Chapter 20 Don’t Seek Death, Live On

Chapter 20: Don't Seek Death, Live On

Suddenly, a pair of hands, calloused but warm, closed around her wrist.

Cheng Feng gripped her tightly, the veins in his arm bulging, his fingertips turning white. His whole body trembled slightly, but his gaze was fixed firmly on her, his voice breathless and urgent.

"Du Yanlan, don't jump! Don't seek death! There are still people in this world who love you, who care about you—it's not just them!

You're still young. There's so much beauty in this world you haven't seen yet. Don't let yourself be trapped by this trouble at home. As long as you're alive, you can definitely build the life you want, meet people who truly cherish you!"

Du Yanlan shuddered all over, slowly opening her eyes. Through a blur of tears, she found herself staring into a pair of clear, blazing eyes.

The boy's face was youthful, his brows and eyes carrying a hint of rebellious, roguish charm. The corners of his eyes were tinged with red—perhaps from overexertion, perhaps from pain on her behalf.

Those eyes swirled with intense emotion, a kind of sincere compassion she had never once seen in the eyes of her family in her entire life.

He... feels sorry for me?

This thought pierced through the darkness in Du Yanlan's heart like a faint ray of light. Her heart gave a violent lurch. The pent-up grievances and despair came flooding out. In a voice thick with tears, broken and bewildered, she cried:

"R-Really? In this world... is there really someone who would care about my feelings? Is there really... someone who would love me sincerely?"

Cheng Feng nodded vigorously, his own eyes reddening.

He had been standing behind the crowd just now, hearing every word of the conversation clearly.

Her accusations, her despair, were like a blunt knife, stabbing into the softest, most painful part of his own heart.

In her, he saw who he used to be.

He had been just as helpless, wanting to die.

If only, in his past life, someone had saved him back then.

He didn't hate being a girl. He didn't hate living on in a girl's body. He just hated this disgusting world.

Hated this feudal yet liberal, disgusting world.

"Of course there is! There absolutely is!"

"You have to struggle to stay alive! Only by living can you meet better people and things, can you completely get away from these people who disgust you!

Don't die for a bunch of wretched people who don't care about you at all. They aren't worth dying for!

You're beautiful, and you're brave. Your future is not something they can define. It's clearly bright and full of promise—don't destroy it with your own hands!"

"I... I can't escape..."

Du Yanlan burst into loud sobs.

"I have no way to leave them. My future was written off by them long ago!

If I live, I have to marry Li Lanxiao, trapped in that living hell for the rest of my life. I have no future left, really, I don't..."

"No, you do!" Cheng Feng cut her off immediately, his tone urgent yet gentle. "How old are you? You're so young. Your life has just begun. The future has always been in your own hands. If you want to change it, you definitely can! As long as you're willing to try..."

"How can I try? How am I supposed to try?!"

"My ID card, my household registration booklet—they're all in their hands. I share their blood. It feels like I'm tied to them for life, impossible to break free! What on earth am I supposed to do?"

Seeing her broken state, Cheng Feng's heart ached even more, but his tone grew even firmer, each word hammering into her heart:

"Then cut the family ties! Draw a clear line! Have nothing to do with them from now on!

If you feel you owe them for raising you, then earn money properly and pay back everything you owe! After that, live and die without ever interacting again!

You live your life, they live theirs. No connection whatsoever!

As long as you completely leave them behind, your life can start over. Live well, live hard. Your world will definitely light up again, full of brightness!"

Du Yanlan's sobs gradually quieted. The despair in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a faint flicker of hesitation.

The truth was, she never really wanted to die.

She still wanted to live well.

She still wanted to see the beauty of this world, still wanted to have a life of her own.

Looking at the reflection of herself in the boy's eyes—disheveled yet still clinging to the will to live—her fingers twitched slightly. Finally, she stopped resisting. Summoning all her strength, she gripped his hand back.

Feeling the force transmitted through his palm, Cheng Feng's taut nerves suddenly relaxed. A gentle smile instantly bloomed in his eyes, and his voice softened.

"Good girl, don't move. Don't let go of my hand. Hold on tight. I'll pull you up."

Du Yanlan nodded vigorously, clutching Cheng Feng's hand. Sweat beaded on her palms, her eyes filled with a desperate longing for survival.

Gritting his teeth, Cheng Feng exerted force. The muscles in his arm strained until they ached, but the weight pulling down far exceeded what he could bear. His fingertips gradually grew numb, his arm beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

He knew he couldn't hold on much longer. Turning his head, he looked at the group of people frozen behind him, his voice a desperate, hoarse shout:

"Don't just stand there! Come help, hurry up!"

Du Yanlan's father frowned deeply, his face terrifyingly dark, but he still strode forward quickly, grabbing Du Yanlan's other wrist and pulling back with force.

Seeing this, the others also rushed forward to lend a hand. With several people working together, they barely managed to haul Du Yanlan, who was dangling in mid-air, back up.

The moment Du Yanlan's feet touched the ground, before she could even steady herself, a resounding slap landed on her face.

*Smack!*

The sound seemed to freeze the air for an instant.

Du Yanlan's head snapped to the side from the force. Her cheek instantly swelled red, her ears rang, her vision swam with black spots, her head spun dizzily, and she staggered, almost falling.

"Ungrateful daughter! I gave birth to you, raised you this big, and this is how you turn out? Daring to talk back and curse at your parents, even daring to threaten us by jumping off a building?"

Du Yanlan's father pointed a finger at her nose, trembling with rage, flecks of spittle spraying onto her face.

"I think you've gone stupid from all that studying, your head full of nonsense! If you dare pull something like this again, no one will care whether you live or die. You can go die wherever you please!"