"No, the people here are too fierce... You're a man, they'll definitely attack you... Give me your hand right now."

I couldn't persuade Ye Zhi, and I couldn't climb up myself. The despair I felt was beyond words... At this moment, I could only force myself to unleash my full potential, but looking at the three-meter-high wall, a sense of powerlessness washed over me... I should have eaten something before coming here; or, paying attention to physical exercise would have been another option, but now, there really was no way out!

At this critical moment, the clumsy young man actually brought over a wooden ladder and leaned it against the wall... I glanced at it and saw bloodstains on the ladder; I must have been cut by a splinter from that ladder.

The group of people with flashlights were almost upon the warehouse. Before I could even say thank you, I climbed the wooden ladder to the wall. I quickly surveyed the terrain outside the backyard and then gestured for the young man to hand me the ladder. We couldn't leave it in the yard for those people to use. The yard was quite large, and by the time they circled around the gate to chase us, we would have run a long way.

I first had Ye Zhi climb down the wooden ladder over the wall, and then I said to the young man, "Remember my phone number... If you don't want to stay in Sanya anymore, come to Dali and find me... I'll find you a respectable job."

I gave the young man my phone number, and the group had already rushed into the yard... I took out the three thousand yuan in cash that I had taken out earlier but hadn't used yet, and then, under the red glow of dawn, I threw it all into the sky, where it fell piece by piece into the yard, landing at the feet of the villagers... I hoped they would like the money, so that I could have a little more time to run away with Ye Zhi!

I jumped off the courtyard wall and, for the first time so naturally, grabbed Ye Zhi's hand. Then I ran towards the area with the most footprints... I was afraid that the footprints Ye Zhi and I left would give them clues to track us down, and the area with many footprints would be confusing and indistinguishable... At this moment, although I was panicking, I was still rational.

...

By this time, dawn was breaking, and I could gradually make out the beach. The entire area beneath our feet was open, with nowhere to hide... Ye Zhi's hotel was in the opposite direction of our escape route, and to get back, we would have to pass by that abandoned warehouse... which was absolutely impossible.

Under a coconut tree, looking at the boundless sea, I said to Ye Zhi, "There are a lot of reefs in this area... We're stuck... Do you dare to jump down? We should be able to hide behind the reefs."

As I say this, I can't help but think back to the time I spent in Dali... Once, Ye Zhi and I were like two free fish swimming from one side to the other in Erhai Lake... And now, it feels like that day is being replayed... only the feelings are different. That day it was enjoyment, today it's the torment of being on the run...

No, it wasn't exactly torture, because with her by my side, it was like having two hands helping me resist the malice from this world. I didn't feel like I was all alone.

Ye Zhi took a deep breath, held my hand tightly, and said, "With you here, I'm not afraid of anything... Even if I die in the sea, it's better than going on my journey alone decades later..."

I smiled and said, "Then let's run away together... but we definitely won't die, because I want to walk the next few decades with you."

As I spoke, I pulled Ye Zhi from the beach into the sea. The seawater was warm, and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all... So, I relaxed and didn't think of this behavior as too dangerous... Because Ye Zhi and I are both very good swimmers, we dared to use the sea and rocks as our shelter in this situation.

It's just a pity I'm missing a ring... If I could propose to her on this vast ocean with this kind of reckless spirit, how romantic that would be!

To be honest, danger isn't a particularly bad thing, because it makes you incredibly bold and imaginative... At this moment, in my eyes, Ye Zhi no longer has those shining halos; she's just a woman who needs my protection.

I really don't mind being a bad man right now, taking advantage of her vulnerability, and invading her heart, her everything!

At this moment, I had forgotten all the unpleasantness of the past, and all the rights and wrongs... I suppose she felt the same way, and two hearts that care about each other will eventually come together... if there is such an opportunity!