wings and fly.”

Deep in the alley, the panicked Hei Gou was out of breath, stumbling as he spotted an iron gate. Just as he dashed toward it, the old shop next to the gate suddenly pulled up its rolling shutter door.

The door opened upward, and a clean-cut young man appeared in full view.

Leng Ning instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight.

The first floor was dark, and as soon as the door opened, the sun jumped in. He squinted slightly, adjusting to the strong light.

At this moment, Di Ye, observing the situation with binoculars from a high point, furrowed his brow, immediately realizing the gravity of the situation.

“There’s someone ahead. He Le, don’t get too close. Find a way to lure Hei Gou out!”

But it was already too late.

Because Hei Gou had already pulled out a knife hidden on him.

The wind carried willow catkins into the bookstore, catching the sunlight and shimmering with a fluffy glow.

However, this beautiful scene came to an abrupt halt when the knife was pressed against Leng Ning’s neck.

“Don’t move! If you dare move, I’ll kill you!”

Hei Gou’s voice, tinged with a southern accent, suddenly appeared by his ear. The knife’s metallic glint made cold sweat break out on Leng Ning’s back.

*

“Damn it!”

He Le was the first to stop and report the situation to the captain.

“Hei Gou is holding a hostage inside; we can’t see what’s happening inside!”

Di Ye jumped down from a pile of rubble, walking while speaking into the walkie-talkie, “Old Xie, go negotiate, try to buy time. He Le, take your team around the back, find an entrance, be careful not to let Hei Gou notice. I’ll notify the snipers immediately, ensure the hostage’s safety, and if necessary, shoot to kill!”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

Responses from teammates came through the walkie-talkie.

This situation was something Di Ye hadn’t anticipated. He had evacuated the few remaining households in Baohuang Temple a week ago. He clearly remembered that no one lived in this old shop, and the sudden appearance of the young man disrupted his meticulous plan.

Now, capturing Hei Gou became secondary; ensuring the young man’s safety was the most urgent matter!

*

“What do you want?” Leng Ning asked.

“Get me out, and I won’t kill you!”

Hei Gou’s brief response made Leng Ning aware of his current predicament.

The captor was a fugitive, and the police pursuing him had driven him to a dead end. Escaping from here was the man’s goal, and the threat to kill was just a desperate bluff.

Leng Ning steadied himself, quickly formulating the most reasonable plan in his mind.

“Okay, I’ll get you out.”

Leng Ning noticed the man’s hand trembling and, at the same time, smelled a strange metallic scent.

If he remembered correctly, people who had used meth also emitted a metallic odor.

The man holding him hostage was an addict, and the police opposite were likely anti-drug officers or criminal police, which meant they might be armed.

He glanced at the tallest building nearby, an old clock tower.

The straight-line distance from the clock tower to his feet was no more than 50 meters, within the range of a police firearm.

However, the best shooting angle was blocked by a wall, so the police wouldn’t shoot.

“I have the key to the iron gate. I’ll help you open it.”

“Don’t try anything funny!”

The man said, pressing the blade even closer.

“My life is in your hands; how dare I try anything funny?” Leng Ning pointed to his pants pocket, “I have the key to the iron gate in my pocket. You can check if you don’t believe me.”

At this moment, the old criminal police officer Xie Changhong, who went to negotiate, didn’t know where the hostage and Hei Gou were. He feared the hostage might provoke Hei Gou, making the situation even more uncontrollable. He quickly opened a loudspeaker to persuade, “Hei Gou, listen to me, put down the knife! We’ll give you a chance to make amends! You’re still young, as long as you turn over a new leaf, you can start over. Think about your family and friends; they’re waiting for you to return. Don’t do anything stupid!”

The loudspeaker’s voice made Hei Gou even more nervous. Leng Ning could clearly feel the knife against his neck pressing tighter.

Hei Gou’s emotions were now highly unstable, his whole body trembling slightly, and he was sweating profusely.

Then Leng Ning realized a very serious issue—the man’s drug addiction was acting up.

A person in the throes of addiction had no rationality. Continuing to stall could mean two lives lost. He was still young and didn’t want to die like this.