Chapter 4: Let's Escape While We Still Can

Wei Xifeng was stunned, finally grasping the meaning behind her words. The teacher who had appeared before him twenty years ago had come from the future. So, she hadn't truly died; she had simply returned to her own time. And now, twenty years later, they had been reunited. Wei Xifeng was overcome with joy, but a sudden realization struck him: in terms of actual age, he was now six years older than his teacher! His eyelashes fluttered, and not only did the tips of his ears turn red, but his handsome face flushed a deep crimson. Seeing his reaction, Jiang Liwu knew exactly what he was thinking and let out a soft, amused laugh.

Uncle Wang watched in utter shock. There was no doubt that the head of the family’s phone contained highly confidential documents; was he really letting her look through them so casually? Was he not afraid that Jiang Liwu might leak them and cause immeasurable losses to rival factions? The level of trust this displayed was staggering. Their interactions were as familiar as if they had known each other for years, clearly indicating a deep and significant relationship. Uncle Wang felt a sense of bewilderment, for he had been by the master’s side for nearly twenty years and had never once seen Jiang Liwu. Looking at her again, he felt a heavy shroud of mystery surrounding her.

Jiang Liwu tapped a series of numbers she knew by heart into the screen, calling her parents repeatedly, but the calls would not go through. She didn't find this strange; her parents were biologists who often traveled to uncharted territories devoid of signal to explore and study flora and fauna, quietly contributing to the advancement of human knowledge by perfecting encyclopedias and field guides. Still, due to her longing, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. She decided to leave a private message instead.

"What's wrong?" Wei Xifeng asked urgently, noticing the dimness in her expression.

"I want to go home and check on things."

"Go... go home?" Wei Xifeng froze, a storm brewing in his mind. *Right, the teacher belongs to this world, so of course, she has a home.* "Now? And will you come back after you go home?" Wei Xifeng was thrown into a panic; he wanted her to stay with him.

His eyes burned with anxiety. He glanced at Uncle Wang, who immediately caught the hint and spoke up: "Miss Jiang, the master's condition is extremely unstable and could flare up at any time. He has developed antibodies to sedative medications, and we have no way to hypnotize him. We have tried every form of physical therapy, but none have worked. We have cycled through countless pacifiers, but now, you are the only one who can truly calm him down."

Recalling the sight of Wei Xifeng’s eyes turning scarlet as he lost his sanity during his episodes, Jiang Liwu looked troubled. "I am indeed very worried about Xiaofeng’s current state. I will stay here for a while longer."

Hearing this, Wei Xifeng finally relaxed. However, he wouldn't allow Jiang Liwu to return home alone. He followed her every step, terrified of being left behind. They set off by car, with a motorcade of bodyguards trailing behind them.

Shortly after they departed, the door to Qiao Yiran’s room was pushed open. Qiao Yiran was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, back to the door, sketching. Her spine stiffened at the sound of movement; only Wei Xifeng would dare enter her room so brazenly without notice. It must be because she had left the dining room early. As expected, even though Wei Xifeng hadn't said anything at the time, he wouldn't let it slide. He would surely punish her, forcing her to eat all that breakfast, watching her with a condescending, cold gaze as she struggled, ruthlessly commanding her to continue even if she gagged.

Qiao Yiran’s hand, holding the paintbrush, trembled, even though she was indeed hungry from having eaten so little. "I told you, I'm already full," she said, stubbornly resisting. The intruder did not leave but instead took a step closer. Overwhelmed by the crushing pressure of his proximity, Qiao Yiran stood up in a fury. The paintbrush fell onto the rug, leaving a glaring, unsightly smear. Her eyes red with emotion, she accused him, "I really am full! Can you please stop forcing me like this?"

"Miss, it's me," Xue Ling said as he entered, gesturing for Qiao Yiran to lower her voice.

Qiao Yiran looked at him in total surprise. "Xue Ling? Why are you here? Do you need something from me?" Xue Ling was a former bodyguard for the Qiao family, now working for the Wei family. Although they were both in the Wei family’s villa complex, they rarely crossed paths. "I suppose you're the only one left who calls me 'Miss'." Qiao Yiran lowered her eyes in sorrow; her family had gone bankrupt long ago. How she wished none of it had happened, that she were still the happy, carefree young lady, the little princess cherished by everyone.

"Miss, come with me," Xue Ling said, extending his hand, his eyes burning with resolve.

"What?" Qiao Yiran was stunned.

"Wei Xifeng has left. He took most of his confidants with him, so it must be an urgent matter; he certainly won't be back for a while. Let’s escape now."

"Isn't that animal Wei Xifeng constantly forcing himself upon you? Once we escape to a place he can't find, you’ll be safe."

Qiao Yiran was too shocked to speak. At that moment, Xue Ling noticed the content of her painting: a bird, covered in wounds, struggling to break free from the shackles of black thorny roses to fly into the free sky. This only strengthened his resolve to take her away. "Miss, I know you have suffered, and I know you have always wanted to escape that demon."

Suffered? In reality, it was quite the opposite. She had servants at her beck and call, and her life here was far more opulent and luxurious than it had ever been when she was the Qiao family heiress. Take the pigments she had just been using, for instance—they were ground from precious gemstones and minerals; a single gram cost more than an ordinary person’s monthly salary. Her true suffering had been when the Qiao family went bankrupt, her father faced criminal charges for economic crimes, and her mother fell critically ill. They had become social pariahs, and the crushing weight of medical bills and massive debt had brought her to her knees. If Wei Xifeng hadn't taken her in, she would have either been torn apart by unpaid laborers or reduced to a mere plaything for the elite.

Yet, she couldn't stand the way Wei Xifeng disregarded her wishes, forcing her to do things she hated, nor could she handle his pathological desire for control. And then there was his monstrous, maddening illness.

"Miss, I have actually been in love with you for many years. I came here for you." Xue Ling produced a rose as a declaration of his feelings. It wasn't easy to get into the Wei household; Xue Ling had endured great hardship just to become an ordinary bodyguard. But looking at Qiao Yiran—slender, beautiful, and in need of protection—he felt it was all worth it. "In my heart, you have always been the proudest, most dazzling red rose. Trust me and come with me; I will make you happy."

Caught off guard by the confession, Qiao Yiran felt a bit flustered. But as she looked at Xue Ling’s handsome face and met his sincere eyes, she couldn't help but blush. Yet, was she really going to leave with him? She hesitated deeply. "I..." She noticed that the rose Xue Ling had used for his confession had been plucked from the Wei family’s garden, and she felt a slight wave of discomfort; Xue Ling hadn't even spent his own money to buy her a bouquet.