Chapter Fifteen: Sudden Change

Everyone present breathed a collective sigh of relief. The hostages, especially, erupted in cries of excitement, and even the previously grim-faced soldiers allowed smiles to break across their faces.

Among the hostages who had not yet been evacuated, Chen Qi spotted Andrei. Despite having been locked up for a day, the boy still looked as sturdy as a young bull.

“Evacuate the hostages in an orderly fashion—children first, then the weak, and after that, the teachers and parents,” the general said, closing his eyes in exhaustion and speaking in a soft voice.

At some point, the principal of Stellan Secondary School had emerged and began directing the students' evacuation. She was a slightly gaunt woman in a dark red suit; her face betrayed little fear as she calmly guided the students.

Parents and teachers from the upper floors were escorted down by special police. Their faces were alight with barely concealed happiness, though the presence of the general and soldiers kept them from expressing it openly.

Andrei saw Chen Qi in the crowd and strode over, saying with a hint of defiance, “Too bad I was locked up in the auditorium. If I’d been outside, I could’ve handled it too.” With that, he gave Chen Qi’s right arm a hearty punch.

The movement jarred Chen Qi’s wounded arm, and Andrei hadn’t pulled his punch—pain shot through Chen Qi, making him grimace and bare his teeth.

Watching this, one of the nearby special forces soldiers couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Standing beside Chen Qi, the general, though weary, was visibly moved.

Suddenly, a suppressed, ragged gasp came from the side.

In an instant, a bald man burst from among the parents and teachers. Dressed in traditional local attire of Stellan, his hand had, at some point, produced a bundle of explosives.

“Let’s all die together, executioner!” he shouted, yanking the pin and charging at the general.

The hostages were close to the general, leaving the special forces no time to react. Only Chen Qi and Andrei stood with the general.

Chen Qi and Andrei were about to be blown up with the general. The shock was still painted on the soldiers’ faces, and the general’s expression changed dramatically.

Thinking quickly, Chen Qi summoned a handful of pebbles from his storage space and hurled them at the bald terrorist’s eyes.

The stones only made the man flinch and squeeze his eyes shut in pain, briefly slowing his charge—but it was a futile effort in the face of imminent disaster.

Despair clouded Chen Qi’s vision; he hadn’t thought he would meet his end at the very last moment.

It wasn’t just him—the general and the soldiers had all let their guard down, intoxicated by victory.

The bald terrorist’s charge was swift and unstoppable.

(Chen Qi dies, the end, curtain falls, flowers thrown) (strikethrough)

.............................

(Here comes the author’s closing remarks.) (strikethrough)

Fate—or rather, the author—clearly favored Chen Qi, for just as despair gripped him, Andrei was quicker to react.

—

The young, broad-shouldered, blond man, not yet twenty, lunged at the bald terrorist with all his might. Puffing his cheeks, he threw his entire strength into a signature side kick.

The bald man, never expecting such ferocity from a student-looking youth, was caught off guard.

The explosive force of the kick hurled the terrorist into the air. Before he hit the ground, the bomb he was clutching detonated.

A tremendous blast.

Chen Qi himself was flung backward by the shockwave. In a daze, he caught a glimpse of the general and Andrei also being hurled away. His consciousness faded instantly.

...

Stellan City Central Hospital, a special ward filled with every manner of medical device.

Chen Qi didn’t know how much time had passed when the darkness before his eyes gradually brightened. With a thirst for light, he slowly opened his eyes.

“He’s awake!” the nurse at his side called out joyfully.

Her shout quickly drew a crowd. Before long, Chen Qi found himself surrounded by people at his bedside.

He glanced at his own life value.

Twenty-three percent.

“Half-datafied, that’s the way,” he thought wryly, joking to himself as pain burned throughout his body.

Then, as if remembering something, he croaked out in a weak voice, “How’s the general? And Andrei?”

A man who looked like a doctor answered, “The general was behind you and is out of danger. As for Andrei—” He let out a sigh. “Andrei is still in surgery, not out of danger yet.”

On hearing this, Chen Qi struggled to sit up, alarming everyone around him, who hastened to hold him down.

“Your body needs rest. You mustn’t get out of bed!” the doctor shouted anxiously.

Unable to break free, Chen Qi collapsed back onto the bed. Swaddled in white sheets, his charred body resembled a salted fish in a white plastic bag.

Closing his eyes, he pretended to sleep. Before long, he heard the voices of the crowd.

“This boy is recovering quickly; he should be all right. Let’s step out and let him rest.”

With that, everyone left the bedside, leaving only a nurse behind.

—

Chen Qi cast a secret glance at the pretty nurse, calculating in his mind: “She looks a bit scatterbrained. Let me think of a way to get her out.”

Slowly opening his eyes, he called to her, “Beautiful lady, could you tell me which room the general is in, and where Andrei is?”

The young nurse, unsuspecting, assumed his concern was genuine and replied in a cheerful voice, “The general is next door, and Andrei is still in the intensive care unit downstairs.”

Hearing that the general was right next door, Chen Qi was delighted. Then, adopting a pitiful, puppy-like tone, he murmured, “Sister, could you peel me an apple? I really want one.”

“Of course!” the nurse replied, nodding. She stood up, and under Chen Qi’s eager gaze, walked to a nearby fruit basket and began expertly peeling an apple.

“Why is there a fruit basket here?” Chen Qi grumbled inwardly. His eyes darted about, plotting a way to send the nurse away.

Soon, the nurse handed him a peeled apple. Chen Qi ate it absentmindedly, finishing it quickly. He handed the core to the nurse, and continued to plead, “Miss, miss, I need to use the restroom. Can I go by myself?”

The nurse let out a tinkling laugh, then replied, “This is a high-end ward—there’s a catheter and a bedpan. Do you need number one or number two?”

“So I’m the scatterbrained one,” Chen Qi thought, momentarily stunned. Realizing his ruse had failed, he grabbed her smooth, cool, sweatless hand and pleaded, “Can you help me over to see the general next door?”

Seeing her hesitate, Chen Qi tried a sterner tone: “I have an urgent matter to report to the general.”

She cast him a sidelong glance from beneath her long lashes, feigning annoyance. “If you keep trying to trick me, I won’t take you!”

Chen Qi was overjoyed and immediately tried to get out of bed.