Chapter Fourteen: It's Time for Me to Take You Away!

Jennifer was gasping for breath as she stared at Zhou Yi, who had just ripped off his hood. Such a young Asian face—he shook his head, bewildered, but at this moment, he was furious.

“How the hell would I know who you are?”

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yi grabbed Jennifer by the collar. The drug was already beginning to take effect; his legs no longer responded, and when he tried to push Zhou Yi away, he found himself utterly powerless.

“Apparently, I really do need to introduce myself. My name is Zoe Zhou—Chinese name Zhou Yi. I was an emergency doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital. When you had your car accident, it was me who operated on you. But now, because of your supposed death, I’ve been convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to twenty years in prison.”

Jennifer froze. Of course he knew this man, but he blinked and looked away.

“I never meant to harm you!”

Zhou Yi raised his fingers and waved them in front of Jennifer’s face.

“Don’t talk about intent. The result is, because you faked your death, I’ve been branded a murderer.”

Gore, beside them, struggled desperately, trying to crawl toward the house, but his strength was fading fast—even breathing now required great effort.

Zhou Yi kicked Gore sharply in the groin, flipping him over. Gore’s face was contorted with terror as he shouted at Zhou Yi:

“Don’t, I never hurt you! Please, don’t harm me. I haven’t seen anything, I don’t know who you are, and I’ve never met Jennifer. Do whatever you want to him—just let me go!”

Zhou Yi tilted his head and looked at him. The two men were now very close, one kneeling, one lying on the ground; both fixed their eyes on Zhou Yi.

“Let you go? I won’t. Looks like I need to help you remember. Six years ago, outside Deles Bar, you and Jennifer were in a car that passed by and snatched two Asian girls. One girl was shot and dumped on the spot; the other was abducted. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

Gore was stunned.

He immediately turned to Jennifer, his expression betraying that the memory had resurfaced.

Jennifer’s eyes widened as he looked at Zhou Yi, tentatively asking:

“You... were there too?”

Zhou Yi nodded. The pain was gone now—revenge was imminent.

“Yes. The girl you took was my girlfriend, A Zhu. I was in the car, too. My girlfriend pushed me out. I want to know what happened to her. Was she killed by you?”

Jennifer grew agitated, gesturing as if to explain, but instantly lost his balance and collapsed beside Gore.

“Wait, it’s been so many years—the details are hazy. Maybe we were young and reckless, maybe we took drugs and lost control. I can compensate you, wipe out your second-degree murder charge, and give you enough money to last a lifetime!”

Gore hurriedly chimed in, raising two fingers in oath:

“We swear, we’ll never retaliate, never go to the police. Trust us—we can clear your case! You’re a doctor, with a bright future. If you want, we can help you in countless ways...”

Zhou Yi shook his head.

He stared at them, interrupting Gore, his expression resolute.

“You destroyed my life. Even if you clear my name, can A Zhu come back? Impossible. There’s nothing to discuss. It’s time to send you both on your way.”

“Don’t do this! Tell us what you want—maybe we can give it to you!”

Zhou Yi smiled.

“No need. A life for a life. You can both die.”

He pulled out a syringe, removed the cap, grabbed Gore’s hair, and injected the drug straight into his heart.

Gore didn’t know what the drug was, but terror overwhelmed him. He feebly clutched his chest, gasping for breath.

“Help! Somebody, help! Catch this lunatic, catch him!”

His voice, once loud, now barely more than a groan.

Gore collapsed onto the grass, staring blankly at Jennifer and Zhou Yi. He seemed to want to reach for his phone—it lay just beside him, but his hand was powerless to grasp it.

Jennifer was terrified. He tried to get up and run, but as soon as he rose, he fell again, scrambling backward, crying out to Zhou Yi:

“If you kill me, you’ll never get away. Do you really want to spend your whole life in prison?”

Zhou Yi shook his head.

He took out a second syringe, walked over to Jennifer, and looked down at the man flopping helplessly on the ground. Zhou Yi had never felt such satisfaction.

“I was convicted of second-degree murder for killing you, yet you’re alive and well. Isn’t that the greatest irony? I don’t know what tricks your father used to manipulate everything, and I don’t care anymore. Since I already ‘killed’ you two months ago, let’s make it official.”

With that, Zhou Yi raised the syringe high and plunged it into Jennifer’s chest. There was little struggle—Jennifer simply stared wide-eyed as the liquid slowly entered his body.

When he finished, Zhou Yi stood, picked up the syringes and their caps, tossed them into a case of bottled water, then carried the case to the edge of the cliff and threw it over.

Returning, he found the two men already fading—blood pouring from their mouths and noses. Zhou Yi squatted down, checked their carotid arteries; their pulses were faint, almost gone. Even immediate resuscitation would be futile.

Zhou Yi exhaled deeply and climbed into the pickup.

From the direction of Gore’s villa, numerous figures and car lights appeared.

Zhou Yi started the engine and sped up the narrow road toward the seaside mountain. Getting caught by the police would be worse than ending his own life. He pressed the accelerator hard, racing away.

Meanwhile, people had already gathered around the two corpses, and when they saw the headlights, they quickly chased after him.

The pursuit grew louder behind him; Zhou Yi kept glancing in the rearview mirror.

There was only one police car at first—now a dozen. Clearly, the police had been nearby.

Zhou Yi shifted gears, floored the accelerator, and charged ahead. Suddenly, the car jolted left and skidded sideways, as if something was caught underneath. No matter how he tried, the pickup wouldn’t budge.

His heart sank. The police cars were closing in—it seemed he wouldn’t die peacefully atop the mountain.

Just then, a convertible sped up beside him, with a red silhouette waving urgently.

“Zhou Yi, get in—quick!”

He jumped from the pickup and saw that the driver was Sophia. Glancing at the swarm of police cars behind, he gripped the edge of the door and leapt in.

Gunshots rang out; sparks flew from the car’s side. Zhou Yi felt a coolness in his arm. When he touched it, blood spurted out, so he pressed a wad of tissues over the wound.

Sophia spun the car sharply, swerving onto the main road. The sudden maneuver left half the pursuing police cars behind.

Zhou Yi braced himself with both feet, trying to steady his body. Sophia’s driving was superb—even though a few cars still chased them, their speed was slowing.

At a junction, Sophia jerked the wheel, sending up a cloud of smoke, and slid the car into a parking spot. The convertible’s roof snapped shut, Sophia killed the engine, and all lights went out. Soon, police cars roared past on the main road, sirens blaring and lights flashing.

Sophia smiled at Zhou Yi.

“How’s my driving?”

Zhou Yi nodded, pressing his wound, sighing softly.

“Why are you here?”

Sophia’s eyes widened.

“To save you!”

Zhou Yi glanced outside. In the darkness, only streetlights pierced the night—no cars or people in sight.

“You can’t save me. I’m a real murderer now. Go, don’t get caught up in this. The fathers of those two men won’t let this go. You’re not like me—you still have a brilliant life ahead.”

Sophia smiled faintly. Just as Zhou Yi loosened his grip on his wound and prepared to get out, a pen-shaped metal device pressed against his neck.

He froze, puzzled, staring at Sophia. He didn’t understand why she was suddenly doing this. Looking at her face, his consciousness faded—dying like this, he felt no regret.

Sophia smiled gently and murmured as if to herself,

“All right, it’s time to take you away.”