Chapter Twenty-Four: A Resolute Oath

Nangong Yuchen and his three companions ran all the way from the Star Emperor Tavern to the entrance of the B District Motor Station before finally stopping, gasping for breath. They had truly thought they were going to die, but at the last moment, Zhou Lingtian had suddenly changed his mind and let them go.

The relief of surviving a disaster lingered in all four of their hearts, especially for Nangong Yuchen—this was already the second time he had experienced such a feeling.

After a while, when the four had finally shaken off the shadow of death, Nangong Kexin noticed that Nangong Yuchen was still holding her hand. She immediately said coldly, “Let go!”

“Oh! I didn’t mean to!” Nangong Yuchen replied apologetically. He had grabbed her hand instinctively while they were running away, but now that they were safe—and hearing his sister’s frosty tone—he quickly let go.

The warmth of his sister’s delicate hand still lingered in his palm, stirring a sense of loss and sorrow in his heart after surviving such an ordeal.

But Nangong Kexin’s angry, impatient face made it clear that she had no time for his explanations. She turned, taking Huiyan and Lili by the hand, and said, “Let’s go!”

“But... your brother...” Lili started, her pretty face still pale with lingering fear. Seeing Nangong Yuchen’s bowed head, she hesitated, feeling sorry for him.

“Hmph! Ignore him. If it weren’t for him, would any of this have happened today?” Nangong Kexin’s voice was still cold, her resentment toward her brother obvious.

Lili, indignant at this, protested, “Kexin, what’s gotten into you? You’re not usually like this. Besides, Nangong Yuchen is your own brother! If he hadn’t come to save us today, we might all be...”

Huiyan chimed in, feeling guilty, “She’s right. We’re only standing here safe and sound because of your brother!”

At these words, Nangong Kexin trembled, looking at her friends in disbelief. In pain, she retorted, “Huiyan? Lili? You...”

She tightened her grip, but the two girls didn’t budge. In the end, Nangong Kexin’s expression became conflicted and she shouted in anger, “I don’t care! I just hate him!”

With that, she ran off alone.

“Kexin...”

“Thank you both. You should go home—I’ll go after Kexin!” Nangong Yuchen couldn’t rest easy with his sister leaving by herself, so after thanking the two girls, he hurried after her.

Watching the two siblings disappear, Lili asked in confusion, “Huiyan, what’s wrong with Kexin? She’s not usually like this, but when it comes to Nangong Yuchen, why...?”

“I don’t know. Maybe there’s something between them,” Huiyan replied.

“Let’s hope they make up soon.” With that, the two girls moved quickly toward the station, still shaken by the events of the night—they were, after all, only sixteen or seventeen.

Elsewhere, on another street.

Nangong Kexin ran with all her might, not knowing where she was headed, only wanting to escape the person she despised so much behind her.

But once again, she was disappointed.

Nangong Yuchen was much faster than her, and before long he caught up, grabbing her soft arm. “Kexin!”

“Let go of me, you jinx!” Now that no one else was around, Nangong Kexin dropped all pretenses, shouting in rage.

“I’ll take you home,” Nangong Yuchen insisted, refusing to let her go. It was already past midnight, and he couldn’t leave his sister alone in case anything else happened.

Just then, a taxi pulled up. Nangong Yuchen, holding his struggling sister, got in with her.

“Where to?”

“District C, Xiyuan Community!”

As the car was about to start, Nangong Kexin suddenly broke free from Nangong Yuchen’s arms and shouted angrily, “Nangong Yuchen! I will never let you into my house!”

A pang shot through Nangong Yuchen’s heart at the mention of Xiyuan—a name so familiar, yet...

“Don’t worry, I’m just taking you back to our house,” he said quietly.

“Our house?” Nangong Kexin laughed, her face flushed with anger, yet in that moment tinged with desolation. Even her beautiful eyes were turning red as she shouted, almost hysterical, “It was never your home. You don’t deserve to be a part of this family!”

She turned to the driver, yelling, “Stop the car! Driver, stop—”

“Don’t stop! Keep going!” Overwhelmed, Nangong Yuchen covered his sister’s mouth with his hand.

“Mmm—mm!”

Smack! Unable to break free, Nangong Kexin lashed out, slapping Nangong Yuchen hard across the left cheek, leaving a vivid red handprint.

The sound of the slap echoed, and both siblings fell silent. The taxi driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror, shook his head in resignation, and said nothing, assuming it was just a lovers’ quarrel.

“I... I’m just taking you back to our... your house, and then I’ll leave. Don’t worry,” Nangong Yuchen said suddenly.

In the silence, Nangong Kexin was startled by his words. For some reason, her heart twisted painfully, and she quickly turned away, looking out the window with reddened eyes.

The car fell into silence, but it was a quiet born of sadness and pain.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped at the entrance to Xiyuan Community. Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin got out.

Tap, tap.

Inside the compound, the streetlights shone on the empty path. The two walked in single file. As they drew close to the house, Nangong Yuchen finally stopped.

Only then did he raise his head and, gazing at his sister’s back, declare resolutely, “Kexin, just give me a little more time.”

Nangong Kexin didn’t know why she turned around, but when her eyes met his—fiery red, unwavering—she shivered. Then came his next words, heavy as an oath, breaking the silence once more.

“I will rescue our parents safely—I promise!”

With that, Nangong Yuchen turned and strode out of the community. His slender but upright figure gradually disappeared into the night.

Nangong Kexin stood rooted to the spot, unable to explain why, deep down, she actually believed her brother’s words.

She didn’t know how long she stood there before, dragging her stiffened body, she continued home.

Before long, she entered an apartment building, walked up to the fourth floor, took out her key, opened the door, and stepped inside.

Bang!

She didn’t turn on the living room light as usual, but leaned against the door and slowly slid to the floor.

In the darkness, the room’s furnishings and her own expression were hidden from view. Only the sound of muffled sobs echoed through the empty apartment...