Chapter 24 You Cannot Die Yet

Xiao Zhu gritted his teeth. He couldn't be certain whether Jiang Jian’s words were true or false, but he dared not defy Xu Zhixia, so he had no choice but to slow down even further.

Watching the car ahead suddenly decelerate with no intention of picking up speed again, I felt like my head was about to explode. What on earth was going on? Why slow down after hearing my warning?

Suddenly, a WeChat notification popped up on the dashboard screen.
[Xiao Zhu: Brother Jiang, President Xu doesn't believe you; she won't let me speed up.]

That idiot Xu Zhixia! I was born and raised here—how could I not know this place? If she doesn't want to believe me, then she can just wait to die!

With my heart in my throat, I navigated the narrow stretch of road and finally reached a wider, two-way section. I slammed on the gas and overtook Xu Zhixia’s car. As I took a corner, the tires slipped on the water-covered road, but fortunately, I didn't lose control. Glancing at Xu Zhixia’s car in the rearview mirror, I pressed the accelerator and hurried down the mountain.

The strange rumbling from the mountain grew louder; it seemed there wasn't just one landslide, but possibly the entire slope giving way. I hadn't encountered a situation like this in all the years since I’d returned. I just hoped the heavens would show mercy and not let me die so soon.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I kept my eyes fixed on the mountain road ahead. Less than a kilometer later, I saw a massive boulder come crashing down. I swerved sharply, narrowly dodging it, but Xu Zhixia’s car wasn't as lucky.

A luxury sedan was already ill-suited for such terrain, and with the high-value car carrying Xu Zhixia, Xiao Zhu was inevitably hindered, eventually forced to a stop by a series of falling rocks. Just as Xiao Zhu was preparing to cautiously maneuver around the debris, a sound like a thundering army erupted overhead. Soil, mixed with rocks of all sizes and vegetation, surged down from the hillside.

In my rearview mirror, I watched as Xu Zhixia’s car was buried by the mud in the blink of an eye. Though I was less than a hundred meters away, I had been lucky enough to escape the disaster. My hands gripped the wheel unconsciously, my heart pounding violently.

What now? Should I turn back to save them? Or should I just call for help and let the rescue team handle it? If I go back and get caught in a second landslide, I’ll be throwing my own life away too.

The thought triggered a tug-of-war in my mind. What should I do? Xu Zhixia had done so many abominable things; logically, if she died here, I should feel relieved to be free from her threats and torment. But then—why did my heart ache as if it were being squeezed?

Meanwhile, trapped inside the car, Xu Zhixia and Xiao Zhu were lucky that the vehicle wasn't just a flashy prop. The sturdy frame held the mud and rocks at bay, preventing the body from deforming too much and leaving them with enough space inside.

However, they couldn't open the doors. If they stayed trapped for long, the oxygen would run out, and the luxury car would become their coffin. Feeling the cold grip of death, Xu Zhixia panicked for a moment before forcing herself to stay calm.

"Xiao Zhu, call for help!"
"President Xu... there's no signal!"

Xiao Zhu’s voice was laced with panicked tears; he cursed himself for listening to Xu Zhixia and slowing down.

Xu Zhixia’s face grew pale. "Right, the radio! Isn't there an emergency radio in the car? Call it!"

The radio distress signal connected them to the nearest fire station and police department. But the fire department reported that there were landslides in multiple locations, and it would take them at least an hour to reach the site. Unsure if the oxygen in the car would last that long, Xu Zhixia pressed her throbbing temples. Even she, usually so steady and calm, was out of options.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard a strange sound from above. Thinking it was a second landslide, she held her breath in terror.

At that moment, I was standing on the roof of the car in the rain, holding a multi-purpose entrenching tool, shoveling away the accumulated mud and rubble bit by bit. "Good thing I keep this thing in the trunk year-round. It’s finally coming in handy!"

The mud was piled too high on both sides of the doors, and if I cleared the sides first, the debris on the roof would likely slide down. The roof had the least amount of soil, and it was the most accessible. If I could just clear the area around the sunroof, they might have a chance.

"God help me, please don't let there be another landslide!"

The mud, mixed with rainwater, had turned into a thick, adhesive slurry. One slip and I would slide off the roof, and climbing back up would be impossible. Fortunately, the rain was beginning to let up—a small mercy in this nightmare.

Finally, I cleared the sunroof. I wiped the rain from my face with the back of my hand, crouched down, and scrubbed the glass clean. I tapped on it; it was quite thick.

"Can you hear me?!" I shouted. "Are you still conscious? Is anyone hurt?!"

The inner shade of the sunroof was closed, and I couldn't see inside. I could only hope they hadn't lost consciousness from lack of oxygen.

"President Xu, it’s Brother Jiang’s voice! He’s on top of the sunroof!"
"What?"

Xiao Zhu scrambled to open the sunroof, seeing me crouched precariously on the roof, peering down.

"Brother Jiang!"

Seeing Xiao Zhu on the verge of tears, I offered a forced, reassuring smile. "It’s a good thing I made it. Where is Xu Zhixia?"
"President Xu is safe. She’s not hurt."
"That’s good. While it's safe for the moment, I’m getting you out!"

After pulling Xiao Zhu out first, I reached my hand toward Xu Zhixia. "Come on, grab my hand."

Xu Zhixia hesitated, staring at me without reaching out.

"Xu Zhixia, this isn't the time for stubbornness. Even if you look down on me and hate me, you need to survive first."

"The rain hasn't stopped, and this was only a small slide. If a mudslide hits, the car and everyone inside will be swept away."

Xu Zhixia looked up at me. Her expression was too complex for me to read, and I didn't have the time to try.

"Jiang Jian, why did you come back to save me? Shouldn't you be wishing I were dead?"
"In a life-or-death moment like this, you're still obsessing over such nonsense? I might not love you anymore, but that doesn't mean I’m just going to stand by and watch you die in front of me!"

"President Xu, please, come out!"

As I was about to lose my patience, Xu Zhixia finally grasped my hand with her cold, trembling fingers. Together with Xiao Zhu, I pulled her out of the car, climbed down from the roof, and headed toward my own vehicle.

Xu Zhixia was soaked through by the rain, her hair plastered to her face, and her high-end suit stained with patches of mud. She looked utterly wretched. She was wearing high heels, and in such extreme terrain, every step was a struggle. I ignored her and walked ahead, carrying the entrenching tool.

"Ah!"
"President Xu, are you okay?"

I looked back. Xu Zhixia had fallen to the ground, and Xiao Zhu was scrambling to help her up. She swatted him away, trying to stand on her own, but after a few desperate attempts, she collapsed again—she couldn't stand.

Resigned, I took a deep breath, walked back, and handed the entrenching tool to Xiao Zhu. Then, I crouched down and lifted Xu Zhixia into my arms. Even though I was a weakling suffering from cancer, I still had the strength to carry her.

"Jiang Jian, put me down! I can walk myself!"