Chapter 1: Jumping off a Building

Chapter 1: Jumping off a Building
Atlas Studios
Atlas Studios
Qiao An was held in the ruins by the kidnappers and starved for three days. She was still convinced that her most beloved man, Li Zecheng, would definitely come to save her.
On the sixth day, the kidnapper cursed, “Li Zecheng is really patient. His woman has been locked up by us for so many days, but he’s still unwilling to pay the ransom.”
Qiao An sneered. “Because he despises you for being freeloaders. He won’t let you have your way.”
The kidnapper swung his shoe at Qiao An’s face, causing her to spit blood.
The kidnapper vented all his frustration on Qiao An. “Damn, your man doesn’t love you at all. That’s why he doesn’t care if you live or die.”
The kidnappers sent the photo of Qiao An covered in blood to Li Zecheng, but it was as if a stone had sunk into the sea. Not a single bubble appeared.
It was as if Li Zecheng had not received this message.
Seeing that they could not gain anything from Qiao An, the kidnappers changed their target the next day and captured Wei Xin, who was Li Zecheng’s cherished ex-lover.
On the second day after Wei Xin disappeared, Li Zecheng appeared in the ruins.
His handsome face was covered in thin ice as he negotiated angrily with the kidnappers.
“Tell me, what will it take to free them?”
The kidnapper said, “Ten million. Choose one and take her away. As for the remaining one, since Young Master Li doesn’t care for her, leave her behind for me to enjoy.”
Li Zecheng’s gaze lingered on Qiao An before finally settling on Wei Xin.
Qiao An had a bad feeling, but she tried to convince herself. Li Zecheng must love her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her back then.
However, Li Zecheng’s next words sent her into an ice cave.
“Let Wei Xin go.”
Qiao An went deathly pale.
Li Zecheng had chosen to save his first love, Wei Xin, and left her for the kidnappers to enjoy?
The kidnapper looked at Qiao An and mocked her wantonly. “I should have guessed that you weren’t Young Master Li’s favorite at all. To think I spent so much effort kidnapping you. Alright, serve me well tonight. I can let bygones be bygones.”
The blood around Qiao An cooled and froze.
She looked at Li Zecheng numbly, her gaze filled with condemnation and interrogation. But in the end, she did not say a word.
If even the kidnappers could see the logic, why should she lie to herself?
Li Zecheng did not love her.
After the kidnappers released Wei Xin, she cried and threw herself into Li Zecheng’s arms to seek comfort.
“Brother Zecheng, I’m so scared.”
Li Zecheng comforted her very gently. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Those words made Wei Xin feel at ease, but they nailed Qiao An to the cross like countless soul-locking nails.
Qiao An suddenly lost her strength.
As gentle as Li Zecheng was to Wei Xin, he was as cruel to Qiao An.
Qiao An looked at Li Zecheng with eyes that had gone from hope to disillusionment. Those eyes that were as innocent as a deer’s seemed to have experienced everything in an instant.
Li Zecheng felt anxious.
It wasn’t like he didn’t want to save her. He just wanted to save Wei Xin first.
He was already here. There was no reason not to save her.
Despite his thoughts, Qiao An’s eyes made him strangely uneasy.
After a long time, Qiao An looked away from Li Zecheng indifferently.
She looked up at the kidnapper. “You’re right. I was blind and in love with the wrong person. I promise I’ll stay with you tonight. But can you let me go now? I want to say goodbye to him.”
After a moment’s thought, the kidnapper released Qiao An.
“You’ve seen how cold he is to you these past few days. I don’t think you’ll foolishly cling to him again.” The kidnapper had also seen how cold Li Zecheng was to Qiao An. He didn’t believe that Li Zecheng would want Qiao An.
After Qiao An was untied, she stumbled toward Li Zecheng.
A look of relief appeared in Li Zecheng’s eyes. He knew that Qiao An was smart. Even without him, she could get away. As long as Qiao An walked up to him, she would be out of danger.
Qiao An walked steadily towards him and suddenly stopped a meter away from him.
Li Zecheng waved at her. “Qiao An, come here.”
Much to his surprise, Qiao An didn’t approach him. Instead, she turned and dashed resolutely toward the side window.
The ruined factory had a total of five floors. Qiao An would die if she jumped from there.
Li Zecheng’s eyes were filled with disbelief and panic.
He never wanted to believe Qiao An would choose suicide. Without looking back, she jumped.
“Qiao An...” Li Zecheng’s pupils were constricted.
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
Then he sprinted over, but Qiao An was too determined. When he ran over, he only touched the corner of her shirt.
Then he heard a loud crash on the ground.
Qiao An sprawled on the floor, blood spurting.
Li Zecheng looked at Qiao An, who was lying motionless in a pool of blood, and felt his body go limp.
He found it hard to believe that Qiao An would protest her injustice in such a way?
Just because he saved Wei Xin first?
The police quickly took away all the kidnappers. The contest between Li and the kidnappers was won beautifully.
Except he’d lost Qiao An.
... .
Her aching body felt like it was being dismembered. Every muscle tore and twisted savagely. Slowly, Qiao An opened her eyes and saw the white latex-painted ceiling. Smelling the pungent disinfectant, confusion filled her eyes.
Was she not dead?
A warm voice whispered in her ear, “Are you awake?”
Qiao An’s eyes turned to the direction of the voice with difficulty. She was a little surprised to see her uncle-in-law, Li Xiaoran, in a white coat.
Unexpectedly, the good-for-nothing young master looked like a pure and harmless youth in his white coat. However, she knew that the more beautiful the Li family’s top-notch demons were, the more poisonous they were.
“Go away.” She forced a hoarse breath from her throat.
Li Xiaoran curled his sexy and charming lips. “Qiao An, the person who offended you is my nephew, Li Zecheng. You don’t have to take your anger out on me. I’m your savior. In order to save you, I haven’t slept for seven days and seven nights. Logically speaking, you should repay me with your life. But since you’re a married woman, that’s a different story. At least cook me a bowl of Yang Chun Snow Noodles, right?”
Qiao An closed her eyes in panic. She thought she would die if she jumped from the fifth floor. Unexpectedly, there was a crooked tree outside the window. She hung from it and came back alive.
She would probably be crippled for life.
“I don’t want you to save me.”
It would be better to die to absolve herself of all her pain.