Chapter 1 Chapter 1 When it really comes to the critical moment, I find that you are still quite...
"The lowest temperature in Jincheng today is minus 15 degrees Celsius, and there will be small-scale snowfall. Friends who are traveling, please pay attention to safety." An inorganic female voice was broadcast from Zhou Xubai's mobile phone to the outside world, making him look at Su Ting with a worried look.
"I hope the car doesn't slip when we walk on the bridge across the river."
The person in the back seat of the car pressed her thin lips into a pale straight line, the shadows of her drooping eyelashes seemed to have frosted her face, and her skin had a cold sheen. When she looked up at Zhou Xubai, her pupils had no reflection, with an absolute zero.
His lower lip unconsciously made a shallow mark and he said, "Whatever."
Zhou Xubai looked at his nominal boss Su Ting, and felt a chill in his heart. He couldn't help but shiver in the cold winter afternoon.
Although Su Ting is good-looking, he is a well-known weirdo. He is not interested in any men or women, and always treats people with a layer of ice curtain. The coldness penetrates into his bones. Even his old friend who has known him for many years rarely sees him smile.
In addition to being reluctant to smile, he has also developed a heartless appearance through years of business, isolating himself from all human warmth.
Zhou Xubai said in a friendly tone, "Actually, that incident happened so long ago. You should have let it go and moved on."
"Zhou Xubai, remember to use the media to promote your proposal to the municipal government. I don't want to see my favorite plot of land turned into some vanity project to 'benefit the people.'"
Seeing that he was so unmoved, Zhou Xubai had no choice but to respond. His eyes gradually turned cold like Su Ting's as he looked at the bleak winter scenery.
The sky outside the window was foggy, and all I could see were towering trees that gradually disappeared along the winding river, and then circled over and over again, endlessly, just like the long and cold winter in Jincheng.
Zhou Xubai recalled how he and Su Ting had often played on this river in winter, back when they were in high school ten years earlier. The bitter cold had made the ice thick, bearing down on their youth. Zhou Xubai wasn't afraid then, because even though the ice was transparent, he could still see the rushing water beneath his feet, but he was with his best friend.
But now, they are so powerful and use every possible means. They are invincible on the battlefield and even bear the infamy, but Zhou Xubai is still not afraid.
Because Suting has always been there.
"By the way, Su Ting," Zhou Xubai called him by his first name, "your Wen Yanyu called me again this morning and asked me why you didn't answer his call."
Su Ting looked up indifferently, looking at Zhou Xubai who was sitting in the driver's seat absent-mindedly, and said, "There is no such thing as yours or mine. If Wen Yanyu likes to fight, let him do it."
"I advise you to reject it as soon as possible to prevent others from falling deeply in love with you." Zhou Xubai said.
"Have you forgotten who Wen Yanyu is? If I reject him rashly, I will offend his entire family." Su Ting narrowed his peach blossom eyes slightly, and his lower eyelids pressed out a rough arc. "Zhou Xubai, you have been quite presumptuous recently."
Zhou Xubai raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the pale Su Ting in the rearview mirror: "You too."
Su Ting snorted and started browsing international news.
At this moment, Zhou Xubai suddenly stepped on the brakes, and the car stopped. Su Ting's body suddenly leaned forward, making him look annoyed: "Zhou Xubai, drive carefully."
Zhou Xubai extended his index finger and pointed at the river in the distance: "It seems like someone is smashing the ice."
Su Ting followed Zhou Xubai's gaze and looked out. Sure enough, he saw a small black figure standing silently on the frozen river. He gathered all his strength to lift a huge stone and smashed it onto the ice without blinking.
It seems like he has made some kind of decision.
Could it be...
Zhou Xubai slammed on the brakes and stopped the car on the side of the road. He calmed down and wanted to see clearly what the man's intention was. After all, there were many people fishing on the ice in such a cold day. What if it was someone who wanted to fish?
But the more he looked, the more he felt something was wrong. The figure was small and undersized, clearly a minor. Was he desperate to survive by smashing the ice with such a large rock?!
Zhou Xubai cried out, "Oh no!" and rushed out, his dark windbreaker swaying wildly in the wind as he quickly entered the river. Su Ting then realized that the child smashing the ice was about to commit suicide. His heart, which hadn't palpitated since he was twenty-two, now began to beat non-stop. He panicked, abandoning his still-running car and rushing to the source of the noise.
The icy temperature coming from the soles of their feet made the two people who had just been enjoying the heating feel bone-chilling. Zhou Xubai, panting, had already run over. He stared at the gradually cracking ice under his feet, grabbed the boy's waist with one hand, turned around and ran back. He looked at Su Ting who was approaching him and said, "Get out of here! It's dangerous!"
Su Ting has learned everything over the years except swimming. When the ice breaks, he can only save Su Ting and will not be able to take care of the child in his arms.
Fortunately, Su Ting received the signal accurately, quickly stabilized on the river surface, half-stretched his arms, lowered his center of gravity slightly, and warned Zhou Xubai: "Run slower."
Zhou Xubai couldn't help but laugh: "When it really comes to the critical moment, I find that you still cherish your life."
"Stop talking nonsense. The three of us will freeze to death in a moment."
The boy in his arms kept struggling, as if he thought their lives were too long.
Zhou Xubai tapped the boy's forehead, and walked to the shore with Su Ting on the ice that was about to break.
Su Ting really couldn't be nice to the child. Which child would seek death for no reason?
The boy looked to be in his early teens. He was wearing a frayed black down jacket and baggy trouser legs. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe his bones as bony. He looked like a refugee.
However, the delicate features between his eyebrows made people unable to look away. Su Ting did not want to lose his temper and just said, "Where are your parents? Where is your home? Give me the address and we will take you home, okay?"
In an instant, snot and tears covered the boy's face. He cried, "They don't want me anymore... I don't know where this is... Why did they abandon me?"
Seeing the boy crying more and more violently, Zhou Xubai and Su Ting exchanged a glance, each wanting the other to handle the child. Staying away from trouble was always their motto.
"How can there be people abandoning their children these days?" Zhou Xubai was puzzled and looked at Su Ting with a probing look.
"Call the police." Su Ting said.
As if a switch had been touched, the boy frowned and shouted, "No! Absolutely not!"
Su Ting asked, "Why?"
"Because... because... I don't want to be sent to an orphanage. Can you please spare me and let me die?"
Zhou Xubai: "What on earth has happened that makes you so young and obsessed with life and death?"
"Because if I die early and reincarnate early, I will have meat to eat in my next life."
"Have you watched too much TV, kid? What kind of heresy is this?" Zhou Xubai said coldly.
Su Ting raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes focused slightly: "What's your name?"
"Ye Xiuming."
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