This was probably the longest conversation the two of them had ever shared since meeting. Wen Yu could not understand why Fu Chen was so thick-skinned that he could still chat casually about all sorts of random things at a time like this. Wen Yu was currently consumed by worry over what Cheng Xiaoling would do if something actually happened to him.
“How did you and Shen Yuqing meet?” Fu Chen started asking another meaningless question. Wen Yu pressed his lips together, thinking to himself that it was none of Fu Chen’s business.
“We used to be neighbors.” Refusing to voice his inner thoughts after all, Wen Yu simply summarized his past with Shen Yuqing in a concise manner.
“Neighbors?” Fu Chen raised an eyebrow. “So you were childhood sweethearts.”
“I suppose so.”
“Do you like him?” Fu Chen asked.
“Mn.” Wen Yu silently rolled his eyes in his heart. Duh, why would I be with him if I did not like him?
Fu Chen let out an “oh.”
Wen Yu tried once again to pry open the iron chain around his neck. It was far too tight, making it virtually impossible to slip free; it could only be unlocked with a key.
Wen Yu recalled that among the men who had arrived earlier, one person’s gaze had lingered intently on him. That fellow seemed to be called Xiao Yi?
Before leaving, the scar-faced man had instructed Xiao Jia and Xiao Yi to keep a close watch on them outside the door.
A plan began to form in Wen Yu’s mind. He asked Fu Chen, “I remember you mentioned wanting to enter a military academy in the future, right?”
“That is right,” Fu Chen replied.
“Then how are your close-combat skills?” In Wen Yu’s impression, Fu Chen seemed quite adept at such things. Whether it was horseback riding or archery, he appeared exceptionally proficient, meaning his physical stamina should be top-tier.
“Decent.” Fu Chen was not the type to boast or show off, so his “decent” actually translated to extremely impressive.
“Good. Play along with me in a moment.” Watching Fu Chen, Wen Yu outlined his plan. The more Fu Chen listened, the tighter his brows furrowed.
“Are you certain you want to do this?” Fu Chen seemed to find the plan far too crude and risky.
“Yes.” Wen Yu nodded, his tone resolute.
“Fu Chen.” Wen Yu called his name, and Fu Chen glanced over at him. “Yes?”
“If something actually goes wrong, I will do my best to help you survive,” Wen Yu said, lowering his gaze. “If anything happens to me, could you please, in consideration of my efforts to save you, look after Cheng Xiaoling in Room 303 of First A City Hospital? I know my request is entirely unreasonable, but you are the only one I can entrust this to now.”
“Glands can be transplanted. If an accident really happens, you do not need to worry about your illness going uncured.”
Listening to Wen Yu deliver remarks that sounded remarkably like last-minute dying words, Fu Chen furrowed his brows deeply. “I am not Doraemon. If there is something you want done, you had better stay alive and do it yourself.”
Staring straight at Fu Chen, Wen Yu pressed his lips shut and remained silent.
“Crash!”
The sudden shattering of an object rang out with a tremendous noise, echoing through the cavernous warehouse.
“What is going on?”
That sound evidently startled the guards outside the door, prompting both Xiao Jia and Xiao Yi to rush inside to investigate.
Frowning with a panicked expression, Wen Yu stared at the two of them. His distinct black-and-white eyes were damp, with tears still swirling within them. At his feet lay the shards of a shattered white porcelain plate, the very plate they had just eaten off of.
His finger appeared to have been grazed by a shard of the porcelain plate, and fresh red blood was welling steadily from the wound.
He looked precisely like a frightened little white rabbit, utterly pitiful and stirring an urge to protect him.
“I, I accidentally broke the plate.” Wen Yu stammered, seeming thoroughly startled by Xiao Jia’s booming voice as his trembling words betrayed his nervousness.
Xiao Yi landed a punch on Xiao Jia’s head. “Why are you yelling so loud? Look at how badly you scared him!”
Having said that, Xiao Yi offered Wen Yu an apologetic smile. “Do not mind him. My younger brother just loves to make a fuss.”
“It is fine.” Wen Yu whispered, staring down at the injury on his finger. With his pale complexion, he hardly looked like he was fine at all.
Xiao Yi looked at Wen Yu with a hint of concern. “Should we bandage that up?”
“Could we?” Wen Yu lifted his eyelids to look straight at Xiao Yi, wearing an expression that mingled pleasant surprise with timid hesitation, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Xiao Yi felt a tingling sensation ripple through his heart under that direct gaze, and he could not help swallowing hard. “Of course we can! An Omega like you needs to be properly protected. Leaving a scar on such delicate skin would be terrible!”
“Xiao Jia, go search the vehicle for a band-aid!”
“Why do I have to go?” Xiao Jia complained.
“I told you to go, so go!”
Reluctantly, Xiao Jia departed.
“Big brother, I need to use the restroom. Could you help me untie the chain around my neck?” Wen Yu spoke with a timid air, his face flushing crimson. “You can come with me. I, I simply cannot go while stuck in here, and it feels so strange.”
Xiao Yi looked somewhat hesitant, prompting Wen Yu to add, “We can just find a patch of bushes outside. I am only an Omega; I could never outrun you anyway. Please, big brother, I am begging you.”
Wen Yu naturally possessed an innocent-looking face with a pure and well-behaved demeanor. While he appeared somewhat aloof when expressionless, whenever he deliberately played the weak and spoiled card, the effect was astonishingly potent, making it impossible for anyone to bear rejecting his request.
Besides, this little Omega was right; there was zero chance he could outrun him.
And using the restroom required taking off one’s pants.
Once his pants were off in some secluded spot, he could do whatever he pleased.
At that thought, Xiao Yi cast a leering gaze up and down at Wen Yu. Those large, clear eyes, the proud and straight nose, and those reddish lips made him lament just how excessively pretty an Omega’s face could be.
Glancing further down, his figure was equally exceptional; he could probably encircle that tiny waist with just one hand.
His skin was so fair and tender that the slightest bit of extra force would likely leave bruises and pinch marks.
Xiao Yi had never seen such a stunning Omega in all his life. Captivated by Wen Yu’s face the moment he laid eyes on him, he found himself growing increasingly fond of the youth the longer he looked.
“Alright, big brother will take you,” Xiao Yi chuckled foolishly, letting the naked desire in his eyes spill out without restraint as he stepped closer to Wen Yu.
Xiao Yi produced the key and unlocked the chain around Wen Yu’s neck. Seizing the opportunity while he unlocked it, he began patting and stroking Wen Yu’s body, marveling inwardly at how warm and soft an Omega’s physique truly was.
“Click.”
The instant the chain popped open, Wen Yu looked up at Xiao Yi with a radiant smile.
“Thank you so much, big brother.”
The next second, Wen Yu flashed the shard of white porcelain he had concealed behind his back, thrusting it straight toward Xiao Yi’s chest before shoving Xiao Yi hard in Fu Chen’s direction.
Fu Chen used the crook of his arm to clamp tightly around Xiao Yi’s neck. While Xiao Yi was being restrained, Wen Yu rifled through his pockets and used the key to unlock Fu Chen’s chain as well.
Xiao Yi struggled desperately, but because Fu Chen had a chokehold on his neck, he could only emit a muffled, raspy wheeze. Freed from his restraints, Fu Chen delivered a powerful karate chop to the back of Xiao Yi’s neck, knocking him out cold on the spot.
Wen Yu also managed to fish the car keys out of Xiao Yi’s pockets. Looking at Fu Chen with a mixture of nervous tension and hopeful anticipation, he swallowed hard. “You definitely know how to drive, right?”
“I can drive.” Grabbing Wen Yu’s hand, Fu Chen sprinted desperately toward the exit. The moment they climbed into a vehicle, however, the rest of the gang spotted them.
Several masked men rushed over, swarming around their car.
“Do you know what,” Fu Chen chuckled, releasing the handbrake and slamming his foot down on the accelerator, “speed and life or death are all about.”
The car emitted a deep, roaring growl that cut through the darkness with crystal clarity. The vehicle shuddered slightly before tearing away the next second, kicking up clouds of dust from the ground.
Angry shouts echoed from behind, quickly followed by the sharp crack of gunfire. Yet Fu Chen showed not a shred of fear, instead calmly maneuvering the vehicle to dodge the incoming sniper fire.
Overwhelmed by tension, Wen Yu completely forgot about his motion sickness. The car raced downward along the mountain road, and the more Wen Yu looked at the surroundings, the more familiar they seemed. He told Fu Chen, “This is the old abandoned pharmaceutical plant on the outskirts of the city! Fu Chen, drive east; that leads to Lover’s Leap!”
As the name suggested, Lover’s Leap earned its moniker because numerous couples had committed double suicides there in the past. Though carrying a rather grim name, it might just offer them a sliver of a chance at survival.
“What kind of terrible name is that?” Fu Chen complained with disdain upon hearing such an inauspicious moniker for a body of water.
Knowing that Fu Chen’s swimming skills were also top-notch while his own swimming proficiency remained rather rudimentary, Wen Yu told him, “My swimming is not great, and I probably will not last long. Do not worry about me later; just keep swimming east until you find a small fishing village. Once you get ashore, borrow someone’s phone to contact your family and have them rescue you.”
“Cheng Xiaoling in Room 303 of First A City Hospital, consider it a plea from me,” Wen Yu looked at Fu Chen. “Save her, and I will bless you even after I am dead.”
Hearing Wen Yu start up with his dying declarations again, a somewhat spine-chilling set of final words where “I will bless you even after I am dead” carried the exact same energy as “I will not let you off even after I die”, Fu Chen kept his eyes fixed intently on the road ahead. “If there is something that needs doing, go do it yourself. Stop bossing me around.”
The car behind them pursued relentlessly. Fu Chen pressed down harder on the accelerator, driving so fast it felt as though the car were about to take flight. As someone prone to motion sickness, Wen Yu had never experienced such a wild ride in his entire life.
Lover’s Leap was just ahead in the distance. Stamping down hard on the accelerator one final time, Fu Chen drove the vehicle straight off into the sea.
The exact moment the car plunged into the water, Fu Chen shouted to Wen Yu: “Hold your breath!”
Wen Yu held his breath, instinctively panicking the moment he made contact with the seawater. His unfamiliarity with the ocean gave him the terrifying sensation of being swallowed up by the depths, until a strong hand suddenly grabbed hold of him. Their eyes locked, and Fu Chen pulled him forward as they swam.
The salty brine churned frantically around them, ice-cold like blades slicing through every inch of skin.
Wen Yu’s scattered wits finally seemed to reassemble as he tried to regulate his breathing using the technique taught by his swimming instructor. Perhaps feeling anxious, Fu Chen swam at a rapid pace.
Wen Yu soon began to struggle, his breathing faltering for a split second as his entire swimming rhythm was ruined. Choking on seawater, his face contorted in agony.
Wen Yu squeezed Fu Chen’s hand tightly, his heart gripped ruthlessly by terror. Turning his head, Fu Chen caught sight of Wen Yu’s agonizing expression.
Pulling Wen Yu close, Fu Chen lowered his head slightly and pressed his lips gently against Wen Yu’s. Wen Yu’s eyes widened in shock, while Fu Chen stared right back into them, keeping his eyes wide open as well.
As the seawater raged and battered against their sides, Fu Chen slowly transferred his breath into Wen Yu’s mouth.