Facing Yang Chen's unreadable expression, Zhenxiu felt a bit uneasy, unable to oppose his decision.
After speaking, Yang Chen found an open space to turn the car around, heading in a different direction, pressing the accelerator deeply. The car sped off at a breakneck pace.
It was already night, and the road they were taking was relatively deserted, so they didn't have to worry about being caught by the police.
Zhenxiu, having been part of a biker gang, wasn't too afraid of speeding at night. However, Yang Chen's silence made her too nervous to relax.
Occasionally, Zhenxiu glanced at Yang Chen, wanting to say sothing but hesitating. She knew that even if she asked, Yang Chen wouldn't answer.
Within just ten minutes, the car passed through a short tunnel and arrived at a coastal area with a cluster of small islands.
Several small islands dotted the northeastern sea of Zhonghai City. These islands were mostly used for building recreational resorts and marine research stations.
The islands were connected by suspension bridges. While not particularly long, the dozen or so bridges clustered together made for a spectacular sight.
At this mont, the bridges were lit up brightly, resembling dragons lying across the sea waves.
However, since it wasn't the peak tourist season and it was dinner ti, there were hardly any cars passing through.
Yang Chen drove to the middle of a relatively long suspension bridge and parked the car on the ergency lane.
"Get out," Yang Chen said, pulling out the car keys.
Zhenxiu was stunned and asked softly, "Here?"
"Yes, here," Yang Chen replied, opening his door and stepping out.
Hesitating, Zhenxiu followed suit, unsure of what Yang Chen intended to do.
The cold sea breeze rustled their clothes. Wearing her school uniform and short skirt, Zhenxiu felt a chill. Her hair was blown wildly by the wind, making it hard to keep her eyes open.
Yang Chen, already smoking a cigarette, stood by the bridge railing. The poor-quality tobacco burned quickly in the wind, and within a few puffs, it was halfway gone.
Walking to the railing, Yang Chen, with the cigarette in his mouth, looked out at the churning black-blue waves, exhaling a long breath. "Girl, co here."
Zhenxiu shivered, hugging herself tightly, and took small steps towards him.
Looking down from the bridge, the sea was about thirty to forty ters below. The vast ocean seed like a lurking dark beast, constantly roaring in the distance.
Feeling uneasy, Zhenxiu's voice trembled in the wind, "Brother Yang, let's go back. It's so eerie here."
The desolate sea and the lonely bridge made the under-twenty girl anxious. Without Yang Chen by her side, she wouldn't have dared to get out of the car.
Yang Chen suddenly smiled strangely and turned to her, "Go back? Go where?"
Zhenxiu was stunned, "Of course, going ho."
"Ho? Is that really your ho?" Yang Chen asked with a sinister smile.
Zhenxiu's face turned pale, her eyes welling up with tears, unable to respond.
"Didn't you just say that none of this belongs to you? Didn't you say that our kindness, giving you a place to live, food, and clothes, was too much for you to bear?"
"Brother Yang, I..."
"Why are you stamring? Didn't you say all that?" Yang Chen continued to smile mockingly, "Since you think that place isn't your ho and you can't bear it, always bringing us trouble, then why go back?"
Zhenxiu felt her legs go weak, standing there in a daze, unable to speak.
Yang Chen sneered, "Xu Zhenxiu, you just said that if no one had cared for you back then, letting you starve or die in a gang fight, it would have been a relief. Well, I think it's not too late for that now if you want relief."
Zhenxiu suddenly lifted her head, looking at Yang Chen in disbelief, "Brother Yang, you an..."
Yang Chen flicked away his spent cigarette and turned to look at the churning sea. "I thought about it. If soone falls from this bridge, even if they don't drown, the strong currents will likely smash them against the bridge pillars or rocks, killing them instantly. This place is far from the shore, and by the ti the body is found, it would probably have decomposed or been eaten by fish."
Zhenxiu's face turned ashen, staring at Yang Chen in shock, stumbling back a step.
"Zhenxiu, you're right. Living is such a burden. You're really struggling. It hurts to see you like this. Since you're so miserable, you might as well end it tonight," Yang Chen said coldly. "Don't worry, jumping from here, no one will know. At most, you'll be reported as a missing person, and that's it."
Zhenxiu shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face, "No, Brother Yang, I don't want to die. You're lying! You're joking, right?"
"Joking?" Yang Chen scratched his head and sneered, "Do you think it's April Fools' Day? Why would I joke with you?"
Forcing a smile, Zhenxiu said, "No, Brother Yang, you're just teasing . You wouldn't..."
Yang Chen's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, emotionless expression.
"Xu Zhenxiu, if you can't climb over the railing yourself, I can help you. Throwing you over is quite easy."
There was no hint of humor in Yang Chen's voice, only a chilling seriousness that made Zhenxiu feel like he was about to kill her.
Zhenxiu shook her head, retreating, mumbling incoherently, but her legs lacked the strength to run.
Yang Chen didn't say another word. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhenxiu by the waist, and lifted her effortlessly over his head.
Caught off guard, Zhenxiu found herself suspended in the air, struggling and screaming, but Yang Chen didn't let go.
"Stop struggling. With your strength, you can't break free," Yang Chen said calmly, walking to the railing.
Zhenxiu watched in horror as Yang Chen leaned her body over the railing. Below her was the rolling sea.
The dark, inky water looked like a devouring monster, roaring incessantly.
"Brother Yang! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" Zhenxiu scread hysterically, crying.
Yang Chen snorted lightly and, without any intention of pulling her back, let go.
Zhenxiu felt her body lighten, followed by an irresistible force pulling her downward, falling faster and faster.
Her eyes widened, seemingly forgetting to breathe. In her mind, she saw the vague faces of her parents from childhood, the faded images of playing with other children at the orphanage.
She rembered the orphanage director's grandmother holding her, making her laugh, learning the simplest phonetic alphabets with other kids, and Lin Ruoxi and the old chairman visiting her.
One by one, the seasons of spring, sumr, autumn, and winter passed, each with fragnts of almost forgotten mories.
She recalled running away from the orphanage, tears streaming down her face, hanging out with a group of delinquent biker boys, getting caught stealing and pickpocketing.
eting Yang Chen, eting Lin Ruoxi again, and integrating into a new family.
Flashes of Wang Ma, Guo Xuehua, and others' faces and voices echoed in her ears, including Wang Ma calling her downstairs for dinner.
Lastly, Yang Chen's cold expression, the man who brought her to paradise now sending her to hell.
Zhenxiu didn't understand what was happening. Despite being on the verge of being swallowed by the sea, she felt no fear. Instead, she felt a sense of reluctance, an unwillingness to let go.
Tears, like pearls, scattered in the air, disappearing silently.
She closed her eyes.
The fall seed instantaneous yet felt like centuries.
Zhenxiu felt her body growing lighter and more relaxed. The sea breeze blew, making her feel as if she could soar into the clouds.
The sea should be cold, shouldn't it? Why then did she feel warmth?
She gradually realized sothing was amiss. Even after such a long fall, she hadn't hit the water!
She slled a familiar scent and slowly opened her eyes to see Yang Chen's face, now with a gentle smile.
Despite everything happening in a flash, for Yang Chen, tossing Zhenxiu off the bridge and then jumping to catch her mid-air, standing on the water, and leaping back onto the bridge was no challenge. It was a trivial feat for him.
Unfortunately, Zhenxiu had no chance to witness it all.
"Girl, have you figured it out?" Yang Chen asked, holding Zhenxiu gently, smiling.
Feeling incredibly wronged, Zhenxiu didn't respond but bit down on Yang Chen's shoulder through his clothes. She bit hard, tears streaming down her face, soaking half of Yang Chen's shoulder.
Yang Chen didn't stop her. When she was out of energy, he said, "I thought you'd bite my face. I was worried about getting disfigured. You do have so conscience."
"I hate you!" Zhenxiu punched Yang Chen's chest with her small fist, realizing he had been scaring her. She didn't know how he had saved her, but it was clear he had.
Yang Chen laughed carefreely, "Hate all you want. It's better than feeling sorry for yourself."
With red eyes, Zhenxiu suddenly hugged Yang Chen's neck tightly.
Yang Chen helplessly patted her back gently, saying, "Xu Zhenxiu, never think you're a burden to those who love you. You are the unique Xu Zhenxiu in this world. Your life is precious, both to you and to all of us."
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