Chapter 177: Jiang Ning Is Dead?
“So you’re one of those people too? You rich people look down on poor people like that? Then you can go die too.”
The driver’s tone became vicious, and his expression gradually turned manic.
Jiang Ning stopped talking and instead thought about how to escape from here.
The driver seemed to see through Jiang Ning’s thoughts, forcing himself to become rational again. He continued, “Don’t think about running. If you dare move, I’ll ignite the explosives on me, and we’ll all go to hell together. If you don’t want to die, stay obediently in the back seat.”
The driver looked at Gu Lanli and ordered, “There’s a bundle of hemp rope under the car seat. Tie up this bitch.”
Gu Lanli was furious and cursed, “Why the hell should I listen to you?”
The driver started to light the fuse, moving closer to the detonator cord.
Jiang Ning spoke up, “Do as he says.”
Gu Lanli hesitated, “But…”
“I don’t want to die yet. I haven’t lived enough.” Jiang Ning stated flatly, signaling Gu Lanli to act quickly.
Gu Lanli considered their situation, gritted his teeth, pulled out the rope from under the seat, and tied Jiang Ning’s hands.
The car arrived at an unfinished building. The taxi hadn’t left Jin Cheng but was in Jin Cheng’s suburbs. This building project was too far from the city center, so no one bought the houses after they were built. Construction stopped just before the roof was sealed, and it had been abandoned for several years. The surrounding area was overgrown with reeds, the green reeds now turned yellow and dry, ready to ignite at a spark.
When getting out of the car, the driver pulled Jiang Ning out first.
Then, as Gu Lanli prepared to fight back, he stabbed a sharp knife into Gu Lanli’s heart.
Jiang Ning’s eyes widened. Gu Lanli stood rigidly in place, looking down at his pierced chest.
The driver pinned Gu Lanli against the taxi, yanked out the knife forcefully, his face full of malice, “You go die. Soon I’ll have this bitch join you.”
Gu Lanli looked toward Jiang Ning and collapsed heavily.
Jiang Ning hadn’t expected the driver to be this extreme.
But even the murderer she had subdued before was this aggressive. As that man’s younger brother, he was no better.
Killing was like chopping radishes to him, without any fear.
The driver turned to Jiang Ning and grinned at her, “Letting you die like this would be too easy. I want to torment you properly.”
Jiang Ning lowered her eyes, working the ropes around her wrists loose. She stood silently in place.
Then she was roughly pushed by the driver into the unfinished building.
Jiang Ning looked back at Gu Lanli. He lay on the ground with his eyes closed, unknown if alive or dead.
“Don’t look. Soon you’ll die even more miserably.”
Jiang Ning stumbled further inside.
In her mind, she called out to Little Honey: 『Is there this character in the book? The murderer’s younger brother? What kind of messed-up plot is this.』
Little Honey was also anxious: 【I don’t know, host. I’ll try to find a way to contact the male lead. Your situation is too dangerous right now.】
Jiang Ning took a deep breath: 『It’s fine. I can handle it. I subdued the last murderer, and this one is no exception.』
Little Honey sighed: 【Host, I know you’re capable, but he has explosives strapped to him. If he ignites them, you’ll be done for too. The task progress isn’t complete, and if you die, it’ll be true annihilation. You’ll never come back. We’re not at that point yet. Stay calm, don’t act impulsively. I’ll contact someone to help you. I won’t let you be annihilated.】
Little Honey spoke firmly.
Jiang Ning held little hope, because Little Honey was her system, invisible to ordinary people.
She still had to save herself.
But she hadn’t expected that after she entered the unfinished building, a raging fire erupted behind her.
The driver threw the lit lighter onto the floor already doused with gasoline. He had prepared this place in advance. Tall flames surged up, encircling the entire building.
The middle-aged driver’s expression was sinister, “I won’t let you run. I want you burned alive, to feel the pain my brother endured when he was captured.”
Jiang Ning pursed her lips, “Then you’ll die too.”
The driver laughed maniacally, “I’ve wanted to die for a long time. When the fire spreads in, it’ll ignite the explosives on me. This building will collapse, burying us under rubble as we die together.”
Jiang Ning kept working her hands. Fortunately, Gu Lanli had some sense and hadn’t tied the ropes too tightly.
As soon as the ropes fell off, the middle-aged driver decisively ignited the explosives on himself and spread his arms toward Jiang Ning, “Come on, let’s head to hell.”
Jiang Ning’s pupils dilated. A blinding light flashed before her eyes, a massive roar filled her ears, and then she lost consciousness.
……
Xie Jingyan only realized Jiang Ning was missing when he returned to the police station.
He said goodbye to the police inside, stood at the entrance, thought for a moment, and called Jiang Ning.
But Jiang Ning’s phone didn’t connect; no one answered.
Xie Jingyan called again, but still no answer.
Thinking of Father Jiang still in the hospital, he asked Sui Tang for Jiang Yan’s contact info and called him.
The call was answered in the last second before the ringtone stopped.
Then came Jiang Yan’s tired, low voice, “Hello?”
Xie Jingyan asked directly, “Has Jiang Ning returned to the hospital?”
Jiang Yan fell silent.
Xie Jingyan’s patience ran out, “Speak!”
The other side finally responded slowly, “No.”
Xie Jingyan got his answer and was about to hang up.
Jiang Yan spoke again, “Please go save her. Fire… there’s fire…”
Xie Jingyan froze, but Jiang Yan had already hung up.
Save Jiang Ning?
Fire?
He pursed his lips and turned back into the police station.
He requested to view the surveillance records at the entrance.
He knew Officer Dong inside, explained the situation, and the surveillance footage was quickly pulled up.
Xie Jingyan saw that while he was away, Jiang Ning was harassed by Gu Lanli and forcibly pushed into a taxi, then taken away.
Officer Dong was furious, “Truly lawless! He’s young, and the Jiang Family was willing to reconcile, so we let him go. I didn’t expect him to be this brazen right at the police station entrance. Immediately locate this taxi’s position! We must not let anything happen to Jiang Ning.”
The police station pulled up the full surveillance. Based on the taxi’s route, they determined his direction and finally located an unfinished building near the suburbs.
Xie Jingyan figured out the general location and prepared to head out.
The next second, Officer Dong received a call.
About a minute later, he hung up.
His expression grave and serious, “I don’t know what happened, but that unfinished building is on fire. The blaze is huge now… Though I want to save Student Jiang Ning, please prepare yourself mentally… She might very well…”
Officer Dong couldn’t bear to continue.
Given the current situation, Jiang Ning had likely already died.
Because she had been missing for over an hour.
Xie Jingyan bolted outside.
Jiang Ning wouldn’t die.
They had agreed…
To go to university together…
